Throughout the semester, I participated in multiple Blackboard discussion threads that invited us to consider scientific writing, rhetorical strategies, and the research process. These discussions lent themselves to approaching course concepts in an informal, discursive style while at the same time participating critically with the subject matter.

During the first few weeks, the posts centered on what scientific writing is for, why clarity and knowing your audience matter, and the power of language and tone in enhancing the impact of a scientific message. Afterward, I utilized the space to consider the evolution of my research project in terms of annotated bibliography and literature review. Here, I posted about issues I encountered in choosing sources, summarizing complex concepts in my own words, and constraining myself in what I discussed.

These discussions assisted me in putting thoughts into order before starting formal drafts and enabled me to respond to the thoughts of others. In general, the Blackboard discussions were an excellent tool for enhancing the quality of my academic voice and thinking more critically about science, writing, and audience.

This entry is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International license.