Academic Writing

Course goals

After finishing this course students can:

1. Identify the strengths and weaknesses in their writing process, optimise their writing strategies, and show personal growth as a writer.
2. Compose a writing plan and create a good overall structure in their scientific texts with an eye for storyline and argumentation.
3. Write in a good academic style using correct English, with special attention for clarity and conciseness.
4. Compose paragraphs with good topic sentences and internal structure, and readable sentences of appropriate length and internal order.
5. Apply the principles of cohesion in their writing to create a text that is perceived as high-standard.
6. Understand the capabilities and limitations of GenAI tools in academic writing, and use effective prompting strategies to enhance clarity, style, and structure.
7. Give critical yet constructive feedback on the written work of peers and use this process to improve their own writing.

Content

Period (from – till): This online course will be given eight times a year.
BMS_P1_A Tuesday morning - 7 September 2026 - 15 November 2026
BMS_P1_B Wednesday afternoon 7 September 2026 - 15 November 2026

BMS_P2_A Tuesday morning - 16 November 2026 - 7 February 2027
BMS_P2_B Wednesday afternoon - - 16 November 2026 - 7 February 2027

BMS_P3_A Tuesday morning - 8 February 2027 - 18 April 2027
BMS_P3_B Wednesday afternoon - 8 February 2027 - 18 April 2027

BMS_P4_A Tuesday morning - 21 April - 23 June 2026
BMS_P4_B Wednesday afternoon -  26 April 2027 - 4 July 2027

BMS_Px_A are taught on Tuesday mornings from 10:00 - 11:00
BMS_Px_B are taught on Wednesday afternoons from 16:00 - 17:00
Please note that groups are not interchangeable! See Registration below for more information on how to register for these groups.

NOTE! If you want to participate in this course you should either be working on your thesis report (major or profile research project) or on your writing assignment. You should be ready to write a minimum of 700 words at the start of the course.

Faculty
Course coordinator: dr. ir. Kim van Ommering (k.vanommering@uu.nl)

Course description
Academic writing is one of the more important skills any researcher should have. No matter how brilliant or innovate your research, it is of little value if you cannot communicate your insights clearly and convincingly in scientific articles, so that peer researchers can both verify and build on it. They say the best scientists are also the best writers! Fortunately, writing is a skill that you can learn, and the learning process can be a fun one if given the right tools.
In this 10-week course, you will develop effective writing strategies, learn how to structure and build your text, and write in a clear, professional academic style. We also explore the usefulness and limitations of GenAI tools in academic writing. Learning takes place through e-learning modules in Brightspace supported by 4 online meetings via Teams.

Registration 
This course is open to all Master’s students of the Graduate School of Life Sciences. It is important that, during the course, you are simultaneously working on a report for your profile or major research project or your writing assignment.

You can register for this course via Osiris Student. More information about the registration procedure can be found here on the Students' Site and placement of students is done by lottery in case of capacity limitations.
The maximum number of participants is 30, the minimum is 15.

Note that this course is taught on two different days each period: BMS_Px_A on Tuesday mornings from 10:00 - 11:00 and BMS_Px_B on Wednesday afternoons from 16:00-17:00. During your registration, make sure you enrol for the correct day. If you are available on both days, feel free to register for both groups. This not only secures your place if one group is cancelled due to low enrolment, but also helps us balance group sizes and reduce the risk of cancellation.
 
Course dates
Each course starts in the first week of the period. Online meetings of 1 hour will take place in week 2, 3, 6, and 7 on Tuesday mornings (group A) and Wednesday afternoons (group B).

Literature/study material used
All materials and exercises are available through Brightspace.
 
Mandatory for students in own Master’s programme:
N.A.
 
Optional for students in other GSLS Master’s programme:
Yes.

Entry requirements
You should either be working on your thesis report (major or profile research project) or on your writing assignment. You should be ready to write a minimum of 700 words at the start of the course.
 
Testimonials
"This short course is very useful and instructive"
"The teacher is very enthusiastic"
"You work on your own report"
"Useful advise about the writing process and common pitfalls"
"Eye-opener