Academic Writing for Global Health

URL study guide

https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2024-2025/AM_1247

Course Objective

The overall goal of this course is to provide students with the knowledge and skills to conduct a literature review that is methodologically rigorous and scientifically relevant to advancing Global Health research. To understand the different types of literature reviews, its uses and its importance in synthesising academic literature.To develop apply the skills to conduct a literature review by executing a systematic literature search, selecting relevant articles, and preparing data extraction.To evaluate the quality of scientific works using various quality assessment techniques and tools.To analyse and synthesise academic and grey literature using qualitative or quantitative methods.To communicate the processes and outcomes of a literature review to academic and general audiences.To become confident writers of academic texts in English, where literature reviews are: a) coherent, b) convincing, c) compact and d) linguistically correct.

Course Content

Academic literature reviews are an informative synthesis of a particular topic, requiring critical reading skills to understand and succinctly interpret vast amounts of scientific literature. A critical assessment of academic texts requires a research question, systematic search strategies, data extraction and analysis techniques and an evaluative approach to quality assessment and synthesis of findings. Literature reviews are essential for Global Health as they inform future research, practices, policy and decision-making in all levels of society. This course will provide you with the necessary skills to conduct a literature review on a Global Health-related topic. Throughout this course, you will learn the steps to conduct literature reviews and produce a review on current emerging Global Health issues in partnership with an internal or external commissioner. This course will also be combined with Scientific Writing Skills workshops to provide practical, hands-on experience with academic writing.

Teaching Methods

Lectures: A maximum of two lectures (1.45 hrs each) will be delivered weekly. In these sessions, lecturers will spend the first half of the session outlining specific steps to conduct a literature review and the latter half of the lecture will be dedicated to student practice. Attendance is required. Scientific Writing Workshops: A maximum of four workshops (1.45 hrs each) will be delivered throughout the course. These workshops are intended to provide students with the knowledge and skills to write a literature review. Attendance is required.

Method of Assessment

The final grade consists of 3 parts:Pass/Fail
- Introduction and methods section to assess scientific writing80%
- Full literature review (summary of sub-assignments 1-4)20%
- Individual discussion and conclusionPass/Fail
- Participation in mandatory components of the course A grade of 5.5 or higher (or Pass in case of pass/fail assignment) is required for each assessment.

Literature

Reading materials for this course will be provided on Canvas.

Target Audience

First-year students enrolled in the MSc Global Health (Research)

Additional Information

Obligatory course for students enrolled in the MSc Global Health (Research). This course is only open to students in this programme.

Entry Requirements

Successfully completed Research Methods in Global Health

Recommended background knowledge

Research Methods in Global Health