PNG0044 How to write and publish a scientific paper, 4.5 HEC
Syllabus approved: 2012-10-11
Language: English
Subject: Biology
Marking scale: Pass / Failed
Prerequisites:
Applicants must be admitted to PhD studies. The course is primarily for PhD students within the SLU
Graduate School in Organism Biology, but will be open for all interested PhD students within the
natural sciences. PhD students should have results ready to use for preparing a manuscript.
Objective:
After the course, the students should have improved theoretical knowledge and practical skills
associated with writing manuscripts for scientific peer review in international journals, and have
submitted one manuscript to a journal.
Content:
The course provides instructions on how to structure and format each section of a scientific
manuscript based on the IMRAD format. Focus will be placed on basic writing skills, particularly on
how to write clear and concise sentences, paragraphs and sections. The students work on their own
manuscripts throughout the course, integrating theory and practice. Constructive feedback and
analysis of these texts will be given during group meetings before moving on to the next section. In
addition to the direct practical training in writing, the students will also be provided with a set of
tools for the essential text analysis and editing needed to produce a manuscript ready for
submission. The course will stress that scientific writing is an acquired skill that can be learned.
Literature:
Margaret Cargill & Patrick O’Connor (2009) ‘Writing Scientific Research Articles: Strategy and Steps’,
Wiley-Blackwell.
Additional material in the form of published articles will be distributed during the course.
Examination:
The students must attend 80% of the group meetings and submit a manuscript to complete the
course.
Additional information:
Additional seminars given outside the ten group meetings (covering different aspects of writing and
publishing) are optional. This course is given as a postgraduate course within the SLU Graduate
School in Organism Biology. The number of participants is limited to 10. There is no tuition fee.
Responsible department
Department of Forest Mycology and Pathology
Location
Uppsala