SPRING 2008

Scope of the Course: This brief course emphasizes the principles underlying the lucid and effective written communication of scientific information. The main topics are story-telling techniques, the structure of each section of a scientific paper, and the construction of figures. Examples and in-class exercises are taken from the published literature. During the course, students work on a draft of a paper they are preparing for publication.

Instructors:
Mimi Zeiger, M.A., mimi.zeiger@ucsf.edu, MU W 416

Format: Lectures by the instructor, in-class exercises, discussion of examples and exercises..

Assignments: Written exercises, turned in to the instructors and returned to the students with written comments.

Special Assignments:

• An introduction  to a scientific research paper, due about 2 weeks before the course begins.
• A revision of this introduction, reflecting the principles of clear scientific writing , due at the midpoint of the course and followed by a conference with one of the instructors.

Schedule: Classes meet from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Tuesdays, in room S-980.