Scientific Writing

The course is designed to build essential skills in scientific writing. The primary focus is on understanding the process of a research paper design, construction of argumentation lines, and efficient communication of scientific knowledge. The lectures are combined with in-class exercises and homeworks.

The objectives of the course:

1. Understanding the structure of scientific papers and the basics of the scientific writing

2. Learning how to design key parts of a scientific paper

3. Understanding the process of scientific research and how to report it as research papers or thesis: how to formulate a scientific question, how to choose methods, how to identify publishable research results, how to place your work into the body of the pre-existing scientific knowledge

4. Learning how to paraphrase scientific texts and use references properly: say NO to copy-pasting!

5. Understanding basic time-management techniques for writing and how to overcome writer’s block

6. Practicing in design of paper outlines by using Mind Maps

7. Overcoming most common grammar issues: passive vs active voice, articles, adjectives vs adverbs, English paragraph structure, text structure

8. Learning how to write in paragraphs and combine paragraphs together

9. Ethics in publication and scientific research

10. Advanced writing: how to write review papers and design texts for target audiences

Portfolio

Hausarbeit

1. "How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper" by Barbara Gastel and Robert A. Day

2. "The Elements of Style" by William Fran and E.B. White

3. "A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, Ninth Edition: Chicago Style for Students and Researchers (Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing)" by Kate L. Turabian

1st SWS: Introduction to the course, its organization, and the grading system.

2nd SWS: Different writing styles and characteristics of scientific writing. The scientific method and the culture of communicating your research results. Structure of a scientific paper. How to write the Introduction.

3rd SWS: How to choose, justify, and report methods. How to describe results. Figure content and organization.

Grammar: adjective or adverb?

4th SWS: Understanding and practicing paraphrasing.

Exercise/Homework: Read and paraphrase content of a research paper.

Grammar: the or a?

5th SWS: Time management, work organization, overcoming procrastination and writer’s block. Mind mapping technique and paper outlines.

Exercise/Homework: Read a research paper and generate a Mind Map of this paper.

6th SWS: The scientific question and research process: how to manage your research project, find answers to your question and select data for publication(s).

Exercise/Homework: identify a scientific question in a research paper.

7th SWS: Communication of your research results: specific examples. Conceptual paper design, data/figure organization, relationships between the Results and the Discussion chapters.

8th SWS: Independent study break.

9th SWS: Difference between research reports and research papers. How to design your story of a scientific discovery? How to build major argumentation lines?

Exercise/Homework: Read a research paper and identify primary argumentation lines.

10th SWS: Writing in paragraphs: generic structure of a paragraph, different types of paragraph design.

Exercise/Homework: read a research paper and paraphrase the content by following the rules of paragraph design.

11th SWS: Connecting the paragraphs into a coherent text. Developing argumentation lines and writing the Discussion. Conclusions and Summaries.

Exercise: planning text and paragraph structure.

12th SWS: Publication and research ethics. Understanding the scientific honor code and scientific misconduct issues. Choice of literature and references. Citation rules.

13th SWS: Advanced writing: review papers, adaptation of writing style to your audience, high-impact papers.

14th SWS: Questions and answers, editorial support for the student’s writing.