Class time: 14.15-17.00, Mondays (starting October 27) for Periods II (weeks 44-50 in 2008) and III (weeks 3-9 in 2009)
Class location: Exactum C323
Credit: 3 op
Prerequisites: None
The course is taught in English and is designed for M.S. and Ph.D. students.
In this course, students will learn to write a clear, concise, and precise scientific document and to give interesting, well-organized, scientific presentations. Students will write several short papers and will make several short oral presentations. Students will engage in class discussions and debates. To achieve maximum benefit from this course, students are encouraged to be actively working on a journal article, conference extended abstract, or dissertation.
Some of the topics to be covered:
How to Attract an
Audience
Combating Writer's Block
Effective
Editing
Creating Aesthetically Pleasing and Scientifically
Accurate Figures
Determining Authorship
Addressing Reviewer
Comments
How to Write a Review
How to Give an Interesting
Presentation
Overcoming the Liability of Powerpoint
Powerful
Poster Presentations
October 27:
Overview, The Importance of Scientific Communication Skills, Writing the title
Syllabus
Schedule
Excerpts of Lecture Notes: Overview
Excerpts of Lecture Notes: Peer Review
November 3:
Writing the abstract, parts of a scientific paper, organization
November 10:
Starting to write, writer's block, brainstorming, outlining
Parts of a Generic Scientific Paper
November 17:
Paragraphs and sentences
"Answers" to Homework 2
The Science of Scientific Writing by Gopen and Swan (1990)
November 24:
Sentences, phrases, and words
David Schultz's precis of the first paragraph of the mammoth DNA paper (Poinar et al. 2006, Science, 20 January 2006, Vol. 311, p. 392.)
December 1:
Figures
December 8:
Citations, coauthorship, collaboration
Jan. 12: NO CLASS
Jan. 19: Meetings
Jan. 26: Effective Slideware
Feb. 2: Peer Review
Feb. 2: Posters
Feb. 16: Class Presentations
Feb. 23: Class Presentations
David Schultz
david dot schultz at fmi.fi
Last update: 10 October 2008