WRI501: Reading and Writing about the Scientific Literature in English

Open to students in quantitative fields such as economics, science, and engineering who have completed at least one semester of graduate school.    

This course introduces non-native English speakers to writing about the scientific literature. It explores how scientific articles are constructed and interpreted, how research findings are presented, and how scientific arguments are developed. Students learn to engage the scientific literature critically, to read and analyze efficiently, to distinguish their own work from previous work,and to cite and report the work of others responsibly and accurately.

WRI 501 is a half-term course and meets twice a week for six weeks. For each class, students read research articles and write informal critical responses to exchange with other class members. Students end the course by writing a short review of the science and engineering literature relevant to their research projects. International students who complete WRI 501 become eligible to enroll in WRI 502, “Writing an Effective Scientific Research Article.”

For more information about WRI 501, please contact WSE@princeton.edu.

WRI502: Writing an Effective Scientific Research Article

Open to graduate students in quantitative fields such as economics, science, or engineering who have completed sufficient research to begin writing an article for publication.

The scientific research article is a tightly compressed document: it presents persuasive arguments while simultaneously communicating precisely what was done, exactly what happened, what it might mean, and why it all matters. In this course, students develop their expertise in scientific writing by drafting a research article based on their original research. Students learn the elements of successful writing in science and engineering: 1) How to recognize and use the persuasive aspects of conventional written structure; 2) how to use analysis, feedback, and revision to develop and maintain a strong collaborative writing process; and 3) how to craft clear, concise, and compelling arguments to establish new scientific knowledge.

WRI 502 is a half-term course, meeting once a week for 6 weeks. Each class focuses on a different section of the research article; students prepare each week by drafting a section of their article and reading the drafts of other class members. Students participate in two individual conferences with the instructor and a final conference that includes the student’s research advisor.

Note:  WRI 502 assumes near native fluency in English or extensive recent experience writing about the scientific literature; international students should complete WRI 501 before applying to WRI 502.

For more information about WRI 502, please contact WSE@princeton.edu.