PSYC 402 Science Communication Project

📰  Project Overview

✔️ Practice summarizing science ​concepts for a general audience (short)

✔️ Evaluate science communication

✔️ Paper 1 - Write an executive summary (5-7 pgs) | ✔️ Summarize best practices for science journalism

✔️ Create a pitch for your science communication piece

✔️ Paper 2 - Write a position paper (5-7 pgs)

✔️  Provide peer feedback | ✔️  Paper 3 - Write a compelling and rigorous 500 – 1,000 word science communication piece about memory for The Record

✔️  Provide peer feedback | | Due Dates 📌 | Homework 1 (Part B): September 30 Homework 2 (Part C): October 3 Paper 1: October 10 | Pitch: Oct 30 Paper 2 Final: Nov 23  Peer Review # 1: Nov 29 | Paper 3 Draft v1: Dec 10 Peer Review # 2: Dec 13  Paper 3 Final: Dec 15 | | Possible Points | Paper 1: 150 points | Pitch: 50 points Peer Review # 1: 50 points Paper 2 Final: 150 points | Peer Review # 2: 50 points Paper 3 Final: 150 points |

📌 All assignments due by end of day unless I indicate otherwise.

Table of Contents

How long should my SciComm piece be?

Instruction: Different outlets have different possible formats. Your default piece goal should be between 500 and 1000 words. If you intend to publish your piece to an outlet with a different word-limit, let me know and we can discuss how best to handle that.

What is one way to start my SciCommPiece?

Step 1. Brainstorm possible sources

In addition to your research study, you may wish to include at least one human source. If your piece is about something happening on campus, talk to students! If your piece is centered on a research study, try emailing the authors! The worst thing that can happen is that they don’t reply. Other “human sources” could be members of the Williams or Berkshires community, professors, professionals etc. – anyone you have a quote from.

Start sending out emails and requests for interviews as soon as you can, so you can get yourself on people’s calendars.

Step 2. Start developing the ‘pieces’ of your story²

Think of the science you’re reporting about as centered on a research study, and supported by other sources and narratives that bring relevance, elaboration, or clarity to the story:

You may brainstorm more supporting elements than you end up using, changing the order of those elements, or adding in different elements as you gather feedback and new ideas.

Step 3. Write a “$%17” draft

Hemingway wrote that, “The first draft of anything is shit.” You also saw an example of Dr. Yang’s self-described “mess of a first draft” that turned into her story on growth mindsets in the classroom. Start writing something down so that something exists! You can even name the file “v0” if that helps.

Turn in what you have on Thursday, November 18 at 9:55 AM on Glow (as your thought post) and bring it to class.