Scientific Writing (Theory)

Paper Code: 
HFN -422
Credits: 
03
Contact Hours: 
45.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

This course will enable the students to:

  • To develop and improve the scientific and technical writing skills.
  • To enable to produce clear and effective scientific documents.
  • To enhance the level of technical communication and practices

 

6.00
Unit I: 
Key elements of scientific writing
  1. Key elements of scientific writing
  • Quality information
  • Nature of language
  • Structure
  1. 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

 

10.00
Unit II: 
Drafting a scientific document
  1. 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
  1. Type of academic journal articles
  • Letters/communications
  • Research notes
  • Articles
  • Supplemental articles
  • Review articles

 

12.00
Unit III: 
Writing effective scientific documents
  1. Writing effective scientific documents
  • Reports (Research/Progress)
  • Scientific paper (Journal/Conference)
  • Review paper
  • Abstracts
  • Theses
  • Electronic/Web based document
  1. 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)

 

11.00
Unit IV: 
Ethics and scientific publication
  1. Ethics and scientific publication
  • Permission
  • Data fabrication and falsification
  • Plagiarism
  • Redundant and duplicate publication
  • Conflict of interest
  • Authorship issues
  • Animal and human welfare concerns
  • Reviewer responsibility
  1. 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

 

6.00
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

 

 

References: 
  1. Robert A. Day. How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper, 5th edition, Oryx Press, Phoenix, 1998.
  2. Martha Davis. Scientific Papers and Presentations. Academic Press. 1997
  3. Michael Alley. The Craft of Scientific Writing, 3rd edition, Prentice Hall, Inc., 1996.
  4. Janice R. Matthews, John M. Bowen, Robert W. Matthews. Successful Scientific Writing: A Step-By-step Guide for the Biological and Medical Sciences, University Press, 2000.
  5. Peter J. Gosling. Scientist's Guide to Poster Presentations, Kluwer academic/Plenum publishers, 1999
  6. Edward Barrett, Leslie Perelman. The Mayfield Handbook of Technical and Scientific Writing, McGraw-Hill, 1997.

 

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