Writing for the Biomedical Sciences Course (IND300)

This course prepares students for the demands of writing in the medical sciences. The class has two linked agendas: students will learn how to turn raw research into polished academic argument and students will practice specific lessons through exercises that allow them to think about their own developing scholarship. The course is divided into three units. In the first unit we examine the main components of academic argument (structure, evidence, and analysis). In the second unit, we focus on framing insights, entering the scholarly conversation, and crafting and responding to sophisticated critiques. In the final unit, students will learn essential elements of story art, including how to write a compelling vignette, a vital skill in science communication beyond the academy. Throughout the semester, students will develop a writing practice which will be useful beyond the class, and even their graduate program. Section meetings will offer frequent opportunities for feedback on issues of grammar and syntax. By the end of the course, students will better understand how to turn their thinking into writing, and how to use writing as a form of thinking.