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- School of Science
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School of Engineering
- Undergraduate major in Mechanical Engineering
- Undergraduate major in Systems and Control Engineering
- Undergraduate major in Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Undergraduate major in Information and Communications Engineering
- Undergraduate major in Industrial Engineering and Economics
- Common courses
- School of Materials and Chemical Technology
- School of Computing
- School of Life Science and Technology
- School of Environment and Society
- 工学院，物質理工学院，環境・社会理工学院共通科目
- Liberal arts and basic science courses
- First-Year Courses
- School of Science
- School of Engineering
- School of Materials and Chemical Technology
- School of Computing
- School of Life Science and Technology
-
School of Environment and Society
- Department of Architecture and Building Engineering
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Department of Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering
- Department of Social and Human Sciences
- Department of Innovation Science
- Graduate major in Technology and Innovation Management
- Common courses
- Liberal arts and basic science courses
- Academic unit or major
- Career development courses
- Instructor(s)
- Ricinschi Dan Gonzales Hazel Bantolino
- Class Format
- Exercise (Livestream)
- Media-enhanced courses
- Day/Period(Room No.)
- Wed5-6()
- Group
- C
- Course number
- LAC.C657
- Credits
- 1
- Academic year
- 2022
- Offered quarter
- 3Q
- Syllabus updated
- 2022/9/20
- Lecture notes updated
- -
- Language used
- English
- Access Index
-
Course description and aims
Technical Writing, taught by active researchers in science and technology trains doctoral candidates to develop the ability of expressing themselves effectively in writing on topics closely related to their research works. In addition to providing information synthetized from relevant textbooks, the instructors offer students practical advice from their own experiences as scientific paper authors, peer-reviewers and/or journal editors. Topics covered include the main steps needed to publish a scientific paper, writing each section of a research paper, and matters related to effective communication of intended messages with appropriate vocabulary, sentences and paragraphs.
The course aims to teach doctoral students "what to write", "where to write" and "how to write" in the context of describing their research in scientific papers that are to be submitted for publication as well as in cases of other formal and informal documents (cover letters, e-mails, grant proposals).
Student learning outcomes
By the end of this course, students will:
1. understand the importance of technical writing for both current stage and future careers
2. acquire and enhance the ability to write effectively each section of a scientific paper by using/selecting appropriate contents, vocabulary and grammar
3. acquire and enhance the ability to express their research-related ideas logically in sentences and paragraphs that effectively communicate their intended messages to the targeted readers
Keywords
written communication, research paper writing, technical writing style
Competencies that will be developed
| Specialist skills | ✔ Intercultural skills | ✔ Communication skills | ✔ Critical thinking skills | ✔ Practical and/or problem-solving skills |
Class flow
Classes will be formed based as much as possible on a match between student's and instructor's major and specialized area of research (if needed, a selection process will take place). The course will be offered twice per academic year. Students will attend the classes for 7 weeks (1 credit), on account on the Ookayama or Suzukakedai campus. The main format of each class will be a lecture given by the instructor, with students not just listening but also participating in class exercises. A number of individual written homework will also be assigned, which will be evaluated by the instructor.
Course schedule/Required learning
| Course schedule | Required learning | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | October 5 (Wednesday), 13:45-15:25, Zoom Importance and role of Technical Writing, overall view on the process of writing a scientific paper | Understanding the importance of Technical Writing for one's career in science and technology and the necessary steps needed to go through in order to report one's research in scientific journals |
| Class 2 | October 12 (Wednesday), 13:45-15:25, Zoom Sections of a Manuscript: Drafting the Introduction and Methodology | What to include in Introduction and Methodology sections and how to write them using proper vocabulary and grammar |
| Class 3 | October 19 (Wednesday), 13:45-15:25, Zoom Sections of a Manuscript: Drafting the Results and Discussion | What to include in Results and Discussion sections and how to write them using proper vocabulary and grammar |
| Class 4 | October 26 (Wednesday), 13:45-15:25, Zoom Sections of a Manuscript: Drafting the Conclusions, Title, and Abstract | What to include in Conclusions and Abstract how to write them using proper vocabulary and grammar; How to give a manuscript a compelling title |
| Class 5 | November 2 (Wednesday), 13:45-15:25, Zoom Matters of style in Technical Writing at word level and sentence level (word choice and order, grammar, punctuation) | How to select the words, word order, punctuation signs in a sentence and what grammar rules to follow to ensure optimal transmission of intended messages to readers |
| Class 6 | November 9 (Wednesday), 13:45-15:25, Zoom Matters of style in Technical Writing at paragraph level (topic and support sentences, topic progression, linking expressions) | How to write effective paragraphs by arranging sentences in logical manner and how to connect them to ensure optimal transmission of intended messages to readers |
| Class 7 | November 16 (Wednesday), 13:45-15:25, Zoom Matters of style in Technical Writing targeting specific concerns of specialized research fields (equations, chemical reactions, numbers, units of measure) and addressing topics proposed by students | How to describe in writing the specialized terms of various disciplines such as equations, chemical reactions, numbers, units of measure and other specific issues of technical writing brought up by students themselves |
Textbook(s)
None-learning materials will be provided by instructors
Reference books, course materials, etc.
The Handbook of Technical Writing by Gerald J. Alred, Charles T. Brusaw, Walter E. Oliu, Science Research Writing for Non-Native Speakers of English by Hilary Glasman-Deal, The elements of Technical Writing by Gary Blake, Robert W. Bly, The Craft of Scientific Writing by Michael Alley
Assessment criteria and methods
70% homework assignments, 30% participation in class activities
Related courses
- Technical Discussion
Prerequisites (i.e., required knowledge, skills, courses, etc.)
None
Other
GA: GA1D
