1. University of Colorado SMART Program Workshop: Reading Scientific Literature and Writing Research Proposals June 8, 2007 Workshop leader: Marie Boyko boyko@colorado.edu Website for handouts: http://www.colorado.edu/intphys/ iphy1950/SMART/handouts.html

2. Why these workshops? To help you produce your communications deliverables this summer To help you develop skills for later--applying to grad school, writing for publication, presenting at conferences, etc.

3. Agenda A poll of your experience with reading and writing in science Key concepts for reading and writing science Reading scientific articles Writing research proposals

4. We presume you already know Parts of speech Types and parts of sentences (phrases, clauses, types of clauses) Sentence grammar A resource: The online writing lab at Purdue University: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/

5. The only sentence-level writing skills we will touch on: Active/passive Present/past Data as a plural word Punctuating however, therefore, and although Using and referencing sources

6. Reading the STEM literature Know what type of article you are reading Find the specific focus Know how the specific research fits into a context Recognize subtle argument

7. The specific focus can take many forms Hypothesis Purpose or objective Research question Specific aims

8. Reading Activities Passages #1&2: What is the difference in type between these 2 articles? Passage #1: What is the specific focus of this article? Phrase it as a question. Passage #3: What is the specific focus of this study, and what is the context to which it contributes? Your article: What is the specific focus, and how is it expressed? If it is not expressed as a research question, reword it as one.

9. Scientific writing is persuasive, not didactive Proposals Research reports Comprehensive exams and dissertations

10. Expert writing is goal-based, not topic-based Ask yourself the right question before you begin to write Expert writing goals have 2 parts: –A verb expressing a transaction with your reader/evaluator –A noun describing the content you must include

11. Expert goals for research proposals (for your own project ideas)

12. From Inouye and Fiellin, 2005: An evidence- based guide to writing grant proposals for clinical research, Annals of Internal Medicine, 142, 274- 282 (p. W-31).

13. For next week’s workshop: Answers to questions about writing practices in your laboratory A professional, public draft of your research proposal