Rewriting an introduction for a chemistry paper - Essay Example

Introduction for a Chemistry Paper Chemistry educators have targeted laboratory s, capstone experiences, lecture courses, and undergraduate research to incorporate writing into chemistry curriculum. Other studies are also being conducted to incorporate writing across chemistry curriculum, and even develop writing-dedicated chemistry courses. A number of activities, writing guide, and assignments have, thus resulted from these efforts. Some of these activities advance writing as a tool for developing critical thinking skills and learning chemistry while others provide guidelines to students writing professional publications such as research proposals and journal articles.

This paper, therefore, presents comprehensive guidelines for improving students’ knowledge of the basic writing in chemistry and their abilities to write for chemistry audience.This research focuses on identifying a subset of skills that advanced chemistry students require to write their first professional journals. These skills include writing conventions, audience and purpose, and grammar and mechanics. A sample of more than 300 chemistry students from 16 colleges and universities, between 2004 and 2006, took a writing test to select skills that correspond to the three components.

The results indicated that the participants scored 80 percent to skills related to grammar and mechanics, 45 percent to writing conventions, and 40 percent to audience and purpose. In order to improve students’ needs, we suggested a writing exercise that primarily targeted writing convention and audience and purpose. This activity is explained, in the body paragraphs, and the suggested guidelines are also indicated. This paper is concluded by providing recommendations for implementing these activities, in chemistry classrooms.