English scientific writing

Module code

mlsWritEng-01a

Abbreviated title

WritEng

Module components

Seminars, tutorials

When

Semesters 2+3

Module coordinator/

Organiser

J. Baines

IEM

Lecturers

J. Baines, M. Poyet (IEM)

Contact hours

Seminar 2nd semester 1 CH             Seminar 3rd semester 2 CH
Tutorial 2nd semester 1 CH             Tutorial 3rd semester 1 CH

Workload

Total: 180 h

Seminar and tutorial 2^nd semester: 60 h
Attendance time 26 h, preparation 34 h
Seminar and tutorial 3^rd semester: 90 h
Attendance time 38 h, preparation 42 h, revision 10 h

Credit points

6 (seminar 2nd sem. 1 CP, tutorial 2nd sem. 1 CP, seminar 3rd sem. 2 CH, tutorial 3rd sem. 2 CP)

Requirements

-

Expected outcome

Knowledge: Students

-are familiar with the most important grammatical structures of the English language

- have acquired the basics of English molecular-biology terminology

- have an overview knowledge of different text forms

- are familiar with the basics of scientific writing as well as with the structural components of a scientific publication.

Skills: Students

- are able to draft a grammatically correct, lucid scientific text in English

- can use (monolingual) dictionaries and reference books to extract information as efficiently as possible.

Competences: Students

- can apply their understanding of the process of writing a scientific publication to writing an own paper

- can plan and write (the outline for) a scientific presentation taking into account the envisaged audience, the particularities of the topic and suitable media.

Content

Seminars: English grammar, introduction to relevant dictionaries and reference books, how to use them and what for; techniques for building up vocabulary; the structure of different forms of scientific texts; stylistics (which presentation/text form for which aim and audience, which media?); citation rules, bibliographies/good scientific practice.
Tutorials: Developing a concept and draft for a scientific publication, rules and ways of writing and submitting conference abstracts, manuscripts, etc.

Module evaluation/

exam

Ungraded (pass/fail distinction)

Written assignments during semester

Media used

PPT presentations, handouts

Literature

Glasman-Deal H, Science Research Writing (Imperial College Press 2009)

Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (Cornelsen 10^th edition, 2020)

Oxford Collocations Dictionary for students of English (OUP 2013, 2nd edition)
Swan M, Practical English Usage (OUP 4^th edition, 2017)
Kipfer, B A (ed.), Roget’s International Thesaurus (Collins Reference 8th edition, 2019)

Skern T, Writing Scientific English – a workbook (UTB 3^rd revised edition, 2019)