A post on how students (in general) can not write, and what we should do about it, obviously struck a few chords over at Nature Network. The discussion led Martin Fenner to create a new Nature Network group The Good Paper Journal Club, and inspired Henry Gee (Senior Editor, Biology, at Nature) to write that although Nature does not currently reject a paper solely because it is poorly written, this state of affairs conceivably might change.
It is true to say that most scientists have a difficult job communicating their results (in papers or seminars) to other scientists; their chances of communicating meaningfully with the general public are essentially nil (and even may be actively harmful).
In this context, I'd be interested to know what courses (in, say, writing clearly and giving a good seminar) are available to undergraduates (at USyd and elsewhere), and whether anyone actually found them helpful. We do our best to help our Honours students avoid the worst traps, but this kind of teaching needs to be formalized, needs to start early, and needs to be mandatory.
Comments
I know that in third and second year biochemistry subjects at USYD they have web links on how to write good reports.
http://www.mmb.usyd.edu.au/report/BCHM2/ http://www.mmb.usyd.edu.au/report/BCHM3/
Sydney University also has Write Site. A specially designed website to help students how to write properly.
http://writesite.elearn.usyd.edu.au/
On top of that, USYD has Learning Centre which runs formal classes on writing, giving presentation, critical reading etc. The classes are free. They have it during normal semesters and also during winter and summer semesters.
Having said all that, I must say I have never met an undergrad who cares or knows about it.
Posted by: PS | March 16, 2008 01:43 PM
I think you've nailed it, PS: People don't go to that sort of thing voluntarily. It has to be part of the course, just like glycolysis.
(And I don't really have time right now to look in detail, but those links seem to be perpetuating the very styles we're complaining about, especially in respect to the passive voice).
Posted by: bk | March 17, 2008 10:26 PM
Yea, you're right. I always think that it is the only way to write in science for some strange reasons. May be you should talk to Jill or Dale about those links.
Posted by: PS | March 17, 2008 10:29 PM
Ha!! I had to snigger at your link for "harmful".
When I was a grad student at Berkeley, there were mandatory speaking seminars for us first-years. They were great. We had to give oral reports on each rotation project (the first trimester was devoted to the professors presenting their own topics) and give comments to one another. It was highly helpful.
Posted by: Alethea | March 17, 2008 11:16 PM