Joel Kingsolver
Clear and concise writing is an essential skill for a scientist, but many scientists find developing this skill to be one of the hardest parts of their job training. In this seminar we will cover a range of topics from writing habits to the components of research articles, review articles, fellowships, and grant applications. Practice is essential to developing good writing skills. The course will include regular exercises and students are required to complete a writing project (or several, depending on the projects) of their own (e.g. a research paper or grant application for submission) during the course of the semester.
Meetings
Thursdays, 11a-1250p, 310 Wilson Hall
Book
Hofmann, Angelika. 2010. Scientific Writing and Communication. Oxford University Press.
Schedule
Aug 25 – Introductory/organizational meeting
Exercises for today: Post your proposed writing project on google doc sheet; Pick your favorite research article or author and come prepared to discuss
Sep 1 – Discuss writing strategies & paragraph structure; discuss/peer review your titles and paragraphs; discuss writing outlines
Reading for today: Chap 6 (paragraphs) and 7 (first drafts)
Exercise for today: Choose the paper and/or proposal you will write during the semester. Write a title and a one paragraph description of the paper or proposal, and post it.
Sep 8 – Discuss/peer review your outlines; discuss writing Introductions; discuss choosing journals and co-authors
Reading for today: Chap 10 (Introduction)
Exercise for today: Write and post an outline for your paper or proposal.
By Friday: Find and email (to Joel) examples of successful (and your unsuccessful?) DDIG applications, for next week.
Sep 15– Peer-review introduction; Discuss DDIG proposals and process, with DDIG examples;
Reading for today: Chap 21 and 22; posted DDIG examples
Assignment for today: Write and post draft of Introduction; read peer Intro
Leaders:
Sep 22 – Peer review of revised Introductions; Discuss making Figures and Tables; (or Questions/Aims)
Reading for today: Chap 9
Assignment for today: List or sketch your figures and tables, and revise Introduction (if DDIG, post Preliminary Results); post these; read peer revised Intro
By Friday: Find and post examples of successful (and your unsuccessful?) Fellowship applications, for next week.
Leaders:
Sep 29 – Discuss Fellowships; peer review DDIGs and Fellowships
Reading for today: Chap 23 and 24
Assignment for today: post your fellowship or DDIG proposals
Leaders:
Oct 6 -Methods
Reading for today: Chap 11 (Materials and Methods)
Assignment for today: post your completed Figures and Tables
Leader:
Oct 13 –Discuss/ peer review Materials and Methods; discuss writing Results
Reading for today: Chap 12 (Results)
Assignment for today: Write and post your Materials and Methods; read peer M&M
Leader:
Oct 20— Fall Break
Oct. 27 – Discuss/peer review Results; discuss writing Discussion
Reading for today: Chap 13 (Discussion)
Assignment for today: Write and post Results; read peer Results
Leaders:
Nov 3 –Discuss/peer review Discussions; discuss writing Abstracts
Reading for today: Chap 14 (Abstracts)
Assignment for today: Write and post Discussion; read peer Discussion
Leaders:
Nov 10 – Discuss/peer review Abstracts; Discuss Revising Manuscripts;
Reading for today: Chap 16 (Revising the Manuscript)
Exercise for today: Write and post Abstract
Leader:
Nov 17 – Discuss how to write a review; Discuss the submission process
Reading for today: Chap 17 (Final Version and Submission); sample reviews
Assignment for today: Post your complete manuscript
Leader:
Nov 24 – Thanksgiving
Dec 1 – Discuss/peer review of complete papers; discuss responding to reviews
Reading for today: your peer-assigned paper
Assignment for today: write review of your assigned paper, and post
Leader:
Dec 8 – Wrap-up discussion of papers, reviews and life
Assignment for today: post your revised paper