Writing & Publishing a Scientific Paper
Marguerite Meitzler

This 4-week course is for postdocs and graduate students who, by the start of the class, will have sufficient data to publish a scientific paper. It will be presented by Maggie Meitzler, a professional writer and teacher who also has extensive experience as a scientific editor. It offers students the opportunity to:

Write a rough draft of a scientific paper, focusing on the two hardest sections to write — the introduction and the discussion;

• Learn how to construct figures and tables;
• Discuss the all-important abstract and the submission cover letter;
• Understand the publishing process;
• Learn why manuscripts get accepted/rejected;
• Decide how to choose a journal; and
• Discuss the future of printed journals in a paperless age.

Each session of the class is limited to 35 participants. Students will be members of in-class review groups giving feedback to their colleagues. The instructor will provide individual in-class writing guidance. She will also review weekly writing assignments and provide written feedback. Students interested in taking this class must commit to 8-10 hours per week to writing/editing outside of the classroom. Attendance and active participation at all 4 course sessions is required.

All participants must purchase a copy of Successful Scientific Writing: A Step-by-Step Guide for the Biological and Medical Sciences by Janice Matthews and Robert Matthews, Cambridge University Press (2007). The list price of this book is $34.99.

Speaker: Maggie Meitzler, professional editor and teacher

Date/Time/Location: Note that all room locations remain to be determined.

September: 10, 17, 24, 10/1          3pm to 6pm                Bethesda Campus
October: 9, 16, 23, 30                     11am to 2pm             Bethesda Campus
November: 5, 12, 19, 24                3pm to 6pm               Bethesda Campus

Please register in advance - http://tinyurl.com/OITE-2009-09-10. If your registration is accepted you will receive an e-mail at least one week prior to the first day of class confirming your registration and the room location of the series.

Please go to www.training.nih.gov <http://www.training.nih.gov/>  to view the tentative 2010 Writing and Publishing a Scientific Paper schedule.