Welcome to the MAST Scientific Writing Course Homepage. On this page you will find links to the lessons for this course, a listing of available papers submitted by students of this course, and a list of references that were useful in making this course.
The purpose of this course is to develop the skills necessary to report on scietific developments in a way that is acceptable to the scientific community. For those taking this course as a member of MAST or SAS this is worth 3 credits towards a certification. This course has no certification.
This course requires the purchase of the book, "The Craft of Scientific Writing," by Michael Alley; this book is normally about $25. You can get it through Amazon, Borders, or Barnes and noble. In the future you might be able to get it at a substantial discount from SAS (see their website at www.sas.org).
This lesson establishes the need for a special style of writing for scientific material. To get the task list for this lesson click here.
This lesson discusses the tone and rhythm of scientific writing. To get the task list for this lesson click here.
This lesson sets out the overall structure of a scientific paper. To get the task list for this lesson click here.
This lesson sets out how to choose the title for your paper. To get the task list for this lesson click here.
This lesson sets out how to list the authors in a collaboration and how to assign attributions to the names of authors. To get the task list for this lesson click here.
This lesson sets out how to write the introduction. To get the task list for this lesson click here.
This lesson sets out how to write about materials and methods. To get the task list for this lesson click here.
This lesson sets out how to write about the results of your work. To get the task list for this lesson click here.
This lesson sets out how to write a conclusion. To get the task list for this lesson click here.
This lesson sets out how to write acknowledgements. To get the task list for this lesson click here.
This lesson sets out how to cite references. To get the task list for this lesson click here.
This lesson sets out the basic elements of style for scientific writing. To get the task list for this lesson click here.
This lesson sets out methods of making your writing tighter. To get the task list for this lesson click here.
This lesson sets out how to use illustrations, tables, and plots. To get the task list for this lesson click here.
This lesson sets out how to write letters and emails. To get the task list for this lesson click here.
This lesson sets out the changes in format and style needed to write a review paper. To get the task list for this lesson click here.
This lesson sets out the changes in format and style needed to write a conference report. To get the task list for this lesson click here.
This lesson sets out the changes in format and style needed to write a grant proposal. To get the task list for this lesson click here.
This lesson sets out the changes in format and style needed to write a tutorial or text. To get the task list for this lesson click here.
This lesson sets out how to prepare a presentation. To get the task list for this lesson click here.
This lesson sets out how to write a book review. To get the task list for this lesson click here.
This lesson sets out how to polish a manuscript. To get the task list for this lesson click here.
This lesson sets out to submit a manuscript for publication. To get the task list for this lesson click here.
This lesson sets out to deal effectively with editors. To get the task list for this lesson click here.
This lesson sets out how to proof your manuscript. To get the task list for this lesson click here.
This lesson sets out the process of getting reprints. To get the task list for this lesson click here.
This lesson sets out the some of the legal and ethicalissues about scientific writing. To get the task list for this lesson click here.
There are no student projects yet.
Philip Rubens [1992], Science and Technical Writing A Manual of Style, Owl Books.
This is an excellent encyclopedia of style and formatting for scientific work.
Robert A. Day [1988], How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper, Oryx Press.
This is a useful reference with a slant towards biological papers.
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