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Academic Year 2000/2001

Writing About Science
CHEM 180 FA
Crosslistings:
MB&B 180
BIOL 180

This course emphasizes writing about science and technology for a general audience. We will read and analyze a variety of science-related news accounts, articles from quality newspapers, book selections, and popular science magazine articles. In parallel with these readings, students will undertake a graded series of writing assignments leading to the development of a complete science article in the genre of DISCOVER, NATURAL HISTORY, or THE SCIENCES. Special problems will be explored in depth, including the difficulty of turning complicated jargon and abstractions into understandable prose, and the use of example and metaphor to communicate to a general audience. Our goal is to learn how to write about science in a manner that is lucid, accura te, and engaging. The course will also include a strong science literature research component as well as extensive training in publishing on the Web. The major research and writing project of the class will focus on the research activities of selected We sleyan Division III faculty and their research students and will be published in the Wesleyan science webzine, Synthesis

MAJOR READINGS

Freidman, Dunwoody, Rogers: SCIENTISTS AS JOURNALISTS: REPORTING SCIENCE AS NEWS Selected readings from: The NEW YORK TIMES, THE SCIENCES (NYAS), SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, DISCOVER magazine, SCIENCE TIMES

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Weekly reading and short writing assignments. One major paper (publication-length article). Final exam.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

The course will include guest lectures by NSM faculty in their fields of expertise. This First Year Intitiative course will be held concurrently with CHEM 380, with the addition of a weekly workshop session for first-year students.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture/Discussion

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: 1    Gen Ed Area Dept: NSM CHEM    Grading Mode: Graded   

Prerequisites: NONE Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-26-2001

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