If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? Discovery without subsequent communication is like a tree that falls unheard.
Fermat's Last Theorem states that an + bn = cn has no non-zero integer for a, b, and c when n > 2. In 1637, the mathematician Pierre de Fermat wrote a marginal note in his copy of Diophantus's famous Arithmetica which said: "I have a truly marvellous proof of this proposition which this margin is too narrow to contain." He did not write it down, and the theorem vexed mathematicians until it was finally proven by Sir Andrew Wiles in 1995 using very sophisticated methods that were unavailable to Fermat in the 17th century. Fermat's own proof to the theorem may have been right or wrong; we will never know because he did not write it down; consequently it took scientists hundreds of years and great effort to answer this question.
The scientific process is only finished when a researcher's results have been written clearly, and communicated to and understood by others.
Here are resources to help undergraduate students improve their skills at science communication.
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CEAP 250
Research Essay & Rhetoric
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Comm-Engl for Acad Purp (SCS): Principles and use of academic research and genres, rhetorical strategies, and general editing skills.
Offered by: McGill Writing Centre
- 3 hours
- Formerly EAPR 250.
- Restriction: Not open to students who have taken CESL 500 or ESLN 500 or EAPR 250 or EFRL 250.
- Intended for native speakers of English.
- Open only to students in degree programs - all years and faculties.
- Entrance test: Short essay first day of classes.
- Terms
- Instructors
- Robert J Myles
- Robert J Myles
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CESL 500
ESL: Research Essay & Rhetoric
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Comm-English as 2nd Lang (SCS): For the near-native speaker of English. Principles and use of academic research, genres, rhetorical strategies, and editing skills.
Offered by: McGill Writing Centre
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REDM 399
Science Writing
1 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Redpath Museum: Techniques for effective science writing, including elements of reader-based scientific manuscripts and Abstracts. Emphasis on how to edit texts to make them logical, precise, and clear.
Offered by: Redpath Museum
- Prerequisite: Completion of U1 and permission of the instructor.
- Note: Preference given to students concurrently enrolled in Research Project course. To obtain permission, students should email the instructor, Linda [dot] Cooper [at] mcgill [dot] ca
- Terms
- Instructors
- Linda H Cooper
- Linda H Cooper
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REDM 410
Writing Research Articles
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Redpath Museum: Students will learn about the scientific article, publishing in the sciences, and the benefits of writing for a wide audience. This course focuses on how to structure the Abstract, as well as the Introduction and Discussion section of the full manuscript, and on editing techniques.
Offered by: Redpath Museum
- Prerequisite: 24 credits of 200/300-level Science courses.
- Restriction: This is an advanced course and permission of the instructor is required. To obtain permission, students should email the instructor, linda [dot] cooper [at] mcgill [dot] ca. Not open to students who are taking or have taken REDM 399.
- MSURJ: McGill Science Undergraduate Research Journal. Read some of McGill's best undergraduate student research, contribute a paper, or become an editor.
Students in certain areas may also be interested in the McGill Journal of Medicine.