make an examination of …
✅ examine

present a comparison of …
✅ compare

be in agreement …
✅ agree

perform an analysis of …
✅ analyze

produce an improvement of …
✅ improve

make measurements …
✅ measure

make an impression …
✅ impress

Somewhere in 1830-ies, at the meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science in Cambridge, the poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge made his point. He insisted that men of science should not be referred to as philosophers since they were typically digging, observing, mixing or electrifying – that is, they were empirical men of experimentation and not philosophers of ideas. Science was everyday labor, whereas philosophy was lofty thought. In response to Coleridge’s challenge William Whewell, the polymath, invented the term – “in analogy with artist we form scientist”.

Curiously, this perfect linguistic accommodation of workmanship and inspiration was n'ot readily accepted. It took about thirty years and scientist first came into popular use in the US before being adopted by GB.

❓❓❓
What were all of them called - from the times of Aristotle and including Newton, Galileo, Mendel, Galen? All those who we would refer to as scientists today?

Natural Philosophers

What can a research paper do?

This paper addresses the performance of the algorithm used in…

This paper clarifies the role of pesticides in . . .

This paper describes the mechanism by which . . .

This paper details the algorithm used for . . .

This paper discusses the influence of acidity on . . .

This paper explains how the new encoding scheme . . .

This paper offers four recommendations for . . .

This paper presents the results of . . .

This paper proposes a set of guidelines for . . .

This paper provides the complete framework and . . .

This paper reports on our progress so far . . .

This paper suggests an approach for improving…

This paper summarizes our results for 27 patients with . . .

After the release of ChatGPT-like LLMs, some words strongly increased their frequency of occurrence in the abstracts of scientific papers. The LLM preferences appeared to be style-affecting verbs and adjectives. This ChatGPT-style flowery language is well-illustrated with the examples from real paper abstracts:

▪️By meticulously delving into the intricate web connecting [...] and [...], this comprehensive chapter takes a deep dive into their involvement as significant risk factors for [...].

▪️A comprehensive grasp of the intricate interplay between [...] and [...] is pivotal for effective therapeutic strategies.

Scientists use LLM-assisted writing to improve grammar, rhetoric, and overall readability of their texts as well as to translate into English. However, one day scientific texts might look as if they were cast in the same mould. So it is pivotal for researchers to meticulously delve into the intricate interplay of English grammar and vocabulary to find their author’s voice.

Pejman Milani, the founder of Milani Creative, used to be a a high school film & animation teacher with more than 20 years of experience. In 2022, he started sharing visual metaphors to teach big ideas fast and encourage people to live a more positive, creative life to make the world a more creative place.

❤️ It’s his metaphors about writing we love most!

Многие знают, сколько сил и времени занимают нумерация параграфов, рисунков, таблиц, ссылок на литературу, перепроверки выравнивания текста и межстрочного интервала, переноса кусков текста так, чтобы рисунок с подписью остался на одной странице...

Хватит терпеть все эти неудобства!!!

Не упустите отличную возможность познакомиться с основами LaTeX специально для написания бакалаврских ВКР, магистерских и кандидатских диссертаций.

Вы научитесь:
✅ Делать заголовки, основной текст, рисунки, формулы, таблицы
✅ Автоматизировать перекрестные ссылки и цитирование
✅ Пользоваться уже готовыми шаблонами ВКР и диссертаций


* Бонус для тех, кто дослушает до конца: узнаете как находить шаблоны для написания журнальных статей

В конце мастер-класса у вас будет настроенный LaTex-шаблон для написания ВКР или диссертации.

Спикер: Вадим Рыбин
Дата: 24.04.2025 (четверг)
Время: 14:00 - 16:00
Формат: онлайн
Язык: русский

РЕГИСТРАЦИЯ

Участникам потребуется аккаунт в overleaf.com

Это быстро и бесплатно!

Research writing values precision, evidence, and critical thinking. If a text is commented as "too general," it requires drilling deeper into specifics, analysis, and supported arguments.

How to Revise "Too General" Writing?

🔹 Provide evidence: Use studies, quotes, or real-world examples.
🔹 Be focused: Discuss one aspect of a topic in depth.
🔹 Analyze: Explain causes, effects, and implications.
🔹 Stick to Critical Perspective: Compare theories, Debate viewpoints, or Acknowledge limitations.
🔹 Mind clichés: Replace expressions like "since time immemorial" with specific phrases "Since the [specific century/event]...".
🔹 Be non-evaluative: Instead of "bad," try "detrimental," "problematic," or "ineffective."

Too General ➡️ Improved

❌ Many students struggle with online learning. It can be hard to focus at home.
✅ A 2023 Pediatrics study revealed that 62% of students reported lower concentration in virtual classrooms due to distractions like smartphones.

❌ Additional education is important for getting employed.
✅ Vocational training programs correlate with 15% higher employment rates in Germany.

❌ Renewable energy sources are the best solution.
✅ Solar energy does reduce emissions, however, its high initial costs and storage challenges limit its adoption.

❌ Global warming is a serious problem.
✅ Rising CO₂ levels intensify the greenhouse effect, causing Arctic ice to melt at 12.6% per decade.

What generation are you when texting?

People of different generations tend to text differently. It’s not an exact science, but interesting theories and trends are emerging as researchers delve into the texts and messages we send.

Take the quiz to see what your texting style says about you, and how well you understand other generations. You'll be given a few results along the way and a final score at the end.

A new academic year has just begun! The Academic Writing Lab celebrates your dedication to research and readiness to thrive in the global scientific community. You are shaping the future—may a year be full of growth, success, and inspiration! The AWL instructors are always there for you and provide a helping hand with proofreading, editing and polishing your texts.

To apply for a consultation, use awl@itmo.ru

The End of the Blank Page

The emergence of generative AI has fundamentally transformed the academic writing process. Instead of replacing the author’s writing, AI reshaped it, augmenting its every stage. Let us have a look at the first of them, namely, ideation and brainstorming.

With the prospect of having to write, many have struggled with the blank page syndrome manifested in the sinking feeling, rising anxiety, and resulting in escaping behavior. Even if one is buzzing with thoughts and ideas, to transfer them into words can be overwhelming and block the ability to write. Does it sound familiar to you?

How did we formerly cope with the writer’s block ?
We used mind mapping, free-writing, discussed our ideas with peers, managed our writing time and work environment, started to write from the middle, and self-reflected: 1) I can’t write because… 2) I want to write because… 3) I will write because...

What can we do now with AI assistance?
Writers can use AI as an instant brainstorming partner. The initial friction of starting to write will dramatically decrease. Ideation will become faster and more prolific. Moreover, AI can help writers see the options they might have never considered themselves.

Academic Writing and AI: Friends or Foes?
Professional development course for researchers and teachers

Facilitator: Keith Ray, an international school leader and adjunct university professor specializing in AI integration for academic writing and teaching. He helps educators and faculty design AI-enabled learning experiences, establish clear guardrails for ethical use, and leverage AI as a true thought partner in research and instruction.

Workshop Themes
🔹Can AI really write a persuasive research paper?
🔹Can AI really edit a research paper?
🔹Can AI help provide an adequate customized translation of a research paper?
🔹Can AI be used for other genres of academic writing?
🔹Can AI help make the author's voice audible in academic genres?
🔹Human3AI Collaboration: Friends, foes, or something more?

What You'll Gain
✔️ An evidence-based understanding of how AI can (and cannot) contribute to persuasive academic writing.
✔️ Practical strategies for using AI to draft, edit, and translate research papers while preserving authorial voice and critical thinking.
✔️ Tools for evaluating and fact checking AI-generated content.
✔️ Guidance on leveraging AI as a collaborative "thought partner", not a substitute for human expertise.
✔️ Ways to maintain academic integrity and avoid over-reliance on AI in writing.

Language: English

Wednesdays:
September, 24
October, 1
October, 15
November, 5
November, 12
November, 26

Moscow Time:
18:30 - 19:30

Format: online

Register for the course

Can AI replace humans in editing, revision, and polishing in research writing?

The short answer is NO. True editing, revision, and polishing in research writing remains a fundamentally human-centric process. On the other hand, text polishing with AI saves the author’s time contributing to a cleaner and more consistent draft. Therefore, AI has become an indispensable collaborator. The human’s role in the writing process has shifted from doing all the manual labor to being a strategic director, verifier, and quality controller.


What Can AI Do as an Editing Assistant?
AI excels at monotonous and time-consuming work that bores many humans. AI can automate mechanical, repetitive, and rule-based aspects of editing.

Surface-Level Corrections: AI can be superb at spotting spelling, grammar, punctuation, and basic syntax errors. Now tools, like Grammarly, are AI-powered and go beyond simple rules to suggest improvements in clarity and conciseness.

Consistency Checks: AI can ensure consistency in terminology, formatting (e.g., heading styles, number formatting), and the citation style (e.g., APA, MLA) throughout a document.

Basic Clarity and Readability: AI can detect overly long sentences and overloaded passive constructions, coming up with simpler alternatives. What it can also provide is the readability score.

Structural Analysis: AI can analyze the overall text structure to notify the author if the flow of arguments could be improved.

Summarization: AI can summarize so that the author can immediately see if they managed to clearly communicate the key points in their text.