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ERIC Number: EJ1240877
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020-Jan
Pages: 10
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0047-231X
EISSN: N/A
Research and Teaching: Building First-Year Science Writing Skills with an Embedded Writing Instruction Program
Dansereau, David; Carmichael, L. E.; Hotson, Brian
Journal of College Science Teaching, v49 n3 p66-75 Jan 2020
An important foundational skill developed in an undergraduate science program is the ability to find, critically evaluate, and communicate scientific information. Effective science communication depends on good writing; therefore, we leveraged student support services offered by the Writing Centre and Academic Communications, in conjunction with the Office of the Dean of Science and the departmental chair of Biology at Saint Mary's University (Halifax) to help meet science-writing outcomes in the Biology program. Our initiative began with writing-instruction workshops, embedded into first-year labs, which supported student writing of formal lab reports. The program also featured instructor feedback on drafts and final resubmissions, and mandatory consultations with discipline-specific writing tutors during the revision phase. We used surveys, attendance records, and grades to evaluate the program's success. Writing tutoring was incentivized and well attended, and we measured a significant improvement on final lab reports grades for students who made use of the program. Over 80% of participants, both science majors and nonmajors, reported that the program had prepared them for future courses.
National Science Teachers Association. 1840 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22201-3000. Tel: 800-722-6782; Fax: 703-243-3924; e-mail: membership@nsta.org; Web site: http://www.nsta.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Canada
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A