Writing a scientific article

To finish your PhD, you might need to write and publish academic articles in peer-reviewed journals. You’ve almost certainly done some writing during your PhD so far, but chances are, your main focus has been on your research, and for many of you that will mean collecting data and conducting experiments. There comes a point, though, where you need to put pen to paper (or more likely, put finger to keyboard) and produce the articles which will become the chapters of your PhD. Don’t make the mistake of assuming that because you have put in hours of research, that the paper will write itself. Writing is a skill which also needs to be constantly improved and practiced. 

This course takes you through the process of writing a scientific article. It discusses what being ‘academic’ actually means and what it can mean in different contexts and looks at the role which style plays in good writing. We then go through the sections of an IMRaD paper, discussing and comparing insights from different scientific disciplines. Don’t worry if your field doesn’t follow this format though; we’ll also discuss other ways of writing a paper with the main goal being: to tell a coherent story which logically guides your reader through the work that you have done.

Course format and schedule 2025-26

The course lasts for 10 consecutive weeks, with 1 weekly Monday session from 9:30 to 12:00. However, please reserve 12 weeks in your calendar, in case of Dutch public holidays or instructor illness. Please note that to successfully complete the course, max 2 absences are allowed (notified or unnotified).

• Group 1: Start on September 29th
• Group 2: Spring 2026, tba
• Group 3: Spring 2026, tba

Prerequisites

To take this course, you should have collected and analysed all data beforehand. This will facilitate the goal of writing and editing your paper in 10 weeks. Also note that this course requires advanced English skills (at least B2/C1). If you do not fulfil these criteria, you can consider Scientific Writing: Basics or Scientific Writing: Intermediate courses instead.

Learning goals

• Understand the importance of effective scientific writing: Recognize that writing is an essential skill for PhD candidates, particularly in the context of producing academic articles that contribute to the thesis.
• Craft a coherent narrative: Learn how to structure a scientific article to effectively communicate the research process, findings, and implications in a logical and compelling manner, guiding the reader through the work done.
• Appreciate the role of style in scientific writing: Explore how language choices, tone, and presentation affect the readability and impact of scientific articles, and develop skills in adapting writing style to different audiences and contexts.
• Practise critical analysis of scientific writing: Engage in discussions and comparisons of scientific articles from different disciplines, analysing their strengths and weaknesses in terms of structure, style, and clarity.
• Apply feedback and revision techniques: Develop the ability to incorporate feedback from peers and mentors to improve the quality of scientific writing, demonstrating an iterative approach to the writing process.
• Prepare for publication: Gain insights into the publication process for scientific articles, including strategies for selecting appropriate journals, navigating peer review, and responding to reviewers' comments.
• Reflect on personal writing practices and progress: Evaluate one's own writing process, strengths, and areas for improvement, and develop strategies for ongoing development as a scientific writer.

Workload:

• 25 class hours
• 10 hours for homework assignments
• X hours to write the paper

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