Essay in Animal Welfare Science worth 30%
DUE DATE:
This is an ongoing student activity in Animal Behaviour and Welfare Science. At
the end of this library-based activity, all students will submit no more than 1,000
words (excluding the list of references) describing developments in Animal
Welfare Science that have been published in the past 12 months (ie in 2001 or
2002).
You are referred to the Faculty assignment check-list, marking guide and
assessment criteria (items 1.10 in this handbook) before commencing the essay.
The best essay will be published on the Faculty's Animal Welfare web-site and
the author of the essay that earns the highest mark will receive the student prize
in Animal Welfare Science (currently worth approximately $200). A selection of
the better essays from the last two years can be viewed at:
http://www.library.usyd.edu.au/VEIN/links/Essays/index.html
Since the best essays appear on the WWW, students should avoid using more
than two graphic images that require copyright clearance.
You will be expected to report on several journal articles. For each study
reported you should aim to address the following points:
The aim of the study
The methods used
The results of the study
The limitations of the study
The animal welfare implications of the research.
Most importantly do not simply churn out an abstract for each paper. Instead
you must integrate these aspects of the reports.
How many papers?
Reporting on one article or even two would be an invitation to regurgitate the
abstracts of the papers. You must strive to produce an essay with synthesis,
analysis and processing of information. We need a minimum of THREE papers
on one species. This makes your research difficult but not impossible. Your job is
to synthesise the material.
Widen your search if you find insufficient material in one domain. The broad
title you are working under is "What has been discovered in the past twelve months
that enhances the welfare of the species of your choice"?
Wherever possible, try to confine yourself to 2001/2002 reports of advances in
environmental enrichment, animal husbandry, stress (and pain) management,
housing, training and transport.
Researching your Essay for Animal Welfare Science
Steps to plan your search
The research process is very similar to the process used while gathering evidence during
the treatment of a complex case or conducting a scientific experiment. The essential first
step for finding high quality, relevant information is taking time to plan your search and
think about the best tools for the job. The search plan form at the end of this section may
assist you to work through this process.
Identify your concepts individually:
Write down the topic and think about the concepts embedded within it. Split your topic
into its individual components and think about the different ways that each one could be
expressed. Record alternative spellings and note scientific and common terms for species
names. Drugs and diseases often change name over time. Record the broader and more
specific concepts that relate to your topic.
Note the boundaries or limits of your search
Do you speak a language other than English or would it be important to find material in
English only? For this essay you need to have information just from 2000-2001 so this is
a really important limit to include in your search strategy.
Select appropriate sources
Will the information appear in a serial, book, conference paper, database or is it likely to
be on the Internet?
For this essay you need to be using the databases which index relevant serials. These
include:
Medline
CAB Abstracts
Zoological Record
Agricola
Current Contents (this has the most recent records)
Expanded Academic Index
PsycInfo
Construct a search strategy
Databases are programmed to understand commands that allow you to combine concepts
to make your search more accurate and relevant. Remember those classes from last year
on Advanced Database searching – you will need to use those skills now. Remember
every database is different and you will need to adapt your search strategy in each
database
Conduct the search and carefully examine the results
It is often only when you start to research and investigate the relevant information in
depth that you begin to have a clear picture of what the best approach is to the topic.
Keep a search history so you know where you have been and what terms you used.
Revise and search again
Most searches require fine-tuning. Use your plan and search history to find methods of
broadening or narrowing your search.
Check the Library Catalogue
Once you have found sufficient references you will need to check if the University
Library holds those particular serials – the databases index far more than the Library
holds. Other Library catalogues are available via a link at: http://opac.library.usyd.edu.au/
Trouble?
If you are having trouble with your searching please talk to Philippa Stevens (Veterinary
Science Librarian) in Badham Library. She is available to help you.
Search Plan
Title/topic:
Add synonyms/alternative spellings
First Concept:
Narrower
Specific
Second Concept:
Third Concept:
Relevant Databases:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Suggested searches to type into databases.
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For keyword searching use appropriate truncation eg: $,*
For keyword searching use Boolean AND/OR to combine concepts.
For keyword searching 'nest' common ideas in parentheses.
On scientific databases use the index to discover the correct thesaurus terms.
Check the help screens for appropriate search methodology for the specific database.
Keyword search string
Broader
Thesaurus terms for subject search if available.
They are likely to be different for each database.
Limits:
Dates
Languages
Notes/
search history
Quality of English
So why, apart from getting satisfactory marks in written assignments, are good
writing skills important for a vet? Well, in the worst case scenario, you may be
asked to prepare a formal legal report. However, on a far more regular basis, you
will be writing clinical notes for your patients' records. Although often crafted in
a form of shorthand, these are nonetheless legal documents and as such should
be unambiguous. If your written English is poor, the content becomes generally
inaccessible and therefore difficult to assess.
With the right help, all of you can learn to write accurate, readable and
unambiguous English. Some resources to help you with grammar are available
online at:
http://www.library.usyd.edu.au/VEIN/elibrary/grammar.html
If you feel that you could improve your written communication, please arrange
to take a sample of your work to the Learning Centre (Room 722, Level 7, A35 Education Building - see item 1.12 in this handbook). It is best to phone for an
appointment: 9351 3853.
Common mistakes in veterinary science essays (with apologies to those whose
grammar is better than mine)
Some of the most common errors seen in written assignments involve the
following:
 incorrect use of apostrophes
 incorrect use of singular/plural endings in Latin words
 confusion over the distinction between some adjectives and nouns
1. use of apostrophes
Cat’s means of or belonging to a cat (the cat’s mother).
Cats’ means of or belonging to more than one cat or cats (the cats’ mothers).
Cats means more than one cat.
These are not interchangeable, and the use of the apostrophe to denote
possession is not optional.
However, there is an apparent exception:
It’s is an abbreviation of it is.
Its means of or belonging to it.
Half the problem may be dealt with by avoiding the use of abbreviations such as
it’s, don’t, wouldn’t, couldn’t, shouldn’t et cetera altogether in academic writing.
2. use of singular/plural endings in Latin words:
Criterion is singular; the plural is criteria:
The single criterion by which success may be measured.
All of the following criteria must be met.
Datum is singular; the plural is data:
The datum point of interest lies just above the origin.
There are no data to support this point of view.
Phenomenon is singular; the plural is phenomena:
A rainbow is a natural phenomenon.
Rainbows and sunsets are natural phenomena.
3. the distinction between some adjectives and nouns
Affect means emotion when it is used as a noun:
Cognition and affect may both play a role.
To affect (verb) means to influence:
Music affects him deeply.
Effect means a change or result when it is used as a noun:
Music has a strange effect on him.
To effect (verb) means to make something happen.
Music effected a change in him.
Oestrus is a noun; oestrous is an adjective:
The bitch was in oestrus. The sow showed oestrous behaviour.
Mucus is a noun; mucous is an adjective.
Mucus is the material that is secreted by a mucous membrane.
Consider your audience.
These essays should be written for consumption by veterinary students (such as
your BVSc III peers) and veterinarians. Therefore it is permissible to make some
assumptions. Remember to give abbreviations (such as SNS) in full the first time
you use them.
Word limit
A word limit is a word limit. Any excess may cause the subtraction of marks
simply because in later life you will be required to adhere to very strict word
limits.
Plagiarism
Penalties will be applied to plagiarism, as it is a serious offence which is not
tolerated in this University. This includes copying other students’ work and
copying from references without citation. The faculty policy on plagiarism is
published in the Faculty handbook.
Submission
You must submit your essay in two ways.
1) Electronically.
Your essay must be submitted as an email message (ie not an attachment) to Paul McGreevy
This is how you should send the essay:
To: paulm@vetsci.usyd.edu.au
From: Your email address
Subject: Your last name, Your given name - VETS 3018 Essay
2) Hard copy
A printed version of your essay must be submitted before 4.30 pm, in Lab A, Gunn
Building. Late assignments without evidence for special consideration lose 10% per day.
All assignments should be submitted with a completed assignment cover sheet attached.
Use the final page (or a copy of it) of the handbook. No plastic covers, please.