The Christ College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Division of Liberal Arts & Sciences
ENG 315 Course Syllabus
COURSE TITLE:
Professional Writing in the Health Sciences
COURSE NUMBER:
ENG 315
COURSE CREDIT:
3 credit hours
PREREQUISITES:
ENG 101 or equivalent
COREQUISITES:
None
TEACHING METHODS:
Blended learning combining face-to-face classes and online, web-enhanced discussions, and
lectures. Students will have exercises and papers.
FACULTY AVAILABILITY:
The course faculty will be available for face-to-face, virtual, or telephone appointments.
Scheduled office hours will be posted for students.
MEETING TIMES:
Online activities will be offered in an asynchronous format according to the course calendar.
Students will be required to be on campus for a face-to-face class three times throughout the
semester.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course provides students with training and practice in writing for bachelor-level study and
professional practice in health science. Students will practice improved composition strategies
in revision and editing appropriate to proficient and polished health sciences communication.
This course prepares students for current academic responsibilities and establishes a
foundation for future academic and professional excellence in communication.
.
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Upon completing this course, students will be able to
1. effectively read, interpret, summarize, discuss and respond to professional literature on an
issue in patient care.
2. produce a persuasive evidence-based research paper in APA format synthesizing sources
while proposing and arguing for a policy on an issue in patient care.
3. use a recursive writing process employing multiple drafts with revision and editing to
produce polished and effective writing that proficiently executes a clearly defined purpose
and meets audience needs.
INSTITUTIONAL LEARNING OUTCOMES:
As a result of their educational experiences at The Christ College students will:
1. Apply an expanded knowledge base within one’s chosen profession and demonstrate a
commitment to pursuing additional learning opportunities related to academic, personal,
or professional interests.
2. Demonstrate responsible engagement with social-political-cultural issues of local,
regional, or global significance.
3. Demonstrate academic and professional competency in written and oral communication.
4. Demonstrate academic and professional competency within the sciences.
5. Demonstrate an ability to engage in intellectual inquiry and apply critical thinking through
identifying assumptions, making inferences, marshaling evidence, and giving a coherent
account of reasoning.
REQUIRED TEXTS:
American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological
Association (6th ed.). Washington, Psychological Association DC: American.
Berger, M. (2013). Writing well in school and beyond. Charleston, SC: CreateSpace.
Terryberry, K. (2005). Writing for the health professions. Clifton Park: Delmar/Cengage.
TENTATIVE TOPICAL OUTLINE:
I.
Professional Writing in the Health Sciences
II.
Effective Writing Strategies/Revising
III.
Grammar/Punctuation Reviews
III.
Overview: Writing an Evidence-based Policy Proposal
IV.
APA Manuscript Basics
V.
Writing Summaries
VI.
Narrowing Your Focus/Thesis & Planning a Paper
VII.
Drafting and Revising an Evidence-based Policy Proposal
VIII. Reflection: Developing an Effective Writing Process
MEASUREMENT OF LEARNING
Teaching Methods
This course will include blended learning combining face-to-face classes and the following
online learning experiences: writing submissions with feedback and revision, collaborative
writing teamwork, reflections on learning and your evolving writing process, lectures and
exercises.
See below for a description of each assessment type.
Evidence-based Policy Proposal
The main paper of the course will be written in several drafts with feedback, writing workshops
and revision stages. Drafts will be scored for completion and receive instructor and peer
feedback. The final draft will be measured according to the Christ College of Nursing and
Health Sciences writing rubric.
Summaries and APA Format Documents
These are short writings that build toward the main paper. They provide opportunities to
become familiar with the material the paper will be based on, to apprehend and apply the
evidence-based-practice mindset appropriate to reading and writing healthcare literature, and to
master APA scholarly format requirements in advance of writing the main paper. These
assignments will be measured according to APA and EBP requirements, and general standards
of effective writing, spelled out in lectures and readings.
Discussion Boards
The Discussion Boards provide online forums for you to work collaboratively with teammates on
your writing as you develop the skills of evidence-based healthcare scholarship. You will be
measured according to a standard Discussion Board rubric.
Journal
The Journal is an avenue for you individually to have online conversations back and forth with
your instructor. This is a valuable tool to facilitate individualized instruction, offering you
opportunities to receive clarification and coaching as you work through revising your writing.
You will be measured for engagement and responsiveness to feedback.
Exercises
Online exercises with feedback will be made available for you to use at your discretion as an
adult learner, with the option of making your results available to your instructor to facilitate
coaching on various matters of grammar, punctuation and format. These exercises are optional
and will not enter into your course grade, although the web site will keep score for you so you
can see your own results.
Quizzes
There will be knowledge-check quizzes to ensure comprehension of the components of health
sciences literature.
METHODS OF EVALUATION:
EBP Policy Proposal
Summaries and APA Format Documents
Discussion Boards
Journal
Quizzes
Total
290 pts
90 pts
60 pts
50 pts
10 pts
500 pts
GRADES
Course grades will be determined based on the following:
Grade
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
D
F
Description
93-100
90-92.99
87-89.99
83-86.99
80-82.99
77-79.99
70-76.99
60-69.99
Below 60
Quality Points
4.00
3.67
3.33
3.00
2.67
2.33
2.00
1.00
0.00
CONNECTION TO YOUR GENERAL EDUCATION COURSEWORK
 Life Long Learning: Readings, Writing through Discussion Board and Papers
 Professional, Social, and Global Consciousness: Readings, Writing through Discussion
Board and Papers
 Intellectual Inquiry: Readings, Writing through Discussion Board and Papers,
Discussion, Lecture
 Effective Communication: Writing, Discussions, Presentations
 Knowledge Base Expansion: Readings, Writing through Discussion Board and Papers,
Lecture, Handouts
 Critical Thinking: Readings, Writing through Discussion Board and Papers, Discussion,
Lecture
Course Calendar ENG 315 B Fall ’14 2nd 8 wks MONDAYS
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Assignment
Due
Format
Grading
START MODULE– Orientation to the Course
Quizzes 1 & 2 on Components
of Health Sciences Literature
W 10/22 @
midnight
Quiz
5 pts each
for 10 pts
total
Introduce self to class
H 10/23 @ midnight
Discussion Board
(DB)
10 pts
completion
H 10/23 @
midnight
Journal
10 pts
completion
Module 1 – The Writing Process
Describe your writing process
Describe new understanding of S 10/25 @ midnight DB
writing process
Module 2 – APA Manuscript Basics and the Summary
10 pts
Greet teammates
T 10/28 @
midnight
DB
10 pts
completion
Title Page in APA Format
W 10/29 @
midnight
Assignment Upload
10 pts
Article 1 Summary
F 10/31 @
midnight
Assignment Upload
10 pts
References Page in APA
Format
T 11/4 @
midnight
Assignment Upload
20 pts
Revised Article 1 Summary
F 11/7 @
Assignment Upload
20 pts
Module 3 – APA References
and Developing Summarizing
Skill
midnight
Module 4 – APA Documentation Format & Developing Summarizing and Revision Skills
Face-to-face class meeting (B11)
M 11/10 @ 5-9 pm
In person, face-toface
Academic Honesty Pledge
T 11/11 @
midnight
Assignment Upload
10 pts
completion
Article 2 Summary
F 11/14 @
midnight
Assignment Upload
20 pts
Draft thesis statement
Su 11/16 @
midnight
DB
10 pts
completion
Outline plan for paper structure
Su 11/16 @
Journal
midnight
Module 5 – Deepening Revision Awareness and Starting the Paper
10 pts
completion
Comment on Case Study
W 11/19 @
midnight
DB
10 pts
First Draft EB Policy Proposal
F 11/21 @
midnight
Assignment Upload
10 pts
completion
Revision Checklist
S 11/22 @
midnight
Assignment Upload
10 pts
completion
Discuss revision checklists with
teammates
Su 11/23 @
midnight
DB
10 pts
Module 6 – Experiencing the Writer’s Workshop & Maintaining Focus and Flow through
Revision
Face-to-face class meeting (B11)
M 11/24 @ 5-9 pm
In person, face-toface
Second Draft EB Policy
Proposal
F 11/28 @ midnight
Assignment Upload
20 pts
engagement
with revision
S 11/29 @
midnight
Module 7 – Deepening Revision Practice
Journal
10 pts
completion
Face-to-face class meeting (B11)
M 12/1 @ 5-9 pm
In person, face-toface
Third Draft EB Policy Proposal
F 12/5 @ midnight
Assignment Upload
Reflection on revision
20 pts
engagement
with revision
Reflection on revision
S 12/6 @
Journal
10 pts
midnight
completion
Module 8 – Deepening Revision Practice & Reflecting on New Perspectives and
Developed Skills
Fourth Draft EB Policy Proposal
F 12/12 @ midnight
Assignment Upload
20 pts
engagement
with revision
200 pts
paper final
grade
Revised revision checklist
S 12/13 @ midnight
Assignment Upload
10 pts
completion
Reflection on revision draft 3 
4 and comprehensive drafts 1
 4, on learning in course, and
on evolving approach to writing
Su 12/14 @
midnight
Journal
10 pts
Final words to teammates and
reflections
Su 12/14 @
midnight
DB
10 pts