Science Communication (Science, English)-E3

Numbering Code U-LAS51 10010 SE48 Year/Term 2022 ・ Second semester
Number of Credits 2 Course Type Seminar
Target Year 2nd year students or above Target Student For science students
Language English Day/Period Thu.3/Thu.4
Instructor name James de Witt (Part-time Lecturer)
TSUNEMI TOSHINAO (Graduate School of Science Senior Lecturer)
Outline and Purpose of the Course The primary focus of this course will be on understanding scientific materials presented in an all-English environment. Coursework will emphasize group study and discussion, vocabulary-building, and clear description of scientific ideas through a variety of activities. Enrollment will be open, but is intended mainly for Rigakubu second-year students.

英語の環境下で日本語を通さずに、科学に関する文献や資料を理解するための授業です。
グループ学習と議論、語彙の習得、科学的考え方の明確な記述に重点を置きます。
誰でも受講できますが、理学部2回生が主な対象です。
Course Goals To acquire methods to improve your understanding of English-language scientific information and your skills in presenting them, for later educational and professional purposes
Schedule and Contents Materials will be selected from the fields of mathematics,
physics/astrophysics, earth science, chemistry, and biology, and include authentic works by and about significant achievements of famous scientists.

Lessons will include the content below. The planned number of lectures for each topic are indicated in the parentheses. Some adjustments may be made if the classes are held online.
Orientation (1)
Summarizing information and collaborative discussion (4)
Event/observation/description: limitations in scientific communication (2)
- Thought experiments conducted in class
Organization of ideas in scientific literature (5)
- Improving reading comprehension through understanding of logical structure
- Standards in journal article structure
- Understanding and creating abstracts
Presentation of a model, and description of a scientific principle it
demonstrates (1)
Final quiz, future directions (1)
Feedback (1)

Reading and discussion of journal articles and students' choice of Nature News articles will be given from each of the five basic Faculty of Science divisions of mathematics, physics/astrophysics, earth science, chemistry, and biology.
Mr. De Witt is always present for the lessons, and Dr. Tsunemi may occasionally be present.
Evaluation Methods and Policy Preparedness, daily participation, and assignments.
Daily in-class grades based on 0, 1, 2, or 3 points will be given as follows:
0-no participation or preparation, 1-some but inadequate participation or preparation, 2-normal, expected level of participation and preparation, 3-extra participation and preparedness, beyond the basic requirement.
Plus and minus indicators may also be given, to indicate in-between levels, with 3 such indicators adding to one grade point.
One in-class grade point may be subtracted or tardiness, speaking too much Japanese in class, breaking basic rules, etc., for each day with incidence.
Course Requirements None
Study outside of Class (preparation and review) Read and summarize assigned articles handed out or online, write an article abstract, prepare a simple model to demonstrate, etc.
Textbooks Textbooks/References Topics will be selected from the scientific literature for discussion, summarization, and presentation.
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