Biological Scientific Writing (BIOL 825)

Syllabus is subject to change during semester.
Most recent update to the course web content: 24 September 2012

Instructor: Mark Eberle, AH 424, meberle@fhsu.edu, 785-628-5264.

Class Times: Monday and Friday, 8:30-9:20.

Classroom: Albertson Hall 321 (Biology Computer Lab).

Required Texts:

• R. A. Day and N. Sakaduski.  2011.  Scientific English: A Guide for Scientists and Other Professionals, third edition.  Greenwood, Santa Barbara, California.  225 pages.
• A. J. Friedland and C. L. Folt.  2009.  Writing Successful Science Proposals, second edition.  Yale University Press, New Haven, Connecticut.  224 pages.

Recommended reference:

• Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 11th edition. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated, Springfield, Massachusetts. 1623 pages..

Other Resources:

• FHSU thesis guidelines: http://www.fhsu.edu/gradschl/
• Essay on plagiarism, misrepresentation, and proper paraphrasing: http://www.fhsu.edu/biology/Eberle/PlagiarismMisrepresentation/
• Some notes and assignments will be provided through this website, which might be updated occasionally during the semester.

Credit Hours: 2 credit hours.

Course Description: Techniques and methods of writing scientific papers.

Course Objectives:

• Teach students basic grammar from a scientific perspective to help them construct clear, concise, grammatically correct sentences and paragraphs.  
• Teach students how to prepare thesis and grant proposals.  
• Teach students general aspects of how to conduct research.  
• Teach students how to summarize their research in the IMRaD format in a clear, concise, well organized thesis or journal article.  
• Teach students about the process of peer review in scientific literature.  
• Teach students how to prepare a curriculum vitae.  

Course Grades: one test (25%), written research proposal and supporting documents (two drafts, 60%), and class participation (15%). Academic dishonesty (e.g., plagiarism, cheating) or failure to turn in assignments on time can result in a score of 0% for that assignment and possible other actions by the university. For transgressions on the proposal, each draft will be considered 30% of the total score possible for the course. For example, plagiarism on one draft of the proposal would reduce the total points possible for the course to 70% (a maximum grade of C).

Course Content:

• Scientific writing style  
• Scientific English  
• Thesis and grant proposals  
• Theses and publications  
• IMRaD format  
• Word processing  
• Editing  
• Publication process  
• Participation in scientific organizations  

Course Format: Lectures, class discussions, writing and editing assignments, and reading assignments.

Course Requisites: Permission of the instructor; graduate students only.

Course Links: Class notes and assignments (additional links included within lecture notes).

• Lecture Notes: Getting Started in Graduate School and Preparing a CV (pdf file)
• Lecture Notes: Scientific Writing and Grammar (pdf file)
• Lecture Notes: Writing Proposals (pdf file)
• Lecture Notes: IMRaD Format and Publication Process (pdf file)

• Editing Exercise 1 (Word doc file)
• Editing Exercise 2 (pdf file)
• Editing Exercise 3 (pdf file)
• Editing Exercise 4 (pdf file)

Course Mantra: Be clear, be concise, and strive for the highest levels of integrity and quality. It is easy and takes little time to develop a bad reputation in any endeavor. A good reputation is a lifelong process, and this is true of learning to be a good scientific writer.

General Academic Policies: This course will comply with general academic policies regarding adding or dropping courses, grade appeals, academic honesty, class attendance, and intellectual property rights as outlined in the University Catalog.