In terms of writing quality, I’ve encountered journal articles I’d have been ashamed to have produced in middle school.
Check the name and institution. Science is done in English, but not always by native English-speakers.
I’ve often reflected that it might be an improvement to mandate “Writing for Scientists” classes, which teach clear and succinct written communication.
I took one at my undergraduate institution. It was a good idea but a poor execution- basically, you could only do so much in four months, and there’s too much diversity in required outputs (as different journals and fields have different formats). I did have enough pointed suggestions at the end of the class that I think widespread mediocre execution is possible, and with a clever professor the class can become good.
Check the name and institution. Science is done in English, but not always by native English-speakers.
The issue is by no means exclusive to non-native speakers.
Having peer-edited papers from many fellow students throughout college, I was astonished not only by the low quality of writing, but the lack of improvement from first year to graduation. Of course, it’s possible that most people are simply innately incapable of writing above low standards and these students had hit their ceiling, but I don’t think there’s any basis to infer this given that they weren’t given any instruction or pressure to improve. Grading was only influenced by fluency of writing at the very bottom end, so there was very weak selection for writing ability.
Check the name and institution. Science is done in English, but not always by native English-speakers.
I took one at my undergraduate institution. It was a good idea but a poor execution- basically, you could only do so much in four months, and there’s too much diversity in required outputs (as different journals and fields have different formats). I did have enough pointed suggestions at the end of the class that I think widespread mediocre execution is possible, and with a clever professor the class can become good.
The issue is by no means exclusive to non-native speakers.
Having peer-edited papers from many fellow students throughout college, I was astonished not only by the low quality of writing, but the lack of improvement from first year to graduation. Of course, it’s possible that most people are simply innately incapable of writing above low standards and these students had hit their ceiling, but I don’t think there’s any basis to infer this given that they weren’t given any instruction or pressure to improve. Grading was only influenced by fluency of writing at the very bottom end, so there was very weak selection for writing ability.
Actually, I think our education system ought to put a lot more focus on teaching to write well at the level of middle and high school. The essays students are made to practice writing are poorly tailored to cultivate the sort of writing ability that students are likely to find useful in the future, and public education generally doesn’t offer students much other instruction in writing well.
Agreed that this is also an issue for natives, and that improvement from first year to graduation is low.