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Academic Year 2000/2001

Writing About Science
CHEM 380 FA

This course emphasizes writing about science and technology for a general audience. An overview is developed by close analysis of science-related news accounts, articles from quality newspapers and popular science magazines. 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 THE SCIENCES, OMNI or DISCOVER. Special problems will be explored in depth, including the difficulty of writ ing about counterintuitive concepts, turning complicated jargon and abstractions into understandable prose, and the use of example and metaphor to communicate to a general audience. There will be interviews with professional science writers as well as possible trips to research facilities. A special feature will involve novel use of the Internet in accessing information.

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.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

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

Prerequisites: NONE Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-26-2001

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