Schedule of Assignments: Spring, 2003
"Technical writing is the communication of specific information to an
identified reader so
that the reader's understanding matches the writer's intention.
The writer's responsibility is
to make the communication accurate, clear, complete, concise, well-organized
and correct"
(Rew, 1993, 3).
Week 1-- 1/06 - 1/10
* Introductions: syllabus, texts, information sheets.
* Writing diagnostic
o Reading 2
(5-8), Reading 2 (9-12), Reading 4 (13) -- outline for own use and bring
to class on Monday
Week 2 -- 1/13-1/17
* Discussion: Elements of Effective Writing
o Reading 5
(15-23)
* Reader-centered writing: questions of audience.
o Reading 14
(57-66), Reading 16 (73-78) -- read and analyze/compare for audience, style,
format, content; use questions
1-5 (3) as a guide
* Research paper guidelines. Computer orientation.
o Audience exercise
pp. 45-48
Week 3 -- 1/20-1/24
* MLK Day -- no class
o compare 2
articles on prosopognosia (27-35)
* Guidelines for Review Article.
o Read "Physiological
Genonomics..."; compare to prosopognosia review
* Finding Sources Workshop. Annotated biblography.
Week 4 -- 1/27-1/31
* Discussion: SFN guidelines for responsible scientific
communication and a useful website; discuss useful research strategies.
* DUE: Annotated Bibliography. Review Article
Revisited.
o Outline Review
article--be as specific as possible: include all subheadings and topic
statement for each relevant section; top of page should include topic,
and one-sentence explanation of signficance of review
* Review article -- in class work day.
Week 5 -- 2/03-2/07
* Peer review first draft of Review article
* Research article revisited. Asking Research Questions.
o Find exemplary
research report from Annotated Bibliography (or, on topic pertinent to
your research topic)
o Bring RQ to
class on Friday
* DUE: Review article. Introduction
format
Week 6 -- 2/10-2/14
* Introductions in class -- "Thesis" versus "Publication"
versions
* Peer review first draft of Introduction
* DUE: Introduction. Discuss methods. -- Conference
Sign Up
Week 7 -- 2/17-2/21
* Individual Conferences
* Individual Conferences
* Individual Conferences
Week 8 -- 2/24-2/28-
* Method Section in class
* Peer Review method section
* DUE: Method Section. Discuss results section.
Use of graphics
Week 9 -- 3/03-3/07
* Results Section in class
* Peer review results section
* DUE: Results Section. Begin discussion section;
discussion section guidelines
Week 10 -- 3/11-3/15 -- SPRING BREAK!
Week 11 -- 3/17-3/21
* Discussion section in class
* Peer Review Discussion section
* DUE: Discussion Section; Writing for Non-specialists;
"Guidelines" for assignment (except for length!! Imagine instead a "brief
communication" kind of section in American Scientist)
Week 12 -- 3/24-3/28
* Peer Review Non-specialist writing
* DUE: Non-Specialist article -- Discuss grant
proposals. NIH guidelines
o See proposal
assignment, pg. 47 in course pack
* Write grant proposals in class
Week 13 -- 3/31-4/04
* Peer review grant proposals
* DUE: grant proposals -- Discuss elements of good
abstract and letter of transmittal.
* abstract in class...abstract DUE at end of period
Week 14 -- 4/07-4/11
* Discuss poster presentations, Link 1 and Link 2
and Link 3
o Begin collating
and assembling all sections of research report
o Read course
package on poster presentations (91-92)
* Presentation work
in class -- Presentations Sign Up
* Presentation work
in class -- Class Evaluations
Week 15 -- 4/14-4/18
* Presentations -- DUE: Research Portfolio
* Presentations
* Class Closure. Hand back research papers
Week 16 -- 4/21-4/23 -- NO CLASS FINAL WEEK! HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!
SYLLABUS: Spring 2002
Week 1-- 1/09-1/11
Week 10 -- 3/11-3/15