FACULTY OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF LIFE SCIENCES
SUMMATIVE IN-COURSE ASSESSMENT BRIEFING
Unit code 6H6Z1033
Unit title Current Issues in Physiology
Title of assignment (and weighting %) Assignment 2: Critical Review of a Scientific Research Paper (60%)
2CWK60 Reports
Name of staff setting assignment
Date assignment set
Submission deadline There is a single deadline for submission of this assignment, refer to the Moodle course area for the deadline.
Information of the deadline and the submission procedure is also available in the unit handbook (available from the Moodle course area).
Work submitted up to five days after the deadline will be capped at a maximum possible mark of 40 % (forty percent).
Submission instructions Please submit your report via Moodle. Instructions for submitting your assignment can be found on this web-page:
http://coursework.mmu.ac.uk/guidance/
Click on ‘I have to submit my work via Moodle – what do I do?’ and download ‘A Guide to Submitting Assignments in Moodle’
You should upload one file containing the written report. The maximum file size is 30Mb.
Ensure your name and student identification number are included in the filename and the either the header or footer of the document.
Learning outcomes tested in this assignment There are three learning outcomes for this unit tested in this assignment:
LO 1: Demonstrate in depth understanding of the core principles and their experimental basis of selected aspects of current physiology
LO 2: Evaluate the experimental tools used to study selected aspects of physiology
LO 3: Gather information from the primary scientific literature relating to aspects of current physiology and demonstrate critical analysis skills allowing reasoned arguments to be presented
Assignment task instructions You will be provided with a list of scientific journal articles, from which you must select one to review. The number of students who can assess each article will be limited, and you will therefore need to indicate your selection on the tool in the moodle unit area. Allocation of spaces will be on a first-come-first-served bases. All students will be notified of the list availability via an email delivered to your student email account through the moodle announcement function.
The assessment will be based on production of a written report, critically reviewing the journal article you selected. You should therefore complete the following steps:
1. Select the article from the list and indicate your selection on the choice tool in the unit moodle area.
2. Critique the paper using approaches discussed and practiced in the unit journal club activities
3. Write a 2500 word report (± 250 words) critically reviewing the article
4. The exact format of your report will vary to some extent depending on the journal article you select to review. You should provide:
a. A summary of the paper’s main findings, focusing on the main or most relevant points
b. Critically comment on the hypothesis proposed (i.e. are they well defined, specific and justified?)
c. Critically comment on the experimental design and approach (e.g. sample sizes, data collection tools and method of analysing data), including reflection of ethical considerations
d. Evaluation of data presentation and critical comment on interpretation of results
5. You should cite references to support the arguments you make, making use of peer-review scientific publications
6. You should aim to report on the topic in a clear, concise but detailed manner aiming to make the content readily accessible to the reader.
The criteria against which your work will be marked are as follows:
• fulfilment of the requirements of the assignment task (including adherence to any word or page length specified);
• evidence of reading around the subject with correct and complete citation and referencing of sources;
• evidence of critical thinking and appraisal of evidence presented in the journal article
• delivery of a clear, well-structured report;
• standard and style of written English, grammar, spelling and punctuation; and evidence of innovative and creative thinking.
