EXWR 201-01

Writing in the Sciences

spring 2000

Schedule

Unless I inform you otherwise, all drafts of all papers for this class should be emailed to Jan.Cooper@oberlin.edu as a Microsoft Word 6 (or higher) attachment by 3pm on the due date.

Some weeks I have scheduled time for individual appointments with each class member, and some weeks I have not. Whether or not individual appointments are scheduled for a week, however, please feel free to make an extra appointment to talk to me if you need it.

NOTE: Attendance and coming to class on time are especially crucial in this course, given how much work is scheduled for each class meeting. If you are absent from class or miss an appointment with me, I expect you to contact me as soon as possible to explain the absence and to turn in writing or pick up materials you may have missed. If you are late to class, I expect you to explain why to me at the end of the period, and if (for some dire emergency only!) you have to leave early, I expect you to explain at the beginning of the class meeting why that will happen.

Additional individual appointments, small group meetings or meetings with tutors will be scheduled as needed.

Module 1: Writing in the Sciences

Mon., Feb. 7--Names, course introduction, in-class writing

Tues., Feb. 8, 6pm--Email rest of Day 1 Writing to Jan.Cooper@oberlin.edu

Wed., Feb. 9--Paper 1 Assignment; group work

Fri., Feb. 11--discuss Preface and Part I in Style (pp. v-37), discuss turning in papers as email attachments

What is Writing in the Sciences?

reading: Hailman and Strier's "How to Plan Research"

Sun., Feb. 13, 3pm--Paper 1 due, Paper 2 assignment handed out

Mon., Feb. 14--Discussion of Hailman and Strier's "How to Plan Research"

Wed., Feb. 16--Group work on Paper 2

Fri., Feb. 18--Discuss Lesson Three in Style (pp. 41-67)

A Closer Look at Writing in One Science

reading: pieces collected by small groups

Sun., Feb. 20, 3pm--Paper 2 due

Mon., Feb. 21--Individual appointments with Jan; turn in samples of scientific writing

Tues., Feb 22--Pick up science writing samples at Jan's office in King 139-D

Wed., Feb. 23--Discuss scientific writing samples&emdash;compare and contrast in large group

Fri., Feb. 25--Discuss Lesson Four from Style (pp. 68-96)

Proposal Writing

reading: Hailman and Strier's " How to Write a Research Proposal"

Sun., Feb. 27, 3pm--Revision of Paper 2 due

Mon., Feb. 28--Discussion of reading; Paper 3 assignment handed out

Wed., March 1--Group work&emdash;discussion of stage one for Paper 3

Fri., March 3--Discuss Lesson Five in Style (pp. 97-117)

Documentation in Professional Scientific Writing

reading: websites to be announced

Sun., March 5, 3pm--Paper 3 second stage due, sign up for individual appointments with Jan during this week

Mon., March 6--Discussion of Paper 3 second stages in small groups

Wed., March 8--Discussion of documentation issues in professional scientific writing

Fri., March 10--Discuss Lesson Six in Style (pp. 118-135)

reading: drafts of Paper 3 to be distributed

Sun., March12--Third stage of Paper 3 due

Mon., March 13--Workshop Paper 3 third stages, sign up for appointments with Jan

Wed., March 15--Workshop Paper 3 third stages

Fri., March 17--Discuss Punctuation Appendix in Style (pp. 251-272)

Sun., March 19--Further revision of Paper 3 due, if necessary

Mon., March 20--Workshop Paper 3 third stages

Wed., March 22--Midterm course evaluation discussion

Fri., March 24--Midterm Folders due by noon at King 139-D (Jan's office)

March 25-April 2 SPRING RECESS&emdash;NO CLASSES

Module 2: Writing about the Sciences for Other Readers

What are the differences in writing for a professional scientific audience and for a general audience? Why bother writing for non-scientific audiences?

reading: Soderberg's "Writing as a Means to an End" handout

Mon., April 3--Discuss reading, Paper 4 assignment handed out, sign up for midterm appointments

Wed., April 5--Bring subject for Paper 4 to class, discuss in small groups

Fri., April 7--Discuss Lesson Seven in Style (pp. 137-164), sign up for midterm appointments

Science Journalism

reading: "Techniques of the Trade" and handout from A Field Guide for Science Writers

Sun., April 9--Paper 4 due (send to group members as well as Jan)

Mon., April 10--Workshop paper 4 in small group; Paper 5 assignment handed out

Wed., April 12--Discuss reading

Fri., April 14--Discuss choices for Paper 5 in class

Readings

Blum, Deborah, and Mary Knudson. A Field Guide for Science Writers. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997.

Hailman, Jack P., and Karen B. Strier. Planning, Proposing, and Presenting Science Effectively: A Guide for Graduate Students and Researchers in the Behavioral Sciences and Biiology. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 1997.

Soderberg, Patti. "Writing as a Means to an End: Persuasion and Communication in the Biology Classroom." BioQuestNotes 9 (Oct. 1998): 1-10.

Williams, Joseph M. Style: Ten Lessons in Clarity and Grace, 6th ed. New York: Longman, 2000.

Other articles and websites gathered by class members

Another resource you may find helpful is the Expository Writing Program's OWL (Online Writing Lab) and its page on resources for writing, which can be found at: <http://www.oberlin.edu/~exposwrt/owl/writing.html>

return to Writing in the Sciences home

last updated 5 March

2000

send comments to Jan.Cooper@oberlin.edu

http://www.oberlin.edu/~jcooper/sciwtgsched.htm