METHODOLOGY FOR WRITING

Learning objectives of the Writing methodology module (code M114)

This course is aimed at Science and Technology (ST) students.
Students learnt how to write by practising in the field during their training, where they encountered enormous difficulties in writing their final dissertation, an internship report, or even sending a letter or writing a Curriculum Vitae of acceptable quality.                                                                              
The proposal for the "Writing Methodology" module for first-year Common Base students in Science and Technology (ST) was prompted by the shortcomings noted among students in the past, especially when they are required to submit an official document relating to their courses within the set deadlines.
The aim of this course is not to improve the language of writing, but rather the way in which an individual piece of writing is structured.
By writing, we mean any document that enables us to communicate with others in order to formulate a request, write an internship report, a dissertation or a thesis.
  • Chapter I provides a general reminder of the techniques and standards to be observed when writing.                                                             We thought it would be useful to include the curriculum vitae, which is a very useful document that should be written as carefully as possible in an attractive, good-quality format.
  • Chapter II is devoted to the application of information research methodology. The next step is to identify existing sources of information, and then to learn how to use research tools.                                                                                                                                                    The first part of this chapter is devoted to library tools such as catalogues and document portals.                                                                    The second part is devoted to web search tools, covering the various tools - directories, search engines and meta-search engines - and specifying how each is used and what they are used for.                                                                                                                                      Downstream, the results of the search are then dealt with, in compliance with copyright and citation rules, before concluding with the recovery of results from a more technical point of view.
  • Chapter III is devoted to writing techniques and procedures, including punctuation, syntax and sentences. Sentence length and paragraphing are discussed. The style used in scientific writing, objectivity and intellectual rigour are developed in this chapter.
  • Chapter IV is devoted to writing a report (an internship report, a dissertation or a thesis). We explain the conventional structure of a report, with all its components, including the cover page, summary, introduction, method, results, discussion section, conclusion, bibliography (references), appendices and summary with key words.

PROGRAM


Chapter I: Concepts and general information on writing techniques

Definitions, standards                                                                                                                                                                                                    Writing a memo, CV, Writing a letter or Writing a request

Chapter II: Information retrieval, synthesis and exploitation

Searching for information in libraries (paper format: books, journals)
Searching for information on the Internet (databases, search engines, etc.).

Chapter III: Drafting techniques and procedures

Basic principles of writing - punctuation, syntax, sentences 
Sentence length
Paragraphing
Using a neutral style and writing in the third person
Legibility
Objectivity
Intellectual rigour and plagiarism

Chapter IV: Writing a report

Cover pages
Contents
Introduction 
Method 
Results 
Discussion
Conclusion 
Bibliography 
Appendices 
Summary and key words