SYLLABUS FOR LECTURES/WRITING LABS
Term: Fall 2022; Tuesdays/Thursdays 9:30-10:45AM ET, MMC Owa Ehan 222
Zoom: https://fiu.zoom.us/j/92831960864?pwd=NjhRcXZZSzRXWFkzTVhVQUlQRGtPUT09
Instructor: Dr. John Kominoski; CASE 253; 305.348.7117; jkominos@fiu.edu
Office Hours: By Appointment
Course Goals
Effective communication is vital for scientific careers. Students will hone written, graphical, and verbal communication skills to enhance all three forms of scientific communication. Students will learn the fundamentals of science writing, peer review, and revised writing. The objective is for students to have a defensible manuscript at the end of the semester that is sufficient for submission for consideration for peer-review and eventual publication at a scientific journal of their choosing.
Class Schedule
Aug. 23: LECTURE: Writing overview / Essential Components of Scientific Manuscript
25: LECTURE: Science Writing as Storytelling/Structure/OCAR
30: LECTURE: The Opening: Is anybody listening?
Sept. 01: LAB: Title/Abstract/Introduction
Sept. 06: LECTURE: The Challenge: Develop important, testable questions
08: LAB: Questions that advance science
13: LECTURE: The Action: When, Where, Why, What, How
15: LAB: Methods and Results
20: LECTURE: The Resolution: Take us home
22: LAB: revised Results
27: LECTURE: Writing from the inside out: Where and how to begin
29: LAB: Discussion and Conclusion
Oct. 04 LECTURE: Acknowledgements, Literature Cited, Tables and Figures
06: LAB: Manuscript – writing group feedback
11: LECTURE: Authorship and Ethics
13: LAB: Manuscript – writing group feedback
18: LECTURE: Target Journals, Instruction for Authors, Cover Letters, Reviewers
20: LAB: Manuscript – writing group feedback
25: LECTURE: Publishing data and metadata
27: LAB: Manuscript – writing group feedback
Nov. 01: LECTURE: Service: You as an editor/reviewer
03: LAB: Manuscript – First Draft Manuscript Due
(due Nov. 3 11:59PM ET, upload to Canvas as assignment)
08: LECTURE: It’s a process: Dealing with reviewers /resubmission/ page proofs
10: LAB: Finishing Reviews (Reviews Due 5PM ET via email to jkominos@fiu.edu)
15: LAB: Responding to reviews
17: LECTURE: Science Communication – a lesson in improv
22: LAB: Developing Press Releases
24: NO CLASS (Happy Thanksgiving)
29: LAB: Scientific & Public Presentations – engaging your audience
Dec. 01: LECTURE: Storytelling with Data https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gn6EIfiQQug
02: Revised Manuscript Due
(due 5PM ET, sent via email to jkominos@fiu.edu)
Schimel, Joshua. 2012. Writing Science – How to write papers that get cited and proposals that get funded. Oxford University Press, New York. ISBN: 978-0-19-976024-4
- Manuscript First submission: 30%
- Manuscript Final submission: 15%
- Manuscript Peer Review: 30%
- Class Participation/Attendance: 25%
- Accept as is: 100
- Accept with minor revisions: 95
- Accept with moderate revisions: 85
- Reconsider after major revision: 75
- Reject: ≤65
Students will (1) participate in weekly lectures, labs, and discussions, (2) participate in giving and receiving weekly feedback with peer writing partner, (3) present manuscript sections and draft manuscripts during two labs based, (4) write a manuscript draft and revised manuscript of original, completed thesis or dissertation research, and (5) provide a journal-style peer review of another student’s draft manuscript. Successful leadership will involve preparing and circulating manuscript sections and draft manuscripts by the class period prior to the class period where materials will be presented, and integrating feedback from class into revised manuscripts. Students will be graded on their attendance (all absences must be excused), participation, facilitation of discussion and the clarity, content and conciseness of all written work.
Students are encouraged to employ critical thinking and to rely on data and verifiable sources to interrogate all assigned readings and subject matter in this course as a way of determining whether they agree with their classmates and/or their instructor. No lesson is intended to espouse, promote, advance, inculcate, or compel a particular feeling, perception, viewpoint or belief.
The Kominoski Lab 