이공계 대학생의 ‘과학 에세이’ 글쓰기 수업 사례 연구 －전북대학교를 중심으로－

Abstract

This paper covers ‘cultivation of communication skill’ and ‘phased practices of academic writing’ of undergraduates in College of Science and Engineering, which are key issues of the accredited engineering education. By presenting learning contents details of ‘science essay’ unit, among college writing classes, for undergraduates majoring in science or engineering, this paper discusses that the key purpose of the accredited engineering education can be achieved through this unit. The science essay is the unit that can maximize the strong point of students in science or engineering departments who are strong at expository writing. Usually, they tend to avoid writing itself and have many difficulties in expressing their ideas or emotions. However, since many students showed remarkable achievements in delivering objective information and facts in an expository manner, the science essay class, which was given as an extension of this manner, effectively contributed to positive change in their perception of writing. Meanwhile, students were led to select their own topic based on their individual interest for the science essay writing assignment. This allowed students to have experience in explaining their area of interest to non-major students in an accurate and easy way, which made them recognize the importance of communication skill to fulfill their future social duty as science and engineering majors. Furthermore, the significance of this science essay class can be acknowledged as a preparatory writing practice for academic writing. It’s because students can directly or indirectly learn the procedure for academic thesis preparation, through the process of performing the science essay assignment, including uses of knowledge in major, data collection and analysis, and practice for indicating sources related to research ethics. Consequently, since the science essay class can accomplish two core goals of the accredited engineering education and increase self-efficacy that science and engineering majors have for writing, it is expected to actively use it in writing classes for science and engineering majors.