Storytelling Techniques for Scientific Writing

18 October 2023

Dr. Diego Gonzalez

Dr. Diego Gonzalez

This workshop aims at helping PhD students develop narrative skills to improve the overall structure and style of their scientific articles. It focuses on what we intuitively name the 'story' behind a scientific research and explores different ways to tell it to a readership. In the course of the workshop, students should develop a better understanding of the narrative dimension of scientific article writing, experience the effect of different narrative angles depending on the intended audience, and structure their work to highlight its significance for the scientific community and beyond.

Program

The workshop is divided into three parts, each of which addresses storytelling at a different level. All three parts include a conceptual introduction and practical work on the texts produced by the students.

8h45 - 9h00 Registration

9h00 - 10h30

1. Structuring a scientific story

a. What is a story? - Actors, goals, and actions

b. The specificities of scientific storytelling

Practical work on abstracts.

10h30 - 10h50 Coffee break - EatEco

10h50-12h15

2. Creating textual flow

a. The ideal of classic style

b. Ensuring continuity and coherence in a paragraph

Practical work on individual sentences and paragraphs.

12h15 - 13h30 Lunch break - EatEco

13h30-15h00

3. Choosing an audience and highlighting significance

a. All stories are not fit for all audiences

Practical work on titles, significance statements, and editorial policies of scientific journals.

15h00 - 15h20 Coffee break - EatEco

15h20-16h30

b. Singling out the impact of your research

Pooling, summary of the day

Practical work on titles, significance statements, and editorial policies of scientific journals. 

University of Neuchâtel, UniMail room A017

Assignments

The participants are asked to send the following material to [email protected] latest by October 15th, 2023:

•  an article title;
• an abstract of maximum 250 words summarizing their research;
• one paragraph (150 to 300 words) of introduction: either a paragraph presenting the topic of the article, or a paragraph introducing the gap of knowledge the article addresses;
• one paragraph (150 to 300 words) of discussion: either a paragraph addressing a limitation in the method or a contradiction in the results, or a paragraph integrating the newly produced knowledge with knowledge accepted in the field;
• one paragraph (150 to 250 words) of a cover letter to the editor highlighting the significance of their research;
• an intended journal and a justification for this choice.

Whenever possible, these texts should pertain to a same article. This material will be used as the starting point for the practical parts of the workshop.

Registration: close

Registration fee: Free for CUSO Microbiology PhD members. 50.- for non PhD members (plus travel expenses).

Deadline for registration :11.10.2023

Cancellation fee: 50.- if cancellation after the 11.10.23

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