When you are not able to write a compelling article, your academic career will be a constant uphill battle — no matter how excellent your ideas and research might be. As a scientist, you need to be able to explain your work to other scientists, and do this clearly, effectively, and convincingly.
Despite the fact that good writing skills are of crucial importance (both inside and outside of academia), very few courses in the Dutch educational system teach proper scientific writing. As a result, students are left to improve their writing skills largely by themselves, through trial and error. This is unfortunate, because anybody’s writing skills can be considerably improved with only a little instruction.
In this course, we will cover the basics of scientific writing by means of weekly plenary sessions, exercises and small-scale feedback sessions. All teaching materials are tailored to the needs of a psychological researcher in action. After completing this course, you will be on your way to becoming a better writer, and, perhaps, a better scientist as well.
Coordinator
Dr. Sander Nieuwenhuis
Room 2B13
Phone 071-5273834
E-mail: snieuwenhuis@fsw.leidenuniv.nl
Aim(s)
To improve your scientific writing skills.
Literature
Style: Lessons in Clarity and Grace (9th edition) by Joseph M. Williams (2007, ISBN 0-321-47935-1);
lecture notes: selected articles.
Examination
Class participation: Come to class having done all of the readings, and prepared to discuss them; assistance of fellow students through contructive reviewing.
Take-home assignments: practical exercises; on-time delivery of all assignments.
From January 1, 2006 the Faculty of Social Sciences has instituted the Ephorus system to be used by instructors for the systematic detection of plagiarism in students’ written work. Please see the Additional Rules and Regulations, section 6.
Requirement(s) for application or advice
Research Master students
Education method(s)
Lectures, practical take-home exercises
Enrolment
Introduction and enrollment for courses of the first semester will take place August 27th 2009. Introduction and enrollment for courses of the second semester will take place in January 2010. More information will be available at the website of the Department of Psychology.
NB: Exam and re-exam registration will take place via U-Twist, and will be open between a month and a week before the (re)exam. Students who don’t register, cannot participate in the (re)exam.