Writing Clear Science workshops are designed to assist both science professionals and students. People from all science backgrounds and with different types of writing experience are encouraged to attend. Those who attend are expected to have had some formal science training.

 

The workshops are designed and facilitated by Dr Marina Hurley. Drawing on her experience as a writer, lecturer, research scientist and workshop facilitator, Dr Hurley has developed a unique and comprehensive approach to the teaching of science writing that participants find inspiring. Please refer to Testimonials for further details. 

These workshops contain both practical and theoretical instruction and are designed to facilitate learning in an interactive environment. The writing workshops include short lectures, writing exercises, group discussions and editing review exercises. Participants learn to improve their writing by rewriting sentences and paragraphs, and by reviewing their own writing and that of other participants.

 

The Standard 2 Day Workshop

The most common workshop offered by Writing Clear Science is the Standard 2 Day workshop. During this workshop we teach how to manage the entire process of writing, from how to ‘get your thoughts down on paper’ and structure your first draft to producing the final draft. Our basic premise is that science writing should be accurate, clear, direct and succinct.

 

We provide a solid framework for people to improve both their writing and research skills. On the first day we cover how to start, what to write, how to structure your sentences and paragraphs clearly and accurately, the essential aspects of punctuation necessary for accuracy, and how to improve your writing style. On the second day we cover how to design your documents for different audiences and different purposes. We review the standard scientific reporting framework, how to prepare reports and papers, and discuss how to clearly and concisely communicate a research project to a chosen audience. In addition, across the two days, we conduct editing and re-writing exercises, where we teach how to improve writing through effective editing skills and critical review techniques. 

Different people have different types of writing challenges. Our workshops are designed to be flexible in order to meet the different needs of people who want to improve their writing. We have a range of people with different challenges who attend our workshops. For example we have people who attend who:

 

Many people can be productive writers but still struggle with a range of different writing problems, the majority of which we cover in the Standard 2 Day workshop. For example we deal with difficulties related to:

  - writing thoughts down on paper.

  - punctuation.

  - explaining a point decisively.

  - writing quickly and efficiently.

  - writing succinctly.

  - structuring a document.

  - writing clear paragraphs.

  - knowing what writing rules to follow and what guidelines to set aside

 

Overall we aim to assist people to improve their productivity and to be able to write for a wider audience.

 

What is not covered during the Standard 2 Day Workshop?

1. We do not teach writing for a specific field of science. We present science writing from a broad perspective, so that people from all walks of scientific life can attend and learn from each other.

 

2. We do not teach a particular type of report writing. We review the essential elements of report writing that are entrenched in the scientific method (IMRD): Introduction, Methods, Results and Discussion. From this basic template we discuss how to design different types of reports according to the needs of the writer and their audience. However we are able to tailor In-House Workshops according to discipline- and institution-specific reporting needs. Please contact us for further information.

 

3. We do not teach detailed rules of grammar. During the Standard 2 Day Workshop we review concise sentence structure by focusing on the difference between independent and dependent clauses. These aspects are then used to review the basic rules of punctuation. The rules of English grammar are extensive and comprehensive and out of the scope of the Standard 2 Day Workshop. However we are able to provide a ‘Grammar for Scientists’ In-House Workshop. Please contact us for further information.

 

4. We do not allocate large blocks of time to writing new material. In these workshops writing practice involves rewriting and reviewing existing material: participants are encouraged to work on a current document. We are able to offer additional modules for In-House Workshops where large blocks of time are allocated for writing and editing. Please refer to www.writingclearscience.com.au and click on the Modules tab for further information.

 

5. The Standard 2 Day Workshop is not designed for advanced writers, nor is it designed for people who struggle to write grammatically-correct sentences. However this workshop does cater for varying levels of expertise and writing experience. This workshop is beneficial for experienced writers who are interested in revising or refreshing their approach to writing and in improving their ability to write succinctly. Less experienced writers can use the skills gained from this workshop to help them confidently approach their writing in a logical manner.

 

6. It is not possible to only enrol for Day 2 of The Standard 2 Day Workshop as it is a concurrent two day course. The facilitator’s overall approach and the factors imperative to excellent writing are comprehensively covered in the introduction session on the morning of first day. These fundamentals are then continually repeated throughout the workshop. Some of the information and exercises offered during Day 1 or Day 2 may be similar to what an experienced writer has already absorbed in training or in practice. However, to ensure a smooth workshop environment, irrespective of the participants’ level of experience, we need everyone to start at the same point and with the same level of understanding.