Science Research Writing for Non-Native Speakers of English by Hilary Glasman-Deal Summary

Science Research Writing for Non-Native Speakers of English by Hilary Glasman-Deal is a practical guidebook designed to help researchers write scientific papers for publication in English. The book covers structure, grammar, and vocabulary conventions across all sections of a research article, including Introduction, Methodology, Results, Discussion, and Abstract. It teaches readers how to discover writing conventions in their field and provides templates and tools to write at a professional journal level.

Hilary Glasman-Deal is a senior teacher of academic STEMM communication at the Centre for Academic English at Imperial College London. With over 30 years of experience teaching English for Academic Purposes to science students, she has spent 15 years specifically teaching research writing to doctoral students and staff. Her expertise comes from working closely with individual researchers writing papers and theses, making her uniquely qualified to address the challenges non-native English speakers face in scientific communication.

Science Research Writing for Non-Native Speakers of English is ideal for non-native English researchers preparing papers for journal publication, but also benefits native speakers seeking writing support. Graduate students writing Master's dissertations or PhD theses will find it invaluable. The book targets readers with intermediate or above English proficiency (IELTS 6.0+, TOEFL 550+ paper-based or 91+ iBT). Scientists across all STEMM disciplines can apply its principles to their specific field.

Science Research Writing for Non-Native Speakers of English remains highly valuable for researchers publishing in English-language journals. Readers consistently praise its practical approach, with one reviewer calling it "beyond valuable" and noting they bring it everywhere when writing. The book's focus on discovering field-specific conventions and providing vocabulary templates makes it relevant regardless of when it was published. Both early-career and experienced researchers benefit from its systematic approach to scientific writing structure and style.

Science Research Writing for Non-Native Speakers of English requires intermediate-level English proficiency or above, equivalent to IELTS scores above 6.0 or TOEFL scores above 550 (paper-based) or 91 (iBT). Hilary Glasman-Deal suggests a simple test: if you can read the book's introduction without using a dictionary, you possess sufficient English ability to use it effectively. The book balances practical guidance with appropriate linguistic complexity for researchers who understand their field but need writing support.

Science Research Writing for Non-Native Speakers of English by Hilary Glasman-Deal organizes content by research article sections: Introduction, Methodology, Results, Discussion, Conclusion, Abstract, and Title. Each unit follows a consistent structure: analyzing sample research articles, addressing grammar and writing skills through frequently asked questions, creating templates or models, and providing vocabulary tools. This section-by-section approach allows researchers to focus on specific parts of their paper while discovering conventional models in their field.

Science Research Writing for Non-Native Speakers of English emphasizes discovery-based learning where readers analyze sample articles to understand conventions. The book minimizes traditional grammar exercises, recognizing that correct answers don't guarantee proper usage when writing complex topics. Key features include:

• Vocabulary sections teaching academic "code words" like attempt, conduct, interpret, and evaluate
• Practical templates for each article section
• Guidance on using reading to feed writing effectively

Hilary Glasman-Deal focuses on bringing reading and writing closer together as mirror images.

Science Research Writing for Non-Native Speakers of English requires readers to collect three or four recent research papers from their field as "target articles". These should:

• Be written by researchers at English-speaking institutions, ideally native speakers
• Be reasonably short (under 15 pages)
• Deal with topics close to your research
• Have clearly defined sections

Hilary Glasman-Deal instructs readers to use these target articles to adapt general principles to their specific field and verify how concepts are applied in their discipline.

Science Research Writing for Non-Native Speakers of English explicitly states it can guide native English speakers seeking science writing support. Reviewers confirm this, with one noting it's "highly recommended to everyone who wants to publish research, including native speakers of English". Another reviewer emphasizes the book provides "helpful information, even for native speakers". The systematic approach to structure, organization, and academic vocabulary conventions benefits anyone learning professional scientific writing, regardless of native language.

Science Research Writing for Non-Native Speakers of English by Hilary Glasman-Deal teaches academic "code words" essential for professional scientific writing, including attempt, conduct, interpret, evaluate, determine, implement, formulate, classify, correlate, and enhance. The book emphasizes that scientific writing employs specialized academic vocabulary beyond field-specific terminology. Multiple reviewers specifically praise the vocabulary sections, with one stating "VOCABULARY" helps ensure writers avoid "uselessly and boringly repeating words". Each unit provides field-appropriate vocabulary tools for different research paper sections.

Science Research Writing for Non-Native Speakers of English takes a practical, minimal-exercise approach to grammar instruction. Hilary Glasman-Deal includes very few grammar exercises because "getting the answer right in a grammar exercise doesn't automatically mean you will produce correct grammar when writing about complex topics". Instead, Grammar and Writing Skills sections respond to frequently asked questions that arise when writing each research article section. This approach prevents false confidence while focusing on real-world application during actual research writing.

Based on reader reviews, Science Research Writing for Non-Native Speakers of English receives overwhelmingly positive feedback with limited criticism. One reviewer humorously noted it's perfect "for now" during thesis writing but otherwise uninteresting recreational reading. The book's highly specialized focus means it serves researchers and students writing scientific papers specifically, rather than general academic writers. Some may find the requirement to collect and analyze target articles demanding, though this discovery-based approach is precisely what makes the methodology effective.