Introductory description

This module is intended to allow you to develop and demonstrate your capacity to communicate scientific concepts through writing short, focused scientific articles. It will facilitate engagement with a variety of audiences and the use of a range of strategies to describe scientific procedures, summarise and disseminate findings, write reviews, and formulate effective instructions. It also aims to develop critical thinking and peer review skills.

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

The module will be taught in 10 weekly seminars as follows:

1. Introduction and reflection on own writing process
2. Writing as a process
3. Working with sources: peer-reviewed journals and web-based resources
4. Focused article (1): the scientific fact-sheet
5. Focused article (2): the scientific abstract or a press release
6. Peer review and reflection on own writing process
7. Focused article (3): instructions
8. Focused article (4): describing procedures and presenting results
9. Focused article (5): critique of a scholarly piece of research
10. Conclusion and reflection on own writing process
    Assessment will consist of 5 pieces of writing and 3 on-line reflective assessments.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Advanced understanding of writing as a process
• Ability to write effectively about science to a range of audiences
• ability to write clearly about an original and complex chemical reserach project
• ability to apply critical thinking to their own writing

Indicative reading list

There is no textbook attached to this module;
A range of published articles will be set as primary reading (in consultation with staff from Chemistry and other science departments of relevance to the students);
A list of recommended books will be provided to all students;
There will be a module workbook distributed to all participants;

Subject specific skills

Subject-Specific/Professional Skills

i. the complexities involved in scientific writing to any specified target audience
ii. the intricacies of collaborative work
iii. the protocol of providing constructive feedback to peers
iv. the importance of academic writing to their science project

Transferable skills

Key Skills

i. ability to provide constructive feedback to peers in a professional manner
ii. ability to engage in collaborative work
iii. advanced ability to use sophisticated scientific diction while writing in a clear and concise manner
iv. ability to use web-based research resources effectively and to contribute to the module’s online forum

Cognitive Skills

i. advanced ability to apply critical analysis to an argument
ii. ability to think independently about critical questions
iii. understanding of the components of an argument
iv. advanced understanding of the variety of writing strategies in science