Writing in the Sciences, HRP 214, Winter 2014
Class Information: Tuesdays 11am-12:30pm in T138
Instructor Information:
Kristin Sainani
kcobb@stanford.edu
Class website: https://class.stanford.edu/courses/Medicine/HRP213/Writing_in_the_Sciences/about
Office: T211, HRP Redwood Building
Office hours: By appointment
Course Statement/Objectives:
This course trains scientists to become more effective, efficient, and confident writers. This is a
hands-on course that emphasizes interactive examples and practice. In the first half of the course, we
will review principles of effective writing, examples of good and bad writing, and tips for making the
writing process easier. In the second half of the course, we will examine issues specific to scientific
writing, including: authorship, peer review, the format of an original manuscript, and communicating
science for lay audiences. Students who take the course for 2 units will attend class, watch course
videos, complete online homework and quizzes, and complete short writing and editing assignments;
students who take the course for 3 units will additionally work with the instructor on developing
a manuscript or paper of their choice (may be a scientific paper, grant proposal, letter to the editor,
review article, opinion piece, case study, personal essay, or article for the lay public).
Blended Classroom model:
This course will follow a “blended” classroom format. Students will watch the didactic videos
for this course online; and will complete online quizzes and homework assignments. These materials
are available on OpenEdX. Students will watch 1-2 hours of video per week. Class time will be spent
on questions, discussion, and collaborative writing and editing exercises. Students should watch the
unit for each week and complete all online assignments by Tuesday 11am of the following week. For
example, Unit 1 materials are due Tuesday, October 1, at 11am.
Required Texts:
Sin and Syntax, Constance Hale
Other recommended reading:
-Clinical Chemistry series on scientific writing:
http://www.aacc.org/publications/clin_chem/ccgsw/Pages/default.aspx#
-On Writing Well, William Zinsser
-The Elements of Style, Strunk and White
-Essentials of Writing Biomedical Research Papers, Mimi Zeiger
Other useful links:
Stanford scientists talk about writing:
http://www.stanford.edu/dept/undergrad/cgi-bin/drupal_pwr/writing_matters
Please take the course for credit/no credit.
If there is a pressing reason that you need to take this course for a grade, you must clear it with me
first.
Course Outline
I.
Segment One: Demystifying the Writing Process
January 7: Introduction
Topics for week 1: What makes good writing? Are there “good writers” and “bad writers”?
Principles of effective writing
Online assignments: Watch “Unit 1” videos (6 videos/modules). Complete Unit 1 quiz. Complete
Unit 1 homework. Assignments are due by 11am Tuesday October 1.
Reading: Read chapters 1-4 Sin and Syntax
January 14: Principles of Effective Writing
Topics for week 2: Principle of effective writing: verbs.
Online assignments: Watch Unit 2 videos (6 videos/modules). Complete Unit 2 quiz. Complete Unit
2 homework.
Reading: Read chapters 5-8 Sin and Syntax
January 21: Sentences and Paragraphs
Topics for week 3: Writing better sentences and paragraphs. Punctuation and Parallelism.
Online assignments: Watch Unit 3 videos. Complete Unit 3 quiz. Complete Unit 3 homework.
Reading: Read chapters 9-10 Sin and Syntax
January 28: Writing paragraphs; organization; the writing process
Topics for week 4: Writing better paragraphs; getting organized; making the writing process easier;
revision.
Online assignments: Watch Unit 4 videos. Complete Unit 4 quiz. Complete Unit 4 homework (short
writing assignment, offline).
Reading: Read chapters 11-12 Sin and Syntax
II.
Segment Two: Scientific Manuscripts
February 4: The Format of an Original Manuscript
Topics for week 5: Tables and Figures; Methods; Results; Intro; Discussion; Abstract
Online assignments: Watch Unit 5 videos. Complete Unit 5 quiz. Complete Unit 5 homework
(editing each others’ work offline).
Reading: Read chapters 13-end Sin and Syntax
February 11: Other types of papers; the publication process
Topics for week 6: Reviews, commentaries, case studies, opinion pieces; and the publication process
Online assignments: Watch Unit 6 videos. Complete Unit 6 quiz. Complete Unit 6 homework (short
writing assignment offline).
III.
Segment Three: Issues in Scientific Writing
February 18: Issues in Scientific Writing
Topics for week 7: Authorship, plagiarism, ghost-writing, reproducible research, conflicts of interest.
Online assignments: Watch Unit 7 videos. Complete Unit 7 quiz. Complete Unit 7 homework
(editing each others’ work).
3-Unit Students: Tables+Figures, Methods, and Results Due TODAY (or equivalent)
February 25: Post-Publication
Topics for week 8: Performing a peer review; communicating with the lay public.
Online assignments: Watch Unit 8 videos. Complete Unit 8 quiz. Complete Unit 8 homework
(revision of short papers; due after Thanksgiving week).
3-Unit Students: Introduction Due TODAY (or equivalent)/Meet with Instructor for Editing
March 4: Final Class Meeting
Short paper 2, revisions due today.
3-Unit Students: Discussion Due TODAY (or equivalent)/Meet with Instructor for Editing
March 11: Individual Editing Sessions with Instructor (3-Unit students)
CLASS CALENDAR: DUE DATES
Tuesday
Jan
7
Introductions/logistics
14
Unit 1 materials due online (quiz + homework)
21
Unit 2 materials due online (quiz + homework)
Feb
March
28
Unit 3 materials due online (quiz + homework)
4
Unit 4 materials due online (quiz); plus first short paper DUE TODAY (all
students)
11
Unit 5 materials due online (quiz); plus peer edits DUE TODAY (all students)
18
Unit 6 materials due online (quiz); plus second short paper DUE TODAY (all
students)
3-UNIT STUDENTS: tables+figures/methods/results due (or equivalent)
25
Unit 7 materials due online (quiz); plus peer edits DUE TODAY (all students)
3-UNIT STUDENTS: Introduction section due (or equivalent)
4
Unit 8 materials due online (quiz); plus paper revisions DUE TODAY (all
students)
Last Class
3-UNIT STUDENTS: Discussion section due (or equivalent)
11 NO CLASS
Individual editing sessions with instructor (3-unit students only)