Newcastle University

Aims

Writing is a key skill for anyone in medical research. This module, ‘Writing in a Research Setting’ (MCR8003), aims to familiarise students with the many different processes involved in medical writing. The module is designed to allow the students to experience medical writing and to enable them to develop a range of key skills that will prepare them for writing research proposals, grant applications, case reports and manuscripts for both medical textbooks and journals.

Outline Of Syllabus

i.       Writing standard operating protocols and study protocols
ii.       Critical appraisal of scientific papers
iii.       Peer review
iv.       Writing papers
v.       Writing grants
vi.       Responding to referees comments
vii.       Practicalities of data management for publication
viii.       Authorship and ownership – responsibilities
ix.       Plagiarism how to avoid it and how to detect it

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

This will be a mainly self-directed module. In lectures, students will learn fundamental principles of writing in a research setting. Seminars are designed to give one-to-one and group advice on review, critical appraisal and writing skills and the students will be able to practice review, critical appraisal and writing skills in self-directed fashion. The students’ work will be assessed and the student’s will receive formative feedback in the 3 tutorial sessions.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Students will complete four assignments. The first being a SOP (standard operating procedure); second an abstract for a published paper; third an original research proposal for a grant application; fourth a presentation on their own research idea, which will be peer-reviewed.