041002 UK Scientific Writing (2011S)

This is a workshop in scientific writing designed for students in economics, computer science, statistics, and applied mathematics---or in general, any field that uses formal, mathematical methods. Besides a general discussion of attitudes and voice, clarity and style, or questions like How to make yourself write?, this course offers a specific discussion of the form and style requirements as they have become standard in the respective disciplines. In this context we will discuss, for example, how to write an abstract, structure an article, organize references, etc. Another special feature of this course is that it addresses the question How to write Mathematics?---that is, how to combine verbal and formal reasoning, choose notation, or typeset and reference mathematical formulae. Throughout the course, the emphasis is not on presenting ``truths'', but on highlighting choices and discussing the trade offs between different alternatives.