Students develop writing skills that convey to the reader of a general interest publication the excitement, lure, and also the daily reality of doing science. Over the course of the semester a number of science writers visit the class to speak about their work and science journalism. Students employ a broad repertoire of literary tools, such as narrative, scene-setting, and attention to larger issues of structure. In this introduction to the craft of science journalism, students learn to deal with the special problems that surface in writing about intellectually formidable subjects in the sciences, engineering, medicine, and technology. Translating difficult ideas can mean both a gain in readability and a loss in precision.
Assignments aim at improving research skills to enrich writing.
R. Kanigel Technical Communication Studies Introductory See subject 21W.732 . An exploration of the role that communication plays in the work of the contemporary engineering and science professional. Case studies used as the basis for class discussion and some writing assignments. Several short documents, a longer report or article, and a short oral presentation are required. Introduces the student to writing substantial technical documents that reflect the student's expertise.