Science Writing: The Art of Communicating Science Effectively (Ft. Apples)

This will be a part lecture part discussion-based class on the scientific process. Students will learn by interacting with the teacher and with each other. We will begin with an introduction of the scientific process. We will discuss the general steps, including but not limited to, how to do background research, forming a hypothesis, designing an experiment, and collecting data. The specific topic we will focus on will be apple oxidation and the question we will ask will be, what works best for keeping an apple from turning brown? We will then cover different components of scientific writing and make a poster to present. We will spend the 2 weeks working on the following parts of scientific writing to include in the poster: abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, and conclusion. 

Experiment: Students will be asked to cut up apples and soak them in different types of liquids, collect data on what liquids keeps the apples from turning brown so quickly, and think about why those liquids have this function. 

Class 1: intro to the scientific process: how to ask a scientific question, form a hypothesis, and test a hypothesis. Experiment will be assigned to students.

Class 2: how to write an abstract. 

Class 3: how to write an introductory section. 

Class 4: how to write a methods section. 

Class 5: how to write a results section (including how to make figures for it). 

Class 6: how to write a discussions section. 

Class 7: how to write a conclusions section. 

Class 8: poster presentation (great opportunity to practice those science speaking skills!). 

Classes will be a short lecture and discussion. Students will have time to work on their writing and receive help. Whatever they do not finish they can work on at home. 

Questions will be welcomed at any point in time, and I will be available to help students with the writing process by messaging on the classroom page. I will read drafts of the sections and send edits so that students will have the opportunity to produce multiple drafts of their writing and improve it.

Additional Info: Bootcamp style - 4x a week/2 weeks. Experiments and data collection can be completed during the weekend in between.
Student feedback has been that this style is preferred, it is much easier to keep on track with writing and the experiment if it is done altogether with my help than super spaced out! :)