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 gradescope by the posted deadline.

Schedule is subject to change.

Questions about the schedule should be directed to Jessica Raley.

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Week #1

Lecture topics
Course introduction (TLH)
How to read a physics paper (TLH)
Writing effective titles (JLR)

In-class assignments
Communicating in science—"The Up Goer Five" (JLR)

Assignments due
None

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Week #2

Lecture topics
How to write an abstract (TLH)
How to get started if you hate to write: Part 1 Outlining and  Part 2 Paragraphs (JLR)

In-class assignments

Writing abstract in-class activity (TLH)

Literature search group activity (JLR)
 

Assignments due
HW #1—"Active Reading for Physics Papers"

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Week #3

Lecture topics
How to evaluate a scientific talk or colloquium (TLH)
Tips for giving a good talk give a good talk (TLH)

Writing workshop
Introduction to Writing Workshop: rationale and goals (JLR)
WW #1—"Finding the Right Word" (JLR)
Ms P Solutions

In-class assignments
None

Assignments due

HW #2—"Title and Abstract"

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Week #4

Lecture topics
None

Writing workshop
WW #2—"Using the Right Word" (JLR)
Ms P Solutions

In-class assignments
Short presentation from HW 3 presented in class.

Assignments due

HW #3—"Best Practices for Oral Presentations"

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Week #5

Lecture topics
Collaborative Writing (TLH)

Revising your Work (JLR)

Writing workshop
WW #3—"Four-Letter Words in Science Writing" (no, not those words!) (JLR)
Ms P Solutions

Assignments due
HW #4—"Explaining Physics" DRAFT version
 

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Week #6

Lecture topics
Scientific publication process (TLH)

Peer review (TLH)
Guest speaker, Professor Lance Cooper, "How to Pick a Graduate School" 3:00 p.m.

Writing workshop
WW #4—"Ambiguous Pronouns" (JLR)
Ms P Solutions

In-class assignments
Technical Writing 101 (Review the handout prior to class!) (JLR)

Assignments due

HW #5—"Explaining Physics" FINAL version

 

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Week #7

Lecture topics
How to write instructions (JLR)

Making Verbs Work (JLR)
Writing workshop
None

In-class assignments

Instruction writing Activity

Technical Writing 101 (Review the handout prior to class!) (JLR)

Assignments due

HW #6—"Peer Review"