Jordan University of Science and Technology

Faculty of
Department of
Semester 200
Course Syllabus
Course Information
Course Title

Seminar

Course Code

NUR 793

Prerequisites

Non

Course Website
Instructors

Not applicable
Dr. Huda Gharaibeh
Dr. Salwa Obeisat

Office Location

N3 L -1

Office Phone #

23713 Dr. Huda Gharaibeh

13720 Dr. Salwa Obeisat

Office Hours

Sunday 1-3
Tuesday 1-3
Thursday 12-1

E-mail

Hudag@just.edu.jo

Teaching
Assistant(s)

Not applicable

Course Description
The purpose of this course is to help master students improve their professional writing skills,
through critiquing, and discussing the writing styles of research articles in their selected areas,
as well as through writing assignments. Issues related to nursing research including writing for
publication, dissemination of research, and writing an integrated literature review about a
selected area of interest will also be discussed. Students will participate in individual and group
activities to meet the objectives of the course.

Textbook
Title

The Practice of Nursing Research

Author(s)

Burns N, Grove S

Publisher

W.B. Saunders Company

Year

1993.

Edition

2nd ed

Book Website
Other references

- Ellen R. Girden Q Evaluating Research Articles from Start to Finish. 2001

- http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/collections/read.shtml
- www.richard.ingram.nhspeople.net/student/critintro.htm
- Www.Birds.cornell.edu/schoolyard/research/critique_research.html
- http://www.nurseeducation.org/resources_critique_research.htm
- http://www.sonoma.edu/users/n/nolan/n400/critique.htm

Assessment
Assessment

Expected Due Date

Assignments

1- Summary of three research articles

(Bibliography)
2- Presentation of integrated
3- Literature review paper

30%
20%
30%

-Students Participation

20%

Participation

Percentage

Course Objectives

Percentage

1. Develop summaries of research articles to be included in a scholarly written

2.

paper.
Apply Vancouver format in academic writing.

30%
10%

3. Able to critique and discuss the writing style of research articles.

10%

4. Show evidence of improved writing skills.

5. Discuss issues related to nursing research including writing for publication

20%

6.

and dissemination of research.

Demonstrate ability to conduct a professional presentation in a professional
manner.

15%
15%

Teaching & Learning Methods

1.
2.
3.
4.

Lectures
Discussion
Presentations
Library Search

Learning Outcomes: Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to
Related
Reference(s)
Objective(s)
1

1.

Discuss types, characteristics, and

elements of effect writing.
2. Identify factors to be considered
before writing.
3. Recognize ethical issues related to
writing.
4. Apply learned writing skills in
summarizing a research article.

How to read a research article. Available:

www.hsl.creighton.edu/Research
Article.html
Summarizing a research article. Available:
www.psych.washington.edu/writing
center/summarizing. PDF
and Handouts

1. Discuss guidelines of the Vancouver

writing style.
2. Show an understanding of the
examples.

International Committee of Medical Journal

Editors. Uniform requirements for
manuscripts submitted to biomedical
journals. Med Educ 1999;33: 66-78.
http://www.library.uwa.edu.au/
http://www.library.uq.edu.au/training/
citation/vancouv.

3. Apply correct form of references using

Vancouver style.

2,3,4

1. Synthesize three research articles

summaries in writing literature review.
2. Discuss the purpose of the literature
review.

-Burns N, Grove S. The practice of Nursing

Research. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: W.B.
Saunders Company; 1993

3. Review the process of reviewing the

literature.
4. Write a short literature review paper.
1. Recognize the importance of publication
and dissemination of research
2. Discuss the purpose of publication and
dissemination of research
3. Review the publication and
dissemination process
4. Discuss ethical issues related to
publication and dissemination of research.
5. Show an ability to conduct a class
presentation.

4,5,6

- www.utoronto.ca/writing/literv.html
www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/literature_

-Witt PA. Writing for publications: Rational,

process, and pitfalls.
www.Rpts.tamu.edu/faculty/witt/wittpub8.html

Useful Resources
- Writing skills websites (free access)
- http://www.utoronto.ca/writing/advise.html
- http://bubl.ac.uk/link/w/writingskills.htm
- http://www.factmonster.com
- http://owl.english.purdue.edu
- http://www.infoplease.com/homework/writingskills1.html (notes)

Course Content
Week
1

Topics

Chapter in Textbook (handouts)

Introduction and course orientation

Handouts + addition readings

from the recommended wed sites

How to summarize a research article

Handouts + addition readings

from the recommended wed sites

How to summarize a research article

Handouts + addition readings from

the recommended wed sites

Citing your resources- Vancouver style

Handouts + addition readings

from the recommended wed sites

Library search- Submission of first

research summary

Handouts + addition readings

from the recommended wed sites

How to write a literature reviewsubmission of second and third summary

Handouts + addition readings

from the recommended wed sites

Writing for publication, dissemination

of research

Handouts + addition readings

from the recommended wed sites

Student presentation(2 presentations)

Student presentation(2presentations)

10

Student presentation(3 presentations)

11

Student presentation(3 presentations)

12

Student presentation(3 presentations)

13

Student presentation(3 presentations)

14

Student presentation(3 presentations)

2
3
4

Additional Notes

Students should review all the course appendixes:

Appendix A
Research Summary Evaluation
Guidelines and Evaluation Criteria of Summary of Research Articles (Bibliography):
Each student will be asked to submit a written summary of three research articles throughout the course on
the same topic (not the abstract of the paper), using the following format:
1- Citation
2- Half a page summary of the component of the
research process
3- Brief critique of the article
4- Conclusions and recommendation
5- Use (Vancouver format )

1 pt
3 pts
3 pts
2 pts
1 pt
_________
10 pts

Appendix B
Guidelines and Evaluation Criteria for Students Presentation
The student will be asked to present an integrated bibliography of the three research articles he/she submitted for
:the summary of research articles (Bibliography) assignments, using the following guidelines
123456-

Discuss the significance of the selected area

Discuss the process of retrieving articles
Discuss how he/ she made the decision of using related articles
Discuss process of summarizing each article
Discuss the writing style of each article
Discuss the process of writing the integrated bibliography
Presentation Evaluation Criteria

1. Presentation was well organized and given in a sequential, logical manner.

5%

2. Content was accurate and applicable to the proposal/clinical project.

5%

3. Speeds presentation was appropriate for complexity of the material.

5%

4. Style of the presentation motivated the audience.

5%

5. Explanations of the materials was clear and accurate.

5%

6. Encouraged class participation.

5%

7. Questions were carefully and precisely answered.

5%

8. Used appropriate audiovisual materials to facilitate understanding.

5%

9. Time distribution among topics was appropriate.

5%

10. Overall, the presentation was effective and useful.

5%

Total

50%

Appendix C

Guidelines And Evaluation Criteria For Students Papers

The student will be asked to submit a final written paper of 3 pages words of an integrated bibliography of the
three articles summarized during the course, using the following guidelines and evaluation criteria:
1- Discussion of the significance of the selected area
10
2- Discuss the process of retrieving sources
10
3- Discuss the how made the decision of using related articles
10
4- Discuss process of categorization of sources
10
5- Writing style of integrated bibliography including
50
a. Critique of each source
10
b. Integrated of selected articles
10
c. Conclusions (Gaps in literature)
10
d. Recommendations for research
10
e. Implications for nursing practice and education.
5
f. References
5
6- Vancouver writing style
10
Total

100