Strange Bedfellows: Organic Synthesis and Essay-Writing

Abstract

The components of the process of writing essays on organic synthesis are discussed. The process by which hypothetical synthetic schemes can be generated on paper are described. An analogy is proposed between the process by which essays are written and the process by which organic synthesis problems are solved. It is pointed out that the writing of an essay and the design of an organic synthesis are goal-oriented, nonlinear, and recursive activities that lead to a product that is greater than the sum of the individual elements involved in its creations.

Document Type

Article

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1109/TPC.2003.819636

Keywords

Composition, Problem solving, Science pedagogy, Writing in the sciences, Writing pedagogy

Publication Date

12-1-2003

Journal Title

IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication

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