Course aims
Publishing in peer-reviewed journals is a key aspect of a career in medical research. In addition to a creative approach and robust analytical techniques, success requires complex skills in communicating results in English.
The course Writing a Research Paper for Publication is especially designed for non English speaking researchers from the field of clinical medicine. The main aim of the course is to enable participants to improve their written scientific English so that their articles are considered by high-impact journals in their field. Course participants should therefore have conducted at least one study and already have the results before starting.

Course content
This scientific writing course consists of three main elements:

• Linguistic components of better writing, such as correct word order, tense use, text-linking elements, and style, as well as variety in vocabulary and structure;
• Specific characteristics of paper sections : effective textual strategies in writing the abstract, introduction, results and discussion sections of an article;
• Self-help strategies for scientific writers, such as the effective use of model articles and online help in checking style and terminology.

Teaching/learning methods
The course is basically practical and consists of input sessions on language and text-construction strategies followed by language exercises, opportunities for application to personal writing, questions, discussion and correction. In addition, parts of participants’ own texts will be discussed and corrected.

Participants should be prepared to work on at least one of their own unpublished articles between the 4 sessions of the course. They can and should re-submit sections for correction and comment each time the course meets. Time spent in class is 24 hours, but outside-class work involves further writing and reviewing.

Requirements
Course participants must submit 4-10 pages from an uncorrected article 2 weeks before the start of the course. This will serve as a basis for individual writing work from the beginning.

Course materials will be provided during the course.

Costs
USZ staff: CHF 500
Collaboration partners: CHF 1000
Others: CHF 1500

Cancellation Policy:
No reimbursement for cancellations after 30. September 2012

Course dates (4-day course):
13. and 20. November, 4. and 11. December 2012
09:00-15:00

Registration online here
For further questions please contact Silke Ludwig,
silke.ludwig@usz.ch, 044 634 55 10