Bachelor [Biology - Environmental Biology] From DePauw University

Biologists must write clear, compelling prose to describe and explain complex patterns and processes. They must also present data graphically and verbally to inform and engage other scientists and the public. Good writing in biology is usually concise and precise, conveying information effectively without relying on emotion. Drafts, revisions, and peer reviews are important steps in the process of writing polished prose in biology. Biological inquiry and writing are both collaborative endeavors. Writing collaboratively requires practice, so in many of our courses, students work together to produce co-authored reports describing their experimental results. While collaborative writing is important, students will be increasingly responsible for their own writing with the goal of achieving effective technical writing in the mode of professional biologists.

The Biology major scaffolds writing assignments from parts of lab reports or proposals in the introductory courses to full lab reports and review papers in upper level courses. Students will experience many different forms of writing in Biology throughout their major coursework.

To fulfill the Writing in the Major certification, Biology majors must either take a course that has been designated by the department as writing intensive or submit a portfolio with three pieces of graded writing to their senior seminar instructor prior to the end of their senior year.