BIOL 384 - Reading and Writing Like an Ecologist

Institution:

Case Western Reserve University

Subject:

Description:

Students usually learn from textbooks, but scientists communicate with each other through journal articles. The purpose of this class is to help you learn to read and write like an ecologist. We will spend our time reading and discussing journal articles about three or four issues in ecology, including papers from both empirical and theoretical perspectives. In addition to the science, we'll talk about strategies for how to keep reading when you encounter something you don't understand and what makes a paper well or poorly written. At the end of each section, you will synthesize your ideas into a review article. Your initial paper will be submitted to me as hypothetical journal editor. I will send your paper out for review to two fellow classmates, and I'll send their comments back to you along with brief comments of my own. As all scientists know, it is virtually unheard of for a journal to accept a paper for publication without revisions. After this peer review, you will revise your papers and resubmit them to me. Your grade will be based on your participation in class discussions, your papers (both drafts) and your work as a reviewer for other students. Prereq: BIOL 214 or BIOL 251.

Credits:

3.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.case.edu

Phone Number:

(216) 368-2000

Regional Accreditation:

North Central Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Semester

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