Vår 2017

HEL-8026 Scientific Writing and Publishing in Health Sciences - 2 stp

The course is administrated by

Institutt for samfunnsmedisin

Type of course

PhD course. This course is available as a singular course.

Course overlap

FSK-8002 Communicating Science Module 1: Scientific writing 1 stp

Course contents

The course aims at enhancing and improving the writing skills of those already familiar with the process. It contains lectures, group work, discussions in plenum and individual assignments. Lecture topics include;

Academic Writing traditions
The Editor's view on scientific papers
Constraints for writing and structure within health science
Publish or perish?
The Pentagon Model of scientific writing and the academic language
Language: being clear, concise, and correct
Writers' block: what is it and how can it be overcome?

Application deadline

Application deadline is December 1st. Application code 9304 in Søknadsweb.

PhD students and students at the Medical Student Research Program at UiT - The Arctic University of Norway apply by registering for class in Studentweb by January 10th

Those who are admitted to the course must register for exam by February 1st.

Admission requirements

In order to apply for this course you must be registered as a PhD student or a be enrolled at a Medical Research Programme (forskerlinje) at a university. Valid documentation is a statement from your institution that you are a registered student this academic year (this may be a Screen shot from your page in StudentWeb if you are enrolled at a Norwegian university).

For more information regarding PhD courses at the Faculty of Health Sciences go to: http://uit.no/helsefak/forskning/phd/emner

The course has a capacity of 20 students.

If there are more applicants than available spaces, PhD and "forskerlinje" students at UiT - The Arctic University of Norway will be given priority.

Recommended prequisites: The student should have started writing the first paper of the PhD-thesis.

Objective of the course

Knowledge and understanding

On successful completion of the course, the student should:

know the structure of a scientific manuscript
know the key criteria for good manuscripts
be able to critically judge which parts of their scientific work to include in the manuscripts and how to evaluate their own writing against external criteria

Skills and abilities

On successful completion of the course, the student should be able to:

communicate and disseminate scientific results from health research efficiently in writing
master scientific writing for different target groups
master practical tasks on how to overcome writers block
respond to editors comments and rewrite manuscripts
critically read and evaluate scientific articles within health sciences

Judgement and approach

On successful completion of the course, the student should:

Demonstrate insight into the review process and the craft of scientific writing focusing on health sciences

Language of instruction

English

Teaching methods

The course will include didactic teaching including lectures and power-point presentations, small and large group-working and interactive discussions and feedback sessions. There will be a mixture of teacher-led and student-led activities throughout each day of the course, and students will be expected to take an active and dynamic part in all coursework. Individual reading towards knowledge assimilation will also be a requirement, and pre-coursework in the form of submitting an abstract before the course and providing feedback to other students.

Assessment

Work Requirements

Before the course starts the student submits an abstract (1 page) on the topic of the first paper or the whole PhD project
Compulsory attendance (attendance on at least 80 % of educational activities required).
Active participation in lectures and group sessions is required.

Assessment

A written, individual home assignment (essay) (2000-3000 words), on a self-chosen topic. The topic should be related to the student`s PhD thesis. Language: English. The students will be given two weeks to write the paper.

Grading scale: passed/not passed

No re-sit examination is given as the course is given continuously.