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Biology Teaching and Learning Centre · ANU College of Science and Medicine
In this course, you will critically read the biological literature to better understand how to effectively present scientific findings. You will learn to evaluate arguments, methods and lines of evidence. You will assess how well the conclusions drawn from studies are justified. Strong emphasis will be placed on improving your scientific writing skills. This will involve exploration of: - why it is worth learning to write well (Hint: to find out what you understand and develop your critical thinking) - planning the structure of a piece of writing (Hint: You have to know which story you wish to tell) - the curse of knowledge (Hint: you usually know more about a topic than your reader. This makes it easy to forget that you are failing to provide the reader with information that they need) - the psychology of the reader (Hint: learn to read your own writing from the viewpoint of the average reader) - basic rules of sentence construction to facilitate understanding, and to reduce ambiguity - the value of extensive revision and editing By reading articles on specific biological topics, this course will equip you to consider the following more deeply: - the contestability of scientific knowledge - science as a profession, enacted by real people - how scientist evaluate evidence through critical reading & analysis - how scientists collect, use and communicate evidence to support their arguments
Weekly in-class quizzes (up to 10 quizzes, each worth the same)
Learning outcomes 2, 3, 4
Structured writing assignments (up to 3 assignment, each worth the same)
Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Capstone Essay
Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4
The expected workload will consist of approximately 130 hours throughout the semester including: Face-to-face component which may consist of 10 x 3 hour workshops/lectures/discussion groups (30 hours) Individual student self-study by reading and evaluating articles, media postings or book chapters (approximately 35 hours) Individual student self-study by writing, editing and revising 3 assignments (3 x 5 hours = approximately 15 hours) Individual student self-study researching, writing and editing a capstone essay (approximately 50 hours)
Steven Pinker book 'A Sense of Style' is highly recommended. Copies will be made available if required. Preliminary Reading Articles or books will be provided as required. Their identity will vary from year to year in response to what topics are currently of mainstream interest (e.g. currently in the headlines)