Writing Scientific Reports in English (3 cr)

Objectives (course unit)

After completing the course students have achieved the following skills:
- Realistic evaluation of one’s own language (English) learning skills
- Accessing information from a wide range of sources
- Critical evaluation of information
- Competence in scientific reporting

Content (course unit)

The students will practice producing reports which are logically structured, cover sufficient and relevant content, include appropriately labelled graphics, follow the norms for referencing and lay-out, and are written in clear and accurate English.
The students will develop their skills in summarising, paraphrasing and synthesise source materials.

Exam schedules

No exam.

Evaluation methods and criteria

The grade for the course will be based on written reports produced for other compulsory first-year courses on the Environmental Engineering degree programme. The student thus gets credit in different courses for the same work.

Assessment scale

0-5

Teaching methods

writing exercises
practice of specific writing skills
writing assignments

Learning materials

Materials will be supplied in class and posted in Tabula.
The teachers from all the courses concerned will contribute relevant materials for this course.

Student workload

The class will be divided into two groups, and each group will have a 3-hour class once a week.

Full and active participation in class work is essential for students hoping to get a good grade.
Students will prepare themselves in advance for forthcoming classroom activities, and do follow-up assignments as set. Much of the writing will be done independently in unsupervised sessions.

Completion alternatives

None.
Students wishing to get accreditation for this course must start the process at the beginning of the course at the latest; they must participate fully in the course until a decision is made about their accreditation eligibility.

International connections

Exchange students welcome.

Further information

This course is run in collaboration with other compulsory first-year Environmental Engineering courses for which written reports have to be produced (e.g. Physics, Chemistry, Maths). Because this course is run in co-operation with teachers of a number of other courses, it is very important for students to keep to the planned schedule.

The students will practice writing reports which are logically structured, cover sufficient and relevant content, include appropriately labelled graphics, follow the norms for referencing and lay-out, and are written in clear and accurate English.

Students wishing to get accreditation for this course must start the process at the beginning of the course at the latest; they must participate fully in the course until a decision is made about their accreditations eligibility.

Assessment criteria - satisfactory (1-2) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

The student writes in comprehensible English on the whole and shows some awareness of the norms for different types of text; references to source materials are included. Requirements regarding participation, meeting deadlines etc. are minimally fulfilled.

Assessment criteria - good (3-4) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

Students’ English is mainly formal and clear; reports meet norms for different types of text; references to source materials are incorporated consistently; source materials are adequately paraphrased. Requirements regarding participation, meeting deadlines etc. are fulfilled.

Assessment criteria - excellent (5) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

Students’ English is formal, accurate and displays appropriate variation in style; reports meet norms for different types of text; students show ability to access and select appropriate information; references to source materials are incorporated accurately and in a variety of ways; source materials are expertly paraphrased. Requirements regarding participation, meeting deadlines etc. are consistently fulfilled.