On Writing Well by William Zinsser

PART 1 Gist

Science and technologies are irksome subjects to many writers. However, Zinsser contends that science, technologies and writings are inextricably intertwined. Scientific and technical writing helps shape the clear and orderly thinking of the writers, which applies to all nonfiction writings. Zinsser gave several tips with regard to a good scientific and technical writing. First, start with a narrow fact. Second, look for the human element and use your own experience to connect the readers. Third, weave a scientific story around someone else. Fourth, reduce the abstract principle to an image readers can visualize.

PART 2 Expressions

1. Science, demystified, is just another nonfiction subject.

demystify: to make a subject that seems difficult or complicated easier to understand, especially by explaining it in simpler language

This book demystifies the male worlds of plumbing and carpentry.

demystification (n.)

2. I was elated by his overnight change into a writer who had learned to write sequentially, and so was he.

elated: (a.) extremely happy and excited, especially because of sth that has happened or is going to happen (o.) depressed

He felt elated and mildly drunk.

She was elated at/ by the prospect of a holiday.

3. It's the principle of leading readers who know nothing, step by step, to a grasp of subjects they didn't think they had an aptitude for.

grasp: 本意为“抓住” (n./v.)

这里指 the ability to understand a complicated idea, situation, or subject SYN understanding

Her grasp of the issues was impressive.

After two months, his grasp on the subject was improving.

Steve has a good/ firm/ thorough grasp of the European legal system.

其他含义: the ability to achieve or gain sth

within/ beyond one's grasp

An agreement to end the war seemed within their grasp.

Many families are finding suitable housing beyond their grasp.

4. Another personal method is to weave a scientific story around someone else.

weave: to put many different ideas, subjects, stories etc together and connect them smoothly

She weaves a complicated plot of romance and intrigue.

weave sth together

the complex patterns which evolve when individuals' lives are woven together

5. Most bats really belt it out; we just don't hear them. 

belt sth out: to sing a song or play an instrument loudly

She was belting out old Broadway favorites.

6. Loren Eiseley was a naturalist who refused to be cowed by nature.

be cowed: be frightened

be cowed into sth

The protesters had been cowed into submission by the police.

7. It is true that some of the creatures are odd, but I find the situation rather heartening than otherwise.

hearten: (v.) to make sb feel happier and more hopeful

I was heartened to see her looking so well.

(o.) dishearten: disappointed, so that you lose hope and the determination

If young children don't see quick results they grow disheartened.

heartening (a.) 令人振奋的；鼓舞人的

8. If you're a student with a bent for science or technology, don't assume that the English department has a monopoly on "literature".

bent: formal, special natural skill or interest in a particular area

musical/ artistic/ literary etc bent

readers of a more literary bent

9. Why are the ion streams hard to control? The writer obliges.

oblige: to do sth  that sb has asked you to do  效劳

It's always a good idea to oblige important clients.

happy/ glad/ ready to oblige

If you need a ride home, I'd be happy to oblige.

I' m much obliged to you: spoken, used to thank sb very politely 感激

I'd be obliged if : spoken, used to make a polite request

I'd be obliged if you'd treat this matter as strictly confidential.

10. Speaking of compression, that paragraph is a gem of tight linear writing.gem

gem: [dʒem] 1. 宝石( also gem stone)；2. 珍品 sth that is very special or beautiful; 3. a very helpful or special person

little gems of advice

Ben, you're a real gem!

PART 3 Writing

One night, my old grandmother was watching TV alone in the living room. It was over 10:30 p.m. and the other family members had all gone to bed. Suddenly, someone knocked the door. She didn't answer the door as she was afraid of malicious intruders. The knocking lasted for 15 minutes and awakened my grandpa. He opened the door. It turned that our neighbor, who found our key left in the knobset when he came back home, wanted to inform us of the hanging key. 

The reaction of my grandmother towards suspicious comers is analogous to how allergy arises. Allergy is a malfunction of our immune system. Allergy usually happens when our health system is in an inferior condition and vulnerable to outside attackers. When we are in good health, we have a large storage of fighters in our bodies. The immune cells are more friendly to new comers as they have the confidence to drive out the malicious ones and eliminate their villainies. However, when our body are weak and vulnerable, any  strange comer might put the immune cells on high alert. They would be highly sensitive and take the reaction against potential enemies even though many of those suspects are in fact innocent and would bring no harm to our bodies.