ENGL 4201 Science Writing
From driverless cars to gene therapy to cryptocurrency, the latest scientific and technological breakthroughs promise to transform life as we know it. When science moves from the laboratory, to corporate boardrooms, to news headlines, and into our daily lives, writing is involved in every step along the way. In this course, we will read works created by and about scientists, and explore how science circulates through society via social media and blog posts, traditional media, and government policy making. We'll also examine how companies communicate with the public via press releases, the media, and advertisements. In written and oral assignments, students will practice the skills essential for success in writing about science--researching and reporting, interviewing scientists, pitching new ideas, understanding audience expectations, and clearly communicating essential knowledge. Students will have multiple opportunities to conceive, draft, revise, and complete writing projects tailored to diverse audiences. This course aims to help students understand and explore science writing as a career--including opportunities in media, research labs, university news offices, museums, science and technology focused companies, and many other venues.
Course overview
- Department
- English
- School
- MCAS
- Credits
- 3
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Offered
- Periodically in the Spring
Requirements fulfilled
- Environmental Studies: Concentration — Environmental Communication: Craft Courses (at least 6 credits) (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
- English: Earlier literatures in English: eighteenth- or nineteenth-century literature, 1700-1900 (one course, 3 credits) (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
- English: Earlier literatures in English: medieval or early-modern literature, before 1700 (one course, 3 credits) (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
- English: Major electives (five courses, 15 credits) from department offerings (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
- English: Race, Blackness, and Language requirement (one course) (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
Course evaluations
- Course rating
- 3.89 / 5 · Very Good
- Instructor rating
- 3.95 / 5 · Very Good
- Terms evaluated
- 6
| Term | Instructor | Course overall | Instructor overall | Well organized | Clear learning objectives | Intellectually challenging | Helpful assignments | Applicable beyond course | Attendance necessary | Weekly effort | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2025 | Sarah Sutton | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.4 | 1–3 hrs/week | 12 of 14 |
| Fall 2024 | Sarah Sutton | 3.5 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 1–3 hrs/week | 13 of 13 |
| Fall 2023 | Sarah Sutton | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 of 12 |
| Spring 2023 | Sarah Sutton | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.1 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 3.9 | 1–3 hrs/week | 12 of 15 |
| Fall 2022 | Sarah Sutton | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.0 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.2 | 1–3 hrs/week | 12 of 14 |
| Spring 2022 | Sarah Sutton | 3.3 | 3.2 | 3.6 | 3.9 | 3.5 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 3.4 | 1–3 hrs/week | 10 of 14 |