About PBIO 6350 A
Writing seminar on interviews, opinion writing, feature stories, and effective scientific storytelling. Students conduct interviews, investigate scientific stories of general interest, and write public-facing articles. Prerequisites: PBIO 6330; Field Naturalist Program Graduate student.
Notes
Field Naturalist Grad Students only; Prereqs enforced by the system: PBIO 6330; Instructor will email class about meeting time and location Open to degree and PACE students
Section Description
This advanced writing course asks students to investigate and write public-facing science-focused stories suitable for a magazine or other outlet.
Section Expectation
Students will practice setting up and conducting interviews with experts and other subjects. They also study the writer’s guidelines of several popular magazines or news sites—and prepare a “pitch,” a letter to an editor proposing a story for publication. The central work of this course asks students to dig into a long-form feature story that investigates a question of interest to both the student and the public. These pieces often follow from the students’ summer field work, adding depth and a new angle on their area of interest. In this course, students will develop stories that may dig into mysteries, controversies and matters of public concern—with a clear eye on rich storytelling and narrative excitement, married to scientific rigor.
Evaluation
Students are evaluated based on attendance, discussion, in-class writing, in-class presentations, demonstrated joy of learning—and, mostly, writing projects. Engagement and determination count a lot in this course. A writer’s level of effort is most apparent in words on the page. A genuine interest in writing, which basically means writing with diligence and receptiveness to criticism and revision, is a key to success in this course. In terms of a grade, the extent to which students improve their writing will be as important as what they actually write. Grading rubric: Proficiency and power 35% Improvement of craft 35% Meeting deadlines 10% Participation in class 10%
Important Dates
Note: These dates may change before registration begins.
Note: These dates may not be accurate for select courses during the Summer Session.
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| Last Day to Withdraw with 25% Refund | |
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Resources
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Remind Me Form
PBIO 6350 A is closed to new enrollment.
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