English Course: Writing and Presenting a Scientific Paper in English

General course information

Lecturer: Roger Munn BA, RSA Dipl.TESL, CTESP
Dates and time: The first meeting is on Thursday, 31st January; the second is on Thursday, 28th February. Both meetings run from 16.00-18.00. Course starts at 16:00 sharp, NOT 16.15
Place: Lecture hall T2 (31.1.2008), Lecture hall T4 (28.2.2008)
Course language: English
Contact information: If you have any questions about the English course, use the course email address.

Please mark the dates of the course in your calendar. The English course is compulsory for all students.

Course outline

• to prepare you for writing your paper
• to prepare you for orally presenting your paper

Homework for the first meeting:
On Thursday, 31st January everybody should bring a copy of a typical published paper from the field of their study. As far as is possible, try to find a paper that's written by a NATIVE SPEAKER/s (from USA, UK, Australia, Canada etc.) If two or more of you are working in the same or a similar field of study, then you may bring the same paper.

Homework for the second meeting:
Prepare a short (6-8 min) structured presentation of your paper to give to a partner at the second meeting.

Feedback on the draft papers

The course staff will deliver your draft papers to the English course lecturer. He will read them and give you some feedback when he returns them to you during the second English meeting. Please use double line spacing, and, second, please note that if you want to have some constructive feedback on your writing, the draft of the paper must be more than just notes. Experience from previous courses demonstrates that a series of short sentences is not useful. Moreover, short paragraphs may not be very useful, either.

Therefore, the longer your draft (within reason!), the clearer the picture of your writing skills. The ideal length of the draft will be approximately three sides to four sides (A4) of extended text/s -- double-line spaced.

Advice on how to write a paper in English

Below is some important advice on how to write your papers.

• Overall structure of your paper:
  • Introduction gives background information.
  • Results/Findings -- if you have any.
  • Discussion.
  • Conclusion: your own findings.
• Plagiarism is NOT allowed!
• Think of your audience while writing.
• Internal structure is all important:
  • Guide your reader through your paper by using linking words: thus, first, second, finally, in this section, in the next section, however, for example, such as, thus, as mentioned above, also, moreover ...
• Word confusion: shortly .v. briefly, it's .v. its, shall .v. will...
• Widen your vocabulary: use synonyms!
• Make sure your grammar is correct: e.g. are you using the appropriate verb tenses ...?
• Consider using the active verb forms instead of passive forms.
• Abbreviations: use the full form first, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is...later, use the short form: The SIP message ... SIP provides ...
• Avoid contractions: thus cannot and is not are preferable to can't and isn't.
• Spelling: American or British? Be consistent!
• Mark references in a way that others can see what kind of publication the reference is and where they can find it.
• Read the publications of your field of study and look at the style instructions of some publishing houses.
• Further help is available at Purdue's Online Writing Lab, and also at the web links below.

Links