ILAS Seminar-E2 :How to Read a Scientific Paper
| Numbering Code | U-LAS70 10002 SE50 | Year/Term | 2022 ・ First semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Credits | 2 | Course Type | seminar |
| Target Year | Mainly 1st year students | Target Student | For all majors |
| Language | English | Day/Period | Thu.5 |
| Instructor name | GUY, Adam Tsuda (Graduate School of Biostudies Associate Professor) | ||
| Outline and Purpose of the Course | Scientific literacy in English is essential for a career in science, and a valuable life skill even for those who choose a career path outside science. In this class, we will begin by studying an influential paper together. This will introduce you to a basic approach to reading primary scientific literature that will help you to reach your own conclusions about the data. Each student will pick one or two papers, and in class, together, we will try to understand everything about them: concepts, methods, analysis, interpretation, and significance. This will be an opportunity to learn some science, as well as to see how experiments are designed and how statistical analyses are applied. The class structure will depend on how many students enroll. | ||
| Course Goals | Students will acquire the ability to read scientific papers on their own, including how to track down additional information and how to look critically at data. Students will use their chosen papers as a springboard to explore subjects that are of particular interest to them, or subjects that are brand new. | ||
| Schedule and Contents |
Optimally, each student will be able to choose 2 scientific papers to read in depth. During each class, we will spend a little time on each student's chosen paper, analyzing each paper over several weeks. If many students are enrolled, we may only have time for one paper from each student. 1. Types of Scientific Communication and Resources 2. Students find papers that interest them and bring them to class 3. Overviews of the papers, learning the background information 4. Analysis of the Abstract and Introduction (in-class discussion) 5. Understanding the Methods (in-class discussion) 6. Analysis of Figures and Results (in-class discussion) 7. Analysis of the Discussion (in-class discussion) 8. Analysis of Style (in-class discussion) 9. Analysis of Paper #2 Abstract and Introduction (in-class discussion) 10. Analysis of Paper #2 Methods (in-class discussion) 11. Analysis of Paper #2 Figures and Results (in-class discussion) 12. Analysis of Paper #2 Discussion (in-class discussion) 13. Analysis of Paper #2 Style (in-class discussion) 14. Analysis of paper #2 Summaries of papers. Student written assignment due, and group discussion 15. Feedback Class This schedule is flexible, and will depend on how many students enroll in the course. The schedule also will depend on the types of papers that we are analyzing. For example, a paper with many results may require 2 weeks just to cover the results; we may also spend more time understanding particular methods, again depending on the papers that you will choose to read. The class is open to all 1st and 2nd year students, although the papers will mainly come from the field of my expertise, Biology. |
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| Evaluation Methods and Policy | Grading will be based on attendance and active class participation (80%), and a take-home written assignment (20%), which will be a summary of one of the papers chosen by the student. The written assignment will be graded on the basis of student comprehension and critical analysis, rather than grammatical standards of English. | ||
| Course Requirements | No requirement. However, an intermediate level of English speaking and writing ability is highly recommended, for presentation and reading comprehension. | ||
| Study outside of Class (preparation and review) | Out of class reading may take 2-3 hours per week, to learn about the background for the papers that are discussed during class. | ||
| References, etc. | I will provide additional background material if the need arises, depending on the topic of each paper that is chosen by students. | ||
