Department of Physics, University of
Utah
Course Number: Physics 5680/3680 (3)
Course Title: Scientific Writing and
Speaking
- REPRESENTATIVE TEXTBOOK
- Usage and Style:
- 1. Richard L. Lanham, Revising Prose (MacMillian, New York, 1992).
- 2. William Strunk, Jr., The Elements of Style (MacMillian, New York, 1960).
- 3. Joseph M. Williams, Style: Ten Lessons in Clarity and Grace (Harper Collins,
London, 1989).
- Scientific Writing:
- 4. Carol M. Barnum and Saul Carliner, Techniques for Technical Communicators
(MacMillian, New York, 1993).
- 5. Robert A. Day, How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper (Oryx, Phoenix, 1994).
- 6. H.J. Tichy, Effective Writing for Engineers, Managers, Scientists (Wiley, New York,
1998).
- Style Manuals:
- 7. American Physical Society Style Manual.
- 8. Scientific Style and Format, 6th edition (Cambridge, Cambridge, 1996).
- 9. American Medical Association Manual of Style, 8th edition (Williams and
Wilkins, Baltimore, 1998).
- COURSE DESCRIPTION
- General Description of Course: Preamble
- New information in science is disseminated formally at scientific meetings or in scientific
journals. These media reward good writing and speaking. In addition, the performance of
scientific research requires writing and speaking skills to initiate and maintain research programs.
Although the writing of research proposals may be the most obvious example, many other
examples clutter up the daily lives of scientific professionals.
- Purpose
- The students in this class will learn writing and speaking skills appropriate for careers in
technical fields. The course will emphasize general skills that are important for scientific writing
and speaking. Students will also learn skills that are specific to future careers in physics and
related professions.
- Content
- Good writing and speaking skills are learned with practice. After the first class, written
assignments will be due each week. Students will learn how to write scientific papers, research
proposals and articles on scientific topics for general audiences. Each student will give two oral
presentations during the semester - a short scientific talk and a longer talk to a general audience.
- CO-REQUISITE
-
- OTHER COMMENTS
- None
- MANDATORY TOPICSS
- Week 1:
- Writing and Speaking Techniques: a General Introduction
- Week 2:
- A Review of Basic Rules of Grammar and Style
- Week 3:
- A Review of Basic Rules of Grammar and Style
- Week 4:
- The Ten Minute Talk and Other Short Presentations
- Week 5:
- Introduction to Laboratory Reports, Research Reports, and Short Research Proposals
- Week 6:
- Short Talks by Students
- Week 7:
- Giving a science lecture to a general audience
- Week 8:
- Writing Skills for Scientific Articles; Short Research Proposals Due
- Week 9:
- Half Hour Talks by Students
- Week 10:
- Half Hour Talks by Students
- Week 11:
- Writing Scientific Research Proposals
- Week 12:
- Writing Scientific Research Proposals, Part Ii; Scientific Paper Due
- Week 13:
- Discussion of Scientific Papers and Other Assignments
- Week 14:
- Review of Major Topics
- Week 15:
- scientific Research Proposals Due (NO CLASS) BIBLIOGRAPHY
- Links to exisiting web page for this course:
- 3680
-
Prepared by P. Craig Taylor (3/31/99)