NSCPHD1120 The Art of Scientific Writing (generic course)
Volume 2014/2015
Content
The course aims to enhance the capability
of participants to write good scientific papers, and to increase
their productivity. Through a series of lectures, workshops and
in-class peer reviews the participants work on and improve a paper
of their own. In addition, discussions on co-authoring issues, team
work, handling review reports etc are discussed and best practices
pointed out.
Schedule:
Workshop Day 1: Getting started…
We introduce and discuss the issues of i) getting started, ii) finding relevant journals and selecting the right one, iii) organising your work for productivity and impact, iv) team-work in scientific writing.
We go through the ‘Initial planning’ step. You will do small exercises in small groups and summarise. We go through ‘Producing the Outline’ step and define homework, and how class reviewers and supervisors are to be involved.
Workshop Day 2: Producing the ms and groupwork on outlines
Re-iteration of ‘Producing the Outline’. Further work in class reviewer groups on the steps of the outline – giving and receiving critique, comments and suggestions. We go through ‘Producing the manuscript’ carefully – describe how the work develops as a continuous refinement of structure. Define homework: Start the work on the body of the paper for next time. Involve class reviewers and supervisors.
Workshop Day 3: Editor's corner, exercises and groupwork on papers in class review teams
Working on the paper takes time, so this day we usually have a guest: An Editor-in-Chief of a journal from one of the larger publishers, how present the Editor's view on paper writing. We have a few exercises to help your paper writing. There will be options for reviewer feedback in the groups.
Workshop Day 4: Managing co-authorship - and groupwork on papers
We take half the workshop to discuss issues of co-authorships in publishing. We present the Vancouver declaration and discuss various aspects of practice and ethics. Further work in class reviewer groups on the actual building of the paper – giving and receiving critique, comments and suggestions. Define homework: Continue the work on the body of the paper for next time. Not an aim to be finished for final workshop – just well on the way.
Workshop Day 5: Finishing touches and handling the review process
We go through ‘Finishing touches’-‘The refereeing and publishing process’. Stress the need not to rush the final phase, but also the need to finish. Present structure and tricks of good referee-response reports. Stress the need to do a good job there. Make plans for the future….
Schedule:
Workshop Day 1: Getting started…
We introduce and discuss the issues of i) getting started, ii) finding relevant journals and selecting the right one, iii) organising your work for productivity and impact, iv) team-work in scientific writing.
We go through the ‘Initial planning’ step. You will do small exercises in small groups and summarise. We go through ‘Producing the Outline’ step and define homework, and how class reviewers and supervisors are to be involved.
Workshop Day 2: Producing the ms and groupwork on outlines
Re-iteration of ‘Producing the Outline’. Further work in class reviewer groups on the steps of the outline – giving and receiving critique, comments and suggestions. We go through ‘Producing the manuscript’ carefully – describe how the work develops as a continuous refinement of structure. Define homework: Start the work on the body of the paper for next time. Involve class reviewers and supervisors.
Workshop Day 3: Editor's corner, exercises and groupwork on papers in class review teams
Working on the paper takes time, so this day we usually have a guest: An Editor-in-Chief of a journal from one of the larger publishers, how present the Editor's view on paper writing. We have a few exercises to help your paper writing. There will be options for reviewer feedback in the groups.
Workshop Day 4: Managing co-authorship - and groupwork on papers
We take half the workshop to discuss issues of co-authorships in publishing. We present the Vancouver declaration and discuss various aspects of practice and ethics. Further work in class reviewer groups on the actual building of the paper – giving and receiving critique, comments and suggestions. Define homework: Continue the work on the body of the paper for next time. Not an aim to be finished for final workshop – just well on the way.
Workshop Day 5: Finishing touches and handling the review process
We go through ‘Finishing touches’-‘The refereeing and publishing process’. Stress the need not to rush the final phase, but also the need to finish. Present structure and tricks of good referee-response reports. Stress the need to do a good job there. Make plans for the future….
Learning Outcome
The course aims to enhance the capability
of participants to write good scientific papers. This concerns the
quality of writing and disseminating in order to improve
readability, maximise the contribution of the research done and
improve the opportunities for publishing. It also concerns the
quantity of scientific production by initially addressing the
question of increasing productivity through peer-guidance,
best-practice in organisation of work, co-operation, choice of
partners/co-authors and group-dynamics in scientific
writing.
Literature
IFRO’s PhD-supervision Guidelines.
Slides made available during the course. Scientific literature
relevant for the attendant Additional references for more indebt
studies will be provided during the course, but not be used as a
basis for the course
Teaching and learning methods
Participants: Ph.D.-students
and other faculty members. There is a limit of 40 participants.
Each participant brings: - a paper to work on during the course –
could be in any process stage prior to sub-mission - commitment
from a supervisor (for PhD-students) or colleague (faculty members)
to read and participate in at least the activities between workshop
days - writing paper, pens, preferably a laptop. The course is
arranged as a series of workshops with in-between work on the paper
that each participant brings to the course. In addition, each
participant and associated supervisor should expect to read and
comment on 1-3 papers of other participants. The workshops largely
follow a structure designed along the steps of producing a paper.
Each workshop is concluded with a wrap-up of the exercise and an
outline of the between-workshop work to do, i.e. the ‘homework’.
Note that the success of the course hinges crucially on
participants showing up, having worked on their own paper as agreed
and prepared comments on the work of others as agreed. Indeed the
course merely provides a structured setting for learning from
others and getting experience. The first workshop is a bit
different as it also introduces the issues of i) getting started ,
ii) finding relevant journals and selecting the right one , iii)
organising your work for productivity and impact , iv) team-work in
scientific writing . Duration: Each workshop lasts about 2-3 hours
(13-15/16) and there are 5 workshops over 8-10 weeks. In between,
work is to be expected, but it will mostly be an integral part of
own research and writing.
Workload
- Category
- Hours
- Lectures
- 10
- Preparation
- 10
- Project work
- 60
- Total
- 80
Sign up
The
course and workshops days is usually announced 4-6 weeks prior to
start. Enrol with Charlotte Bukdahl Jakobsen at cja@ifro.ku.dk or
Bo Jellesmark Thorsen at bjt@ifro.ku.dk
Deadline:
Three days prior to the first workshop
Deadline:
Three days prior to the first workshop
Exam
- Credit
- 3 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- Written assignment under invigilationTo have 3 ECTS-credits awarded you must hand in your abstract and outline resulting from the workshops and exercises. At the latest 2 weeks after the final workshop day, you hand in the paper you have been working on. Credits are awarded if the course responsible finds that it shows acceptable progress.
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- NSCPHD1120
- Credit
- 3 ECTS
- Level
- Ph.D.
- Duration
- Placement
- Spring
- Schedule
- The course consists of 5 ½-day (Friday afternoon) workhops with in-between homework. Usually offered over 2-3 months each spring and sometimes fall.
- Course capacity
- There's a max of 40 students
- Study board
- Natural Sciences PhD Committee
Contracting department
- Department of Food and Resource Economics
Course responsibles
- Bo Jellesmark Thorsen (3-676f79456e6b777433707a336970)
Lecturers
Professor Bo Jellesmark Thorsen
Saved on the
02-02-2015