School of Medicine Key Educational Skills Workshop Compelling Science: Writing Well for Medical Education Audiences

Principal Faculty:

Glenn Regehr, PhD
Centre for Health Education Scholarship
University of British Columbia

Whether one is writing grants, abstracts or papers, the ability to engage an audience effectively and to convince the reader of the value of your work and ideas is a cornerstone of scientific success. While methodological rigor is critical in this process, rigor alone is insufficient to qualify as “good and compelling science”. This workshop will combine didactic and interactive approaches to get participants thinking critically about what is involved in writing a compelling and successful scientific document in the domain of health professions education research. Concrete examples from grants, abstracts and papers from the field will be used to focus discussion on three key concepts: the nature of a well constructed and well articulated project; the genres of scientific writing; and the purpose of each form of scientific document. The place of theory and the role of relevant literature will be highlighted. Discussions will also include an articulation of several specific tips for success and common mistakes to avoid.

• Identify the components of a well articulated educational research project.
• Distinguish among the genres of scientific writing.
• Describe the place and role of theory and relevant literature in scientific writing.
• Identify tips for success in scientific writing.