In order to gain experience in locating and evaluating veterinary science information, all students enrolled in the VETS 180 course are required to write a Research Article on a topic related to the anatomy and/or physiology of an animal. This article can partially be a "guide" to assist potential clients in caring for an animal, usually in reference to a particular condition. However, it should contain information that would be considered "unique" or not freely available in basic Veterinary sources of information. It should be written in a style so that it could actually be submitted for publication in a general Veterinary Science magazine, such as Veterinary Technician. The available topics will be given to you by Professor Reinhardt.
1. Sign up for a Topic and a Research Workshop time. (You will need to register for a SignUpGenius account.) Online students use this link to sign up.
2. On Online Delhi (Library Research Assignment Sp24) read through the Introduction and the 4 units, and successfully complete the quizzes at the end of each of the 4 units. (Successful completion means getting a score of 5 out of 6 correct, and you may take each quiz up to 5 times.)
3. Attend the Research Workshop on the day you signed up for. (The quizzes on Online Delhi should be completed before attending.)
4. Complete and turn in the assignment by 4:00 pm on the due date, Friday, March 29, 2024
You must turn it in directly to me, in Bush 238.
1. The article must be current, accurate, clear and concise. It must be free from grammatical or writing errors, and visual appeal; including the use of graphics, is important.
2. The Research Article must include information from at least 6 sources, of which 3 must come from scholarly veterinary journals, and no more than 2 can be web sites. (If you use web sites, you must clear them with me.) Also, all 3 article sources must be found using at least one of the library's Veterinary Science databases; these include Science Direct, AGRICOLA, Academic Search Complete, Veterinary Clinics of North America (VCNA), and Google Scholar.
3. The article must include a Glossary; a list of unique or special terms with their definitions that will help the reader to better understand your research. (See examples in Veterinary Technician magazine - Loose issues of Veterinary Technician and other similar veterinary publications may be found in the Farnsworth Student Lounge.)
4. The actual text of the Research Article should be at least 500 words long; approximately 2-3 double-spaced/printed pages. However, the number of pages may vary, depending on spacing and use of graphics. (The bibliography and glossary do not count toward the page and/or word requirement.)
5. The information in your article should be divided up into labeled sections that help the reader. For example: "Introduction," Research Results," "Conclusion," etc.
6. The article must include a Bibliography; a list of references that properly cite your sources of information. Additionally, you must include in-text citations (short references placed in the text right after you use the information source) that will easily lead the reader (me) to the references in your bibliography. I must be able to tell, from the referencing, that you have used the information for each of the sources you use. You may use any style; APA, MLA, etc., but references and style must be consistent throughout the assignment.
-Additionally, you must include an annotation with each reference; an annotation is a one or two sentence description of why you chose to use the source. For example: "I used this article because it contained some helpful charts documenting the stages of the disease."
-Underneath each illustration you use, in parenthesis and in smaller print, you should include the web address you used to obtain the illustration. If you use your own illustrations, simply indicate that. Do not put the sources of your illustrations in your bibliography - They do not count toward your source requirement.
Hint: As you work on your Research Article, you should maintain a running list of citations for information sources you have used. You also will need to link any facts or specific information/quotes you use in your research article back to the source where you got that information. For more help in citing your sources, check out our MLA and APA citation guides, or click on the Writing Tips and Citing Your Sources tab above.
1. Remember, this is a Research article, not a guide to an animal's condition. While the article can contain some basic background/guide information, it should focus on the most current research being done on that condition. Also, it is not an opinion paper; the conclusions you make must be based on the research.
2. Your writing should be succinct. Say what needs to be said as simply as possible, without a lot of fancy or extra words. It should not contain extra "filler" or "fluff" words.
3. The purpose of references to your research sources in your text (in-text references) is to lead the reader to your listings in your bibliography . These should be consistent with each other; easy-to-follow.
4. In your bibliography, all references must contain the basic information: Author, Title or document, Publication found in, Date of Publication, and Page Numbers.
5. You may use websites as sources, but be sure that they come from scholarly sources, such as colleges or recognized professional organizations. Sites such as "webmd.com, " vetmd.com," or "ask.com" will not be accepted. (If you are unsure if a website is scholarly, check with me before using.)
6. If you do use websites as sources, be sure to include to website's adress in the Bibliography listing. (Be careful when using "EasyBib." It does not automoatically put the website's address in the listing.)
-Grading:
The Research Article is worth 100 points; approximately 10% of your total grade for the course. Those 100 points are broken up as follows:
Preliminary Preparation - 20 points
-Successful completion of Quizzes (through Vancko Hall) - (15 points)
-Attendance at Research Workshop - (5 points)
Final Project - 80 points
-Accuracy and appropriateness of Information - The quality of your information sources (30 points)
-References - The appropriate use of and consistency in your references and referencing (30 points)
-Grammar (Spelling, Wording) (10 points)
-Style, layout, and overall appearance (10 points)
Please evaluate the usefulness of the presentation and this guide
