Workshops, Courses and Events

Overview of the Academic Writing and Systematic Searching Courses

Fall Semester 2023

August 29, 13:00-16:00 - Writing the Methods & Results sections of a scientific paper

This course offers a set of evidence-based rules for writing clear and consistent Methods and Results sections, creating structure and relieving anxiety about the scientific writing process. You will learn skills and become acquainted with tools that enable you to start writing your Methods section early in your research process, and to incrementally build Results sections that match your methods. You will benefit most from this course if you a medical researcher or clinician who must write articles, reports, or grant applications, whether your are currently working on or planning a research project.

Course information: https://ilias.unibe.ch/goto_ilias3_unibe_crs_1314731.html

Direct registration link: https://ilias.unibe.ch/goto.php?target=crs_1314731_rcodeqSNbzKbftW&client_id=ilias3_unibe

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September 4, 13:00-16:00 - Organizing your scientific paper: note-taking and outlining for success

Learn to effectively use MS Word and other outliners to organize your writing process and smooth your collaboration with co-authors. Integrate guidelines, notes, and citations into your outline to cut your writing your time in half. Outlining is a useful skill for writing scientific papers in English and makes the writing process more efficient. It's commonly taught in North America, but rarely taught in Europe. The outlining process begins long before the article is written, and helps scientists keep track of completed and pending writing tasks. This course demonstrates the use of the outline function of your word processor to structure and continuously revise the format of your paper (or other scientific documents) from first steps to final revisions. It will also be useful when you respond to reviewers.

Course information: https://ilias.unibe.ch/goto_ilias3_unibe_crs_1030450.html

Direct registration link: https://ilias.unibe.ch/goto.php?target=crs_1030450_rcodeGKND9DKWRy&client_id=ilias3_unibe

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September 12, 13:00-16:00 - Improve Your Scientific Writing in English: Focus on the Paragraph. 

Designed for researchers or clinicians who want to improve their English-language writing skills. This course focuses on writing proper paragraphs, which are the building blocks of English argumentation. Many other languages, like German, can express complex ideas and multiple relationships within a single sentence, but good English writing requires thinking and writing in shorter sentences within a disciplined paragraph structure. This is not a simple grammar course---you will learn advanced techniques for writing excellent paragraphs and organizing them into a strong and persuasive argument.

Course information: https://ilias.unibe.ch/goto_ilias3_unibe_crs_1296953.html

Direct registration link: https://ilias.unibe.ch/goto.php?target=crs_1296953_rcodeV5at9PBbFH&client_id=ilias3_unibe 

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September 19, 13:00-16:00 - Writing the Discussion Section of a Scientific Paper

Many researchers and clinicians find writing the Discussion the most complicated and challenging part of writing a scientific paper. This course offers you clear, evidence-based rules for writing your Discussion, so you are always sure what belongs in this section… and what does not. You will learn the function of each paragraph in a Discussion section. The course is designed for medical researchers or clinicians who must write articles, reports, or who wish to submit grant applications. (Students who have already completed their data analysis will get the most out of this course.)

Course information: https://ilias.unibe.ch/goto_ilias3_unibe_crs_1314775.html

Direct registration link: https://ilias.unibe.ch/goto.php?target=crs_1314775_rcode3gpmRQxfCM&client_id=ilias3_unibe

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September 26, 13:00-16:00 - Writing the Introduction to a Scientific Paper

This course guides you through the process of writing an Introduction for a scientific paper, paragraph by paragraph. You’ll learn what goes into an Introduction and what does not, when to start writing it, and how to trim it to meet your word count. You’ll also learn what literature to cite in your Introduction and why, and how to craft a proper narrative arc.

Course information: https://ilias.unibe.ch/goto_ilias3_unibe_crs_1314675.html

Direct registration link: https://ilias.unibe.ch/goto.php?target=crs_1314675_rcodebwqBsay4R4&client_id=ilias3_unibe

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October 2, 2023, 13:00 - 15:00 - Writing in plain English: communicate complex science effectively

Science is only useful when it is understood. When you write in plain language, you will make your research easy to understand; your readers will be able to find the information they need, use what they find, and overall, appreciate the significance of your research. Your readers include not only your peers, but also researchers from other specializations, patients, grant reviewers, ethics committee members, journalists, and the general public. In this workshop, you’ll learn: the principles of plain-language writing; tools and guidelines that can help you write a scientific paper in plain English; and the process of writing public-facing summaries of your research, such as plain-language summaries of scientific papers, lay summaries of clinical trial results, and project summaries of grants.

Course information: https://ilias.unibe.ch/goto_ilias3_unibe_sess_2794048.html

Direct registration link: https://ilias.unibe.ch/goto.php?target=crs_2794047_rcode56L7uLxupu&client_id=ilias3_unibe

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October 10, 13:00-16:00 - Introduction to Grant Writing

What do funders want to see in your grant application? This course will help you figure that out and tell your scientific story so that the importance and urgency of your project is vividly clear to funders. It will introduce all aspects of grant writing, from choosing the right grant, writing short and long proposals, and presenting your work to a review board. This is essential information for any medical or health science researcher or clinician who will need to write a grant application and applies to most grants and funding proposals. This is a good introductory workshop for researchers who will also take more advanced workshops targeted to specific grants.

Course information: https://ilias.unibe.ch/goto_ilias3_unibe_crs_1314809.html

Direct registration link: https://ilias.unibe.ch/goto.php?target=crs_1314809_rcode55HcSc2LEv&client_id=ilias3_unibe 

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October 17, 13:00-16:00 - Qualitative Data Reporting for Beginners

This course covers guidelines and best practices for reporting qualitative research in scientific papers, with a focus on medicine and health science research.  Whether you are writing qualitative papers or papers that report on both qualitative and quantitative findings, this course will help you organize the process of reporting methods and results and interpreting your findings.

Course information:https://ilias.unibe.ch/goto_ilias3_unibe_crs_1277376.html

Direct registration link: https://ilias.unibe.ch/goto.php?target=crs_1277376_rcodeLZFfkzpSfV&client_id=ilias3_unibe 

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October 31, 13:00-15:00 - Strategic collaborative writing for first and corresponding authors

Writers often have questions about the nature of authorship, the requirements for inclusion as an author, and the ordering of authors. Collaborating with other authors is also sometimes a challenge. This course is designed to help you with both practical and ethical aspects of authoring. It introduces checklists and organizational tools to help you communicate with co-authors, set and keep deadlines, document contributions, resolve conflicts, and ensure authors and their institutions receive proper credit for their work. This course is especially useful for first and last authors, but authors in any position (and future authors) can benefit from it.

Course information: https://ilias.unibe.ch/goto_ilias3_unibe_crs_1372722.html

Direct registration link: https://ilias.unibe.ch/goto.php?target=crs_1372722_rcodeHQ8BdZCrCK&client_id=ilias3_unibe 

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November 6, 13:00-16:00 - Designing Effective Tables, Figures, and Posters: Basic Graphic Design for Scientists

Researchers present visual data to make concepts and information easier for their audiences to grasp, but few researchers are taught basic principles of graphic design. This course will quickly familiarize you with best practices in the aesthetics of data presentation, including the use of color, images, animations, and other tips and tricks for making sure that your images get your message across without distracting or confusing your reader. Participants will analyze images of tables, figures and slides, identify their strengths and weaknesses, and learn techniques to improve them. The course is designed for researchers or clinicians who want to more effectively use images and tables to support their text.

Course information: https://ilias.unibe.ch/goto_ilias3_unibe_crs_1314813.html

Direct registration link: https://ilias.unibe.ch/goto.php?target=crs_1314813_rcode2q8PqvLDHh&client_id=ilias3_unibe

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November 6, 13:00-16:30 - Scientific literature search - Introduction (1.1)

Modulinhalt:

This module consists of: Scientific Literature Search and Advanced Searching. Scientific Literature Search introduces essential principles of searching for your thesis/dissertation. Topics include: - Preparing a search plan - How to format your research question for a database search - Designing a structured search for your thesis/dissertation - With a focus on how to use PubMed

Modulmethode

Kurze Vorlesungsinputs und eigenständiges Arbeiten am eigenen Projekt (MA oder Dissertation) oder an verfügbaren Beispielen.

Spezifische Modulvoraussetzungen

Keine. Idealerweise liegt ein konkretes Projekt (MA oder Dissertation) vor, das bearbeitet werden kann. Die zwei Teile können unabhängig voneinander besucht werden. Der Besuch des « advanced searching » Kurses bedingt die Teilnahme am ersten Teilkurs «Scientific Literature search».

Vorbereitung vor und ausserhalb der Kurstage

Keine (Kurs in Englisch)

Datum und Ort

6.11.2023 13:00 - 16:30 Universität Mittelstrasse, Raum 216 (Änderungen vorbehalten) Details: Siehe KSL Nummer 456770 (KSL 456770)

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November 7, 13:00-16:30 - Organizing and Writing Your Master’s Thesis in Medicine: Streamlining the process (2.1)

Modulinhalt:

This course will guide you through the process of writing your Master’s thesis, whether it is a stand-alone thesis or a scientific article for a scholarly journal. The course is example- based, so you do not need to have started your thesis or paper. - Collecting\, organizing\, and preparing research data for publication - options for lab notebooks (from Excel to Evernote) - using checklists (equator.org) - proper paragraphing for scientific writing in English - outlining the scientific paper - crafting topic sentences - English argumentation - functions of each section of a scientific paper (Introduction\, Methods\, Results\, Discussion) - what is the message of a paper - tailoring your paper to your message - formatting your paper for different purposes (thesis\, target journal\, presentation) - abstracts - citations

Modulmethode

Kurze Vorlesungsinputs und eigenständiges Arbeiten am eigenen Projekt (MA oder Dissertation) oder an verfügbaren Beispielen.

Spezifische Modulvoraussetzungen

Keine. Idealerweise liegt ein konkretes Projekt (MA oder Dissertation) vor, das bearbeitet werden kann. Die zwei Teile können unabhängig voneinander besucht werden. Der Besuch des « advanced searching » Kurses bedingt die Teilnahme am ersten Teilkurs «Scientific Literature search».

Vorbereitung vor und ausserhalb der Kurstage

Keine (Kurs in Englisch)

Datum und Ort

7.11.2023 13:00 - 16:30 Universität Mittelstrasse, Raum 216 (Änderungen vorbehalten) Details: Siehe KSL Nummer 456772 (KSL 456772)

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November 14, 13:00-15:00 - Responding to reviewers: strategies for (almost) painless revision and resubmission

Preparing your scientific article for submission and responding effectively to reviewer comments are key to getting your article accepted for publication. The course covers the process of minor and major revisions, resolving conflicting recommendations, and how to politely say no to reviewer suggestions. The course will also help you organize the reformatting process for submission to an alternative journal.

Course information: https://ilias.unibe.ch/goto_ilias3_unibe_crs_1312063.html

Direct registration link: https://ilias.unibe.ch/goto.php?target=crs_1312063_rcodeQZRFpVYUWe&client_id=ilias3_unibe 

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November 14, 13:00-16:30: Scientific literature search - Advanced (1.2)

Modulinhalte

- Translating controlled vocabulary terms - Creating complex search strategies - Documenting search strategies - With a focus on searching Ovid Embase

Modulmethode

Kurze Vorlesungsinputs und eigenständiges Arbeiten am eigenen Projekt (MA oder Dissertation) oder an verfügbaren Beispielen.

Spezifische Modulvoraussetzungen

Keine. (Kurs in Englisch) Idealerweise liegt ein konkretes Projekt (MA oder Dissertation) vor, das bearbeitet werden kann. Die zwei Teile können unabhängig voneinander besucht werden. Der Besuch des « advanced searching » Kurses bedingt die Teilnahme am ersten Teilkurs «Scientific Literature search».

Vorbereitung vor und ausserhalb der Kurstage

Keine

Datum und Ort

14.11.2023 13:00 - 16:30 Universität Mittelstrasse, Raum 216 (Änderungen vorbehalten) Details: Siehe KSL Nummer 456830 (KSL 456830)

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November 20, 13:00-16:30 - Organizing and Writing Your Master’s Thesis in Medicine: Streamlining the process (2.1)

Modulinhalt:

This course will guide you through the process of writing your Master’s thesis, whether it is a stand-alone thesis or a scientific article for a scholarly journal. The course is example- based, so you do not need to have started your thesis or paper. - Collecting\, organizing\, and preparing research data for publication - options for lab notebooks (from Excel to Evernote) - using checklists (equator.org) - proper paragraphing for scientific writing in English - outlining the scientific paper - crafting topic sentences - English argumentation - functions of each section of a scientific paper (Introduction\, Methods\, Results\, Discussion) - what is the message of a paper - tailoring your paper to your message - formatting your paper for different purposes (thesis\, target journal\, presentation) - abstracts - citations

Modulmethode

Kurze Vorlesungsinputs und eigenständiges Arbeiten am eigenen Projekt (MA oder Dissertation) oder an verfügbaren Beispielen.

Spezifische Modulvoraussetzungen

Keine. Idealerweise liegt ein konkretes Projekt (MA oder Dissertation) vor, das bearbeitet werden kann. Die zwei Teile können unabhängig voneinander besucht werden. Der Besuch des « advanced searching » Kurses bedingt die Teilnahme am ersten Teilkurs «Scientific Literature search».

Vorbereitung vor und ausserhalb der Kurstage

Keine (Kurs in Englisch)

Datum und Ort

20.11.2023 13:00 - 16:30 Universität Mittelstrasse, Raum 216 (Änderungen vorbehalten) Details: Siehe KSL Nummer 456772 (KSL 456772)

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November 27, 13:00-16:30 - Organizing and Writing Your Master’s/Doctor's Thesis in Medicine: Streamlining the process (2.2)

Modulinhalt:

This course will guide you through the process of writing your Master’s thesis, whether it is a stand-alone thesis or a scientific article for a scholarly journal. The course is example- based, so you do not need to have started your thesis or paper. - Collecting\, organizing\, and preparing research data for publication - options for lab notebooks (from Excel to Evernote) - using checklists (equator.org) - proper paragraphing for scientific writing in English - outlining the scientific paper - crafting topic sentences - English argumentation - functions of each section of a scientific paper (Introduction\, Methods\, Results\, Discussion) - what is the message of a paper - tailoring your paper to your message - formatting your paper for different purposes (thesis\, target journal\, presentation) - abstracts - citations

Modulmethode

Kurze Vorlesungsinputs und eigenständiges Arbeiten am eigenen Projekt (MA oder Dissertation) oder an verfügbaren Beispielen.

Spezifische Modulvoraussetzungen

Keine. Idealerweise liegt ein konkretes Projekt (MA oder Dissertation) vor, das bearbeitet werden kann. Die zwei Teile können unabhängig voneinander besucht werden. Der Besuch des « advanced searching » Kurses bedingt die Teilnahme am ersten Teilkurs «Scientific Literature search».

Vorbereitung vor und ausserhalb der Kurstage

Keine (Kurs in Englisch)

Datum und Ort

27.11.2023 13:00 - 16:30 Universität Mittelstrasse, Raum 216 (Änderungen vorbehalten) Details: Siehe KSL Nummer 475330 (KSL 475330)