SCIENTIFIC TEXT

A.What is scientific text ?

In scientific text, it is customary to present the matter in a specific order (introduction, theoretical background, material, results, discussion, references). There are established conventions regarding how to refer to other studies, how concepts are defined, how to move from one issue to the next and how the author should refer to himself. These conventions are learned gradually by reading scientific texts and by communicating with one's own scientific interest group.

Moreover, scientific discourse is rooted in an understanding of cause-and-effect that differs from our everyday understanding. Our everyday understanding, which is reflected in narrative text, sees cause-and-effect in terms of goal structures. This is indeed the root of our superstitious behavior — we (not necessarily consciously) attribute purposefulness to almost everything! But this approach is something we have to learn not to apply to scientific problems.

B.The Characteristic of  Reading Scientific Text

Identifying structure

Five common types of structure used in scientific texts are:

• Generalization: the extension or clarification of main ideas through explanations or examples
• Enumeration: listing of facts
• Sequence: a connecting series of events or steps
• Classification: grouping items into classes
• Comparison / contrast: examining the relationships between two or more things

Let's look at these in a little more detail.

Generalization

In generalization, a paragraph always has a main idea. Other sentences in the paragraph either clarify the main idea by giving examples or illustrations, or extend the main idea by explaining it in more detail. Here's an example:

Irritability is defined as an organism's capacity to respond to conditions outside itself. ... The organism's response is the way it reacts to stimulus. For example, a plant may have a growth response. This happens when ...

Enumeration

Enumeration passages may be a bulleted or numbered list, or a list of items in paragraph form, for example:

There are four general properties of solids. Tenacity is a measure of ... Hardness is ... Malleability refers to ... Ductility is ...

Sequence

A sequence describes a series of steps in a process. For example:

Hearing can be described in five separate stages. First, ...

Classification

In classification, items are grouped into categories. For example:

Experimental variables can be grouped into one of two categories, either a manipulated variable or a controlled variable. A variable that can ...

Comparison / contrast

This type of text looks at relationships between items. In comparison, both similarities and differences are studied. In contrast, only the differences are noted. For example:

There are two different hypotheses for the origin of the earth: the nebular hypothesis and the comet-produced hypothesis. The nebular hypothesis maintains ... In contrast, the comet-produced hypothesis states ... The first hypothesis assumes ... The latter hypothesis asserts ...

C. Example of Scientific Text

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

Easier - The lungs, airways, diaphragm, windpipe, throat, mouth, and nasal passages are all part of the respiratory system. Respiration is the process of breathing in and out through this system. Smoking and air pollution are two common causes of respiratory problems.

Harder - Oxygen is taken into the body through the airways, absorbed into the lungs, then transported through the body in the blood. The lungs also give out carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Humans and land animals with backbones have similar respiratory systems. This system includes passages that connect the nose and mouth to the lungs.

You probably don't think very much about your respiratory system, but it is essential for life. Every once in a while a cough, sneeze, or hiccup will remind you about this body system. A cough is the way your system clears the airway. A sneeze is caused by an irritation in the upper airway. A hiccup is a spasm of the diagram. 

There are many diseases that can harm and even destroy the respiratory system. Asthma is an increasingly common disease that causes coughing and makes it hard to breathe. Lung cancer is a major cause of death particularly among smokers. Tuberculosis is a disease caused by bacteria that can destroy the lungs. TB is very contagious and affects cats and other animals in addition to humans. Most people experience minor respiratory problems in the form of a sore throat, cough, or bronchitis from an illness.

People in certain jobs are more likely to have respiratory problems. For example, airline pilots and flight attendants often have respiratory problems. Black lung has historically been a problem of coal miners.