[Mathmajors] science writing course spring quarter

[Brooke Miller]

>

>

> Ocean 506 A

> Science & Technology Creative Nonfiction Writing

> M, W 2:30-3:50

> Rm 425 OCN

> SLN 16012

> 3 credits

> Qualifies for W credit

>

> Instructor: Deborah L. Illman, Ph.D.

> illman at u.washington.edu

>

> Course Description

>

> This course treats advanced forms of science and technology writing  

> for

> upper division undergraduate and graduate students, and provides an

> opportunity for students to develop articles that may be considered  

> for

> publication in Northwest Science & Technology online magazine.

>

> We compare and contrast the structure of hard news feature to other

> forms of nonfiction articles that are used to present technical  

> content to

> diverse audiences.  Specifically, we conduct an in-depth analysis of  

> the

> narrative form and examine several award-winning examples. The course

> provides an overview of other genres, including profile and review.

>

> Students research and write a news feature with narrative lead as  

> well as

> an article using one of the other forms treated in the class;

> drafts are critiqued by classmates in writing clinics.

>

> The ultimate goal is to be able to exercise deliberate selection and  

> control of structure and style in science writing appropriate for  

> the content, context, and communication goal. Students keep a  

> writing journal throughout the quarter as a tool to develop ideas  

> and techniques, and they learn to write a query letter--a  

> specialized form of proposal used to present a story idea to an  

> editor.

>

> Prerequisites: At least upper division standing and permission of

> instructor. Email the instructor for entry code.

>

> --------------------------------------------------------------

> Deborah L. Illman, Ph.D.

> Senior Fellow, National Science Foundation Discovery Corps 2006-2009

> http://faculty.washington.edu/illman

> Editor, Northwest Science & Technology  http://www.nwst.org

> University of Washington

> Seattle, WA 98195-7940

> 206-616-4826