Undergraduate Courses

661.120 Business Communication, 3 credits (W)
Distribution Credits: Writing Intensive 
No prerequisite courses

Business Communication provides students with practice in preparing business-style documents. Students focus on developing clear and concise prose by writing business memos and letters, resumes and cover letters, business proposals, and formal reports. Students are expected to present their work orally using business and professional formats, as well as to enhance their presentations with appropriate technology-based media.

661.150 Oral Presentations, 3 credits (W)
Distribution Credits: Writing Intensive
No prerequisite courses

This course will introduce students to the principles of developing and delivering effective oral presentations, including getting to the point and staying there; developing clear and audible structure; engaging (and gauging) your audience; using effective delivery techniques; choosing and designing visual aids; and giving presentations using technology (PowerPoint). Students will practice these skills in a variety of contexts, from short impromptu talks to long technical presentations meant for lay audiences. They will create and deliver effective oral presentations and submit written documents (speaking scripts) to accompany them.

661.310 Scientific Writing, 3 credits (W)
Distribution Credits: Writing Intensive
No prerequisite courses

This course prepares students to write articles for publication in both professional and non-professional journals.  Students write original work, critique published articles for content and style, and present work to class. In the short term, it improves any written work that requires synthesis and evaluation. Conventional wisdom says that scientific writing is dull and arcane. The truth is that good scientific writing is interesting and easy to read. Scientists who have the broadest audiences know how to tell a good story and   know how to engage and persuade their readers. Students work closely with the professor and each other in a seminar/workshop setting. The goal is to weld critical thinking to compelling writing.

661.330 Writing for Health Professions, 3 credits (W)
Distribution Credits: Writing Intensive 
No prerequisite courses

This course focuses on real-world professional writing and communication skills in the health professions, with exposure to resources and strategies unique to the fields in order to produce high-quality, professional documents.  Focus is placed upon accommodating both expert and lay audiences. The student will write a variety of papers such as a personal statement, resume, cover letter, and a medical research paper, with an emphasis on style, research skills, and organization. Students will gain an understanding of the composition process and the roles of persuasion, empirical evidence, and analysis in medical writing. This course will be beneficial for the future doctor, as well as anyone in health-related fields. The product of the class will be at least one written document ready for submission.

661.340 Legal Communication (W)
Distribution Credits: Writing Intensive 
No prerequisite courses

This course is for students who have an interest in understanding communication in the legal profession.  Emphasis is placed on legal reasoning and professional standards of communication.  As the fields of science, engineering, law, and public policy increasingly interact, the need to write documents for audiences concerned with legal issues increases. Students will learn principles of legal reasoning, argumentation, and writing that are common for various audiences.   Instruction covers both the effective written presentation of the students’ own work and the writing of reports and communication that might generate legal issues from unforeseen audiences.

661.390 Advanced Professional Communication Workshop: Creating Jay Street:The Johns Hopkins Journal of Entrepreneurship and Technology, 3 credits (W)
Distribution Credits: Writing Intensive
Prerequisite Courses: At least one of the following courses: 661.110 Technical Communication, 661.120 Business Communication, 661.310 Scientific Writing, 220.105 Introduction to Fiction and Poetry I, 220.106 Introduction to Fiction and Poetry II, 220.146 Introduction to Science Writing, 220.202 Introduction to Non-Fiction, 060.100 Introduction to Expository Writing, 060.113 Expository Writing, or 060.114 Expository Writing 

This interactive workshop course, open to students from all academic disciplines, will create a prototype for a new JHU  publication, modeled on the Harvard Business Review, focusing on case studies of businesses created by Johns Hopkins students and alumni. Students will identify and develop case analyses to communicate key business and technological strategies/challenges, honing their research, writing, editing, design and presentation skills. The class will design and publish Jay Street, in print and online, providing students a key credential for the future.

Graduate Courses

661.610 Research Writing
No prerequisite courses

This course is designed to provide writing and organizational support to graduate students developing journal articles, dissertations, theses, or conference papers.  Oral presentation skills are also addressed, as are issues for those speaking English as a second language.

661.650 Oral Presentations
No prerequisite courses

Designed for graduate students, particularly students with little or no experience, this course will train students in the skills needed for giving effective oral presentations in academic and real-world situations. Students will learn the principles of developing and delivering effective oral presentations, including getting to the point and staying there; developing clear and audible structure; engaging (and gauging) the audience; using effective delivery techniques; dealing with nerves; choosing and designing strong visual aids; and using technology (PowerPoint) effectively.  Students will practice these skills in a variety of modes, from short impromptu talks, to technical presentations meant for lay audiences, to professional interview situations. They will speak on topics of their own choosing and live videotaping will be used to help students strengthen their skills. Students will be expected to deliver some form of presentation every class meeting and they will also be asked to submit written speaking scripts for critique.

661.710 Dissertation Writing Workshop
Prerequisite Courses: 661.610 Research Writing

A continuation of 661.610 Research Writing, the workshop provides additional instruction and mentoring in writing and organization to graduate students presenting research in journal articles, dissertations, theses, or conference papers.  Each student is expected to complete articles, dissertation chapters, etc. during the semester.  Students may enroll in the workshop in more than one semester. 

661.711 Grant and Contract Proposal Writing

This course addresses the writing of advocacy-based documents such as fellowship applications, research grant applications, and proposals for contracts.  Graduate students interested in writing, formatting, content development, and budgeting issues associated with successful funding and/or fellowship applications would benefit greatly from this course.  This course is appropriate for anyone planning for a career in higher education or research.