DSACWR Academic Communication and Writing for Researchers

Lékařská fakulta
jaro 2025
Rozsah
2/0/0. Ukončení: z.
Vyučující
Richard Alan Zimmerman (přednášející)
Mgr. Petr Bureš (pomocník)
Ing. Renata Kovářová, MBA (pomocník)
Garance
Richard Alan Zimmerman
Lékařská fakulta
Kontaktní osoba: Mgr. Petr Bureš
Dodavatelské pracoviště: Lékařská fakulta
Omezení zápisu do předmětu
Předmět je nabízen i studentům mimo mateřské obory.
Předmět si smí zapsat nejvýše 30 stud.
Momentální stav registrace a zápisu: zapsáno: 0/30, pouze zareg.: 0/30, pouze zareg. s předností (mateřské obory): 0/30
Jiné omezení: in case of greater interest than the capacity of students, preference will be given to MED MUNI doctoral students
Mateřské obory/plány
předmět má 228 mateřských oborů, zobrazit
Cíle předmětu
Within this course, students will have the opportunity to take advantage of first-hand perspectives from communications specialist, native speaker, who will explicitly detail ways and means to pragmatically improve verbal and written English communications. During the seminar, students will
(1) detail and share successful techniques that have proven effective for them,
(2) have the opportunity to learn self-editing options and journalistic strategies from a credentialed journalist,
(3) identify and understand the pitfalls and liabilities of disfluencies,
(4) review methods and benefits of proofreading out loud, and (5) gain resources to specifically facilitate follow-up individual or team studies.
Výstupy z učení
By the end of this course, students will:
have the ˇtools of the tradeˇ to speak more respectably and write more effectively.
have the capacity to demonstrably improve their speaking and writing capabilities.
by employing techniques successfully manifested by professional journalists, academic researchers will have their timely reports expeditiously accepted and subsequently published.
Osnova
  • Session #1: "Speaking Respectfully and Writing Effectively": Participants introduce themselves and describe their academic interests, work, and research. Emphasize major motivational factors and describe how travel outside of the Czech Republic may have enhanced perspectives and broadened outlook. Cover the Five W's and One H when employing "Descriptive English": Precisely answer "who", "what", "where", "when", "why", and "how".
  • Session #2: "The Media is the Message" -- How Mass Media, Social Media, and "Situational Pressure" Influence Communications Patterns. Is the "message" of your research and everyday communications evidence-based? How does "media" shape opinions and influence interactive patterns relating to violence and global warming? Food for Thought: (1) "To be successful in writing, use short sentences" -- Ernest Hemingway (2) "If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out!" - George Orwell
  • Session #3: "How to Become a World Class Communicator" -- Understanding the Art of Persuasion. Keep emotions in check -- control the ego and quiet the mind. Be aware of the impact of obsessions and projections. "It's not about you" -- be an active listener and ask better focused pragmatic questions. Emphasize issue, not self! Eliminate "crutch words/brain farts" -- academically termed disfluencies -- that diminish credibility and distract from message. Specifically, avoid unnecessary meaningless "filler words" such as "You know", "I mean", "Absolutely", "Like", "So", and "Yeah" in speech and text. Be aware of redundancy liability.
  • Session #4: " It's Not the Meat, It's the Motion" -- Quality vs Quantity.Elsevier publishes several "high impact" academic journals which a simple google search can readily identify. Should "Pay to Play" be an accepted norm among contemporary researchers seeking expeditious report acceptance in order to further their professional career? "Business as Usual"? Should ethical researchers boycott publishers demanding up front exorbitant "fees" before even considering review and acceptance? Viable alternatives?
  • Session #5: "A Space in Time" -- Formal Elements of Effective Communications. Focus on K.I.S.S. -- "Keeping It Short & Succinct" -- with an "Abbreviated Abstract", an "Imaginative Introduction", and a "Cover Letter -- the Shorter, the Better". "Save Space" by eliminating extraneous verbiage and ensuring correct syntax. "Time Is of the Essence": The importance of clearly detailing real time reported actions/reactions, respecting the 'time before place' rule. Be aware of the necessity to factor in necessary preparation time along with actual running time involved with written and oral research presentations.
  • Session #6: Additional Formal Elements of Effective Communications. "Emotion in Motion": Body language should enhance and not distract from the presentation. Pacing needs to be smooth, moving along in a meaningful expressive manner towards a revelatory conclusion. "Sound's Abound": How do words sound when read out loud? Are selected words the best choices/options for the situation at hand? Are you speaking slowly and clearly in a manner that is comprehensible and holds interest?
  • Session #7: "Transcend the Incidental": Avoid rhetoric and focus on unique/outstanding situational dynamics.Understand the advantages of using a thesaurus and online dictionary to avoid redundancy and distracting repetition! Organize ideas into cohesive thematic paragraphs.
  • Session #8: Syntax Revisited: The way we order words in a sentence dictates how the sentence will be understood by others.Since syntax is the arrangement of words and phrases, every sentence ever written is an example of syntax. Exemplary use of syntax will enhance comprehension and reduce word count. Understand the advantages of active vs. passive tense.
  • Session #9: "Read it and Say it Loud and Proud": Proofreading text out loud helps a writer recognize subject/verb agreement issues, questionable use of definite/indefinite articles, and confusing word order. Proofreading out loud will also readily identify distracting and dubious long-winded run-on sentences. Bottom line: Get to the point! The quicker you can get to your point, the better.
  • Session #10: Headlines and Capitalization -- Keep it Short, Sweet, and Easy on the Eye. Review of the two most acceptable capitalization options and how these choices can emphasize and underscore key words and phrases within the manuscript and accompanying figures and tables.
  • Session #11: The Ways, Means, & Wherewithal to Reduce Word Count. Understanding and applying journalistic 'Tricks of the Trade' to enhance style. How a well-edited manuscript ensures expeditious journal acceptance and subsequent publication
  • Session #12: Prepositions of Time and Place Review. "A little refreshment can go a long way". What 'works' with the Czech language may be inappropriate in English. Why appropriate preposition use enhances comprehension capacity.
  • Session #13: Review of Prestigious High-Impact Journals -- Best Options for Publication and Readership. Is there life beyond Elsevier? What are viable alternatives for acceptance, recognition, and maximum exposure? Should commercially recognized predatory journals be a consideration?
  • Session #14: “If you don’t like the news, go out and make some of your own“. Your manuscript is the essence of academic communication. While you might use social media to „get out the message“, language corruption within this venue could well affect credibility and understanding, reflecting negatively on researcher insights and focus. How does one best get a message across without being dependent on social networking? What opportunities and available outlets might prove more prudent and viable?
  • Session #15: Post-Publication, What's Next? Prospects and Potential for Further Follow-up Academic Communications, Conference Participation, and Subsequent International Cooperation
Literatura
  • Academic Writing points/tips are available via Harvard University downloads, while UCSF, UCLA, and UC Santa Barbara offer free online reference materials as well.
Výukové metody
Our seminar will include discussion, article review, and individual feedback.
Metody hodnocení
Regular seminar attendance and participation (75 % attendance is required) - Evaluating brief participant presentations and individual responsibility for starting/leading discussions in class
Vyučovací jazyk
Angličtina
Informace učitele
COURSE WILL BE HELD EVERY THURSDAY (EXACT DATE TBD)
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