BB541: Introductory Scientific Writing (5 ECTS)

STADS: 04017801

Level
Bachelor course

Teaching period
The course is offered in the autumn semester.

Teacher responsible
Email: magnus@biology.sdu.dk

Timetable
Show entire timetable
Show personal time table for this course.

Prerequisites:
None.

Academic preconditions:
Students taking the course are expected to:

• Have knowledge of natural science subjects corresponding to 2-3 years of university studies
• Be able to use Word and Blackboard

Course introduction
Learn to write science so that the reader gets excited. One of the largest problems in the natural sciences is to express science in a way that is not only correct and precise, but also engages and excites the reader. Here you learn how to avoid using too many words, how you construct efficient sentences – and not the least, some tricks to start up the writing process.

The course gives an academic basis for studying Independent projects, Bachelor and MSc thesis writing.

In relation to the competence profile of the degree it is the explicit focus of the course to:

• Give the competence to write good English scientific reports and papers
• Give skills to express yourself in writing
• Give knowledge and understanding of the writing process

Expected learning outcome
The learning objectives of the course are that the student demonstrates the ability to:

• Write sentences in a clear and efficient way
• Write shorter and longer scientific reports

Subject overview
The following main topics are contained in the course:

• Storytelling
• Basal outreach techniques
• Writing techniques
• Grammar
• Rhetoric
• Structuring scientific reports and papers
• Give and receiver critics
• Write and rewrite texts

Literature

• Angelica Hofmann: Scientific Writing & Communication.

Website
This course uses e-learn (blackboard).

Prerequisites for participating in the exam
None

Assessment and marking:

1. Written assignments. Evaluated by the Danish 7-mark scale, internal censorship. (1 ECTS). (04017822).
2. Critique of written assignments. Evaluated by the Danish 7-mark scale, internal censorship. (1 ECTS). (04017812).
3. Final assignment. Evaluated by the Danish 7-mark scale, internal censorship. (3 ECTS). (04017802).

Expected working hours
The teaching method is based on three phase model.
Intro phase: 10 hours
Skills training phase: 40 hours, hereof:
 - Tutorials: 40 hours

Educational activities
Activities during the study phase:

• Preparing for lectures
• Written assignments

Educational form
In the course lectures are mixed with written assignments and discussion fora.

Language
This course is taught in English.

Course enrollment
See deadline of enrolment.

Tuition fees for single courses
See fees for single courses.