Tasks and Duties
Objective
The objective of this task is to design a comprehensive research plan and strategy tailored to the field of medical writing for a real-world research article. As a virtual medical writing research intern, you are expected to develop preliminary research questions, outline a systematic approach, and create an actionable plan that can set the foundation for future research writing projects.
Task Description
This week, you will focus on planning and strategy. Your job is to identify a specific medical writing topic that is both relevant and innovative. Your task will include a detailed description of why the topic is chosen, what research questions you intend to explore, and how you plan to go about gathering publicly available evidence. In your plan, discuss the potential challenges and limitations of your chosen topic and provide a backup strategy. This must be a well-structured document that covers the rationale behind the research, a timeline for critical milestones, and an explanation of methods and sources you will use.
Key Steps
- Identify and justify a medical writing research topic.
- Outline clear research questions and objectives.
- Develop a detailed timeline and strategy.
- Describe potential challenges and risk management strategies.
- Include a section on ethical considerations in medical writing.
Deliverables
Submit a final DOC file that includes all the sections as outlined above. Use clear headings, sub-headings, and bullet points where necessary.
Evaluation Criteria
- Clarity and coherence of the research plan.
- Relevance and depth of the chosen topic and research questions.
- Practicality and completeness of the timeline and strategy.
- Quality of writing and document formatting.
This task should take approximately 30 to 35 hours of work. Ensure that your DOC file submission is thorough, detailed, and formatted as per scholarly standards.
Objective
This task aims to enhance your ability to survey and analyze relevant literature within the domain of medical writing. Students are expected to collate information from publicly available sources, critically review existing research related to their chosen medical topic, and identify gaps in the literature.
Task Description
During this week, your goal is to perform an extensive literature review for the topic proposed in Week 1. You are to compile a detailed summary of current research articles, case studies, and review papers that discuss similar issues in medical writing. Your document should not only list the sources but also provide a critical analysis that outlines significant findings, methodologies used, and how these articles contribute to the broader context of the field. Highlight any inconsistencies, contradictions, or areas where further research is needed. This task requires a structured and analytical approach to demonstrate your ability to sift through literature and extract useful insights for developing new hypotheses or refining the research strategy.
Key Steps
- Search for relevant, publicly available literature using academic databases and journals.
- Summarize key points and contributions of each source.
- Critique methodologies and findings with a focus on their relevance to your topic.
- Identify gaps and unresolved issues in the literature.
- Compile all findings in a logical, structured format.
Deliverables
Submit a detailed DOC file that includes an introduction, methodology for literature selection, a summary and critique of each paper reviewed, and a concluding section that identifies core gaps and future research directions.
Evaluation Criteria
- Depth and breadth of the literature review.
- Critical analysis and identification of research gaps.
- Logical organization and clarity of the document.
- Adherence to scholarly writing standards and proper citation where applicable.
This task is expected to take approximately 30 to 35 hours. Ensure your submission is complete and professionally formatted.
Objective
This week’s task focuses on synthesizing your initial research planning and literature review into a structured research outline. The aim is to create an evidence-based framework that will guide you through the drafting of a comprehensive medical research article.
Task Description
You are required to develop a detailed outline for your proposed research article. The outline should systematically organize your research objectives, methodologies, and anticipated sections of the paper. Begin by formulating an introduction that sets the context, followed by a methodology section which details how you plan to incorporate evidence gathered from your literature review. Each section of the outline should reflect the critical insights derived from previous research, and must include sub-sections that illustrate data integration, analysis techniques, discussion points, and conclusions. The final document should also compare existing literature with your proposed approach and provide a rationale for any deviations. A clear visual structure using headings and bullet points is recommended to ensure that the outline is easily navigable and understandable.
Key Steps
- Draft a structured outline with main sections such as introduction, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion.
- Incorporate evidence and citations from your literature review.
- Provide rationale for the organization and flow of your research article.
- Include specific details on how each section will address the research questions.
- Highlight any innovative approaches or unique aspects of your research.
Deliverables
Submit your final DOC file containing the full research outline complete with detailed section headers, sub-points, and explanatory notes wherever necessary.
Evaluation Criteria
- Clarity and logical structure of the outline.
- Integration of evidence and relevance to the research topic.
- Detail and comprehensiveness of planned sections.
- Professional formatting and presentation of the document.
This assignment should be completed within 30 to 35 hours, ensuring that the outline is thorough and reflective of a high level of academic rigor in medical writing.
Objective
The goal of this task is to transition from structured planning to actual writing. You will draft a complete medical research article that incorporates the research outline and evidence compiled in the previous weeks. This exercise will hone your skills in creating a coherent narrative that is grounded in evidence-based research.
Task Description
This week, your task is to create a full draft of your research article. Begin by writing an engaging introduction that clearly outlines the research background and establishes the study's importance. Develop the body of the paper by detailing your methodology, presenting your findings, and offering a robust discussion that critically analyzes the results in the context of existing literature. Your draft should also include a well-organized conclusion that summarizes your findings and suggests possible directions for future research. Throughout your article, ensure that you integrate data and perspectives from your earlier research planning and literature review seamlessly. Use figures and tables where necessary to illustrate your points, but remember that the primary deliverable should be a DOC file with high-quality text content. Maintain clarity, coherence, and adherence to academic writing norms throughout the paper.
Key Steps
- Write an engaging and descriptive introduction.
- Develop each section of the research article as specified in your outline.
- Integrate evidence from previous research into your discussion.
- Ensure logical progression and coherence between sections.
- Include a conclusion that effectively summarizes the article and outlines potential future research areas.
Deliverables
Submit a comprehensive DOC file containing the complete draft of your research article, ensuring that all required sections are included and well-organized.
Evaluation Criteria
- Completeness and quality of the draft research article.
- Integration and clear presentation of evidence-based research.
- Writing style, grammar, and academic formatting.
- Logical flow and clarity of argumentation.
This task should require between 30 to 35 hours of work. The DOC file you submit must reflect detailed content and professional academic standards.
Objective
The final week is dedicated to refining your research manuscript through critical evaluation and editing. This exercise is designed to polish your work, enhance clarity, and ensure the research article meets a high standard of academic and professional excellence.
Task Description
Your task for this week is to conduct a thorough review and revision of the research article draft created in Week 4. Start by performing a self-evaluation to identify areas of improvement in content, structure, and language. Then, edit the manuscript to correct grammatical errors, refine arguments, and improve the overall flow of information. Additionally, you should incorporate a peer-review simulation by critically assessing your own work through a checklist of common academic writing pitfalls. Pay particular attention to the consistency of data presentation, the clarity of your thesis, and the coherence of arguments. Devote time to ensuring that all references and citations follow an accepted academic format. Your edited manuscript should clearly reflect iterative improvements and demonstrate that you have effectively addressed the feedback emerging from your self-critique.
Key Steps
- Perform an in-depth self-assessment of your draft manuscript.
- Edit the document with a focus on clarity, coherence, and grammatical accuracy.
- Ensure all sections are consistent and logically structured.
- Review and align all citations and references according to academic standards.
- Create an appendix or note summarizing the major revisions and rationale behind the changes.
Deliverables
Submit a final DOC file of your revised research manuscript along with a brief reflective summary in an appendix that highlights the key changes made during the editing process.
Evaluation Criteria
- Quality and depth of the revisions and edits performed.
- Adherence to academic writing standards and clarity.
- Logical coherence and professional presentation of the manuscript.
- Effectiveness of the reflective summary in detailing the improvements.
This task is designed to be completed in 30 to 35 hours. Your final submission should be a polished and professionally formatted DOC file that demonstrates your ability to critically evaluate and enhance your own work as a medical writing researcher.