Scientific Writing, Argumentation and Integrity

Course contents

This course covers several basic transferrable skills and knowledge that are central to becoming an effective scientist or engineer. It contains a range of aspects related to setting up an effective scientific argument and producing a scientific text (article, MSc thesis) while upholding the rules related to research integrity. The following aspects will be covered:

1.       The absolute basics of the philosophy of science (The scientific method, Popper, Kuhn)

2.       How to set up an effective argument:
a.       Critical thinking
b.       Levels or argumentation

3.       Scientific writing:
a.       The scientist/engineer as a professional writer
b.       Structure of scientific stories (OCARstructure, story arcs)
c.       Flow: how paragraphs and sentences connect
d.       Targeting your audience

4.       Research integrity
a.       Ethics and integrity in science and scientific publishing
b.       Presenting and discussing data with integrity
c.       Fraud and integrity violations in science

To be decided