Assignment # 12
TA JAMIE MOODY WILL BE IN CSC 333 FROM 7:00 PM TO 10:00 PM,
SO PLAN TO START WORKING ON YOUR ARTICLE REVIEW IN A NICE SUPPORTIVE, QUIET ATMOSPHERE.

MAKE ARRANGEMENTS WITH A FRIEND TO GO TOGETHER TO USE THESTUDY SPACE. SPREAD THE WORD THAT THIS IS A HELPFUL PLACE TO WORK.

CHECK OUT THE RUBRIC FOR WRITING A GOOD ANALYSIS OF A PRIMARY ARTICLE

• Assignment # 15
  MID SEMESTER PORTFOLIOS AND SELF EVALUATIONS ARE DUE TODAY
  It is imperative that you hand these in before 2 pm today.
  
  

• Read Chapter XX in Chiras and complete these Study Questions.

  Read the chapter through once before trying to answer the questions. If you come to parts that really confuse you, just keep reading and make a note to us about what sections you'd like to understand better.

• Turn in portfolios with self evaluations to us in class, and also put your self evaluation on The Hub. (Everyone should do this, NOT just first semester Hampshire students)
  
  This is a fun (but important) assignment that just involves putting together all the work you've already done. You probably got a message from the advising office telling you to enter your mid term self evaluation on TheHub.
  
  In a 3 ring notebook or in a very well organized folder, put together all the work you have completed so far. When it is all together, read through it and only THEN write your self evaluation.
  
  The self evaluation is an assessment of what progress you have made on each of the five learning goals we are focusing on in this class. Note also which of the goals you feel you need to work most on for the rest of the semester.
  
  This link will tell you how to construct your MID SEMESTER PORTFOLIO and how to write a self evaluation.
  
  The good news is, once you write the self evaluation (and enter it on TheHub), it's in our laps and we have to write your mid-semester evals. This is something we do carefully so we can advisee each of you about your progress and what you should be focusing on next (in terms of skills developement) for the remainder of the semester.

• NEXT WEDNESDAY, the first draft of your analysis of Article # 2 is due. This is a PRIMARY article you found on a topic of interest to you.. Use the analysis skills you learned from working with Article #1). You will have a chance to revise this, so don't worry if you think it isn't perfect.
  
  This details here are just to remind you to work on this before you leave for break. Work on it in the morning when we usually have class, and you'll at least have a rough draft to start with.
  
  In the top right corner, label this as Article #2, version 1.
  
  See Helaine Selin for help if you're not sure you have the right kind of article or if you're having trouble finding the one you want. Her contact info is on the first page of this web site. Click on Info under her name.

• Prepare two copies of a summary of one of the primary articles you listed above (one copy for us and one for another student to read). Also hand in a copy of the article itself (your partner may also want to see a copy of the article).
  
• Use the computer search techniques Helaine taught you or go to the second floor stacks in the library and thumb through recent scientific journals.
  
• Answer these questions about that article.
  
• As you write this summary, practice the following two strategies for writing critical summaries:
  
  • State clearly the question(s) being addressed by the investigators who conducted this study. They may have stated it as a hypothesis to be tested, and you may also state it in this way.
    
  • Ask questions about how the author knows what she/he is saying (what evidence was presented, what references were given). If you had a chance to talk with the author, what would you ask? Attach a copy of the article to the summary you give to us.
    
  • Remember to tell us about the RESULTS, not just the conclusions.

• No assignments due today.

Assignment # 17

• THE FIRST DRAFT OF YOUR REVIEW OF ARTICLE 2 IS DUE TODAY.
  Look at the assignment block for last Friday for guilelines in writing it.
  Remember to bring 2 copies of your review and one hard copy of the article itself to class. You'll switch your reviews with another student and you will provide each other with feedback that will help both of you revise it for Friday.
  
  
• Bring the information you started to collect as well as quesetions about the patient in Case B.

• .Read Chapter 6, The Circulatory System, in Chiras and write answers (to turn in today) to these Study Questions.
• Return the edited version of the analysis of Article #2 to your editing partner. For guidance in giving helpful feedback, consult these peer editing guidelines.

• Turn in revised analysis of Article #2. . For guidance, review this rubric for writing article analyses. Don't expect to achieve the highest levels of analysis the first time, but work towards those goals
  
  This should be a substantial revision of your initial draft that will demonstrate progress you have made in understanding how to assess the quality of the experimental design and will show your progress in understanding how to talk about the results. Use feedback given by your readers, but try to go beyond merely making "corrections." Show what you have learned about writing an analysis.
  
  Include in this analysis at least 2 questions you have about things you don't fully understand.
  
  With your revision, include copies of your first draft with the readers' comments and also a copy of the article. Be sure to label your new draft as "Article # 2, version 2."
  

Assignment # 20
JAMIE HAS OFFICE HOURS IN 333 FROM 7-10 PM. MANY OF YOU ARE FEELING THE SQUEEZE OF LOTS OF WORK DUE. YOUR TA'S ARE THERE TO HELP. LEARN TO USE THEM. IT'S AN IMPORTANT SKILL.

• CASE B REPORT IS DUE TODAY
  
  Prep for Case Report. This is going to be your major case report, so we expect it will be your very best effort!
  
  Start with the first section--what we called the differential diagnosis. This is where you list all the conditions you considered and explain the reasoning you used in considering them. Tell us something about each condition, not just its name. Then for each one that you are either rejecting or making less likely, tell us what evidence led you to making that decision. If there were test results, explain how those results influenced your decision (use actual numbers).
  
  Don't just rely on one piece of information or say general things like "the symptoms didn't fit it well." Show off what you learned! That's the only way we'll know. Remember to insert citations to show where you learned what you know.
  
  Look now at the rubric we use to assess case reports so you can be sure to progress in analytical skills beyond what you demonstrated in your last case report--and so you can ask for clarification of anything you see in the rubric that isn't clear.
  You might also look at the sample case reports two students wrote about another case.
  
  USE THESE SUGGESTIONS FOR HOW TO STRUCTURE YOUR REPORT
  
  
• PART I: DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
  
  Start with a statement of the case and your team's final recommendation. Then step back and tell us ALL the intial diagnoses you considered and why. Then pick the top 4-5 and explain in detail and with actual data how you eliminated some or put them down farther on your list of possibilities.
  
  Include in this discussion what amounts to about 2-3 pages that show how much you learned about one of the biological systems involved and how that knowlege helps you understand how test results reveal something about that system.
  
  
• Part II: DIAGNOSIS
  
  This should be quite substantial and explain (using actual data from patient history, physical exam, and lab tests) how you came to this decision and if any of the data confirmed your diagnosis.
  
  We'd like to see a substantial section that shows you understand the biology about what caused this condition, how the body reacted to it in ways that led to the symptoms and signs, and what the test results revealed about the biology. Be very specific (never say "the body reacted to...." tell us what organ, tissues, cells, etc. did the reacting and how they worked).
  
  
• PART III: RECOMMENDATIONS
  
  What treatment(s) do you recommend? What outcome do you expect from the treatment? How would you explain to the parents (who want to understand what is going on) exactly what is going on and why did this happen to Bill and not his sister? Should they be concerned about anything or watch for any symptoms in either child in the future? When will you see the patient again, and what will you look for and what do you hope for?
  
  
• PART IV: REFERENCES
  
  Include all through your report citations that show where you got your information. At the end, include a full bibliography in standard format. Check this link for suggestions about VOICE, PROPER CITATION FORMS, AND paperhinPLAGIARISM and this one for help with BIBLIOGRAPHIES AND FOOTNOTES.
  
  The information on both these links will help with your article reviews and final paper as well.
  
  You learned a lot from your first case report about how to write more detailed, analytical reports that demonstrate all the work you and your team did on the differential diagnosis and final diagnosis.
  
  Consult the rubric for writing case reports to help you.
  
  In this report, we'll be expecting you to include a good deal more content (understanding of how the biological systems you are mentioning work) and an application of that content.
  
  Here's an example of what we mean by application:
  If you are talking about a particular blood test or physical exam result, explain the biology underlying it. So if you asked for a FSH test, what hypothesis did that help you either eliminate or continue to pursue, how is that test done, what do the results tell you about the normal or abnormal function of the ovaries or pituitary gland or hypothalamus, etc.?
  
  In other words, pull all the pieces (symptoms, history, lab results, details of structure and function of the organ or system involved) together and try to make sense out of it. Use your textbook for a lot of this information, and remember to cite it appropriately.
• 
  
  LEARNING GOAL: REMINDER THAT YOUR PROGRESS IN WRITING CASE REPORTS IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE'LL LOOK AT IN ASSESSING PROGRESS YOU'VE MADE ON FOUR OF THE LEARNING GOALS:
  
  1. Learn to read and interpret intellectual or artistic works. (how you use medical and biology texts, professional level web sites, other sources in solving the case )
  
  2. Write critically and analytically.
  (check the rubric for details of what we'll look for in all aspects of this writing)
  
  3. Understand quantitative methods of analysis
  (use specific test results thoughtfully and carefully)
  
  4. Conceive and complete project-based work
  (your report should demonstrate clearly the approach you and your team took to solving the case and how you found, organized, and analyzed information)
  

• Write the first draft of an analysis of Article #3. This should be a primary article that you found as a possible resource for your final paper. Bring two copies of your analysis and a copy of the article itself to class.
  
  Label your review Article #3, version 1.
  

Assignment # 23
January Term registration begins tomorrow

• Comment on your editing partner's Article 3 review. Provide feedback to help their revision be more analytical.
  
  
• Final paper topic. Write 3 paragraphs (about 2-3 pages):
  
  
  • This is what I'm interested in and why it is interesting to me.
  • Here are some of the questions I have about this topic.
  • Of those questions, the one I'm most interest in pursuing in depth is...
  • List at least 3 citations you have found on this topic (at least 2 should be primary articles, the others can be review articles, web sites, texts, etc.) You may use articles you've already written about in your analytical summaries.

• Next Friday several draft sections are due on your final paper. If you want to give us any of those earlier, mention that when you hand them in and we'll try to get them back soon.
  
  
• Use the Wednesday night study time and Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon with your TA's. CSC 333 is a nice place to work at night.