Science Writing

Course Objectives: This will be a training course in English writing skills as well as technical writing skills for future scientists since a competent command of English writing is necessary for your careers. We will work on a variety of skill training exercises and other formats to help improve your over writing ability. The class will be held “Live” in the classroom and English will be used as the language of instruction.

Course Prerequisites: Students enrolled in graduate programs at the University of Tokyo are welcome. Any level of English writing ability will be accepted. Punctual attendance, class participation and homework are absolutely vital to pass this course. The lecturer has been teaching as a tenured university faculty member for over twenty-five years and also written for a number of English magazines and newspapers over much of his career.

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4/5: Course introduction and syllabus. Essay Evaluation where students will write an essay in 30 minutes. 4/19: Training #1. Overview of Scientific writing with exercises. Definite vs. indefinite articles exercises. Self-introductions by all students. “Golden Rules.” 4/26: Training #2. Scientific writing assignment #1. Definite vs. indefinite articles review. "What is takes to write good technical essays." 5/3・5/10: No class during Golden Week. 5/15: Training #3. Verb Forms review. Scientific writing exercises. Exercises with Verb Forms. "Tech Tools." 5/17: Training #4. Past, Present, Present participles, Future tense. “Golden Rules” Scientific writing exercises. Scientific writing assignment #2. 5/24: Training #5. Review of all material covered so far. 5/31: Training #6. Punctuation Part I. Scientific writing exercises. “Golden Rules.” "How to do technical writing briefs." 6/7: Training #7. Punctuation Part II. Scientific writing exercises. “Golden Rules.” Scientific writing assignment #3. "Preparing Abstracts", Part I. 6/14: Training #8. Punctuation Part II. Scientific writing exercises. “Golden Rules.” "Preparing Abstracts," Part 2. 6/21: No class 6/28: Training #9. Vital “Tips “for better writing I. and the “Golden Rules." Scientific writing assignment #4. "Intellectual Property." 7/5: Training #10. Vital “Tips” for better writing II. and “Golden Rules.” Scientific writing exercises. 7/12: Training #11. Scientific writing with exercises. Scientific writing assignment #5. 7/19: Training #12. Scientific writing with exercises. Take-home examination essay topic announced. Review of class material for all students. covering all material gheurse and "Take-home Examination" due. No late submissions will be accepted. *Please note that there will be NO in-class Final Examination. Instead, there will be a Take-home Examination that students must submit to me at the final class.