Science Writing offers students an opportunity to refine their skills
in presenting technical and scientific issues to various audiences while
they critically examine social aspects of scientific information. The
course examines new opportunities for covering science (especially on
the internet), the skills required to produce clear and understandable
prose about technical subjects, important ethical and practical constraints
that govern the reporting of scientific information, and the cultural
place of science in our society.
The class features several written assignments and close discussion
of readings from various media. The final grade for the course will
be based upon a portfolio of writings (including a review of online
sources, a news brief,a book review, a scientist interview, a story
based on an interview, a news summary based on research, and a feature
story for a news or internet source). Revision will be rewarded, and
students are encouraged to seek publication for some of their work.
The best student writing will be published in our own science writing
journal, The Rutgers Assayist.
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