Craft of Scientific Writing

Holding a master of science in electrical engineering and a masters in fine arts in writing, Michael Alley is an associate professor of Engineering Communication at Pennsylvania State University. He is the author of three popular textbooks: The Craft of Scientific Presentations (2013), The Craft of Editing (2000), and The Craft of Scientific Writing (2017). He has taught scientific writing and presentations to engineers and scientists on four continents, in sixteen countries, and for more than 150 companies, universities, organizations, and agencies.

“Alley gives thorough explanations and color-coded examples about what constitutes a problem and how to fix it, and visual indicators help readers discern the severity of issues being critical, distracting, or cosmetic. The Craft of Scientific Writing is a book that can be valuable to practicing writers who want to work toward more effective, clear scientific writing for a variety of audiences.” (Diane Martinez, Technical Communication, Vol. 65 (4), November, 2018)“The author discusses the many challenges and distinctions in scientific writing, and the effects that good or bad writing can have on one’s career. … Using real-world writing examples and a host of graphics and figures, the author effectively demonstrates what works, what doesn’t, and why. … This easy-to-digest guide will be useful for engineers, scientists, and anyone interested in writing for a science-minded audience, or about science-related topics.” (S. Markgren, Choice, Vol. 56 (03), November, 2018)​

• Lesson 1: Analyzing the Audience, Purpose, and Occasion. Lesson 2: Balancing Precision with Clarity. Lesson 3: Avoiding Ambiguity. Lesson 4: Sustaining Energy.Lesson 5: Connecting IdeasLesson 6: Beginning with the FamiliarLesson 7: Organizing the Content for the AudienceLesson 8: Providing Proper EmphasisLesson 9: Adapting Your Style to Email, Instructions, and ProposalsLesson 10: Using Your Writing Time EfficientlyAppendix A: Grammar: Recognizing What a Sentence Is and Is NotAppendix B: Punctuation: Helping Readers Navigate Your SentencesAppendix C: Usage: Avoiding Egregious MistakesAppendix D: Format: Dressing Documents for Success