SCIENTIFIC WRITING (THEORY)

Paper Code:

HFN 422

Credits:

Contact Hours:

45.00

Max. Marks:

100.00

Objective:

Course Objectives:

This course will enable the students to –

1. Understand the nuances of scientific writing.

2. Gain an insight into ethics in scientific publication

3. Learn the process of developing a research proposal/ project proposal

Course Outcomes (COs):

Course outcomes

(at course level)

Learning and teaching strategies

Assessment

Strategies

The students will be able to –

COFN100:Produce clear and effective scientific documents

COFN101:Prepare scientific documents based on ethical guidelines

COFN102:Develop skills in collation and presentation of scientific information

COFN103: Develop a research design/project on a topic relevant to their field

Approach in teaching:

Interactive Lectures, Discussion, Power Point Presentations, Informative videos, group discussion

Learning activities for the students:

Self learning assignments, Effective questions, presentations

Quiz, Poster Presentations,

Power Point Presentations, Individual and group projects,

Open Book Test, Semester End Examination, discussion, demonstration

12.00

Unit I:

UNIT I

• Key elements of scientific writing

• Quality information

• Nature of language

• Structure

• Characteristics of scientific writing

• Clear and precise use of language

• Accessibility to the intended audience

• Correct information

• Logical sequencing of information

• Use of correct grammar

• Appropriate use of technical terms, illustrations or diagrams

12.00

Unit II:

UNIT II

• Drafting a scientific document

• Research the document

• Gather information

• Plan the format

• Create an outline

• Write first draft

• Check the accuracy

• Revise and amend the document

• Type of academic journal articles

• Letters/communications

• Research notes

• Articles

• Supplemental articles

• Review articles

12.00

Unit III:

UNIT III

• Writing effective scientific documents

• Reports (Research/Progress)

• Scientific paper (Journal/Conference)

• Review paper

• Abstracts

• Theses

• Electronic/Web based document

• Elements of scientific documents

• Sections/subsections

• Headings/subheadings

• Front matter (Title, Title page, Abstract, Table of contents, List of figures, List of tables, List of terms, Acknowledgements)

• Body (Introduction, Review of literature, Methodology, Results, Discussions, Summary, Conclusion, Recommendations)

• End Matter (References, Appendices, Indices)

12.00

Unit IV:

UNIT IV

• Ethics and scientific publication

• Ethics in Paper writing

• Permission

• Data fabrication and falsification

• Plagiarism

• Redundant and duplicate publication

• Conflict of interest

• Authorship issues

• Animal and human welfare concerns

• Reviewer responsibility

• Oral Presentation

• Format of oral presentation (Informal/formal)

• Visual aids – LCD projector, overhead projector (OHP) and transparencies or other display media

• Delivery – Voice projection, Body language, Spoken v. written language, Notes, Time limit

12.00

Unit V:

UNIT V

• Writing a project proposal for grants

• Rationale and importance of research

• Empirical and Theoretical conceptualization

• Presenting pilot study/ data

• Research proposal and time frame

• Clarity and specificity of method

• Clear organization

• Outcome of research and its implications

• Budgeting

• Available infrastructure and resources

• Executive summary

Essential Readings:

• Robert A. Day. How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper, 7th edition, Greenwood, 2011.

• Martha Davis. Scientific Papers and Presentations. (2012). 3rd Edition. Academic Press.

• Michael Alley. The Craft of Scientific Writing. (2018). 4th edition Springer-Verlag New York.

• Janice R. Matthews, John M. Bowen, Robert W. Matthews. (2014). Successful Scientific Writing: A Step-By-step Guide for the Biological and Medical Sciences, 4th Edition. University Press.

• Peter J. Gosling. Scientist's Guide to Poster Presentations, Kluwer academic/Plenum publishers, 1999

• Edward Barrett, Leslie Perelman. The Mayfield Handbook of Technical and Scientific Writing, McGraw-Hill, 1997.

• Alley,M.(2018) The Craft of Scientific Writing. New York: Springer.

• Bernard, H.R. (2012). Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches.Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications

• Black, J.A. and Champion, D.J. (1976). Methods and Issues in Social Research. NewYork: John Wiley andSons.

• Blaxter, L.,Hughes, C, and Tight, K. (2006). How to research. New Delhi: 3rd Edition. Open University Press.

• Blum, D., Knudson M., and Henig, R. M.(2005) Field Guide for Science Writers:The Official Guide of the National Association of Science Writers. USA; Oxford University Press. http://www.nasw.org/field-guide

• Elmes, D.G.,Kanowitz, B.H. and Roediger, H.L. (1989). Research Methods in Psychology (Third Edition).New York:West Publishing Company.

• Katz, M.(2009) From Research to Manuscript: A Guide to Scientific Writing(2nd Ed). New York: Springer

E-Resources:

•http://www.apastyle.org/

•http://www.citethisforme.com/guides

Academic Year:

2022-2023