This on-demand teaching session is geared towards medical professionals who are currently writing a project for their degree courses. It provides instruction on how to create effective project writeups, from a Structured Summary to the Discussion/Conclusions. It will explain the Background, Methods, Results, Discussion/Conclusions and Abstract, with an overview of the project format, mark breakdown, any Disclaimers and General Tips. There will also be advice on where to start, mistakes to avoid, good flow and evidence needed when presenting results to attain a high score. Attendees will have the chance to ask their questions and receive feedback.
• Aim for maximum impact with minimum words
Learning Objectives:
Understand the overall structure of a project write-up for a medical audience, including all the components and their relative weight in the final grade, as well as the specifics of the formatting and any disclaimers.
Learn how to come up with a strong beginning for the project write-up, such as by setting the scene, placing the research in its existing context, and clearly defining any terms or theories.
List and be able to recognize some of the common mistakes made when completing projects, such as errors of fact, poor analysis or conclusions, and misinterpreting literature.
Learn the key components of the four main sections in a project write-up (Background, Methods, Results, and Discussion/Conclusions), including best practices for each.
Get tips on improving the overall presentation of a project, such as through the use of clear and concise language, chronological structure, and making use of illustrations.
Warning!
The following transcript was generated automatically from the content and has not been checked or corrected manually.
ALEKSANDRA DUNIN-BORKOWSKA ad6618@ic.ac.uk PROJECT WRITE UP A MedED LECTURESESSION STRUCTURE Background Methods Results Discussion/Conclusions Abstract Disclaimers • If anything in this talk contradicts information from faculty, go with faculty advice • Some advice may not apply • Example: Humanities, Philosophy and Law • Plagiarism: don’t let it happen to you • Refer to the project handbook for students! Format • 78% of module 3 • 35% of overall BSc (for intercalating students) • Word limit: 5000 words + 300-word abstract • with cover page and acknowledgements • Maximum of 8 figures and minimum of 15 references th • Deadline: 26 May Mark breakdown • Abstract: 12.5% • Structured summary with five paragraphs – Background, Methods, Results, Discussion and Conclusions • Background: 25% • Methods: 12.5% • Results: 12.5% • Discussion/conclusions: 25% • Overall presentation of project: 12.5% + appendix/supplemental data section (does not contribute to final grade)DisclaimersOverall adviceOverallOverall Low scoring project • Errors of fact. • Vague aims and objectives. • Little or no analysis, results solely descriptive. • Tired or banal conclusions. • Misinterpretations of the literature. • Little evidence that the work was done by you. • Inability to put the work in context. • Poor illustrations (e.g. graphs badly labelled). • Spelling mistakes, poor grammar, structure and layout.Background Background ‘ T h o r o u g h u n d e r s t a n d i n g ’ • Start with a strong beginning • Set the scene – what is already known? • Where your research fits into current knowledge? • Explain novelty of your research • Explain key components and terms • Define terms and theories early • Take note of important assumptions • Increase engagement • Build a story around the central theme of the research • The rest of the paper should follow this story arc Mistakes to avoid ‘ T h o r o u g h u n d e r s t a n d i n g ’ • Ambiguity • Assume the reader doesn’t understand any intricate details about your research • Unrelated themes • Steer clear from topics that are not related to the key aspects of your research topic • Example: If writing about NAFLD, you don’t need to discuss hepatits- related liver injury (even if the complications are the same) • Poor organisation • Ensure chronological structure • Make sure each paragraph is linked to the nextMethods Methods ‘ Go o d f l o w ’ • Purpose of methods section = to provide information by which a study’s validity is judged • Clear and precise description of how an experiment was done • the results were analysed)answer the research question (including how • D• ExplainWHY specific experimental procedures were chosen • Another researcher should be able to replicate your entire experimentResults Results ‘ C o n c i s e l y w r i t t e n u p ’ • Don’t overlook this section! • This is the CORE of your paper • Be objective and unbiased • Describe the results factually- do NOT discuss the results • Use simple and clear language • Good place to save words – use tables, charts, graphs! • Do not repeat all the information conveyed in illustrations in the text Results • If you have more than one hypothesis, use sub-headings • Don’t present too much data • Only present data that directly answers the aims and hypothesis of the study • Too much data = hard to follow the main take-home messages of the paper • Make use of the appendix for initial/raw dataDiscussion/ Conclusions Discussion ‘ C r i t i c a l a n a l y s i s a n d e v a l u a t i o n ’ • Purpose = Puts your results into context ‘ R e l e v a n c e ’ • The discussion should include: • The results of your research • Comparison between your research and initial hypothesis • A discussion of related research • Strengths, limitations and future research Discussion DO DON’T • Begin with a clear statement of the • Rewrite your abstract main findings • evidence (from your results or other • Explain why the outcomes of the study papers) are important • Discuss implications of your findings • Undermine your authority by including statements that doubt • Discuss strengths and limitations your methodology or execution • Introduce new or expanded ways to • Shy away from speaking on think about the research question limitations and negative results • Overstate the importance of your • Indicate what next steps can be taken findings e.g. about how a study will • Be concise resolve large questions Questions to ask yourself 1. Was my hypothesis correct? 2. Ilearned from the results?lly correct or entirely different, what can be 3. How do the conclusions reshape or add onto the existing knowledge in the field?What does previous research say about the topic? 4. Why are the results important or relevant to your audience? Do they add further evidence to a scientific consensus or disprove prior studies? 5. How can future research build on these observations?What are the key experiments that must be done? 6. What is the “take-home” message you want your reader to leave with? General tips • Use the comments/questions from your presentation to guide the focus of your discussion • Focus equally on structure and substance • Good writing makes a massive difference! • Bad scientific writing = disproportionate amount of attention required for the reader to understand what the writer is getting at Scientific writing tips • Use simple, clear, plain language – make it as easy for the reader as possible • One sentence, one idea (remove sentence from the rest of the text – does it make sense as a standalone sentence? • One paragraph, one idea (can you summarise the purpose of your paragraph in one sentence?)Example Scientific writing tips • Write in the present tense • Use subheadings, but don’t interrupt the flow too much • Answer the research question • Every sentence/idea should be related back to your research question • Critically discuss à do not take evidence at face value Scientific writing tips • Be as specific as possible • If you’re using the words ‘this’ or ’that’, be sure it is OBVIOUS what you’re referring to • If using sources/findings from a particular study, state what they ACTUALLY found • Beware of the word ‘prove’ • Support with evidence • ‘There is a wealth of evidence’ à only one source cited • ‘Not widely understood’ à support support support Shortening/Cutting down • Avoid turning verbs into nouns • Example: they obtained estimates of à they estimated • Example: Provides a review of àreviews • Avoid repetition • Example: general scientific consensus of opinion à consensus • Example: future predictions à predictions • Avoid split/remove the sentence + cut unnecessary words • does the sentence make sense if you remove the word? • can this sentence be split into two? • avoid vague or meaningless sentences (does it provide new knowledge to the argument?) Conclusion • Brief summary of the pertinent details discussed • ‘More research is needed’ à cop-out sentence • More research is always needed • What type of research? • Into what particular field? • What are the main challenges to our understanding?Overall presentation of the projectDesign resourcesDesign resourcesStatistics toolsReferencingOther resourcesAbstract Disclaimers • Clearly state the aim of the project • Without this the abstract is pointless • Keep it concise, but also comprehensive • Your introduction, methods and results should logically lead to the conclusions • Do not present too much numerical data and statistical results • Avoid abbreviations, excessive acronyms, figures or complicated termsTHANK YOU FOR COMING! PLEASE FILL IN THE FEEDBACK FORM!
