OBJECTIVE: To convert a traditional graduate seminar course into a class that emphasizes written as well as oral communication skills. DESIGN: Graduate pharmacology/toxicology students presented formal and informal seminars on their research progress and on recent peer-reviewed literature from the field. Students in the audience wrote critiques of the research project or article, as well as of the presentations themselves. ASSESSMENT: Students were evaluated based on oral presentations, class participation, and a scientific writing component. All faculty members provided constructive written comments and a grade. The course master provided the presenter with a formal written review and returned a "red pen" revision of each student critique. CONCLUSION: This novel seminar/writing course introduces intensive focus on writing skills, which are especially essential today given the large number of graduate students for whom English is not a first language.
OBJECTIVE: To convert a traditional graduate seminar course into a class that emphasizes written as well as oral communication skills. DESIGN: Graduate pharmacology/toxicology students presented formal and informal seminars on their research progress and on recent peer-reviewed literature from the field. Students in the audience wrote critiques of the research project or article, as well as of the presentations themselves. ASSESSMENT: Students were evaluated based on oral presentations, class participation, and a scientific writing component. All faculty members provided constructive written comments and a grade. The course master provided the presenter with a formal written review and returned a "red pen" revision of each student critique. CONCLUSION: This novel seminar/writing course introduces intensive focus on writing skills, which are especially essential today given the large number of graduate students for whom English is not a first language.
Authors: Christopher K Surratt; Paula A Witt-Enderby; David A Johnson; Carl A Anderson; J Douglas Bricker; Vicki L Davis; Steven M Firestine; Wilson S Meng Journal: CBE Life Sci Educ Date: 2006 Impact factor: 3.325