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Assessment

The assessment comprises one 2,500-word science writing portfolio and, on successful completion, you will receive transferable credits (ECTS).

The assessment on this module comprises a practical written portfolio designed to allow you to demonstrate your skills at writing for a non-specialist audience. The portfolio should demonstrate your flexibility as a writer, so each article must be about a different science subject, be in a different genre (a news story, a blog, a feature story and/or a press release) and aimed at a different audience.

You will be encouraged to adopt your own writing style in your writing for a non-specialist audience as well as to undertake your own supporting research.

Content

Over the course of this level 7 (Masters level) module, you will consider how to identify a story in scientific research, key writing structures, how to adapt your writing for different audiences, considerations when writing about risk or statistics, getting your writing noticed online using social media and other means, writing an effective press release and considerations when writing about different fields of science.

Course Director

Andy Ridgway

E-mail

science.communication@uwe.ac.uk

Introduction

This 15 credit Applied Science Communication: Online and Media Writing module will introduce you to science writing techniques that are suitable for non-academic audiences. It will explore key writing structures and key principles behind non-academic writing with an emphasis on online writing.

A student-centred approach will be taken throughout this online module, and while the module will cover key principles in science writing, it will allow you to focus on forms of writing and audiences you are particularly interested in writing for. The content and assessments will also be applicable to different international contexts.

Upon successful completion of this module, you will be able to critically evaluate what makes for good science writing and adapt their writing to different types of output and different audiences as well as having an understating of the opportunities the current science writing ecosystem presents.

Study facilities

The College of Health, Science and Society has an excellent reputation for the quality of its teaching and the facilities it provides.

Get a feel for the Biosciences facilities we have on offer here from wherever you are.

Telephone

+44 (0)117 32 83919

You can also follow us on Twitter @SciCommsUWE.

Title

15 credit level 7 module