Volume 14, No. 2

December, 2004

by Jaime Wren

        This course is being offered again this coming term and will be taught by Carolyn Bergquist, at 11:00 on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

       
          320 Scientific and Technical Writing (4)

Emphasis on form and style of scientific, professional, and technical writing; weekly writing assignments include reports, proposals, instructions, and correspondence. Use of graphics and documentation in publication. Prereq: completion of university writing requirement, upper-division standing.

        Undergraduates who want to write an undergraduate thesis in mathematics or mathematical sciences should consider taking one more writing courses after WR 122. Writing 320, Scientific and Technical Writing, studies writing as it applies to scientific professionals. This is one of a few, if not the only, upper-division course on campus that benefits by bringing together undergraduates from all fields of study. Writing 320, as I have witnessed, takes advantage of this diversity of studies to have conversations regarding scientific writing which I have not found anywhere else on campus. After this class, you will know details such as: the level of jargon you should include in an abstract; what to include and not include in your introduction; the best ways to title and subtitle your documents; and even the dos and donts of font selection. Even the textbooks are notable, both Technical Communication by John M. Lannon and The Chicago Guide to Communicating Science by Scott L. Montgomery, are invaluable to resources in the construction of an effective scientific document.