PHYS 496 :: Physics Illinois :: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Schedule
Class attendance is mandatory unless excused.
Click for Zoom link.
Writing workshop is held weekly, unless otherwise noted below;
be sure to bring your laptop to class!
In-class assignments require your presence and active participation.
Homework assignments are uploaded to the course portal by the posted deadline.
Schedule is subject to change.
Questions about the schedule should be directed to Celia Elliott.
Week #1
Lecture topics
Course introduction (TLH)
Technical communications for physicists (cme)
Writing effective titles (cme)
In-class assignments
Communicating in science—"The Up Goer Five" (JLR)
Assignments due
None
Read before next class
"Ethics in Physics: The Need for Culture Change"
Week #2
Lecture topics
How to read a physics paper (TLH)
Ethics overview (cme)
In-class assignments
Literature search group activity (JLR)
Standards and values for physicists (cme)
Assignments due
HW #1—"Active Reading for Physics Papers"
Week #3
Lecture topics
How to evaluate a scientific talk or colloquium (TLH)
How to write an abstract (cme)
Writing workshop
Introduction to Writing Workshop—rationale and goals (JLR)
WW #1—"Finding the Right Word" (JLR)
Ms P Solutions
In-class assignments
Writing an abstract (TLH)
Assignments due
none
Week #4
Lecture topics
What makes a good science talk (cme)
Writing workshop
WW #2—"Using the Right Word" (JLR)
Ms P Solutions
In-class assignments
Fermi problems (TLH)
Assignments due
HW #2—"Title and Abstract"
Week #5
Lecture topics
How to get started if you hate to write, Part I (Outlines) (cme)
Writing workshop
WW #3—"Four-Letter Words in Science Writing" (no, not those words!) (JLR)
Ms P Solutions
Assignments due
HW #3—"Best Practices for Technical Presentations"
Colloquium Report #1 Due
Week #6
Lecture topics
How to get started if you hate to write, Part II (Paragraphs) (cme)
Guest speaker, Professor Lance Cooper, "How to Pick a Graduate School" 3:00 p.m.
In-class assignments
Technical Writing 101 (Review the handout prior to class!) (cme)
Assignments due
HW #4—"Explaining Physics" Draft version
Week #7
Lecture topics
Revising and editing your work (cme)
How to write instructions (JLR)
The scientific publication process and peer review (TLH)
Writing workshop
WW #4—"Ambiguous Pronouns" (JLR)
Ms P Solutions
In-class assignments
Writing Instructions—group activity (JLR)
Assignments due
HW #5—"Explaining Physics" Final version
Week #8
Lecture topics
Reference rules and styles in scientific writing (cme)
"How to Survive Graduate School" (TLH)
Writing workshop
WW #5—"Them Thar Indirect Openings" (JLR)
Ms P Solutions
In-class assignments
What to reference, why, and how—group activity (cme)
First meeting of journal-club teams—group activity
Assignments due
HW #6—"Peer Review"
Week #9
Lecture topics
Effective figures and captions (cme)
Writing workshop
WW #6—"The Three-Preposition Rule (3PR)" (JLR)
Ms P Solutions
In-class assignments
Rules for writing numbers (Review the handout prior to class)
Assignments due
Have your team scribe submit your paper selection for your journal-club.
HW #7—"Short Science Talk" Draft Slides
Last Day to Submit Re-writes for Colloquium Report #1.
Arrange for your JC team to meet with instructor.
Week #10
Lecture topics
Making verbs work (cme)
Assignments due
HW #8—"Short Science Talk "
Final slides presented during class;
parallel sessions in Room 158 and Room 222.
Colloquium Report #2 Due.
Week #11
Lecture topics
A framework for ethical decisions (cme)
Writing workshop
WW #7—"Making Verbs Work" (JLR)
Ms P Solutions
In-class assignments
Hard problems—ethical case studies team activity
Assignments due
HW #9—"Evaluating Figures and Captions"
Week #12
Lecture topics
Intellectual property and copyright (cme)
Writing a statement of purpose for grad school admissions (TLH)
Writing workshop
WW #8—"Parallel Construction" (JLR)
Ms P Solutions
Assignments due
HW #10—"Making Your Own Figures and Captions"
Week #13
Lecture topics
Scientific posters (JLR)
How to present a journal-club talk (cme)
Writing workshop
WW #9—"Shooting for 'Shorth'" (JLR)
Ms P Solutions
In-class assignments
Eliminating fluff in scientific writing (Review the handout prior to class)
Assignments due
HW #11—"Resume and Statement of Purpose or Cover Letter"
Week #14
No class
Before our last class
Email your nearly final journal club slides to phys496@physics.illinois.edu
by November 12 @ NOON.
Week #15
Lecture topics
The Last Word on "Due To" (Ms Particular)
Writing workshop
WW Bonus—"Editing Practice" (optional—complete on your own)
Ms P Solutions
Assignments due
HW #12—"Journal Club Presentation" (presented in class)
Example of Journal Club Presentation.
(note that this assignment consists of multiple parts, each having separate due dates)
October 25—submit title of JC paper to PHYS496@physics.illinois.edu.
November 20—last day for team to meet with instructor.
December 2—submit draft slides for feedback to Celia by NOON.
December 6—present journal club talk in class.