Tasks and Duties
Objective
The objective of this task is to initiate your journey as a Medical Writing Intern by conducting in-depth research and developing a comprehensive planning document for a medical article. You will choose a public health topic and create a structured plan that demonstrates your ability to identify, analyze, and synthesize scientific information.
Expected Deliverables
- A DOC file containing the detailed research plan.
- An outline of the topic, objectives, potential subtopics, and a timeline.
Key Steps
- Select a Topic: Choose a relevant medical or public health topic using publicly available resources such as PubMed, WHO, or CDC websites. Justify your choice with a brief rationale.
- Conduct a Literature Search: Find and review at least 5 credible sources that address the topic, and take notes on key findings.
- Draft a Detailed Plan: Create an outline that includes introduction, objectives, methodologies, expected sections, potential challenges, and timelines. Highlight key areas where further research is needed.
- Review and Refine: Ensure all sections are logically structured and clear.
Evaluation Criteria
Your submission will be assessed on the comprehensiveness of research, clarity of planning, structure of the document, and the incorporation of credible sources. The final DOC file should be well-organized, original, and demonstrate your analytical and written planning skills. This task is designed to take approximately 30 to 35 hours. Ensure your document contains more than 200 words of explanatory content, with detailed descriptions for each section.
Objective
The goal of this task is for you to translate your research plan into a full draft of a medical article suitable for publication. This exercise emphasizes your ability to structure a coherent narrative, adhere to academic writing standards, and effectively communicate complex medical information to both expert and non-expert audiences.
Expected Deliverables
- A DOC file containing the full draft of the medical article.
- A title page, abstract, introduction, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion sections as applicable.
Key Steps
- Review Planning Document: Utilize your research plan and outline from Week 1 to construct the article sections.
- Develop the Draft: Write each section with comprehensive details. The introduction should provide background, while the methodology and results sections must include data interpretation and analysis based on the published sources.
- Maintain Consistency: Ensure language, tone, and formatting are consistent throughout the manuscript.
- Revise Thoroughly: Perform multiple revisions ensuring clarity, coherence, and adherence to the guidelines provided.
Evaluation Criteria
Your submission will be judged on structure, content quality, clarity, adherence to scholarly style guidelines, and integration of research findings. The document should include clear headings and be formatted according to academic standards, making it accessible and informative. Aim for a narrative that goes beyond 200 words per section explanation on your document rationale and writing style.
Objective
The purpose of this task is to develop your ability to critically evaluate the scientific literature and synthesize information effectively. You will conduct a mini literature review focused on recent studies related to a selected medical intervention or treatment and produce a comprehensive critique of the methodologies, findings, and relevance to clinical practice.
Expected Deliverables
- A DOC file containing the literature review and critique.
- A structured document including an introduction, review of selected studies, critical analysis, and a conclusion.
Key Steps
- Select a Focus Area: Identify and justify the choice of a medical intervention or treatment using public domain research.
- Review the Literature: Identify at least 5 recent journal articles and summarize their methodology, key results, and conclusions.
- Critical Analysis: Offer a critical review of the strengths, weaknesses, and potential biases in the studies, comparing and contrasting findings.
- Write the Review: Compile your findings into a coherent, structured document that includes an analysis of the implications of these findings on clinical practice.
Evaluation Criteria
Your work will be evaluated on depth of analysis, clarity of writing, insightfulness of critique, and the overall quality of synthesis. The final DOC file should be well-organized, with thorough explanations that exceed 200 words overall, clearly detailing your thought process and conclusions. Attention to detail and adherence to academic conventions will be key factors in your assessment.
Objective
This task requires you to showcase your capacity to consolidate both medical content knowledge and writing expertise by drafting a comprehensive style guide for medical writing. This document should provide clear instructions on tone, language, structure, and formatting conventions for medical documents targeted to an expert and general audience.
Expected Deliverables
- A DOC file containing a detailed Medical Writing Style Guide.
- An organized guide with sections such as Introduction, Language Guidelines, Formatting Standards, Common Terminologies, and Best Practices.
Key Steps
- Research Best Practices: Investigate established style guides (e.g., AMA Manual of Style) and synthesize guidelines relevant to medical writing.
- Outline the Guide: Create a detailed outline including sections on voice, tone, lexical choices, document structure, citations, and visual data representation.
- Draft the Document: Write an in-depth style guide incorporating both the researched guidelines and your own recommendations. Ensure that each section is logically ordered and sufficiently detailed.
- Edit and Revise: Refine the guide by ensuring clarity, consistency, and adherence to professional standards.
Evaluation Criteria
Your submission will be judged on the completeness and utility of the style guide. The guide must be detailed, with clear examples and explanations that help communicate the standards of medical writing. Every section should be elaborated with more than 200 words overall, demonstrating a deep understanding of both style and content accuracy, while maintaining the clarity necessary for end-users. It should be useful as a standalone reference for developing medical documents.
Objective
This final task is designed to consolidate all your previous work by revising a selected document (either from Week 2 or a new submission of your choice) and performing a self-evaluation based on structured criteria. You will refine the document to reflect feedback you would expect in a real-world editing process and write a reflective piece on your learning journey and areas of improvement.
Expected Deliverables
- A DOC file containing the revised document and a self-evaluation report.
- The revised document should include adjustments in content, structure, and style; the self-evaluation report should detail insights, challenges, and future strategies for improvement.
Key Steps
- Select a Document: Choose the medical article draft from Week 2 or create a new document based on your previous work that you believe needs improvement.
- Perform Revisions: Methodically address areas for improvement such as content structure, language clarity, data presentation, and overall coherence. Use publicly available resources to verify best practices.
- Self-Evaluate: Write a comprehensive reflection discussing what revisions were necessary, why they were important, and how the changes improved the document. Discuss lessons learned and future writing strategies.
- Document Structure: Organize your submission into clear sections - the revised document followed by the reflective self-evaluation.
Evaluation Criteria
Your final submission will be measured on the quality of revision, depth of self-analysis, and the ability to integrate feedback through self-reflection. The DOC file must clearly present the improvements made and include at least 200 words in the self-evaluation report, providing insights into your thought process. Clarity, coherence, and adherence to academic and professional standards are key aspects that will be assessed in this task.