OVERVIEW

Writing Arguments in STEM is a collection of Open Educational Resources (OER) focused on argumentation, rhetoric, and communication in the STEM fields. This project consists of 25 chapters that have been selected from other OER resources on subjects like technical communication, reasoning and argumentation, and writing. A team of faculty at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, curated the contents to support instructors teaching first-year courses in critical thinking and communication.

Writing Arguments in STEM was created using Pressbooks, an open-source web-based publishing tool for hosting and disseminating OER-published materials. This collection is zero cost and is meant to be used and distributed widely by students, instructors, and individuals interested in the subject.

HOW TO READ THIS COLLECTION

This collection is divided into the following eight parts, each with its own group of chapters:

1. Introduction to Stasis Theory
2. Reasoning
3. Elements of Argument
4. Information Literacy
5. Research Writing in Academic Disciplines
6. Data Visualization
7. Writing in STEM for Audiences
8. Genre Conventions

Because each chapter has a different author, the collection can be read out of order.

The chapters were selected to support students in meeting the learning outcomes for Area A3 Critical Thinking and Communication in the CSU’s General Education program by teaching critical thinking, logical reasoning, information literacy, and written communication through the art of argumentation.

ATTRIBUTIONS

A Guide to OER Creation with Mavs Open Press by Mavs Open Press is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.