Intensive Course in Research Writing

Barbara Gastel, MD, MPH

Texas A&M University

Summer 2011

Intensive Course in Research Writing:Session 14 (15 July 2011)

Today

• Developing an academic writing style and building English vocabulary (Dr. Aiello)

• Communicating specialized information to the public (continued)

• Wrap-up exercise• Some resources• Course evaluation• Presentation of certificates and letters• Group photo

ESL Short Subjects:Developing an Academic Writing Style;

Building English Vocabulary

Susan Aiello, DVMNote: Later this month, this presentation will be posted in the AuthorAID Resource Library (http://www.authoraid.info/resource-library).

Week 4 (optional)

• Continued work on revising papers

• Appointments with BG if you’d like

• Presentation on teaching technique: Wednesday 9 a.m. to noon

• Demonstration on baking technique (making bar cookies): Wednesday at 7 p.m. (details to follow)

• Questions?

Basics of Communicating Specialized Information

to the Public

(continued)

A Real-Life Medical Mystery:“The Secret in the Marrow”

by Daniel C. Weaver

What aspects help it communicate clearly and effectively to a general

audience?

Workingwith the Popular Media

Discussion Questions

• Have you ever been interviewed by a reporter (for example, for a newspaper article)? If so, what was your experience?

• What suggestions do have for communicating effectively in such interviews?

A Few Suggestions:Working with the Media

• Find out the reporter’s– Background– Task– Deadline

• If possible, provide some written information.

• Present information in a way directly understandable by the public.

Suggestions (cont)

• Consider the visual aspect.

• Perhaps check the reporter’s understanding.

• If there’s a main point you want to make, find a way to make it.

• Offer to review a draft for accuracy.

• Perhaps provide feedback after the item is published, posted, or broadcast.

For Texas A&M Grad Students:A Course of Possible Interest

VIBS (Veterinary Integrative Biosciences) 660: Reporting

Science and Technology

Wrap-Up Exercise

Workshop-Design Exercise

Imagine that you return to your university or department and are asked to give a half-day workshop on research writing. Prepare a plan for the workshop, and be ready to present the plan. In your plan, include the 5 Ws and an H: who, what, where, when, why, and how.•Groups

• Alejandro, José, Juan, Diao• Alicia, Niels, Haroon, Brandi• Maria Elena, Aaron, Roberto

•Planning time: about 30 minutes•Presentation time: about 5 minutes per group

Some Resources

Some Resources

• OneLook Dictionary Search (www.onelook.com)• Academic Phrasebank

(www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk)• Grammar Girl (grammar.quickanddirtytips.com)• The Elements of Style (www.bartleby.com/141/)• English Communication for Scientists

(http://www.nature.com/scitable/ebooks/english-communication-for-scientists-14053993)

More Resources

• Scientific English (set of lessons accessible through www.authoraid.info/resource-library/china-medical-board-program-resources/cmb-lessons-in-scientific-writing/folder_contents)

• Getting the Most out of Words (www.authoraid.info/resource-library/Editing%20and%20Publication-Chapter%202.pdf/view)

• AuthorAID at INASP (www.authoraid.info)

AuthorAID at INASP

• A project to help researchers in developing countries (and elsewhere) to write about and publish their work

• Main components– Mentoring– Workshops– Discussion list– Openly accessible content

Course Evaluation

Presentation of Certificatesand Letters

Group Photo

Wishing you all the best!