Course Syllabus ©National College of Midwifery 2013
4/8/15
Course Title: BSM ENG404-Introduction to Writing and Presenting on Midwifery Topics
Course Credit: 4 Credits
Course Description: This course is designed to introduce the BSM student to methods
of professional writing and presentation of midwifery topics. The course uses online
resources to guide students in the development of writing skills and technique
appropriate to the field of midwifery research. Students develop writing and presentation
experience by practicing the rules of professional writing and using current standards in
professional research presentation.
Course Objectives: After completing this course students will:
 Be proficient in the college-level writing process
 Understand the elements of style used in scientific writing
 Be able to write a thesis statement
 Be able to generate an outline on a writing topic
 Understand how to locate resources from scholarly journals and sources
 Understand the principles behind citing sources
 Understand a variety of methods for citing sources and the appropriate
application for each
 Be able to write a journal abstract
 Be able to write a journal article
 Be able to present on a professional topic of their choice
Learning Activities:
(See Course Assignments)
1.
2.
3.
4.
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6.
7.
8.
Student reads appropriate sections from the Learning Materials/Resources.
Student researches resources from journals and articles
Student answers questions.
Student writes outlines for writing topics
Student appropriately cites sources
Student writes abstracts
Student writes articles
Student presentations using PowerPoint
Learning Materials / Resources:
Please use textbooks less than 5 years old or most recent edition.
1. (Online Resource) Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL).
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/ Purdue University. 2013.
2. (Online Resource)Tutorials for Biology Students Searching the Scientific
Literature http://oldsite.lib.purdue.edu/rguides/biotutorials/. Purdue University.
Course Syllabus ©National College of Midwifery 2013
4/8/15
3. (Online Resource) Hacker and Fister. Research and documentation online. 5th
edition. http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/resdoc5e/
4. (Online Resource) American College of Physicians. Writing a research abstract.
http://www.acponline.org/residents_fellows/competitions/abstract/prepare/res_ab
s.htm. 2013
Evaluation Tools / Methods:
Minimum passing grade for all courses is a cumulative 80% / B-. Students and
preceptors are encouraged to work together until the student masters 100% of the
information.
Evaluation is based on demonstration of comprehension of concepts and completion of
written assignments. The preceptor will evaluate the written activities for each lesson for
completeness, comprehension, and professional presentation. Answers should be
referenced when appropriate and written work should be typed and well organized. This
course is graded on a pass/fail scale. The student must achieve a grade of at least 80%
to pass.
Course credit:
One Academic credit equals approximately 15 hours of formal time plus 30 hours of
additional study or homework. Formal time is defined as the amount of time taken to
answer the Learning Objectives to the level of 80% and to complete any learning
activities to the preceptor's satisfaction, including any time spent face to face with the
preceptor. Informal time includes any time spent actively reading relevant sources and
textbook/s, researching Learning Objectives, and studying for examinations.
Portfolio requirement: In order to complete the BSM program the student must upload
select assignments that have been completed and graded by the preceptor onto a
dropbox.com account for final review by College staff.
The required assignments for this course are:
1. Lesson 4-4 Scientific Abstract,
2. Lesson 5-2 Short Journal article, and
3. Lesson 6-3 PowerPoint presentation.
Course Assignments:
Reading and writing assignments are to be complete by the student with supervision of
the preceptor. Focus on learning the key concepts and terminology of each lesson
before performing the assignments. The completion of the journal article may take
several drafts and reviews by the preceptor. The final product is intended to be high
Course Syllabus ©National College of Midwifery 2013
4/8/15
quality. We encourage students to spend time reviewing all concepts with the preceptor
to insure that each is well understood.
Lesson 1: Introduction to college writing
1. Go to the Purdue OWL (online writing lab) website and read the sections under
the heading General Writing: the writing process. This includes: Starting the
writing Process, Introduction to Prewriting, Writer’s block, Stasis theory, Creating
a Thesis statement, Developing and outline, reverse outlining, and Proofreading
(http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/1/).
2. Choose a topic in midwifery that you wish to write about. Write an outline for a
short article aimed at sharing information on this topic to clients and consumers.
Follow the process outlined by the Purdue OWL, you may use regular outlining or
reverse outlining.
3. Using this same topic as above write four sample thesis statements using the
styles appropriate for an analytical paper, an explanatory paper, and an
argumentative paper.
Lesson 2: Introduction to finding the sources you want
1. Go to Tutorials for Biology Students Searching the Scientific Literature
(http://oldsite.lib.purdue.edu/rguides/biotutorials/) This page can also be
accessed from the Purdue OWL webpage. Watch the tutorial titled Introduction
and take notes of the key points covered in this tutorial.
2. Watch the Publication Cycle and Scientific Research tutorial at this same
website. Take notes of key points covered in this tutorial.
3. Watch the Getting started tutorial. Take notes of key points covered in the
tutorial.
4. Watch the Basic Search Strategies tutorial. Take notes of key points covered in
the tutorial.
5. Watch the Advanced Search Strategies tutorial. Take notes of key points covered
in the tutorial.
6. Watch the Evaluating Information tutorial. Take notes of key points covered in the
tutorial.
7. Watch the Using and creating citations tutorial. Take notes of key points covered
in the tutorial.
Lesson 3: Citation and sourcing
1. Read the section Using Research on the Purdue OWL website
(http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/9/) including Strategies for Fair
Use, and Quoting, Paraphrasing and Summarizing.
2. Perform the Paraphrasing exercises under the heading Paraphrasing.
3. Read the section under the heading Avoiding Plagiarism. Perform the
exercises provided in this section.
4. Discuss the program Endnote and its use in citing sources.
Course Syllabus ©National College of Midwifery 2013
4/8/15
5. Read the article on CSE style: Biology and other Sciences located at
http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/resdoc5e/RES5e_ch11_o.html
6. Read the sections entitled CSE documentation system, In-text citation,
Reference List, and Manuscript. Take notes of the above articles on the CSE
style. Print the style guide pages on the CSE style and begin a binder of
citation rules.
7. Read the article on CMJE documentation style from Philadelphia University
and the Vancouver Style Guide. Take notes on the elements of CMJE style
that differentiate it from CSE style and others. Print these style guidelines and
add to your binder.
8. Read the Purdue OWL section on APA Style
(http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/10/). Discuss the use of APA
style and when it might be appropriate to use in writing about midwifery. Print
these guidelines for your binder
9. Read the Purdue OWL section on MLA style
(http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/675/1/). Discuss the use of MLA
style and when it might be appropriate to use in writing about midwifery. Print
these guidelines for your binder.
Lesson 4: Writing an abstract
1. Read the section Writing a Scientific Abstracts Presentation on the Purdue OWL
website. (http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/706/01/).
2. Read Writing a Research Abstract at
(http://www.acponline.org/residents_fellows/competitions/abstract/prepare/res_a
bs.htm )
3. Write an outline for a scientific abstract on a midwifery research topic of your
choice
4. Complete the scientific abstract you have outlined following the rules and
guideline you have read in the required readings.
Lesson 5: Writing a journal article
1. Read the series of articles on Journal writing from the Clinical Journal of
Oncology Nursing listed in the resource section.
2. Practice writing a short journal article on the topic that you outlined in your
abstract. Integrate the writing elements that you have learned thus far in this
course and use the Purdue OWL resources to help you with any areas of
writing in which you need extra guidance.
Lesson 6: Preparing for a presentation
1. Read the sections under the heading Visual Rhetoric on the Purdue OWL
website. Take notes about how to make present your written work in a
visually appealing way.
Course Syllabus ©National College of Midwifery 2013
4/8/15
2. Read the sections under the heading Designing Effective Powerpoint
Presentations on the Purdue OWL website
(http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/686/1/).
3. Design a Powerpoint presentation for your journal article that could be
presented at a conference or class.