2024-2025 / BIOL0034-1

Scientific writing

Duration

16h Th, 20h AUTR

Number of credits

 Master in bio-informatics and modelling, research focus2 crédits 
 Master in biochemistry and molecular and cell biology, research focus2 crédits 
 Master in biochemistry and molecular and cell biology, teaching focus2 crédits 

Lecturer

Marjorie Bardiau, Frédéric Bouché, Pierre Cardol, Pierre Tocquin

Coordinator

Pierre Cardol

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

This module will cover the principles of scientific writing (structure of a report and a scientific article), the critical approach to scientific information, the principles of searching for scientific information using appropriate tools, the notions of plagiarism and publication ethics, the principles of methodological rigour and the use of data formatting tools.

 

Table of contents of theory courses


Scientific writing (P Cardol/ P. Tocquin)

Principles of writing and structuring a scientific paper

  • Preparation for the company placement report and dissertation
  • Principles of scientific writing
  • Developing an introduction
  • Writing a title, abstract and figure legend
  • Presentation of methods, principles of reproducibility, accessibility of data (Data management program, etc.)
  • Structuring the results section
  • Principle and application of results discussion
  • Choice of key words, etc.
Training in the use of documentary resources (M. Bardiau)

Critical and methodological approach to scientific information.

  • Sources of information, information search tools (types of resources and content) and development of a critical approach to scientific information (pyramid of evidence, etc.);
  • Introduction to scientific communication and publishing: costs, abuses, open access issues, copyright policies and plagiarism, new vectors for scientific communication;
  • General principles of scientific information research: initial question, documentary question, choice of tools, documentary languages, command languages, access to documents via databases;
  • Bibliographic methods and use of bibliographic referencing software (Zotero).
Data formatting and graphics (F. Bouché and P. Tocquin)

  • General theory on the presentation of figures and graphs of results o R packages applied to graphs

Table of contents for practical sessions, tutorials, etc.



  • Scientific writing (P Cardol/ P. Tocquin): application of writing principles drawn from previous work
  • Training in the use of documentary resources (M. Bardiau)
  • Data formatting and graphing (F. Bouché and P. Tocquin): practical work on the basis of fictitious data sets or data taken from previous work

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

  • Formulate a research hypothesis and put it into context
  • Acquire the ability to structure a scientific report
  • Develop a critical approach to scientific texts

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Notion of programming in R.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Classroom theory

Tutorials (scientific writing)

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Face-to-face course


Further information:

Face-to-face course


Additional information:

Teaching will be organised as follows:?

  • As a general rule, theory classes will be given in the mornings. Unless otherwise stated, these will take place Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 12:30 (4 periods of 50 min).?
  • The afternoons, dedicated to practical/guided work, will be classroom-based from 13:30 to 17:30.???
Practical work is compulsory, as it is essential for the completion of the report on which part of this module will be assessed. In the event of absence, even justified, students are required to put their work in order.

 

 

 

Course materials and recommended or required readings

The slideshows will be made available to students on the eCampus platform.

Written work / report


Further information:

Written work / report


Additional information:

Marking based on the quality of the form of the Master 2 placement report

 

 

Work placement(s)

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

For practical writing assignments, students are required to bring a computer (or tablet).

Contacts

Module coordination :??

Pierre Cardol

Tél : 04/366 38 40? 
e-mail : Pierre.cardol@uliege.be 


The teachers are available to answer your questions: either during the lessons/practical work sessions given as part of this module, or by e-mail (during office hours).?


List of teachers :?

Frédéric Bouché (fbouche@uliege.be)
Pierre Cardol (pierre.cardol@uliege.be)?
Marjorie Bardiau (mbardiau@uliege.be)
Pierre Tocquin (ptocquin@uliege.be)

Association of one or more MOOCs