Course Description
Introduction to the principles of effective scientific research writing. Students will learn writing conventions of scientific communication and workshop student writing. Students will develop skills for achieving concise wording and clarity while communicating science. Additional topics include scientific figure design, managing the scientific literature, and rigor and reproducibility.
Athena Title
Scientific Research Writing
Prerequisite
Permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
S/U (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory)
Course Objectives
Students will become more effective at scientific research writing.
Topical Outline
This topical outline is the general plan for the course; the exact order and specific content of each class meeting may be modified based on student needs and progress. Week 1: Overview: Introduction to scientific research writing, knowing your audience, science writing as story telling Week 2: Lecture/Discussion: Writing a short general audience research statement – Effective writing at the sentence level, including structure, tone, word choice, and grammar review Week 3: Discussion: Effective vs. ineffective sentences Week 4: In-class group work, revisions: Student-written general audience summaries Week 5: Lecture/Discussion: Writing a poster abstract – linking sentences together to form an effective paragraph Week 6: Discussion: Effective vs. ineffective paragraph structures Week 7: In-class group work, revisions: Student-written poster abstracts Week 8: Lecture/Discussion: Writing a Specific Aims page – arranging paragraphs, transitioning between ideas Week 9: Discussion: Effective vs. ineffective Aims pages Week 10: In-class group work, revisions: Student-written Specific Aims Week 11: Group activity: Linking ideas together to tell a longer story Week 12: Lecture/Discussion: Figure design and preparation Week 13: Group work, revisions: Student-designed figures Week 14: Lecture/Discussion: Finding and managing references, addressing rigor and reproducibility Week 15: Discussion: Establishing a productive writing practice
Syllabus