Project Lead: Maryam Moussavi (Lecturer and Course Coordinator, Botany & Zoology)
Project Description
Building upon a previously awarded SoTL seed grant, this project aims to integrate structured writing workshops into the curricula of two biology courses (BIOL 341 and BIOL 340). The workshops will utilize and refine previously developed worksheets to guide students in constructing logical, structured scientific arguments in their writing. This project will assess the impact of both the workshops and the revised worksheets on students’ scientific writing skills, confidence, and overall academic performance. Data will be collected through surveys, focus groups, and analysis of written assignments to compare student outcomes across both courses.
Research Questions
- How do students perceive the effectiveness of structured writing workshops and revised worksheets in improving their scientific writing skills and logical argumentation?
- Does participation in writing workshops enhance the overall quality of scientific writing in BIOL 340 and BIOL 341, as demonstrated through written assignments?
- What impact do the workshops have on students’ confidence in scientific communication and logical structuring of scientific arguments across multiple courses?