Topic outline
General
Contents
1. To err is human!
Two articles from native and non-native speakers of English.2. Writing exercises - 1
An analysis of typical writing mistakes3. Writing exercises - 2
Further exercises for typical writing mistakes4. Let's take a few photographs
Warm-up activity for designing a project5. Project: Designing a toy
Group work for designing a project6. Project proposal
Submitting the project to the client7. Say "Thanks"
Writing formal letters8. Progress report
Submitting a progress report to the client9. Invitation
Writing formal emails10. Design a poster
Promoting the product11. Present the product
Group presentation
1. To err is human!
We all make mistakes when we speak or when we write. This is not a big problem - unless we correct these mistakes, of course. In the first three units of this course, we will focus on common mistakes in academic context.
Below, you will find two scientific articles. The first one was written by two Chinese authors and the second one was written by a native speaker of English.
- Read both articles and pay special attention to highlighted sections.
- After that, do the related exercises.
- Read both articles and pay special attention to highlighted sections.
"An Energy-Balancing Unequal Clustering Protocol for Wireless Sensor Networks", J. Yang and D, Zhang, Information Technology Journal 8 (1): 57-63,2009
- "Use of decision science in mechanical engineering design", Driegel, G. S., Journal of Applied Science and Engineering Technology, pp. 1-7, Miami University, 2008.
4. Let's take a few photographs
It may come as a surprise in the twenty-first century to discover that, in the 1880s, details of how objects move were unknown. The human eye, unaided, cannot resolve the details of fast motion. Eadweard Muybridge and his experiments with motion photography, such as this series of pictures of a horse's gait, helped solve this mystery.
From https://sites.utexas.edu/ransomcentermagazine/2013/05/22/eadweard-muybridge/ - edited
6. Project Proporsal
Read and analyse the "Format for Proposals" carefully. Then, as a group, prepare a proposal for your project. You will submit this proposal to the toy company.
- Title Page
- Statement of the Problem
- Objectives
- Plan of Action
- Management Plan
- References
Submit the group proposal here.
8. Progress Report
Background on the project itself.
- Discussion of achievements since last reporting.
- Discussion of problems that have arisen.
- Discussion of work that lies ahead.
- Assessment of whether you will meet the objectives in the proposed schedule and budget.
Submit the group progress report here.
10. Design a poster
This poster was designed at the end of an Applied English for Science and Technology course at Clausthal University of Technology, Germany. Note that the task here is quite different - it is not a requirement that the "vehicle" should have a mechanism.
This is yet another "tutorial" on how to design scientific posters. We added it to the course content because it presents the topic in a very flexible - a bit too friendly - way.
Note that there are several spelling mistakes ("carefull") in the text.