Graduate Medical Students, Group Project Instructions
Instructor: Mr.
Michael Krigline, MA
There are two pages: Group Project
Instructions and Group Project Details
Group project:
(worth 10% of your grade)
When you are a doctor,
your patient’s health may depend on how well you and unfamiliar
colleagues work together, not how “good” you are individually. That is why
I will divide the class into groups, and require each group to do a
presentation together. I will assign each group a topic related to “health
issues” in China. Your presentation will be oral and written (both
presented to the class). Your group will get one grade for the
project, so I expect you to work together, helping each other
proofread everything before you make your presentation to the class or
give anything to me.
Outside the "Number One Affiliated Hospital," there is a mural showing
different aspects of medical treatment and history. I will assign each
group one part of that mural to describe.
Written component:
Write a good, academic paragraph of 100 to 190 words (draft); 210 words
max for final revision. (The format is described in my writing lesson;
Lesson One—Academic Paragraphs. You can see sample academic paragraphs
below and at
www.krigline.com.cn/issues.htm--though many of those lost points for
not obeying the word limit.) You need to give me a draft of this paragraph one week
before your presentation, so that I can help you correct it.
Oral component:
Make a three- to eight-minute group presentation in front of the Monday
morning class. Someone must read your summary “academic paragraph” to the
class. Otherwise, you can do the presentation any way you want. In the
past, most groups created and presented a role play. However, if you wish,
you can make it like a mini-lecture or panel discussion. I would also
allow other things—talk to me if you have a unique idea. One member of the
group will be responsible for putting the words up on the screen (via
Power Point software). At least three people must “say something” during
the presentation.
Teamwork:
Your group will get one grade for the project, so I expect you to work
together. Each person should proofread the paragraph before it gets to me.
The same is true for any dialog or lecture material.
I will grade you on:
·
relevance: Were your summary paragraph and presentation adequately related
to your topic?
·
good
English: Some mistakes are inevitable, but if you work together you should
be able to use good English.
·
understandability: Could I understand what you said, and did you speak
loudly and clear enough so that your classmates could hear you?
·
overall
presentation: Could I tell that you put an adequate amount of time into
this, or did it look like one person wrote a few things and no one else
practiced them? Does it look like you were working together during the
presentation? What is my overall impression of your work?
You only have to do this
one time during the semester. If you plan ahead and work together, it
should not be too much work for any one student. I am also available if
you need my help.
Some "codes" for the most common things that
students lose points for:
“word#”: Usually
indicates too many words or no word count given, but may mean that it was
exceedingly short (length should be like the example or according to
directions)
“name/ID”: There is no
name that I can read (English or pinyin), or no I.D. number, or no
class number (Mon 10, Thur 8:30, etc.)
“font”: You used
red/light ink, a pencil, or a font that is too small or large (the outline
can be hand-written, but the draft and final paragraph must use a 12-point
font, Times New Roman or Arial)
“late”: It was not
turned in when I asked for it (even “after class” instead of at the
beginning of class is “late”)
"I/our": As explained in the writing handout, academic work is
objective, so you should not include personal references (including "our
country").
NDS: not double
spaced. You didn’t leave me room to make corrections so I probably didn’t
make many. I just tried to show you the problems. If you want me to make
suggestions, type the assignment (double space, 12 point font) AND staple
it to your original. This will not change your grade for the assignment.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sample academic paragraphs:
In China, childhood obesity is a growing problem that
doctors and parents must work together to fight. According to People's
Daily Online, over 13 percent of children in northeast China are
obese, with slightly lower rates in other parts of the country. The
article also said that the number is increasing annually. Medicine is part
of the cure, but doctors also work with patients to help them get control
of their lifestyles. Parents also play a key role, because they must help
their children eat properly and exercise often. Good medical care, proper
nutrition and plenty of exercise are essential if Chinese children are
going to avoid the serious medical side-effects of obesity. (113 words)
Reference (in “footnote”
style):
Author unknown, “Experts warn against rising obesity in
Chinese children,” People's Daily Online (Beijing: Jinbao
Electronics Publishing Center, March 31, 2004, visited September 4, 2007)
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200403/31/eng20040331_139019.shtml
Outline:
Topic sentence: In China, childhood obesity is a growing
problem that doctors and parents must work together to fight.
support:
1. about 13% of NE Chinese children are obese; an
increasing number.
2. the role of doctors (medicine and advice)
3. the role of parents (nutrition and exercise)
Conclusion: Good medical care, proper nutrition and plenty
of exercise are essential if Chinese children are going to avoid the
serious medical side-effects of obesity.
-------------------------
Both natural and man-made causes have led to a shortage
of water resources in China, especially along the Yellow River, but an
attitude change could help solve the problem. According to National
Geographic magazine, nearly half of China's population lives on only
15 percent of its water. Many people who live in the districts that lack
water suffer from poverty and they have few choices: either struggle
against the water shortage for their whole lives or leave their cherished
hometown and move to districts filled with water. Many causes contribute
to this problem. For instance, many water resources are becoming unusable
due to pollution or evaporation (due to global warming). Perhaps the most
important reason is the growing number of factories, farms, and cities,
due to China’s remarkable economic boom. These water-related problems can
only be solved if the Chinese people--working with the government--become
conscious of the need to protect the environment while continuing to
develop economically. The increasing temperature, water pollution and
over-use of water in modern society, have all caused China to lack water
resources; a renewed consciousness of the need to protect the environment
in the process of economic development is essential if Chinese people are
going to solve the water shortage problem. (208 words)
Group Y: Cannon, Wang Kun, Lucy, Bart
Reference:
Brook Larmer, "Bitter
Water: Can China save the Yellow--it's Mother River?," National
Geographic Magazine (Washington: National Geographic Society, May
2008) Page 133
-------------------------
The following are "reviews" of websites that can
help you practice English:
Englishmed.com is an English-language website that presents medical
topics, including materials to help you learn English, particularly in the
context of writing and speaking abilities. In it, you can not only get
information about your medical specialty, but also whatever interests you.
Type www.englishmed.com into your
browser, and click "enter" on the keyboard. On the left of your screen you
can see the main sections of the website. Look down to find "log in" and
click "create new account," then type in your data. After registering,
come back to "home," and then you can choose your specialty or what
interests you. This website is very useful because you can also use their
"search" box to find what you need, click on "exercises" to practice your
English, see helpful "dialogues" (animated!), or link to a "resources
centre." Englishmed.com is a very good website because its pages and
resources help you to upgrade your medical English level, especially in
your professional specialty. (Review; 160 words--from Group E, 2007)
The website
www.putclub.com is a Chinese-language
based website that aims to help people who want to improve their listening
English. It is divided into seven parts. (1) DAILY ENGLISH (每日听力) offers
training materials for English listening learning. (2) GENERAL LISTENING
MATERIALS (每日泛听) presents materials mostly originating from English
teaching programs, such as those on BBC and CNN. (3) E-BOOKS (听力E书) is a
free, downloadable collection of audio books. (4) In CLASSIFIED LISTENING
PROGRAM (分类听力), people can choose material from several classifications:
special, standard, audiovisual, multi-subjects, spoken English and
informal academic & cultural talk. (5) LISTENING GUIDE (听力指南) presents
approaches to auditory training. (6) LISTENING MATERIALS (听力资源) supplies
recordings for vocabulary and listening comprehension, and useful courses
such as "step by step" and "listen to this". (7) In THE FORUM (听力论坛),
people can get information by communicating with others. The "put" here
stands for "Postgraduate students + Undergraduate students + Teachers".
Putclub.com is a valuable website for anybody who wants to improve his
listening skills; everybody will find some useful information and training
programs for themselves. (158 words--from Group F, 2007)
Format for a general academic
paragraph: (click here for helpful tips on
writing an academic paragraph)
