CWB111 Scientific and Technical Writing

Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Gardens Point, Internal

Overview

This unit introduces you to the principles of writing clearly in a science-based context and to the discursive frameworks that inform scientific and technical writing. It aims to provide you with an understanding of the conventions of writing and publishing scientific and technical information and to develop skills in communicating this information for a general audience. Graduates in the fields of engineering, science and information technology are required to assess high volumes of information and to communicate key scientific and technical ideas to a general audience. As such, there are growing industry and research demands for graduates with professional writing skills that deliver clear and well-structured written information about complex material.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Apply correct grammatical and mechanical conventions in written work.
2. Analyse the conventions of writing in scientific and technical contexts.
3. Adhere to the relevant standards of professional written communication in scientific and technical contexts.
4. Evaluate the efficacy of scientific and technical written communication.

Content

Learning Approaches

The approach to teaching and learning is student focussed on real world learning experiences in a lecture, tutorial and self-study format. Students will be given flexibility in working with an array of scientific or technical exemplars and encouraged to engage with the high level of writing skills required in national and international scientific journals as well with practical examples in the industry context, including public engagement issues.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
You will receive formative feedback throughout the semester, through online and in-class peer critique, and also through written feedback from your tutor. Weight: 0%

Exercises completed in class will assist you in completing the assessment tasks. You will receive feedback on your progress when you submit drafts of your work to teaching staff in the unit. Time has been allocated in the lecture and tutorial programme for you to discuss your progress with teaching staff.

Assessment

Overview

This unit has two items of assessment. You will be tested on your understanding of language (grammar, mechanics, clarity), and will compile a portfolio of scientific writing.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Examination

You will correct written passages for mechanics and grammar, and re-write portions of text to improve the clarity of that text.

Assessment: Portfolio

Portfolio of written documents, completed throughout the semester. Your portfolio should total 2500-3000 words of written work. Your portfolio will contain three of the following.

1. Laboratory report

2. Popular science article

3. Data visualisation

4. Analysis/Recommendation report

5. Literature review

6. Grant proposal

7. Audiovisual artefact (eg podcast, video)

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Requirements to Study

Requirements

All students are requested to visit and review the Health and Safety information on the HiQ web pages.

You will be advised if a unit requires additional mandatory health and safety inductions. 

Resources

Resource Materials

Other

To enable your full participation in units that utilise virtual learning environments, for example participating in online activities and engaging with online learning materials, you will need access to a reliable computer with an internet connection, webcam, headset and microphone, as well as a learning environment where you are able to fully participate undisturbed when required. 

Risk Assessment Statement

For risks associated with using campus buildings or QUT facilities, refer to the HiQ Health and Safety information.

You are advised to take regular rest breaks when engaging in prolonged computer-based work and ensure that your workstation is set up for optimal comfort to prevent strain or injury.

Please be advised that this unit may include the presentation and scholarly analysis of material and subject matters that may be considered confronting, such as certain representations of race, class, gender and violence. QUT counselling support is available should you feel the need to avail yourself of these services.

Standards/Competencies

This unit is designed to support your development of the following standards\competencies.

Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competency Standard for Professional Engineer

1: Knowledge and Skill Base

1. 
   Relates to: Examination, Portfolio
2. 
   Relates to: Examination, Portfolio
3. 
   Relates to: Examination, Portfolio

3: Professional and Personal Attributes

1. 
   Relates to: Examination, Portfolio
2. 
   Relates to: Examination, Portfolio