Introduction to effective biomedical writing

Aim

This course sets the foundation for writing and publishing research articles in the biomedical sciences. It gives an overview of biomedical research journals, IMRaD article structure, and readers’ expectations of the text, and it presents broad strategies for writing the articles and accompanying cover letters and for revising after peer review. The course aims to demystify these processes, by illustrating the range of techniques and strategies that skilled writers use. 

Language

English

For

Beginners. People with little or no experience writing and publishing papers

Contents

Publication of a research article is an integral part of the research process. Just as high-quality research depends on valid protocols and disciplinary standards, so too does the effective writing of research papers. 

During the course, participants will:

• Become familiar with the characteristics and qualities of research journals in the biomedical sciences
• Learn how to separate content into the main sections of an IMRaD article and ensure cohesion among the sections
• Understand the difference between writer-based and reader-friendly writing, and appreciate the need to address readers’ expectations
• Learn basic strategies for planning, drafting and revising a research article and revising again after peer review
• Review topics of English grammar for research articles: grammatical voice of verbs, verb tenses in different IMRaD sections, use of modal verbs, and common sentence structures
• Learn how to structure sentences, paragraphs and sections for optimal readability and a forward flow of information
• Develop and apply a technique for writing a paragraph to describe a table or figure
• Acquire basic skills of good citation practice

Please note the course consists of several sessions, and you should be able to attend all of them.

Study commitment

There will be some required homework assignments between sessions and you should ensure that you have time to do these - approx 2 hours. 

Other relevant information

For any issue regarding attendance before or during the course, please note that you should contact the Intervals team directly by sending an email to intervals@prbb.org.

NOTE: Conditions for participating in online courses  

Intervals courses are small, interactive group sessions in which trainers aim to create a friendly and supportive environment that encourages learning. In order to respect everyone present we ask that during the online sessions you have your camera switched on and a microphone ready to participate in the group activities. 

You should be in a quiet place with a good internet connection. If you are not alone in the room you should wear headphones to respect the confidentiality of course participants. 

Your attendance at this course assumes that you accept these conditions, but if you have a problem please contact us.

Related courses

Introduction to scientific publishing & How to read a paper

Becoming a scientific writer - putting the why before the how