Nicolle A. Rosa took a course during her freshman fall semester called the RISE Fall Semester Bridge that focused on improving scientific writing skills. The course emphasized proper citations, paraphrasing, summarizing, and avoiding plagiarism. As part of the course, Rosa had to write a review paper, three annotated bibliographies, and reflections on seminars. Rosa found the course very beneficial and that it provided her with skills for future publications and taught her how to properly express scientific knowledge and avoid plagiarism that she will use throughout her professional career.

1. UPR Cayey
My growth as a young Scientist:
Fall Semester 2013
Nicolle A. Rosa
BIOL. 3095
Prof. E. Díaz and Prof. E. González

2. During the first semester of my freshman year, I had the opportunity of participating in the RISE
Fall Semester Bridge. This bridge consisted of a course dedicated to the improvement of scientific
writing skills. The course emphasized the use of appropriate citations and adequate scientific
writing. As part of this course, we had to prepare a review paper and three annotated bibliographies.
It was a very beneficial experience for my academic life.
In this class, I learned how to correctly express my scientific knowledge. The professors taught
me how to make the adequate citations using the CSE style. They also emphasized the use of
paraphrasing, summarizing, and direct quoting to avoid plagiarism. The course also demonstrated
the importance of the originality that was found in a text. The knowledge that I obtained from this
course will help me throughout all of my professional life.
Some of the requisites that the course established were writing a review paper, which is a
secondary article, and doing a annotated bibliography with three references. During these
assignments, I practiced paraphrasing, direct quoting, and summarizing. Another technique that was
very helpful during the writing of this secondary article was the use of the appropriate citations. The
writing of these was a great way to practice the concepts that were taught during the class. Taking
this course was an amazing way to perfect my writing skills.
In the class, I also had the opportunity of attending four different seminars provided by graduate
students from different universities. After each seminar, I had to write a reflection expressing what I
had learned and how the research that was being developed in the different universities was helpful
to the field of biomedicine. This was also a fantastic way of practicing the techniques that had been
taught in class. The seminars were also a good way of reflecting on the implications that this course
would have in a future.
The RISE Fall Semester Bridge contributed in a great way to my academic future. It provided
the tools for my future publications. It also highlighted the dangers of plagiarism and gave me
options to avoid it. This course taught me skills that I will be using throughout all my life as a

3. professional. I am very glad that I had this opportunity because it greatly contributed to my
academic growth.