Английский язык для магистрантов научная деятельность. English for master students academic activity. Учебное пособие

2. Rewrite the initial sentences from exercise 1 using nouns instead

of verbs.

Use the following structure:

There was a (+adjective) + noun+ in …

It is impossible for three sentences in the list.

Example: There was a drop in the price of laptops followed by a period

of stability.

2. ................................................................................................................

3. ................................................................................................................

4. ................................................................................................................

5. ................................................................................................................

6. ................................................................................................................

7. ................................................................................................................

8. ................................................................................................................

9. ................................................................................................................

10. ..............................................................................................................

We can do the same using another sample:

Table 2

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3. Describe the graph. (Figure 2. Sales of computers, 2022).

Fig. 2. Sales of computers, 2022

1) Use the sample in Table 1.

2) Use the sample in Table 2.

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3. DESCRIBING TRENDS

Fig. 3. Trends

Fig. 4. Trends

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Example. Read the information below.

We can start to describe each month from January to December in succession. However, it will look like simple repetition of what is already presented on the graph. In this case, we can make the description as follows:

From January there was an upward trend in the number of tourists and it reached a peak in July. Then, from July to September the number of tourists fluctuated. From September to December there was a downwardtrend in the number of tourists with a slight rise in October.

Fig. 5. Number of tourists visiting a particular country

4. Have a look at the information about the number of cars produced and fill in the gaps.

Fig. 6. Number of new model cars produced

There was a(n) 1) _________________ in car production for the first three month. For the next six months the number of cars produced 2) ______________ Then for five months production 3) _______________

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There was a slight 4) __________________ over the next seven months before it 5) ______________ for the final three month.

4. ADDING INFORMATION

Pay attention to the ways additional information is introduced in the description (Figure 6).

For the first three months car production increased from about five cars per month to just under 60 per month. This was an increase of about 55 cars produced for the period. Over the next six month the number of cars produced fluctuated at around 50 cars per month. For a period of five months production remained at approximately just over 50 cars per month. There was a slight upward trend for the next seven months to a peak of nearly 80 cars produced per month before production decreased rapidly by about 70 cars per month toaround 10 cars per month.

Study the prepositions.

Fig. 7. Prepositions

You can use the following words and phrases if graphs do not show exact data.

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5. Fill in the gaps with correct prepositions.

1.There was an increase …………….. just over 50 thousand people.

2.In the first decade the population remained steady ……………

approximately 5 million.

3.Unemployment fell ……………… just over 500 000 people.

4.Violence in the city peaked ……………. about 1500 deaths per 10 000 people.

5.After an initial increase, the city’s pollution levels remained constant

……………… 5 ppm.

6.The crime rate increased rapidly …………………. well over 500 incidents per night.

7.The population is expected to grow exponentially over the next few years and then peak ……………. 20 billion people.

8.For the next few months computer prices are expected to drop

………………….. 50 % in spite of a predicted price increase in basis electrical goods ……………………. 25 %.

9.The production of goods is predicted to finish the year

………………….. 500 units per day.

10.Production began ………………… 50 units per day and rose

………………… about 29 units per day to end the month ………………

well over 600 units.

5.OBJECTS DESCRIBED

It is significant to be precise and accurate while describing the objects described. For instance, we cannot say ‘cars increased’, but we can say ‘the number of cars increased’, or ‘car numbers increased’.

Study the following examples.

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6. TIME

Example: From January to February, there was a slight increase in sales.

We can do it another way.

7. CONCLUSION

In conclusion we usually try to make predictions.

General Outline

1.the introduction

2.the overview, trends

3.specific data

4.the conclusion

Example

Write a report for the university lecturer describing the information on the graph. You should write at least 150 words.

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The graph shows the number of West Indians and Indians and Pakistanis immigrating to the UK from before 1940 to 1970.

As it can be seen, immigration of both West Indians and Indians and Pakistanis increased rapidly over a twenty-year period. After 1960 the number of West Indian immigrants decreased rapidly whereas the number of Indian and Pakistani immigrants continued to increase.

From 1940 to 1960 the number of Indian and Pakistani immigrants increased slightly to just under 10 000people. Then, after an initial drop, there was a rapid increase to over approximately 25 000 immigrants.

Between 1965 and 1970 the number of immigrants fluctuated with an overall upward trend.

Similarly, the number of West Indian immigrants increased more moderately between 1940 and 1960 to roughly 15 000 people. Then there was a very sharp increase over a three year period to a peak of just under 35 000 people. From 1963 to 1970 the number of immigrants dropped dramatically with some fluctuations to just over 5 000 people.

In conclusion, it is possible to speculate that immigration from India and Pakistan may have continued to increase up to the present day, whereas West Indian immigration may have continued to decrease.

[197 words]

Lesson 3. How to Write the Methods Section of a Scientific Article

VOCABULARY

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BEFORE YOU READ

What does the methods section of a research article include? Why is the methods section important?

READING

Read the text called WHAT IS THE METHODS SECTION OF A RESEARCH PAPER? and check your answers.

What Is the Methods Section of a Research Paper?

The Methods section of a research article includes an explanation of the procedures used to conduct the experiment. For authors of scientific research papers, the objective is to present their findings clearly and concisely and to provide enough information so that the experiment can be duplicated.

Research articles contain very specific sections, usually dictated by either the target journal or specific style guides. For example, in some sciences, special style guides are used to gather information on how the manuscript should be arranged. As with most styles, objectives are to ensure that manuscripts are written with minimum distractions to the reader. Every research article should include a detailed Methods section after the Introduction.

Why is the Methods Section Important?

The Methods section (also referred to as “Materials and Methods”) is important because it provides the reader enough information to judge whether the study is valid and reproducible.

Structure of the Methods Section in a Research Paper

While designing a research study, authors typically decide on the key points that they’re trying to prove or the “cause-and-effect relationship” between objects of the study. Very simply, the study is designed to meet the objective. A Methods section comprises of the following three subsections: participants, apparatus, and procedure.

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Literature Search

Literature searches are performed to gather as much information as relevant from previous studies. They are important for providing evidence on the topic and help validate the research. Most are accomplished using keywords or phrases to search relevant databases. Google Scholar is one of the best sources available to an individual beginning a literature search.

Authors must make sure to have a set of keywords (usually taken from the objective statement) to stay focused and to avoid having the search move far from the original objective. Authors will benefit by setting limiting parameters, such as date ranges, and avoiding getting pulled into the trap of using non-valid resources, such as social media, conversations with people in the same discipline, or similar non-valid sources, as references.

What Should be Included in the Methods Section of a Research Paper?

One commonly misused term in research papers is “methodology.” Methodology refers to a branch of the Philosophy of Science which deals with scientific methods, not to the methods themselves, so authors should avoid using it. Here is the list of main subsections that should be included in the Methods section of a research paper; authors might use subheadings more clearly to describe their research.

Literature search: Authors should cite any sources that helped with their choice of methods. Authors should indicate timeframes of past studies and their particular parameters.

Study participants: In case of human subjects, authors should provide the characteristics, such as geographical location; their age ranges, gender; and the number of subjects.

Inclusion/exclusion criteria: Authors should describe their inclusion and exclusion criteria, how they were determined, and how many subjects/materials were eliminated.

Group characteristics (could be combined with “Study participants”): Authors should describe how the chosen group was divided into subgroups and their characteristics, including the control. Authors should also describe any specific equipment used.

Procedures: Authors should describe their study design. Any necessary preparations (e.g., compound samples) and instruments must be

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