Dr. Kashif Saleem

Membership costs $75 per year for working copy editors; managers in the journalism industry with a copy editing background; teachers of journalism; and retirees from these categories.

13. Canadian Science Writers Association

Regular membership is $75 CAD per year.

14. Association of Health Care Journalists

Membership is open to journalists around the world and starts at US$60 per year.

15. National Association of Science Writers

Current member rates are US$90 for individuals and US$35 for students.

16. Council for the Advancement of Science Writing

Not a member organization, the Council is a non-member resource for science writers around the world.

17. Society for Editors and Proofreaders

Entry-level membership fee costs £100, and membership is open to all editors and proofreaders.

18. Association of British Science Writers

Membership costs £40, and you don’t need to be a British resident to join.

19. Society of Environmental Journalists

Membership starts at US$40 per year and membership is open to journalists around the world.

20. World Federation of Science Journalists

While this isn’t an individual member organization, membership is arranged via an association. You can subscribe to their newsletter and monitor their site for the latest news and updates.

Reference :https://www.healthwriterhub.com/medical-writing-associations/

By: Michelle Guillemard

Monday, May 14, 2018

A Guide to Medical Syntax

Reference: https://www.wikidoc.org/index.php/Guide_to_medical_syntax

By: Dr. Hafiz M. Kashif Saleem, M.D.

Words to Use in Academic Writing

Words to Use in Academic Writing

Below is a handy list of words that are both useful and appropriate to academic language.

Describing similarities

Likewise
Correspondingly
Equally
Not only… but also
In the same way
Similarly

Showing cause and effect

Consequently
As a result
Thus(Use instead of "so")
Hence (never ‘hence why’)
Since (try to avoid ‘as’ when showing cause and effect)
Because
Therefore(Use instead of "so")
Accordingly
This suggests that
It follows that
For this reason

Comparing and contrasting

Alternatively
However(Use instead of "but")
Conversely
On the other hand
Instead
Yet
On the contrary

Showing limitation or contradiction

Despite/in spite of
While (not whilst!)
Even so
On the contrary
Nevertheless
Nonetheless
Although
Admittedly

Emphasis, addition or examples

To illustrate
To clarify
Further (not ‘furthermore’)?? (Use furthermore instead of "and")
First, second and third (not firstly, secondly and thirdly)
For instance
Moreover(Use instead of "and")
Typically
Especially
In fact
Namely
In addition(Use instead of "and")

Concluding

To summarise
It can be concluded that
As can be seen
Ultimately
Given the above
As described
Finally

Reference: https://m.eliteediting.com.au/50-linking-words-to-use-in-academic-writing/

By: Dr. Hafiz M. Kashif Saleem, M.D.

Blog: Please click here

Friday, May 11, 2018

Which Tenses to Use in Scientific Writing Or Writing for a Journal/Thesis

Which Tenses to Use in Scientific Writing Or Writing for a Journal/Thesis:

Abstract:

Present tense used for:

Highlighting the gaps in your research area
The aim and objective of the article and the application

Past tense used for:

Highlighting the important methodology and expressing the executive summary of your results
Achievement can also be expressed in the past perfect tense

Introduction:

Present tense used for:

Known facts and truths and usually followed by the appropriate research reference

Past tense used for:

Describing work or experiments that have been conducted and the results of these work

The active voice (for example using "we" or "I") is useful:

When you discuss previous research and then introduce your own

The passive voice is:

Not preferable for an introduction but in some sentences, can be perfectly acceptable

Methodology:

Present passive used to:

Describe what is normally done or to describe a standard procedure

Past passive used to:

Describe what you did yourself

Results And Discussion:

Present tense used to:

Present the diagram, figures, tables, and images
Also used to explain the significance of the results

Past tense used to:

Detail the results obtained
You may use past tense to summarize your findings in combination with present tense to interpret or explain the results

Conclusion:

Past tense used to:

Summarize the main findings, the major implications of the study and the limitations of your work

The future tense used to:

Offer suggestions for future research

Web source: Click here

By: Dr. Hafiz M. Kashif Saleem, M.D.

Thursday, May 10, 2018

How Can You Improve Your Academic Research Writing Skills- Tips for You

Here are a few tips that will help you become a pro at academic research writing. By sticking to the tips mentioned below, you can always write a quality academic research paper on your own. However, keep in mind, research writing takes time.

1. Invest Time in Reading:

The more you read, the more you learn
Do not try to imitate someone else’s writing style and concentrate on developing your method of communication

2. Practice Makes Perfect:

For starters, pick your topic and write 500 to 1000 words on a daily basis
Don’t worry about the mistakes you are going to make as they will only help you improve

3. Be Clear and Concise:

Whatever you write must make proper sense and should be free of any grammatical mistakes
Vigilantly proofread your document both manually and through checking tools, e.g., Grammarly or Ginger
Instead of using prolonged sentences, state your ideas in a very brief and to the point way
Avoid excessive verbosity

4. Do Not Drift Away From the Topic:

Do extensive reading and research
Stay true to the subject
Search for only the relevant information.

5. Use Authentic Data:

Make sure the facts that you are stating in your text are authentic
Must back all facts with proper evidence
Do not make up stuff on your own for the sake of completing the word count
Do not state things that you do not know of

6. Say No to Plagiarism:

Form your own opinion by all the research you conduct
Must cite the source of all the ideas, words, and images you take from someone else’s work.

7. Do Not Over-Quote:

Make sure to use the appropriate number of quotes throughout your paper
Write the same idea in your own words
Attribute it to its authentic source

8. Summarize:

The abundance of information makes it hard to fit your writing in the allocated word count. Therefore, make sure to summarize your content without losing its central essence.

9. Proofread and Eliminate Unnecessary Information:

Thoroughly proofread your content and make all the necessary adjustments
Remove all the repeated or unwanted information
You can also check it through online tools to catch every single flaw

Reference: https://studybreaks.com/college/research-writing-tips/

By: Dr. Hafiz M. Kashif Saleem, M.D.

Tuesday, May 8, 2018

What You should know about the USMLE Step 3 (A Brief Introduction to the USMLE Step 3 )

A Brief Introduction to the USMLE Step 3 Exam:

“Step 3 assesses whether you can apply medical knowledge and understanding of biomedical

and clinical science. It is the final examination in the USMLE sequence” (Web source).

It’s a two-day exam:

Day 1 of Step 3 is Foundations of Independent Practice (FIP):

Structure:

233 MCQs
Six blocks of 38-40 MCQs
60 minutes for completion of each block
Seven hours is of the test session
Five-minute optional tutorial
45 minutes of break time

This test day focuses on:

Basic medical and scientific principles
Foundational sciences
Assessing knowledge of diagnosis and management, mainly focused on knowledge of history and physical examination, diagnosis, and use of diagnostic studies

Content areas covered include:

Understanding of biostatistics and epidemiology/population health
Interpretation of the medical literature/scientific abstracts, and pharmaceutical advertisements
Social sciences
Communication and interpersonal skills
Medical ethics
Systems-based practice
Patient safety

(Web source).

Day 2 of Step 3 is Advanced Clinical Medicine (ACM):

Structure:

180 MCQs
Six blocks of 30 MCQs
45 minutes for completion of each block
Nine hours is of the test session
Five-minute optional tutorial
Seven minute CCS tutorial
13 case simulations, each of which allotted a maximum of 10 or 20 minutes of real-time
A minimum of 45 minutes is available for break time

This test day focuses on:

Ability to apply comprehensive knowledge of health and disease in the context of patient management and the evolving manifestation of illness over time
Knowledge of history and physical examination, diagnosis, and use of diagnostic studies also is assessed

Content areas covered include: