Further reading on information flow

Welcome to the third lesson of “Deconstructing Research Articles.”

Here, we will explore the concept of flow in research writing. Flow refers to the smooth, logical connections between ideas, making it easy for readers to follow your writing. English writing tends to be writer-responsible, meaning it is our duty to make our writing comprehensible for readers. Achieving flow involves creating connections between our ideas and presenting them in a logical order, allowing readers to easily understand our thought process.

One technique to establish flow is the old-to-new information pattern. This approach involves starting with general, familiar information and gradually moving towards more specific, new information. By presenting information in this manner, readers can better understand and appreciate the new ideas being introduced. For example, when discussing lithium-ion batteries, we might first mention their widespread use in portable devices before delving into the specifics of their components, such as separators or electrolytes.

Another aspect of flow is the linear reading process, where we introduce new information based on previously provided information. This old-to-new information flow helps readers understand each new piece of information in context. Consider the example of Tesla electric vehicles. We might start with a general statement about Tesla being a modern electric vehicle manufacturer and then discuss the specific requirements for their high-energy storage systems. By linking each new piece of information to what the reader already knows, we create a seamless, logical narrative.

Several examples illustrate how old-to-new information flow can be applied in various fields. In discussing electrospinning, we could first provide an overview of the technique and then focus on the apparatus and the different stages of the process. Similarly, when writing about lithium-ion batteries, we could start with their broad applications, move to the components such as separators, and finally discuss the limitations and weaknesses of the technology. By ensuring that our writing follows this old-to-new information flow, we can create a coherent and easy-to-follow narrative for our readers.

In conclusion, achieving flow in research writing involves creating connections between ideas and presenting them in a logical order. By adopting the old-to-new information pattern and linear reading process, we can make our writing more accessible and comprehensible to our readers. As writers, our responsibility is to ensure that our work is easy to follow, and by applying these techniques, we can create well-structured, coherent research articles that effectively communicate our ideas.