Scientific Writing
14 & 21 November 2023
Venue : University of Neuchâtel Room E326
Individual coaching Room D114
Instructors :
-
Marc Matter, HEG Fribourg, CTC University Hospital Zurich, and ZUW University Bern
-
Benjamin Hoyt (HEG Fribourg).
Objectives
The main aim of the course is to enable participants to improve their written scientific English to such an extent that their articles are considered by high-impact journals in their field.
Content
The course takes both a theoretical and a practical approach to writing. Classroom instruction and ample materials about good practice regarding structure and form of scientific texts is coupled with exercises and, on the second day, coaching for participants to help them to correct and re-structure their own writing, which they start before the beginning of the course.
The course consists of three main components:
- Linguistic components of better writing, including areas like word order, text linkers, tenses, cohesion, scientific style, and text flow.
- Linguistic characteristics of research texts, i.e. the textual/rhetorical characteristics of introduction, results, discussion and methods sections.
- Self-help strategies for scientific writers, such as the effective use of model articles as well as books and online references.
Pre-course assignment
Participants submit 1-2 pages of an article or dissertation before the beginning of the course, ideally (parts of) the introduction, and continue to work on their text during the workshop. They will get some feedback on Day 1 and extensive individualized coaching on Day 2 of the workshop.
The assignement will have to be sent to Mark Matter (hikermarc70@yahoo.com) and to Emilie Genty (ds.biology@unine.ch) before the course (deadline 2 weeks before the course).
Program
|
TIME |
Topics |
|
9.00 |
Introduction to course Plan of day Introduce selves APT – audience, purpose, and tone Academic style |
|
10:50 |
Coffee break ’20 EatEco |
|
11:10 |
Structure of experimental research articles Sequencing task Introductions: Creating a Research space Move 1a |
|
12:00 |
Short break |
|
12:05 |
Move 1b and Reporting Move 2 Move 3 |
|
13:00 |
Lunch EatEco |
|
14:00 |
Introduction: Analysis Basic Word Order in Sentences Paragraphing |
|
15:05 |
Coffee break ’20 EatEco |
|
15:25 |
Paragraphing Online and print resources Coaching Questions, outlook, homework |
|
17:00 |
End of Day 1 |
***
|
TIME |
Topics |
|
|
9:00 |
Welcome and today’s program Methods Active/passive voice and tenses Results |
|
|
11:00 |
Coffee break EatEco |
|
|
11:20 |
Discussions Hedging Conciseness: Reducing texts |
|
|
13:00 |
Lunch EatEco |
|
|
14:00 |
Text flow |
|
|
15:00 |
Coffee break EatEco |
|
|
15:20 |
Coaching, analysis, exercises Questions / Feedback |
|
|
17:00 |
End of Day 2 / Course |
|
General information
Dates: November 2023 (2 days)
Schedule: 8.55 - 17.00
Venue: Unimail (Faculty of Science) Neuchâtel
Credit points: 1.0
Category: Transferable skills (T)
Evaluation: Active participation during the 2 days including pre-course assignment and homework, as described above.
Information: For questions on course content, please contact Marc Matter (hikermarc70@yahoo.com. For any other question, please contact the doctoral school coordinator.
Registration
- This course is open to all Ph.D students, but priority is given to the Doctoral School members
- Minimum number of participants: 8, maximum: 12.
- This course is free, but the effective cost is approx. CHF 700.00 per person. Therefore, a waiting list will be prepared to ensure that there are no empty seats.
Registration: close
Registration available here
Deadline: 07.11.2023
Cancellation policy (CHF 100) .
