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Literacy Practices

Yishan Lyu

Writing 2

June 14 2020
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Various academic disciplines exhibit distinct communities and methodological

approaches to research. The two concepts largely influence how scholars within the discipline

write about their findings and conclusions. They shape research goals that are conscious and

synonymous with the goals of departments and schools that comprise institutional operating

units. The methodological approaches define the various ways through which the research is

achieved. In chemistry, scholars have a unique method of researching ideas. Various research

articles have been published on the reactivity of organic molecules within the discipline of

chemistry. The articles are mostly similar as they share various conventions of the discipline.

An analysis of three articles on this discipline shows that research in the discipline of

chemistry is uniquely designed around the community, apply a unique convention, adhere to a

common writing format that uses chemical formula, demands direct statements of findings,

thrives on evidence rather than mere statements and theories applied in other disciplines, and

a research approach that compares studies to come up with new ideas or develop ideas on the

existing ones.

The chemistry research relies heavily on drawing of structures of chemical formula, a

convention that does not exist in other disciplines such as medicine, history, business, or

physics. The only discipline that nears the use of the drawing of structures of the chemical

formula is the medicine where the researchers write the chemical formula of various

components they add to find the best medicine for various uses. However, in chemistry, the

structures and reactions define the preparations of reactivity of organic molecules.1 Domingo,

Ríos-Gutiérrez, and Pérez 2016 demonstrated that chemists always include drawing of

1
Domingo, L. R., Ríos-Gutiérrez, M., and Pérez, P., 2016. Applications of the conceptual density functional
theory indices to organic chemistry reactivity. Molecules, 21(6), 748.
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chemical structures as well as reactions such as newly synthesized structures and new

mechanisms elucidated during their research.2 The necessity of the structures in this

discipline is to ensure that the information that comes out of the studies in the making of the

chemical formula is clear, unambiguous, and relatable.3 As such, the diagrams and structures

are neatly labeled and organized to avail practical information to the audience. At this stage,

charts and structures also become useful because they form an integral part of the reactivity

of organic molecule. The charts and structures act as a guide to the process and inform

engineers of the expected results.4 Thus, the preparation of structures and reactions are part of

conventional practices that occur in the daily reactivity of organic molecules such that when

they miss in any research work, the structure of the research becomes questionable, and

perhaps maybe confusing or considered to be discussing another discipline. The other

disciplines do not have this convention due to the difference in the nature of the researches,

their subjects of discussion, the expected explanations, and outcomes.

Moreover, research in chemistry discipline explain the processes of the studies in

relation to the expected outcomes in the section known as ‘experimental’ part. The

experimental sections of chemistry research on organic structures of chemicals are essential

conventions because they show the reactivity of organic molecules. According to Domingo,

Ríos-Gutiérrez, and Pérez 2016, it is vital to fully characterize a newly synthesized

2
Domingo, Ríos-Gutiérrez, and Pérez, Applications of the conceptual density functional theory, 2016:
749.
3
Domingo, L.R., Pérez, P. and Sáez, J.A., 2013. Understanding the local reactivity in polar organic reactions
through electrophilic and nucleophilic Parr functions. RSC advances, 3(5), pp.1486-1494: 1485.

4
Vladimir, E. Tumanov, Elena S. Amosova, and Andrei I. Prokhorov. "Developing an expert system integrated
into the information portal to evaluate reactivity of organic molecules in radical reactions." In MATEC Web of
Conferences, vol. 76, p. 04007. EDP Sciences, 2016.
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compound by relevant physical as well as spectroscopic data.5 Similarly, Domingo, Pérez and

Sáez, 2013 outlined that chemistry journals on the reactivity of organic molecules must

always have a section that characterizes the various types of molecules by outlining data from

IR spectroscopy, mass spectroscopy, and electronic spectroscopy, which sum up the TEM and

SEM requirements in the discipline of chemistry. The experimental section includes the

reactivity of the organic molecules in visible form and explained along with three types of

data, which are focused on each compound that forms the specific sub-section of the

experimental section.6 Accordingly, the experimental section of research papers in the

discipline of chemistry is incomplete without the experimental section.

The writing in this discipline must also adhere to irreplaceable minimums of writing

chemical names in groups because the names form a communication tool that chemists

understand. Thus, the community in chemistry advocates for the use of group names as the

definitive character of good writing. Group names imply particular atoms that are bonded

through given arrangements that provide desired physical and chemical properties to

compounds.7 In particular, the community in this discipline combines names of functional

groups in organic molecule reactions to help in distinguishing the compounds during writing.8

As such, readers find it easy to understand the components of every compound and follow the

information details with minimum stress.

5
Domingo, Ríos-Gutiérrez, and Pérez. Applications of the conceptual density functional theory, 2016:
755.
6
Tumanov, Vladimir E., Elena S. Amosova, and Andrei I. Prokhorov. "Developing an expert system integrated
into the information portal to evaluate reactivity of organic molecules in radical reactions." In MATEC Web of
Conferences, vol. 76, p. 04007. EDP Sciences, 2016.

7
Domingo, Ríos-Gutiérrez, and Pérez. Applications of the conceptual density functional theory 2016:
749.
8
Domingo, Pérez, and Sáez, 2013. Understanding the local reactivity in polar organic reactions, 1488.
 5

The usefulness of this design is that it helps in distinguishing similar compounds from

one another.9 It is thus undeniable that the organization of the research in this discipline is

standardized and unique to enable easy communication amongst the professionals and

students of chemistry. Once the compounds acquire group names that help in distinguishing

them from others, and the fact that they indicate different chemical structures and formula,

the ideas and explanations become easy to understand for developing new ideas or adding to

the already formed findings by other researchers.

Writing in chemistry research and normal studies adores simplicity,

straightforwardness, and avoidance of verbosity. The three articles share the perception that

good writing in this discipline is characterized by explicit expressions and a lack of

unnecessary details on the subject matter. For example, Domingo, Ríos-Gutiérrez, and Pérez

2016 state that good writing should be direct and straightforward. Consequently, the research

should avoid vague and ambiguous language as well as complicated sentences hence making

the content easier to understand. The writing differs from other disciplines, such as business

reports that rely on explanations and evidence to persuade the audience on particular issues.

On the same note, the application of technical terms becomes the essential tool for

achieving the objective of brevity in writing of chemistry papers. It is expected that the

researchers use chemistry technical terms to enhance the writing.10 For instance, chemical

compounds must be named accordingly and provide their international labels and systems.

The international system of units should guide simplicity and precision in writing chemistry

9
Tumanov, Vladimir E., Elena S. Amosova, and Andrei I. Prokhorov. "Developing an expert system”
2016: 04009
10
Domingo, L.R., Pérez, P. and Sáez, J.A., 2013. Understanding the local reactivity in polar organic
reactions, 1490
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research.11 The approach helps to ensure that information written in a chemistry research

paper remains within the construct of simplicity, relevance, and conciseness. In contrast,

writings in other disciplines such as the English language adore the simplicity and use of

non-technical terminologies to aid effective communication across the board.

Additionally, writing chemistry papers is incomplete without publication formulas, equations,

schemes, and diagrams that are related to the topic at hand.12 Researchers recommended the

use of LaTex, to allow writers to focus on content as opposed to issues of formatting.

Domingo, Pérez, and Sáez, 2013, added on the disposition by indicating that the communities

expect writing to be logical and organized into sections. Although logic and organization

must apply to every other writing in all disciplines, chemistry discipline emphasizes their

application because the conclusions of the research may not make sense if the chemical

formula are placed without order and follows no proper logical steps to arrive at the final

judgment.

Other writing rules of chemistry discipline relate to evidence, acknowledgment of

resources, and past tense. Conclusions must be flow from evidence the research finds.

Conclusions rely on evidence. It is an indication that the final stage of the research is arrived

at following a series of activities that preceded the specific conclusion. Moreover,

conclusions should be supported by evidence and acknowledgment of other people's works.

At the same time, excellent writing should involve the use of past tense in the description of

specific experiments as well as observations.13 Although these rules of good writing apply to

11
Tumanov, Vladimir E., Elena S. Amosova, and Andrei I. Prokhorov. "Developing an expert system”
2016: 04010.
12
Domingo, L. R., Ríos-Gutiérrez, M., and Pérez, P., 2016. Applications of the conceptual density
functional theory indices to organic chemistry reactivity. Molecules, 21(6), 748
13
Domingo, Ríos-Gutiérrez, and Pérez. Applications of the conceptual density functional theory,
2016: 753.
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other disciplines as well, the chemistry discipline requires them as a matter of necessity to

make sense of the processes and conclusions of the research.

The community of chemistry discipline expects that every writing has experimental

evidence they acquire through analysis of previous studies. Evidence is an essential aspect of

research in the field of chemistry, as implied by the three articles considered in this paper.

Evidence from experiments and past studies serves to back the information in the current

study.14 This is why the acknowledgment of the works of other researchers is essential part of

the writing. The role of experimental evidence is that it validates the information provided in

a chemistry research paper.15 Similarly, Tumanov, Vladimir, Elena, Amosova, and Andrei,

Prokhorov, 2016, indicated that communities in the discipline of chemistry always accept

experimental evidence.16 Moreover, the researchers indicated that experimental evidence

should always be supported by findings from past studies as a way of developing a build-up

for the contemporary study topic. Consequently, the experimental evidence can be argued to

be the most definite section and tool for achieving the objectives of chemistry research and

writing.

Finally, it is essential to understand how the chemistry discipline community employs

various strategies of discerning, engaging, and reproducing conventions in this discipline so

that they be understood in their context in comparison with other disciplines. First, the

individuals compare discern every research material to previous studies. The comparison

enables them to identify the consistency, or lack of it, in the application of conventions in the

14
Domingo, Ríos-Gutiérrez, and Pérez. Applications of the conceptual density functional theory,
2016: 760.
15
Domingo, L.R., Pérez, P. and Sáez, J.A., 2013. Understanding the local reactivity in polar organic reactions,
1486.

16
Tumanov, Vladimir E., Elena S. Amosova, and Andrei I. Prokhorov. "Developing an expert system
integrated into the information portal to evaluate reactivity of organic molecules in radical reactions."
In MATEC Web of Conferences, vol. 76, p. 04007. EDP Sciences, 2016.
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discipline. Secondly, the individuals engage the conventions by consistently researching on

new issues that relate to the discipline. Research helps the community to stay relevant and

informed about the various updates on the conventions in the discipline. Finally, the

reproduction of conventions in the discipline is achieved through consistent development of

new research areas where individuals in the community can consistently apply the

conventions to come up with new ideas.

Nonetheless, the structure and nature of the chemistry discipline’s research and

writing replicate itself in the current research. The current research has adopted and applied

appropriate literacy practices, including reliance on past work, acknowledging authors whose

works have been used to acquire the evidence, indication of the evidence, and application of

terminologies of research. The current research exhibits three literacy practices hence

showing its conformity with literary needs.

First, the research uses multiple texts that expand and connect concepts that are

discussed. It gathers information from various sources and joins them together to come up

with a clear and concise point about a concept, such as the issue of the use of experimental

evidence. Secondly, the research provides evidence from various articles and connects them

with the current issue at hand. Therefore, readers can easily understand the intended

information by connecting various past aspects of the study. Finally, the research uses

appropriate terminologies that match the demands of the research topic, which is chemistry

discipline research and writing. Mainly, terminologies that relate to chemistry have been

effectively used in the research.

In summary, the evidence of the structure, format, and organization of the three

articles indicates that chemistry discipline approaches literary matters differently. The
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conventions is replete with the use of technical terms to simplify findings and explanations

and avoid verbosity. The experimental section of the papers must be used as well as

adherence to the acknowledgement of sources of the information. The writing adopts past

tense too. Evidence from past researches forms the basis of the work as the chemical formula

acquires the form of drawings to show how molecules and chemical elements combine to

form compounds. There is also the use of group names of chemical compounds to help in

differentiating similar compounds.

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Bibliography

Domingo, L. R., Ríos-Gutiérrez, M., and Pérez, P., 2016. Applications of the

conceptual density functional theory indices to organic chemistry reactivity.

Molecules, 21(6), 748.

Domingo, L.R., Pérez, P. and Sáez, J.A., 2013. Understanding the local reactivity in

polar organic reactions through electrophilic and nucleophilic Parr functions.

RSC advances, 3(5), pp.1486-1494.

Tumanov, Vladimir E., Elena S. Amosova, and Andrei I. Prokhorov. "Developing an

expert system integrated into the information portal to evaluate reactivity of

organic molecules in radical reactions." In MATEC Web of Conferences, vol.

76, p. 04007. EDP Sciences, 2016.