IMPROVE YOUR SCIENTIFIC WRITING WITH PRINCIPLES OF LANDSCAPE ART COMPOSITION.

The scientific research article is a careful balance of factual information and social interaction in which academic writers need to make the results of their research public and persuasive. Although scientific communication through journal articles has a history spanning over 350 years, there remains significant potential for improvement. I hypothesize that compositional strategies employed by artists-particularly landscape artists-can enhance academic scientific writing by promoting interaction and improving persuasive communication. This article explores how principles fundamental to landscape art, such as notan, focal point, element hierarchy, the 80/20 rule, simplification, and repetition, can enhance scientific writing. Awareness and adoption of these artistic techniques can make the scientific writing process more engaging and enjoyable for lovers of science and art alike.

Duke Scholars

Author Virginia Byers Kraus Medicine, Rheumatology and Immunology