ASTR 482 Scientific Writing

FALL QUARTER 2007

Instructor: Paula Szkody C311 PAB 543-1988 Office Hours: T, Th 2:20-3:00 or by mutual agreement

Text: Handbook of Technical Writing by Alred Brusaw & Oliu 8th ed

Web Address: http://www.astro.washington.edu/astro482/

General Course Description: This course is designed to help you with your current and future writing needs in Astronomy/Physics. You will learn how to write resumes and letters for jobs, newsletters and articles for the public, and papers for scientific journals. You will gain practice in writing correctly, accurately, and communicating in the right way for a specific audience. In addition, you will act as a reviewer of written materials (those published and those written by your fellow students).

COURSE OUTLINE

 Week

 Dates

 Assignment

Topic

 1  Sept 27   job skills, job ad Resumes & Letters
 2  Oct 2,4  draft resume, letter  Resumes & Letters
 3  9,11  revise resume, letter  Resumes & Letters
 4  16,18  Pick Newsletter topic  TJO Newsletter
 5  23,25  draft article  TJO Newsletter
 6  30,Nov 1  revise article  TJO Newsletter
 7  6,8  pick journal topic,draft Intro  Journal article
 8  13,15  draft Body  Journal article
 9  20 refs, figures  Journal article
10  27,29 Abstract Journal article
11  Dec 4,6 final version Journal article

COURSE GRADING


%
Resume and Letter 20
Newsletter/Public Article: 30
Journal Paper: 40
In-class exercises,reviews: 10

email: szkody@astro.washington.edu


Web Sites of Interest

AAS Career Services

Theodor Jacobsen Observatory

AAS journals (ApJ,AJ)

PASP

APS journals

MIT Science Tracker