About this course: Scholarly Communication is a concise but comprehensive course on how to write research papers in English. The course will help the candidates gain a better understanding of the rhetorical conventions of English and the common challenges the candidates may face as an academic writer. The course provides instruction, exercises, structure, and deadlines needed to create a publishable paper. The aim of the course is to improve competence in scholarly communications by deepening knowledge of the core features of the scientific writing style. It presents and analyzes the unwritten rules of scientific writing, the ones candidates most likely never learned in academic writing. The course will enable the candidates to write clear, detailed and well-structured scientific texts appropriate to a suitable academic journal. In particular, they will develop an awareness of fundamental concepts of academic writing, such as contrastive rhetoric, logical organization, and argumentation. In addition, they will develop skills for self-editing and revision techniques, including editing for precision and clarity. They will also gain a deeper understanding of how to prepare a scientific paper using the IMRAD format. Finally, the candidates will develop an enhanced understanding of the concept of academic integrity and the ethics of scientific writing. The candidates will be able to overcome anxiety about academic publishing and get their research papers published in international journals.
Created by: Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology
Taught by: Elena Bazanova, Director of the Language Training and Testing Center
Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology
| Basic Info | Course 2 of 5 in the English for Research Publication Purposes Specialization |
| Level | Intermediate |
| Commitment | 4 weeks, 3 - 4 hours per week |
| Language | English |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Science Writing
MODULE I: SCIENCE WRITING will help you develop an enhanced understanding of English written pattern, based on Anglo-American rhetorical conventions. The module covers issues relating to writing strategies, style, hedging, clear meaning, organization, and choice of first person pronouns. The focus is on improving your ability to write academic English appropriate to a research article.
10 videos, 6 readings, 4 practice quizzes
- Reading: Elena Bazanova
- Reading: MIPT
- Reading: LTTC
- Video: Welcome words
- Reading: Grading Policy
- Practice Quiz: Self-assessment
- Video: Writing in English
- Video: Anglo-American Rhetorical Traditions
- Video: Golden Rules of Scientific Writing
- Practice Quiz: Progress Check
- Practice Quiz: Self-assessment
- Video: Clarity, Precision, and Accuracy
- Video: Hedging
- Video: Fuzzy and Smothered Words
- Practice Quiz: Self-assessment
- Video: Function and Structure Words
- Video: I and We in Scientific Writing
- Video: Who, Which, … or That?
- Reading: Supplementary materials
- Reading: Takeaways
Graded: Progress check
Graded: Progress Check
Graded: End-of-Module Test
WEEK 2
The Challenge
MODULE II: THE CHALLENGE covers issues relating to the internal text structures intrinsic to a research article. The module clarifies the usage of three major types of modifiers (squinting, misplaced, and dangling) and suggests a number of strategies to avoid obvious negation. In addition, you will learn how to create stronger academic writing by choosing the right verb form used either in active or passive voice. The module teaches Anglo-American style of outlining, paragraphing, and argumentation to make the reading process easier for the reader. Also, you will develop an awareness of the process of journal analysis.
9 videos, 2 readings, 3 practice quizzes
- Practice Quiz: Self-assessment
- Video: Wayward Modifiers
- Video: Hidden Negation
- Video: Active vs. Passive
- Practice Quiz: Self-assessment
- Video: Tenses in Scientific Writing
- Video: Punctuation
- Video: A Unit of Composition
- Practice Quiz: Self-assessment
- Video: Anglo-American Style of Argumentation
- Video: Presenting Results or Telling a Story?
- Video: Journal Analysis
- Reading: Supplementary materials
- Reading: Takeaways
Graded: Progress Check
Graded: Progress Check
Graded: Progress Check
Graded: End-of-Module Test
WEEK 3
The Manuscript
MODULE III: THE MANUSCRIPT will teach you how to prepare a publishable paper in the IMRaD (Introduction, Methods & Materials, Results, and Discussion) format. The module provides clear instructions on manuscript writing. You will gain a better understanding of four elements that underlie the structure of all stories, including those you write in science – Opening, Challenge, Action, and Resolution, which can be easily mapped on the IMRaD format.
9 videos, 3 readings, 3 practice quizzes
- Practice Quiz: Self-assessment
- Video: Manuscript Guidelines: Insider Knowledge
- Video: The IMRaD Format
- Video: Introduction
- Practice Quiz: Self-assessment
- Video: Materials and Methods
- Video: Results
- Video: Discussion
- Practice Quiz: Self-assessment
- Video: Title, Abstract, and Keywords
- Video: Acknowledgments
- Video: References
- Reading: Supplementary materials
- Reading: Takeaways
- Reading: FAQ concerning peer-review assignments.
Graded: Progress Check
Graded: Progress Check
Graded: Progress Check
Graded: Peer Review
Graded: End-of-Module Test
WEEK 4
Scientific Communication
MODULE IV: SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATION covers issues concerning the manuscript submission process. The module highlights editorial requirements, scientific integrity and publishing ethics. In addition, you will learn several self-editing techniques that will enable you to prepare your manuscript for submission. The module suggests ways to self-promote in academia.
8 videos, 2 readings, 2 practice quizzes
- Practice Quiz: Self-assessment
- Video: Self-Editing Checklist
- Video: Manuscript Submission
- Video: The Road to Calvary
- Practice Quiz: Self-assessment
- Video: Ethics
- Video: Self-Promotion
- Video: Interview
- Video: Interview
- Discussion Prompt: Your Experience with Research Writing: Struggles, Victories, and Lessons Learned
- Reading: Supplementary materials
- Reading: FAQ concerning peer-review assignments.
- Video: Goodbye Message
Graded: Progress Check
Graded: Progress Check
Graded: End-of-Module Test
Graded: Hedgings
Graded: Final Test
FAQs
How It Works
Coursework
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Connect with thousands of other learners and debate ideas, discuss course material, and get help mastering concepts.
Certificates
Earn official recognition for your work, and share your success with friends, colleagues, and employers.
Creators
Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology
Московский физико-технический институт (неофициально известный как МФТИ или Физтех) является одним из самых престижных в мире учебных и научно-исследовательских институтов. Он готовит высококвалифицированных специалистов в области теоретической и прикладной физики, прикладной математики, информатики, биотехнологии и смежных дисциплин. Физтех был основан в 1951 году Нобелевской премии лауреатами Петром Капицей, Николаем Семеновым, Львом Ландау и Сергеем Христиановичем. Основой образования в МФТИ является уникальная «система Физтеха»: кропотливое воспитание и отбор самых талантливых абитуриентов, фундаментальное образование высшего класса и раннее вовлечение студентов в реальную научно-исследовательскую работу. Среди выпускников МФТИ есть Нобелевские лауреаты, основатели всемирно известных компаний, известные космонавты, изобретатели, инженеры.
Pricing
| Audit | Purchase Course | |
|---|---|---|
| Access to course materials | Available | Available |
| Access to graded materials | Not available | Available |
| Receive a final grade | Not available | Available |
| Earn a shareable Course Certificate | Not available | Available |
Ratings and Reviews
Excelente curso, las explicaciones fueron muy claras.
Very clear and informative.
My name is Anna Beatris and I am a postgraduate student at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics.
The course is hugely important. In particular, I liked the peer-review assignment. Having someone else read my work really helped me a lot. If nothing else, it gave me a break to refresh my mind before I came back for more editing.
More specifically, participating in peer review has helped me:
· Learn how to read carefully, with attention to the details of a piece of writing;
· Learn how to strengthen my writing by taking into account the responses of actual readers;
· Make the transition from writing primarily for myself or for an instructor to writing for a broader audience.
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Brilliant course