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VSC262 Research Skills Guide: Topic analysis

Guide for VSC262 Veterinary Reproduction

Background research

Spend some time thinking about your topic before you start. Do some background reading on the topic to decide what aspects of the research you might want to include in your draft review. Textbooks can provide a broad overview of a topic and are great to establish the context of your review.

Assessment

For Assessment 4, you are asked to write a clinically appraised scientific article on the topic that was allocated to you in the first week of session.

An appraised article is an article that summarizes the current state of understanding on a topic with the purpose of evaluating all, or part of, the topic. It critically discusses or critically analyses research published on the topic and should offer a balanced point of view or summation. This assessment requires 4 (min.) to 8 (max.) references from authoritative sources.

When writing a review article you should:

  • define and clarify the purpose of the review
  • accurately summarise all of part of the research
  • inform the reader of the state of the current research
  • offer a balanced consideration from more than one point of view or perspective
  • critically discuss or critically analyse the research - you will need to have an opinion
  • and provide evidence for your point of view and other perspectives

In Veterinary Science these perspectives, depending on the question, could include the standard subject areas of the discipline such as

  • animal welfare
  • economics
  • ethics
  • reproduction epidemiology
  • pathology
  • physiology
  • endocrinology
  • embryology
  • reproduction
  • animal behaviour
  • "the common good"

 

References

A.T. Still University of Health Sciences (nd) Review article guidelines for students on rotation https://www.atsu.edu/research/pdfs/how_to_write_a_review_article.pdf

Sydney University (2014) What is the difference between descriptive, analytical, persuasive and critical writing? http://sydney.edu.au/stuserv/learning_centre/help/analysing/an_distinguishTypes.shtml

Sydney Unversity (2015) I need some help with writing a critical review http://sydney.edu.au/stuserv/learning_centre/help/writing/wr_reviewHelp.shtml

Topic analysis

Charles Sturt University acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands on which its campuses are located, paying respect to Elders, both past and present, and extend that respect to all First Nations Peoples.Acknowledgement of Country

Charles Sturt University is an Australian University, TEQSA Provider Identification: PRV12018. CRICOS Provider: 00005F.