WRITING, PUBLISHING, AND COMMUNICATING PEER-REVIEWED PAPERS IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES (BSC 6950; 3 credits, 2 credits for workshop)
Term: Fall 2020; Remote; Tuesdays/Thursdays 9:30-10:45AM EST Instructor: Dr. John Kominoski; OE 207; 305.348.7117; jkominos@fiu.edu
Class Schedule
Aug. 25: LECTURE: Writing overview / Essential Components of Scientific Manuscript/
– Accuracy, Brevity, and Clarity
27: LECTURE: Science Writing as Storytelling/Structure/OCAR
Sept. 01: LECTURE: The Opening: Is anybody listening?
03: LAB: Title/Abstract/Introduction (class will not meet, work with peer-writing partner)
Sept. 08: LECTURE: The Challenge: Develop important, testable questions
10: LAB: Questions that advance science
15: LECTURE: The Action: When, Where, Why, What, How
17: LAB: Methods and Results
22: LECTURE: The Resolution: Take us home
24: LAB: revised Results
29: LECTURE: Writing from the inside out: Where and how to begin
Oct. 01: LAB: Discussion and Conclusion
06 LECTURE: Acknowledgements, Literature Cited, Tables and Figures
08: LAB: Manuscript – writing group feedback
13: LECTURE: Authorship and Ethics
15: LAB: Manuscript – writing group feedback
20: LECTURE: Target Journals, Instruction for Authors, Cover Letters, Prospective
Reviewers
22: LAB: Manuscript – writing group feedback
27: LECTURE: It’s a process: Dealing with reviewers /resubmission/ page proofs
29: LAB: Manuscript – writing group feedback
Nov. 03: LECTURE: Service: You as an editor/reviewer
05: LAB: Manuscript – First Draft Manuscript Due
10: LECTURE: Sound science: Scientific societies and journals
12: LAB: Reviews returned, discussed
17: LECTURE: It gets better: Responding to reviews
19: LECTURE: Accepted or Rejected? What’s next?
24: LAB: Developing Press Releases
26: NO CLASS (Happy Thanksgiving)
Dec. 01: LECTURE: Scientific & Public Presentations – Understanding your audience
Dec. 03: LECTURE: Science Communication & Social Media
Dec. 04: Revised Manuscript Due 5PM EST
Required Textbook: 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
Grading
- Manuscript First submission: 30%
- Manuscript Final submission: 15%
- Manuscript Peer Review: 30%
- Class Participation/Attendance: 25%
Publication Status & Grade
- Accept as is: 100
- Accept with minor revisions: 95
- Accept with moderate revisions: 85
- Reconsider after major revision: 75
- Reject: ≤65
Expectations & Participation 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.
