SPE8307 : Scientific Writing for Publication
- Offered for Year: 2026/27
- Module Leader(s): Professor Helen Stringer
- Owning School: Education, Communication & Language Sci
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
To understand and apply a range of skills and techniques aimed at presenting the student’s research to different audiences in order to gain and optimise dissemination and publication opportunities.
Outline Of Syllabus
1. The essentials of scientific writing (e.g. style, organisation, structure)
2. Writing for publication (e.g. requirements of editors, the review process, targeting high impact Speech and Language Therapy Journals)
3. Presenting for scientific conferences and research seminars (poster and oral presentation)
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 2 | 1:00 | 2:00 | Introduction to different styles of scientific writing for different audiences |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 40:00 | 40:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 4 | 3:00 | 12:00 | Examination and critical appraisal of different types of science communication |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 2 | 3:30 | 7:00 | Analysis of writing styles and peer review. |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 139:00 | 139:00 | N/A |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Lectures and workshop activities will illustrate the processes of writing a scientific paper (Knowledge outcome 1, skills outcome 1)
Lectures and workshop activities will illustrate the processes for preparing and presenting at scientific conferences (KO2)
Private study activity will give practice in peer review (skills outcome 2)
If only one student is enrolled on the programme the group activities throughout will be replaced with alternative modes of learning.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written exercise | 1 | M | 100 | The student will write a scientific paper of up to 3000 words, submitted three weeks before the final submission date as a draft for formative feedback in the form of a peer review. This could be a topic related to their master's dissertation project |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The students will write a scientific paper (written communication, planning and organisation, information literacy, problem solving) and have the opportunity to have it anonymously peer reviewed, while practising the skill of peer review themselves (if there are more than one student enrolled on the programme). At the discretion of the module leader, students who have been advised against or chosen not to progress with their initial research project, can exceptionally submit a second research proposal for this assignment.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- SPE8307's Timetable