This chapter picks up on the puzzle raised in the previous chapter and attempts in detail to vindicate the unity of the dialogue as a Platonic vehicle for critical engagment by the reader. Focussing on the Charmides section, it lays out and discusses a series of key themes and contrasts which, it is argued, both prepare the reader for Socrates’ discussion with Critias to come and are illuminated on subsequent reading by that discussion. It argues that the way these themes and contrasts are presented is designed to induce readers into occupying a stance of enquiry that orients us towards critical engagement with the Critias section. The chapter ends with an analysis of how the final section of the dialogue, in which Charmides reappears, plays a role in sustaining this critical stance on the reader’s part.

Authors are instructed that the Abstract is the most important part of their paper and that it needs very careful attention. It must attract the attention of potential readers, be succinct and clear. The structured Abstract is more verbose, which is required by some journals. It should contain in particular the hypothesis and, in the shortest way, the overall conclusion of the findings. Below it the author indicates what are the most appropriate keywords, sets out the abbreviations used.

Conferences are an excellent opportunity to hear about the latest news in your field. They are also a great chance to meet like-minded people, share experiences, discuss ideas and gain inspiration. Friendships, collaborations, new research directions, invitations and job offers can all arise from conversations at conferences. Conferences range from small regional or national gatherings to huge international meetings. They may address a particular topic or may be a more general meeting of a learned society, including symposia on a variety of topics as well as society business meetings. Conferences may have only one session, with all delegates in the same room at the same time or may have multiple concurrent sessions in a conference venue where all the rooms and corridors look the same and it’s very easy to get lost. Most conferences include keynote or plenary presentations by major researchers in the field. This is a great chance to meet the people whose articles you have read and admired. In this chapter, I cover preparing and submitting an abstract, then attending a conference. Next, I provide general advice on presentations, then cover preparing and presenting oral and poster presentations. I end with conference etiquette.

A research project is not finished until we have written it up. Scientific reports have a standard format, with some variation. This should be familiar from your reading. This chapter builds on the general advice for writing in Chapter 14 and focusses on how to write a scientific report. I provide general guidance for writing your report, then cover each section of the manuscript in turn. I focus on primary research articles, because these are the main way in which we disseminate new research. Much of the advice applies more generally to theses and dissertations. Most reports have multiple authors and we must negotiate authorship fairly.