Drafting,Writing and Presenting Scientific Papers

Interest of the subject in Veterinary degree
This course is included in the Optative Module of the Degree in Veterinary Medicine
The final stage of any research is to present the results to the society; therefore the writing of scientific papers is a fundamental activity in the University, as it is the medium used to share the knowledge gained. There are different kind of scientific studies, depending on the areas of knowledge, which often have to be adjusted to the rules determined by the journal of publication (instructions for authors); however there are certain characteristics that are common to any of them. The subject will mainly refer to experimental science publications, as befits the Degree in Veterinary Medicine, and the necessary steps in writing manuscripts. Other ways of communicating scientific results (posters , oral communications ... ) will be explained, just as guidelines to perform them correctly.

Objectives of the subject
To introduce the elements of a scientific study.
To analyze the structure of scientific papers .
To establish and planning stages of drafting.
To introduce ways to present references in scientific articles in the field of experimental sciences.
To show the steps for the publication of scientific papers
To determine the type of publication and the most appropriate journal for scientific work (quality index).
To learn to present results to the scientific community and society. Designing presentations.
To conduct effective searches of relevant information (Internet , other options) .

We intend to cover some of the general objectives of the Degree in Veterinary Science from the University of Santiago de Compostela.

The program covers this subject with 8 units, seven hours in workshops, 5 hours in computer interactive sessions and two hours of tutoring.
Unit 1. Types of expository scientific papers. Hours : 1 hr.
Unit 2. Finding information in the net. Hours: 1 hr.
Unit 3. Documentary references and electronic literature. Common formats in citations. Reference Managers. Hours: 2 hr.
Unit 4. Essential components in the development of a scientific article. Redaction of scientific works. Analysis of the written document. What is necessary and what is superfluous. Hours: 3 hr.
Unit 5. Publication of a manuscript. Phases. Journal choice (journal finder). Peer review (referees) and editors. Hours: 2 hr.
Unit 6. JCR, SCOPUS and other databases. Scientific journals in experimental sciences. Impact factor. Other factors. Hours: 2 hr.
Unit 7. Plagiarism . Copyright of scientific publications. Online Journal. What to post and what not. Hours: 2 hr.
Unit 8. Other ways to communicate science. Conferences and scientific seminars. Poster and oral communications. Conferences. Popular journals. Expository hours: 3 hr.

INTERACTIVE CLASSES IN COMPUTERS
ERPTC OR1 (1 hour)
Available programs for text formatting. Word and Writer. Other possibilities.

ERPTC OR2 (1 hour)
Graphics. How to perform them. Inclusion in the article. Excel, Calc, Gnumeric, R.

ERPTC OR3 (1 hour)
Images. Required print quality. GIMP, Inkscape. Search for images on the Internet. License Types. Creative commons.

ERPTC OR4 ( 1 hour)
Presentations in public. PowerPoint, Impress, Impressive, Prezi.

ERPTC OR5 (1 hour)
Posters preparation. PowerPoint, Impress, Inkscape.

GPL software will be used in these practices; although other possibilities will be cited.

TUTORIALS (2 h.)
Students will have two hours of tutorials .
In the first one, students will receive instructions for doing presentations or posters, giving the basic rules.
Doubts in preparing presentations and posters will be answered in the second hour of tutoring, trying to solve them before delivering the personal work in the virtual platform and displayed at the seminars.

SEMINARS
Analysis of scientific papers in indexed journals and popular press. Differences. Letters of rejection and correction of referees. Expository Hours: 5 h .
Public defence of presentations or posters. Hours: 2 h.

Gustavii, B. How to write & illustrate a scientific paper. Cambridge [u.a.]. Cambridge Univ. Press, 2008.
Hofmann AH. Scientific Writing and Communication. Papers, Proposals, and Presentations. New York: Oxford University Press; 2010.
Kallestinova, E.D. How to Write Your First Research Paper. Yale J Biol Med. Sep 2011; 84(3): 181-190.
McMillan, V.E.. Writing Papers in the Biological Sciences, Bedford/St. Martin's, Boston, 2011
Robert S. Day, How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper, 4th edition, Oryx Press, Phoenix, 1994.

Web pages
http://www.slideshare.net/felixsigno/redaccin-artculo-cientfico
http://www.um.es/docencia/agustinr/docum/trabajos.htm
https://www.ulpgc.es/hege/almacen/download/1/1774/Interpretacion_y_adap…
http://www.uma.es/ficha.php?id=74604
http://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?pid=S0717-95532004000100003&script=sci_…
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2096449/pdf/JCI0734288.pdf
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2096449/
http://fuam.es/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/CAPITULO-1.-El-artIculo-cient…
http://biblioteca.umh.es/files/2012/03/presentacion-springer-febrero-20…
http://www.scribd.com/doc/140262887/Guia-para-elaboracion-de-articulos-…

General Competencies
GVUSC01. Ability to learn and adapt.
GVUSC02. Capability for analysis and synthesis.
GVUSC03. General knowledge of the working area.
GVUSC04. Planning and work management.
GVUSC06. Capability to work both independently and as part of a team.
GVUSC09. Capability to communicate in different areas.

Specific Competencies
Disciplinary specific competencies (knowledge)
CEDVUSC 13. To know the organizational, economic and management aspects in all fields of the veterinary profession.

Specific Professional Competencies (expertise)
D1VUSC 17. Perform technical reports specific to veterinary competencies.

Specific Academic Competencies (want to do)
CEAVUSC 03. Disclose information obtained during the Veterinary professional practice in a easy oral and written way, with other colleagues, authorities and society in general.
CEAVUSC 04. Search and manage information related to veterinary practice.
CEAVUSC 05. Know and apply the scientific method in professional practice, including evidence-based medicine.

Transversal competences
CTVUSC 01. Capacity for reasoning and argument.
CTVUSC 02. Ability to obtain adequate, diverse and updated information by various means such as literature and Internet information, and critically analyze it.
CTVUSC 03. Ability to develop and present an organized and understandable text.
CTVUSC 04. Ability to make a clear, concise, and consistent public presentation
CTVUSC 05. Skill in the use of ICTs.

The contents of the program will be taught through:
Theorical sessions:
Expository-interrogative lectures will be developed in approximately 50 minutes each. These sessions will be based on multimedia presentations and will cover the contents of the program: original written content and graphic material. The students will have access to a summary of these sessions in the virtual campus, which will be previously provided to allow introducing discussions and questions in the sessions. Class dispensation is not applicable.

Tutorials:
Two groupal tutorials (50 minutes), scheduled in the official calendar, will be carried out in the classroom. They will allow giving some basic rules about oral presentations and scientific posters, as well as attending doubts and solve them. Individual tutorials will be carried out at the request of the students at the established times; they will allow students to solve and consult all the doubts that have arisen, and they could be also used for supervising works and / or proposed tasks. In addition, students will have a virtual tutoring service to ask questions or make comments about the teaching issues.

Seminars:
In these complementary activities students will analyze scientific articles published in indexed journals and in scientific magazines, as well as the peer review process. The preparation and exposition of oral presentations and scientific posters will also be critically analyzed. Seminars dispensation is not applicable.

Interactive sessions:
Interactive sessions will be performed in a computer room in groups of 20 students, each one with a computer. Students will learn to format texts and make graphics in spreadsheets, as well as to search and modify images. They will also learn to use different programs to prepare scientific posters and oral presentations for public exhibition. Interactive session dispensation is not applicable.

A continuous evaluation will be carried out on the students as follows:
Small random controls will be carried out in seminars, theorical and interactive sessions, up to a maximum of four. They will be performed when a teacher completes a part of the subject. These controls will allow controlling the attendance of the students and assessing their progressive learning, looking for possible solutions to situations associated with the study of the subject. Its total value in the final grade will be 2 points.
In the tutoring hours, students will perform an exposition of a poster and an oral presentation, which can reach a maximum value of 2 and 6 points, respectively.
The final exam (maximum value of 10 points) will make it possible to retake those parts not passed through continuous evaluation. The final qualification will be the average of the final exam qualification and the sum of the tests carried out previously.
In case of fraudulent performance of exercises or tests, there will be applied the provisions included in “Regulations for the evaluation of the academic performance of students and the review of qualifications”.
None of the assessments are saved for subsequent courses.

Present hours:
Lectures: 16 h.
Seminars 5 h.
Interactive classes in computer classrooms: 5 h.
Blackboard sessions: 2h.
Tutorials: 2 h.
Total contact hours: 30 h.

Non-contact hours:
Individual study: 5 hrs.
Build Job: 25 h.
Review of Literature: 10 h.
Attendance at lectures or other recommended activities: 2 h.
Oral Presentations: 2 h.
Laboratory tests: 1 h.
Total hours of personal work: 45 h.

To complete the planned activities in this course, students should have a basic level of English language, as indexed journals in experimental sciences associated with Veterinary Sciences are published mostly in English. It also should have a basic - intermediate level in computer use, especially for scheduled activities.

It is recommended to have a basic knowledge of the subject “Statistics”, studied at the beginning of the Degree and remembered in “Epidemiology, Preventive Medicine and Health policy 1”. Computer skills will be also very useful, just as experience on word processor (Word, Writer), spreadsheet (Excel, Calc), presentation (PowerPoint, Impress, Keynote) and statistical programs (R) and image (Gimp) and vector (Inkscape) editors. Basic English skills will make easier to complete the programmed activities, since most of the literature is not translated into Spanish.