Academic Writing: Developing Scientific Arguments 

Duration: 6 weeks 

Aims and Objectives: 

The purpose of this course is to help you to produce more effective argumentative writing within your science discipline. Key aims of the course are: 

• To develop familiarity with common features of scientific arguments through the analysis of examples
• To consider the reasons underpinning these features of scientific writing
• To provide opportunities for controlled practice in producing these features of scientific argumentative writing

Syllabus  

Week 1 – Anatomy of a Scientific Argument 

Week 2 – Stance Part 1 - Expressing Caution 

Week 3 – Stance Part 2 - Boosters and Self-Mentions 

Week 4 – Errors and limitations

Week 5 – Organisation: coherence and cohesion

Week 6 – Clarity and conciseness 

Please note that while all students are welcome to attend, this course focuses on developing and communicating academic arguments within the natural and applied sciences, not the social sciences.