Speaking and Writing for Pre-Medical Students
ENC 3254, Fall 2009,  T 5-6th / Th 6th

Kellie Roberts -- Spoken
401 Rolfs Hall
392-5421, ext. 22
 Email:  robertsk@ufl.edu
Office Hours: Tuesdays 9:00-11:00 a.m.
in Rolfs 401 and by appointment .Mailbox: Rolfs 402
Carol Steen -- Written
501 Rolfs Hall 
392-5421 to leave message
Email: casteen@ufl.edu
Office Hours:   Tues/Thursday, 7th & by appt.
 Mailbox: Rolfs 402 
 
      COURSE SCHEDULE  (HTML)/  GRADE ALLOCATION  / USEFUL LINKS
Informative Presentation Schedule Fall 2009


COURSE DESCRIPTION

Medical professionals have a special obligation to communicate without ambiguity, either in the written or spoken word; they depend on their communication skills to interact productively with other medical experts, their colleagues, clients and their families, and the public at large. This team-taught course will provide students with the opportunity to participate in a range of activities focusing on researching, processing, and sharing medical information with others. Given our current evidence-based medical culture, students will learn to do research using medical databases and other research tools, as well as discovering how best to organize and present their findings to other medical professionals. The healthcare professional must often act as intermediary between the specialized world of scientific research and the more pragmatic world of the general public; consequently, we will also investigate how best to present technical medical information to the layperson.  Need further convincing?  Check out the following article on the Clinical Skills Examination, now required for all new doctors!

This course is predicated on the idea that the ability to write and speak clearly are learned skills, not innate talents, which means that better communication can be learned by practice. Students will experiment with a range of communication strategies in class: lectures will be followed by focused written and oral activities that allow students to put theory and strategies into practice. We will read and dissect examples of both good in order to learn from them, in addition to examining several types of medical writing. Students will also participate in a variety of speaking assignments in class, ranging from impromptu to prepared presentations. We will discuss techniques for improving public speaking, interviewing and listening skills, and patient-doctor communication.

 

ENC 3254 "Writing for Premed" fulfills the University's General Education requirement composition (C) and 6,000 words of writing (W).

   

Speaking Assignments

The Informative Presentation




One of the most common communicative tasks of a medical professional is giving information.  Sometimes this information is being given to patients; just as often, you are informing colleagues about research or a patient's condition.  Being able to deliver a well-organized, concise presentation of medical facts is a critical skill that this assignment gives you the opportunity to practice!   

Medical School Interview




One of the (potentially) scariest hoops to jump on the way to becoming a doctor, the med school interview is also critically important to your success.  In preparation for this hurdle, you will receive training and get the opportunity to practice by participating in a mock  panel interview both as the interviewee and one of the interviewers.

Team CME Presentation




All accredited professionals participate in continuing education to remain licensed.  These education units are called CMEs (continuing medical education), CEs (continuing education), and sometimes CMUs (continuing medical units).  CMEs cover a wide range of topics from disease to clinical practice.  However, CMEs are planned to be  topically important -- this means dealing with a medical issue that is current and relevant (as opposed to a issue that is rare). For your final project, you will work in teams to plan and deliver a CME unit to your peers.  

Writing Assignments

Medical Communication Project




This is a two part assignment in which you get to explore the process of evaluating different kinds of medical information.  First, you will dive into the web and analyze the kinds of health information found in cyber space.  Second, you will produce a complementary pair of documents: a brief  review paper targeted at medical professionals and a patient literature handout appropriate for educating the public.

Medical School Application





Before you can be chosen to interview, you must apply to medical school.  To this end, you will get the opportunity to write (and rewrite!) the "personal statement," the essay which likely gets your foot in the door (along with your obviously stellar GPA and MCAT scores!).  Also, you  will plan a chronological-functional resume designed for a particular intership which will also aid you in filling out the 15 "job and/or experience" spaces available for this information on the AMCAS application.  

  
Team CME Paper


This is the written complement to the CME project.  Your team will prepare a proposal, a "take away" handout, the CE itself and an evaluation report.

 

COURSE TEXT:

There is no text for this class -- please refer to the class "Useful Links" page for required readings
Strongly Recommended:  Medispell,  http://www.medispell.com/   (try the 10 day free trial first, preferably as you get ready to write the Review Paper!)

ATTENDANCE:

You are responsible for getting assignments in on their due dates and for keeping your speaking engagements. Papers are due at the beginning of class on the assigned date, and one letter grade will be subtracted for all late papers. Very late papers may not be accepted or revisions will not be allowed.  You must complete ALL assignments in order to pass the course. Both readings and assignments included in the syllabus should be completed by the class following the assignment, unless otherwise indicated. Even if you have an excused absence, you should make every attempt to turn assignments in on time. We have a strict attendance policy: on your fourth absence, 40 points will be deducted from your final grade.  10 points will be deducted for each absence thereafter. The reason for this policy is simple: unlike some of your classes, this is a skills-based course. In other words, practice makes all the difference to writing and speaking skills; the more you write, or speak in public, the better you become at these tasks. Consequently, the effects of this course are cumulative, and frequent absences will affect your progress and success dramatically.

 

 
Penalty for Plagiarism/Unethical Writing Practices -- The instructor will call a private meeting with student to determine student's motivation for cheating.  Penalties include the following:
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC HONOR CODE AND ACADEMIC HONESTY:
Preamble: In adopting this Honor Code, the students of the University of Florida recognize that academic honesty and integrity are fundamental values of the University community. Students who enroll at the University commit to holding themselves and their peers to the high standard of honor required by the Honor Code. Any individual who becomes aware of a violation of the Honor Code is bound by honor to take corrective action. A student-run Honor Court and faculty support are crucial to the success of the Honor Code. The quality of a University of Florida education is dependent upon community acceptance and enforcement of the Honor Code.
 
The Honor Code: We, the members of the University of Florida community, pledge to hold ourselves and our peers to the highest standards of honesty and integrity.
 
Pledge: On all work submitted for credit by students at the University of Florida, the following pledge is either required or implied: "On my honor, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid in doing this assignment."
 
Please note: An academic honesty offense is defined as the act of lying, cheating, or stealing academic information so that one gains academic advantage. As a University of Florida student, one is expected to neither commit nor assist another in committing an academic honesty violation. Additionally, it is the student's duty to report observed academic honesty violations. Violations of the Honor Code and academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Specifically, instructors will rigorously pursue incidents of plagiarism of any type or incidents of referring to any unauthorized material for any class assignment. Before submitting any work for this class, please read the policies about academic honesty at www.dso.ufl.edu/judicial/honestybrochure.htm, and ask the instructors to clarify any expectations you do not understand.
 
CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR:
Mature and respectful behavior is expected in this classroom when dealing with instructors and other students.  Each of you has significant individual experiences and will have unique reactions to share with the class that will affect the dynamics of the class as a whole. Side conversations, sleeping, and reading other course material (or the Alligator, etc.) are not appropriate.  Also, please turn off and put away your cell phones and pagers prior to the start of class.






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