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END 011END 011 科技英文寫作 科技英文寫作 (( 二二 )-1)-100
English Technical Writing (English Technical Writing ( 二二 )-1)-100
Prof. Jeffrey Shiang FuProf. Jeffrey Shiang Fu傅祥 教授傅祥 教授
[email protected]@gmail.com0987-520-488 / (03)2118-800*57950987-520-488 / (03)2118-800*5795
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LANGUAGE CONVENTIONSLANGUAGE CONVENTIONS
Choosing Verb Tense and Voice Choosing Verb Tense and Voice in Describing Materials in Describing Materials
In the first part of this chapter we In the first part of this chapter we looked at some conventions for looked at some conventions for organizing information about the organizing information about the materials used in your study.materials used in your study.
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There are also some grammatical There are also some grammatical conventions you should know in conventions you should know in order to describe materials clearly order to describe materials clearly in your report. These conventions in your report. These conventions mainly involve choosing the correct mainly involve choosing the correct verb tenseverb tense and and voicevoice..
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Choosing Verb Tenses – Choosing Verb Tenses – Samples and PopulationsSamples and PopulationsSentences describing the subjects or Sentences describing the subjects or materials used in a study require either materials used in a study require either the past or the the past or the present tensepresent tense. Notice . Notice that the boys described in the that the boys described in the preceding example were specific preceding example were specific individuals selected to take part in the individuals selected to take part in the study.study.
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In other words, they were a In other words, they were a samplesample selected by the experimenters to selected by the experimenters to represent an entire population of represent an entire population of high risk boys. When we describe high risk boys. When we describe the sample used in a study we the sample used in a study we commonly use the past tense.commonly use the past tense.
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DESCRIBING SAMPLES:DESCRIBING SAMPLES:Past Tense VerbsPast Tense Verbs
SampleSampleMain verb Main verb (past)(past) DescriptionDescription
The boysThe boys werewere between the ages between the ages of 7 and 13.of 7 and 13.
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DESCRIBING SAMPLES:DESCRIBING SAMPLES:Past Tense VerbsPast Tense Verbs
The men The men interviewedinterviewed
werewere Primarily from St. Primarily from St. Louis, Mo.Louis, Mo.
The subjectsThe subjects werewere 18 Arabic-18 Arabic-speaking students speaking students attending classes attending classes at the American at the American University in University in Cairo.Cairo.
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However, when describing the However, when describing the general populationgeneral population from which the from which the sample subjects were selected, sample subjects were selected, the the present tensepresent tense is normally is normally used.used.
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DESCRIBING POPULATIONS: DESCRIBING POPULATIONS: Present Tense VerbsPresent Tense Verbs
PopulationPopulationMain verb Main verb (present)(present) DescriptionDescription
All students All students who apply for who apply for admission to admission to the American the American University of University of CairoCairo
taketake the Michigan Test the Michigan Test of English of English Language Language Proficiency.Proficiency.
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DESCRIBING POPULATIONS: DESCRIBING POPULATIONS: Present Tense VerbsPresent Tense Verbs
PopulationPopulationMain verb Main verb (present)(present) DescriptionDescription
TheyThey enterenter the English the English Language Institute Language Institute where they follow an where they follow an intensive program of intensive program of English language English language trainingtraining
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Use of Tenses with Conventional Use of Tenses with Conventional and Specially Designed Materialsand Specially Designed Materials
We have seen previously that verb We have seen previously that verb tense can be determined by tense can be determined by whether you are describing a whether you are describing a general population or a sample general population or a sample selected from a population.selected from a population.
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We find a similar convention We find a similar convention determining verb tenses when we determining verb tenses when we describe other materials. If you use describe other materials. If you use equipment in your study which is equipment in your study which is standard or standard or conventionalconventional in your in your field and probably familiar to most field and probably familiar to most other researchers, you should other researchers, you should describe it using the describe it using the present tensepresent tense..
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DESCRIBING CONVENTIONAL DESCRIBING CONVENTIONAL MATERIAL: Present Tense VerbsMATERIAL: Present Tense Verbs
Conventional Conventional materialmaterial
Main verb Main verb (present)(present) DescriptionDescription
The Auditory Test The Auditory Test
for Language Comfor Language Com
prehension (Carroprehension (Carro
w, 1968)w, 1968)
permitspermits the assessment of the assessment of
oral language oral language
comprehension of comprehension of
English and Spanish.English and Spanish.
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DESCRIBING CONVENTIONAL DESCRIBING CONVENTIONAL MATERIAL: Present Tense VerbsMATERIAL: Present Tense Verbs
Conventional Conventional materialmaterial
Main verb Main verb (present)(present) DescriptionDescription
A typical A typical
chemical reactorchemical reactorincludesincludes a helical, tube-in-tube a helical, tube-in-tube
heat exchanger.heat exchanger.
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On the other hand, descriptions of On the other hand, descriptions of specially designedspecially designed materials with which materials with which other workers in your field may not be other workers in your field may not be familiar are usually written in the familiar are usually written in the past past tensetense. Common devices that you . Common devices that you modifiedmodified in some special way for use in in some special way for use in your study are also sometimes your study are also sometimes described in the past.described in the past.
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DESCRIBING SPECIALLY DESCRIBING SPECIALLY DESIGNED OR MODIFIED DESIGNED OR MODIFIED MATERIALS: MATERIALS: Past Tense VerbsPast Tense Verbs
Modified Modified materialmaterial
Main verb Main verb (past)(past) DescriptionDescription
For the testing For the testing
program this program this
collectorcollector
waswas protected from weathprotected from weath
er by an outer windoer by an outer windo
w of 10 mm tedlar.w of 10 mm tedlar.
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Using Active and Passive Using Active and Passive Voice in Describing MaterialsVoice in Describing Materials
Both active and passive voice verb Both active and passive voice verb constructions are used in describing constructions are used in describing experimental materials. Your decision experimental materials. Your decision to use active or passive voice depends to use active or passive voice depends partly on whether the verb ispartly on whether the verb is transitive transitive oror intransitive intransitive..
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Only Only transitive verbstransitive verbs can be used can be used in the passive voice. (Your in the passive voice. (Your dictionary will tell you if a given dictionary will tell you if a given verb is transitive or intransitive.)verb is transitive or intransitive.)
If the verb is transitive, follow If the verb is transitive, follow these rules to determine which these rules to determine which voice to use:voice to use:
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1.1. The The passive voicepassive voice is usually is usually used when a human agent (the used when a human agent (the experimenter) is manipulating experimenter) is manipulating the materials.the materials.
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HUMAN AGENT INVOLVED: HUMAN AGENT INVOLVED: Passive VoicePassive Voice
EXAMPLE A:EXAMPLE A: The temperature The temperature inside the chamber inside the chamber was increasedwas increased from o° tor 20 . (The researcher ℃from o° tor 20 . (The researcher ℃increased the temperature.)increased the temperature.)
EXAMPLE B:EXAMPLE B: Four thermocouples Four thermocouples were monitoredwere monitored hourly. (A researcher hourly. (A researcher monitored them.)monitored them.)
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2.2. The The active voiceactive voice is usually used is usually used when no human is directly respowhen no human is directly responsible for manipulating the maternsible for manipulating the materials ials － － that is, when the materialthat is, when the materials operate “by themselves.”s operate “by themselves.”
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NO HUMAN AGENT NO HUMAN AGENT INVOLVED: INVOLVED: Active VoiceActive Voice
EXAMPLE C: EXAMPLE C: A 200 hp A 200 hp generator generator providedprovided power to the piezometers. power to the piezometers.
EXAMPLE D: EXAMPLE D: Control gauges Control gauges mmonitoredonitored air pressure inside the ch air pressure inside the chamber.amber.
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In examples C and D, the use of In examples C and D, the use of the active voice indicates that the the active voice indicates that the experimenters were not directly experimenters were not directly involved in the functioning of the involved in the functioning of the equipment. equipment.
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3.3. The passive voice may be used The passive voice may be used to describe an action involving a to describe an action involving a nonhuman agent, but a phrase nonhuman agent, but a phrase must be included to indicate the must be included to indicate the agent.agent.
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NO HUMAN AGENT NO HUMAN AGENT INVOLVED : INVOLVED : Passive VoicePassive Voice
EXAMPLE E:EXAMPLE E: Power was supplied Power was supplied by 14 by 14 generatorsgenerators with capacities rangi with capacities ranging from 90 to 300 KWng from 90 to 300 KW
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