The Art of Communication in Graduate Science and Engineering
Communication in Graduate Science and Engineering is a 12-week, non-credit
course offered through the Department of Professional Communication administered
through the School of Graduate Studies and funded by the Dean of Engineering,
Architecture and Science.
The Art of
The course is designed for science and engineering graduate students who wish to
develop communication skills essential for career success. Through lectures and
exercises on grammar and strategic writing, you will learn how to create clear,
professional proposals and theses as well as publishable papers. Since career
development involves presenting research orally and supervising students, oral
presentation skills and evaluating undergraduate writing will also be covered. The course
concludes with a job application session. One-on-one consultations with the instructor on
your own writing will supplement in-class work throughout the term.
Readings
Short readings from a course reader will be assigned throughout the term. Reference
texts, such as The Mayfield Handbook, The Craft of Scientific Writing, Writing for the
Technical Professions, Technical Writing A-Z and A Canadian Writer's Reference, will
be placed on reserve at the Ryerson Library. Additional resources will be posted on
Blackboard.
Course Outline
WEEK
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
TOPICS
Course introduction
Correct expression
Grammar
Punctuation
Mechanics
Strategic writing
Concision
Emphasis
Organization
Structural coherence
Paragraphs
Document design
Proposals*
Grant
Thesis
Conference
Documenting research
Managing lab notebooks
The thesis: overview
Writing for publication
Technical Document Parts: I
Introductions
Literature reviews
Technical Document Parts: II
ACTIVITIES*
Diagnostic test
Exercises: detecting sentence-level errors
Concision, emphasis and reader analysis exercises
Exercises: paragraphing, document design and the
use of graphics
Analysis of sample proposals; in-class writing and
editing assignment
Analysis of examples; group exercises: lab notebook
practices and publication planning
Analysis of examples; discussion of citation
standards; in-class writing assignment
Analysis of examples
9
10
11
12
Materials and methods
Results
Discussion
Conclusions
Abstracts
Marking student writing
Oral presentation skills
Oral exams
Conference presentations
Job applications
Resume vs. curriculum vitae
Cover letters
Analysis of examples; in-class writing assignment
Exercises: evaluating student writing
Presentation practice
Analysis of sample advertisements and job
application documents
*The module covering grants and proposals may be offered earlier to provide guidance for students making
fall applications to funding institutions.
Copyright © 2007 by Linda Schofield. All rights reserved.
The Application Process
All graduate students in programs within the Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and
Science are eligible to apply.
Application forms will be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies for processing.
Spaces will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis with priority given to students
from PhD and research masters programs.
If necessary, spaces will be allocated to ensure that there is distribution across programs.