327-0721-00L Writing for Publication in Materials Science
| Semester | Autumn Semester 2018 |
| Lecturers | R. Mihalka |
| Periodicity | every semester recurring course |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Comment | Number of participants limited to 15. Only for D-MATL doctoral students. |
| Abstract | This short course is designed to help junior researchers in Materials Science develop the skills needed to write their first research articles. |
| Learning objective | Writing for Publication in Materials Science is a short course (5 x 4-lesson workshops) designed to help junior researchers develop the skills needed to write their first research articles. The course deals with topics such as - identifying target readerships and selecting outlets, - managing the writing process efficiently, - structuring the text effectively, - producing logical flow in sentences and paragraphs, - editing the text before submission, and - revising the text in response to reviewers' comments. Participants will be expected to produce a number of short texts as homework assignments and will receive individual feedback on these during the course. Wherever feasible, elements of participants' future research articles can be developed as assignments within the course, so it is likely to be particularly useful for those who have their data and are about to begin the writing process. |
| Content | Part 1: Introduction to the course; the writing context; identifying target readers and targeting journals; using model texts; activating vocabulary; writing clear English sentences; the English verb system in research publications - using tense, aspect, and voice Part 2: The writing process; structural decisions (IMRD and variations); from plan to draft; basics of paragraph structure; reader-friendly paragraph structure; patterns and tools for creating logical flow; the English noun phrase in research publications Part 3: The experimental narrative; process descriptions, explanation and justification; data commentaries; embedding figures, diagrams, etc. Part 4: Introductions; creating a research space (CARS); writing about the literature; reference, citation, paraphrase and quotation; discussion and conclusion sections; overview of abstracts and titles Part 5: Managing the strength of the claim - hedging and emphasis; punctuation and style; the editing process; responding to reviewers' comments; preparing writing portfolios for assessment and research articles for submission. |
| Prerequisites / Notice | This short course is designed to help junior researchers in Materials Science develop the skills needed to write their first research articles. |