Course Description

Students will examine recent peer-reviewed scientific writing, consider the strategies of successful scientific writers, learn writing conventions of scientific journals, and workshop student writing. If an undergraduate student is engaged in research (e.g., Undergraduate Research in Biology), the student can work on the required research paper during the course. Graduate students can work on a current research paper during the course.

Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students will be required to submit a stand-alone literature review providing an overview and analysis of current research related to their project. In addition to the literature review, graduate credit for the course requires that the written work and presentations be of a higher quality than at the undergraduate level. Accordingly, assignments will receive more rigorous grading than at the undergraduate level.

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Athena Title

Scientific Research Writing

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Non-Traditional Format

This version of the course will be taught as writing intensive, which means that the course will include substantial and ongoing writing assignments that a) relate clearly to course learning; b) teach the communication values of a discipline—for example, its practices of argument, evidence, credibility, and format; and c) prepare students for further writing in their academic work, in graduate school, and in professional life. The written assignments will result in a significant and diverse body of written work (the equivalent of 6000 words or 25 pages) and the instructor (and/or the teaching assistant assigned to the course) will be closely involved in student writing, providing opportunities for feedback and substantive revision.

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Semester Course Offered

Offered fall and spring

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Grading System

A - F (Traditional)

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Student Learning Outcomes

• Students will develop an argument for the importance of a scientific research question and contextualize it within a broader scientific research conversation.
• Students will assess and synthesize relevant published and unpublished sources of information.
• Students will create clear and persuasive communications for scientific writing rhetorical situations.
• Students will design visual communications to represent data
• Students will demonstrate effective oral communication skills to practice delivering textual messages.

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Topical Outline

• - Analyze and evaluate published scientific research articles - Develop a research proposal - Compose a scientific article, which includes developing an argument, contextualizing work with current research, visualizing data, and interpreting of findings - Create a scientific research poster using data visualization strategies - Present scientific research poster

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Institutional Competencies

Communication

The ability to effectively develop, express, and exchange ideas in written, oral, or visual form.

Critical Thinking

The ability to pursue and comprehensively evaluate information before accepting or establishing a conclusion, decision, or action.

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