Debbie Huerta Associate Professor in the University Libraries Science Librarian Vicky McMillan Research Associate in Biology Associate Professor of Scientific Writing Collaborative Teaching at Colgate University Science & Technology Section Association of College & Research Libraries American Library Association Annual Conference, 2004
Collaborative instruction information literacy scientific writing
Two-tiered course instruction introductory advanced
entry-level students undergraduate research and writing fulfillment of writing requirement FSEM/COMP 130 Introduction to Writing in the Natural Sciences
BIOL/COMP 453 Writing in the Natural Sciences juniors and seniors advanced level preparation for professional and graduate schools
Our expectations scientific conventions process and product audience self-awareness as writers
Commonalities between courses topic selection scientific review paper search strategies, scholarly databases popular science magazine article scientific documentation grammar, diction, wordiness writing workshops portfolio and final self-assessment
Differences writer’s profile how to read a journal article summarizing, paraphrasing, plagiarism paragraphing and transitions Introductory course
Advanced course annotated bibliography real-life writing experiences choice among assignments Differences
Problems inappropriate topic selection avoidance of primary sources “googling” procrastination limited vocabulary sloppy documentation minimal revision and proofreading plagiarism
Solutions individualized attention conferences writing workshops active learning and group work structured assignments self-assessment collaborative instruction