How to write an Academic Literature

Dr. Min Ko KoM.B.,B.S, M.Med.Sc. (Public Health)

Ph.D. in Demography (Mahidol University)

Associate ProfessorHealth Behaviour & Communication DepartmentUniversity of Public Health

Ground Rules for today discussion?

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-

Outline of Presentation

I. Objectives

II. Why is it importantIII. Steps of Academic Literature Writing

Literature Searching Literature Reading Literature Review Literature Writing

IV. Conclusion

What are the challenges of Master/Diploma students to search and write academic literatures?

1- ………………………………………………………2- ………………………………………………………3- ………………………………………………………4- ………………………………………………………5- ………………………………………………………6- ………………………………………………………7- ………………………………………………………

I. Objectives

1. To demonstrate/perform how to search, read, review, write an academic literatures

2. To apply/practice in your given assignments and thesis works in student life of UPH

What is Research Literature?

• ‘Research Literature’ refers to the set of publications containing the network of theories, hypothesis, practices and evidence representing the current state of knowledge in a specific area of the health science.

II. Why is it important ?

•  To prevents duplicating work that has been done before.

• To find out what others have learned and reported on the problem you want to study, using critical evaluation

• To become more familiar with the various types of methodology

• To provide convincing academic arguments for why your topic or research is needed.

• To constitute the strongest foundation for initiating further advances in theory and practice

Literature Searching

Literature Reading

Literature Review

Literature Writing

III. Steps of Academic Literature

Writing

1. Literature Searching

• It is carried out at appropriate research centers or libraries where scientific and professional journals are stored and, of course, by using the Internet.

• Topics!• Key Words!• Possible sources of information!

Individuals (experts), groups, and organizations;

Published information (books, articles, online thesis, abstract journals); and

Unpublished information (other research proposals in related fields, reports, thesis, records, computer data bases using Internet)

• National Level- Myanmar • Experts• Libraries

University and other national libraries, WHO, UN libraries,

• Governmental organizations-Ministry of Health & Sports (National Health Plans, Demographic Health Survey, Clinic & Hospital based data)

• Ministry of Immigration, Population and Labour (Census Report, Raw data for 2014 Census)- Central Statistical Organization (CSO- Statistical Year Book)

• Non-Governmental organizations – WHO, UN

International level• Information from: -Websites- WHO & UN organizations,

international institutions by using Computerized literature search

Where can we find the different sources?

Strategies to access!

Computerized Searching for health information & research publications

• World Health Organization - http://www.who.int/en/

• Demographic & Health Surveys- http://dhsprogram.com/publications/publication-PR78-Preliminary-Reports-Key-Indicators-Reports.cfm

• PubMed Health- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/

• ScienceDirect- http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journals/all

• JSTOR- https://www.jstor.org/• Others:

• Brain storming! (All students)• X 10 minutes

Q: List the possible sources of information & Strategies to access the information

Title:– Child Mortality Situation in Myanmar

Literature Searching (cont:)

• Should first be skimmed or read. Topics! Key Words! Abstract (or) Summary

• Appropriateness of the methodology• Important aspects of the study• How information from the study can be used

in your assignment or research

2. Literature Reading

• Topics!• Key Words!• After Literature Reading +++++

– Summaries of the important information in each of the references should be recorded on separate index cards or as computer entries.

3. Literature Review

As an academician/ a researcher, you have to do check, re-check in order to make Sure & Correct your ‘Reviewed Literatures’.

.

Example:No Author,

YearTitle Study

areaMethod

Wh..?Wh..?Wh..?

KeyFindings

Conclusion & Recommendation

Remark(Gap!

Important aspects of the study)

1

2

3

4

5

3. Literature Review (cont:)

• Brain storming! (4 Groups)• X 20 minutes

Q: Literature review on 4 Articles

GAP!!!

Break! x 10 minutes

• Like an ‘Essay Writing’!• 1- Well-organized!– Mind mapping (outline)– Don’t try to put everything in your assignment and thesis!– Hit the Target!

• 2- Organization/structure – Linked and cohesive– One paragraph- one information– Linking words/connectors

• 3- Tenses– Common usage– Used Passive voice; instead of I, We, You

• 4- Ethical consideration

4. Literature Writing

1- Well-organized (cont:)

• Ques: Rearrange these outlines!

Intr

oduc

tion

Literature Review

Methodology

Findings

Conclusion

Well-organized (cont:)

• Ans: outlines!

Introduction

Literature Review

Methodology

Findings

Conclusion

Dear Students:

Dr Min Ko Ko

Sincerely,

We look forward to welcoming you to UPH and wish you success in your academic career.

Specific details for enrollment of procedures for our program are given in the enclosed information packet.

This letter is your official authorization to register for 2017 academic year.

On behalf of the Rector of the UPH, I congratulate you on being accepted to the program in MPH/MAHM/Dip HA to begin study in this 2017 academic year.

Thank you for your interest in our University of Public Health (UPH).

1- Well-organized (cont:)• Ques: Rearrange these outlines!

Dear Students:

Dr Min Ko KoSincerely,

We look forward to welcoming you to UPH and wish you success in your academic career.

Specific details for enrollment of procedures for our program are given in the enclosed information packet.

This letter is your official authorization to register for 2017 academic year.

On behalf of the Rector of the UPH, I congratulate you on being accepted to the program in MPH/MAHM/Dip HA to begin study in this 2017 academic year.

Thank you for your interest in our University of Public Health (UPH).

1- Well-organized (cont:)

Greeting

Acknowledgment

Good News

Administrative matters-1

Administrative matters-2

Welcoming close that points to the future

Introductory Paragraph

Topic Paragraph

Topic Paragraph

Topic Paragraph

Conclusion Paragraph

Cohesive !

Linked!

Structure- well organized !

Linking word!

Linking word!

Linking word!

Linking word!

(aemuftydk'fpzdkU pum;csefay;cJh&r,f)!

No: of pages & paragraphs

depend on your content

2- Linked & Cohesive

Linking Words/

Connectors

Non-academic Writing

(Spoken English)Academic Writing

Similar Idea And… Moreover, In addition,

Additionally,

So…Then…..

Therefore, Thus, Hence,

Consequently, As a consequence, As a result,

OppositeIdea

But… However, Although,Even though,

Nevertheless,Nonetheless, In spite of that,

Alternative Idea

Or In other words, In fact, Put another meaning,

Put simply,As a matter of fact,

Introductory Paragraph(eg. Child mortality is related with social,

economic and cultural factors.

Topic Paragraph (Main Idea, with eg:)(Social factors on child mortality)

Conclusion Paragraph(Summarized All;

i.e. holistic conclusion )

Topic Paragraph (Main Idea, with eg:)(Eonomic factors on child mortality)

Topic Paragraph (Main Idea, with eg:)(Cultural factors on child mortality)

Cohesive !

Linked!

Structure- well organized !

(aemuftydk'fpzdkU pum;csefay;cJh&r,f)!

Linking word !

Linking word!

Linking word !

No: of pages & paragraphs

depend on your content

Linking word!

Eg: However, economic is one factor that determine on child mortality.

Academic Literature Writing

Past Simple- Refers to the literature when you give the date within the sentence/ researcher activity in sentence

Eg: Min Ko Ko (2016) studied the causes of child mortality in Myanmar that………Eg: In 2016, Min Ko Ko studied…………………………..

3- Tenses Uses in Literature Writing

Present perfect- Refers to give past-to-present background (Researcher activity is not include in sentence)

Eg: Several studies have examined the important role of culture factors in child mortality.

Present simple (refers to a statement of common knowledge)Eg: There are multifactorial causations in child mortality.

Don’t Use Change to ‘Passive Voice’

I/We(eg: In this paper, I argue that poor household status can lead to child mortality in Myanmar.)

(eg: In this paper, it is argued that poor household status can lead to child mortality in Myanmar.)

You(eg: You can see the results in Table.)

(eg: The results can be seen in Table.

Contractions (eg: won’t) ….will not……

? (eg: Many studies have examined why has MDR-TB increased?

(eg: Many studies have examined why MDR-TB has increased.

Passive Voice

4. Ethical Consideration

Distortion of informationPlaying the results of primary studyRestricting ReferencesUsing another ideas as a owner ; without quoting the author (Plagiarism/Academic Theft)Writing another’s ideas /statements as a owner/ Reproduced/Copy & Paste (Plagiarism/Academic Theft)

Question: Overcoming Plagiarism?

• Citation and References • Quotation “………”• Paraphrasing/Restatement

Checking Plagiarism?- Turnitin Software

Citation vs ReferencesCitation References

Referencing within in an assignments, project, proposal or thesis

The reference list at the end of an assignments, project, proposal or thesis

Referencing the Primary source/author of your used information

List of all publications or authors

1. Eg: Min Ko Ko (2016) studied the causes of child mortality in Myanmar that………

2. In 2016, Min Ko Ko studied………………..

3. According to Min Ko Ko (2016),………………..

4. Min Ko Ko’s 2016 research study on child

mortality discussed………………..

5. Min Ko Ko (2016)

examined/stated/suggested/claimed/argued/con

cluded/proposed/demonstrated/found/identified

ReferencesDEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL RESEARCH (LOWER

MYANMAR) 2005. Lecture Guide on Research Methodology, Myanmar, Ministry of Health.

MIN-KO-KO & YOTHIN, S. 2014. Child mortality differentials of selected ethnic groups in Myanmar, 1997-2007. Journal of Health Research, 28, 373-80.

VARKEVISSER, C. M., PATHMANTHAN, L. & BROWNLEE, A. 1991. HSR Training Series Volume 2: Part I & II: Designing and

conducting Health System Research Project, Geneva, The Health Science Division of the International Development Research Center and WHO.

Number of Citations = Number of References

Citation & Referencing Styles

• Many Styles • Different Institutions have Different Citation &

Referencing Styles– UPH- Harvard Style

• How to do!– Manually– Software- EndNote software

Citation Examples, using EndNote Software

• (Harttgen et al., 2006)

• HARTTGEN, KENNETH, MISSELHORN & MARK 2006. A multilevel approach to explain child mortality and undernutrition in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Ibero-America Institute for Economic Research, 156, 1-38.

Referencing Examples, using EndNote Software

Example:No Author,

YearTitle Study

areaMethod

Wh..?Wh..?Wh..?

KeyFindings

Conclusion & Recommendation

Remark(Gap!

Important aspects of the study)

1

2

3

4

5

Paraphrasing

Let’s try together

Suggestion!!

Question: How to improve your academic writing?Ans: Read and Read international articles and publications

Literature Searching

Literature Reading

Literature Review

Literature Writing

Conclusion Topic

Key Words

Sources

Where, Computer searchStrategies to access

Topic

Key WordsImportant aspects of the study

Topic

Key WordsSummaries of each of the references (eg: with Table)

GAP??

Well-organized!Linked & CohesiveCommon tenses & Passive voiceEthics- + Plagiarism

Citation & ReferencesQuotation Paraphrasing

What you learned today?

___________________________ ___________________________ ___________________________ ___________________________ ___________________________ ___________________________ ___________________________ ___________________________

Conclusion

Assignment (Individual)

1) How do you understand: a. Plagiarism? (not more than 7 lines)b. Citation? (not more than 7 lines)c. Referencing? (not more than 7 lines)

2) In academic writing, there are many citation and referencing styles. Please list 5 of them (just naming). (not more than 5 lines)

3) In 2017 academic year, University of Public Health plans to use ‘Harvard’ Citation & Referencing Style as a standard.

a. Please give an example of Citation of Harvard style. For one author (not more than 4 lines) For two authors (not more than 4lines) For more than five authors (not more than 4 lines)

b. Please give examples of Referencing of Harvard style? For an article (not more than 4 lines) For a thesis (not more than 4 lines) For a book (not more than 4 lines) For a website (not more than 4 lines)

c. Please provide your internet source of ‘Harvard’ Citation & Referencing Style for No (3.a) and (3.b). (not more than 1 line)

Assignment Format (UPH Format)• Paper- A4• Font- Times New Roman• Font Size- 12• Line Spacing- 1.5• Margin:

– First Page: Left- 1.5 inches, Right- 1 inch Top- 1.5 inches, Bottom- 1.5 inches

– Next Pages: Left- 1.5 inches, Right- 1 inch Top- 1 inches, Bottom- 1.5 inches

• Page Number insertion: Bottom Central, Numbering 1,2,3,….

• Submit to: drminkoko.mph@gmail.com(including Student Name & Roll Number)

• Dead Line: 16-1-2017 (09:00 am)

References

• DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL RESEARCH (LOWER MYANMAR) 2013. Lecture Guide on Research Methodology, Myanmar, Ministry of Health.

• SWALES, J. M. & FEAK, C. B. 2012. Academic Writing for Graduate Students: Essential Tasks and Skills, United States of America, The University of Michigan

• VARKEVISSER, C. M., PATHMANTHAN, L. & BROWNLEE, A. 1991. HSR Training Series Volume 2: Part I & II:

Designing and conducting Health System Research Project, Geneva, The Health Science Division of the International Development Research Center and WHO.