Department of English
Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University
Short Paper Guidelines
The short paper (2–3 pp.) is a way for you to engage thoughtfully with the issues and questions we have read about and discussed this semester and to bring together skills in reading, critical thinking, and writing that we have worked on in our meetings. Use the topic below as a prompt for developing an argument that you elaborate on in your paper. Give your paper a title. Hand in your revised paper along with the workshop sheets from your group members and your original version at the Office of the Joint M.D. Programme by Wednesday, August 24, 2011.
Topic
Explain the understanding of human physiology as manifested in textbooks such as Guyton and Hall's and Vander's, and in your lecture classes. How does this reflect past and present conceptions of medicine? What limitations or advantages might such training in the principles and practice of medicine present in the everyday work of doctors like that described by Gawande, Dr. Prawase, the House TV series, the Gifted Hands documentary, and your own experience of visiting a physician?
Some issues we have read about and discussed:
What is medicine? What are ideas and ideals of medicine in its early days in various cultures? How have those principles changed, if at all, through time? What are values and medical students and doctors abide by in our contemporary age, in Thailand, abroad? Why is it important to have a behavioral or honor code?
What is a doctor's work like on a day to day basis? What skills are involved? What problems arises on the job? What rewards?
What can you expect in your training to be a physician? What skills do you need to develop to prepare you for medical school? How well might the everyday practice of your student career prepare you for that in the professional one?
What is the impact of medicine in the world at large, beyond the lecture halls and examination room? What are doctors' roles in society? What contributions might doctors make in the public arena?
Writing Workshop
Get into groups of 3–4 students. Give a copy of your paper to each group member. Read your fellow group members' papers carefully, making constructive comments on the pages, and fill out the workshop sheet for each paper.
Revision
Once you have your paper and feedback sheet back from each of your group member, consider the comments and rewrite your paper to fix problems and make it more effective. Some things to keep in mind as you proofread and edit your work:
Does my title show that I have a point to make?
Is my thesis sound, clear, and interesting?
Have I supported my thesis with compelling evidence?
Is the organization of my paper logical and appropriate to the arguments I am making?
Is my language clear, consistent, and suited to the subject matter?
Do each of my paragraphs have a clear point and coherence?
Are my sentences varied, interesting, and effective?
Do my verbs agree with their subjects? Pronouns with their nouns?
Is my paper free of spelling mistakes?
Have I cited my sources properly?
Links
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Last updated August 16, 2011