NURS7701 Writing Expectations & Short Readings About Scholarly Writing

Role of the Scholarly Project Chair:

• Facilitate your learning through all phases of the project: planning, development, implementation, and evaluation.
• Provide guidance and feedback on your work, including your scholarly manuscript.
• Help ensure you meet all project requirements, including QI/IRB compliance.
• Maintain consistent and effective communication with you.

Tips for Success in Your Scholarly Project:

Based on the DNP Scholarly Project Handbook and general best practices, here are a few tips to help you succeed:

• Proactive Communication: Maintain open and timely communication with me regarding your progress, any challenges you encounter, or if you anticipate missing a deadline. It is your responsibility to contact me in advance if situations arise that impact assignments or due dates.
• Utilize Course Resources: Take full advantage of the resources provided in the Canvas course, including announcements, podcasts/videos, examples, and guidelines like the SQUIRE Guidelines Table and manuscript template.
• Plan Ahead: The DNP project has distinct phases and requires careful planning. Begin thinking about your project ideas, potential clinical questions, and establishing relationships with organizations and potential sponsors early on.
• Embrace Scholarly Writing: Scholarly writing is a key component of this project and your professional development. Be prepared for an iterative writing process and utilize resources like Grammarly Premium and the Graduate Writing Center.
• Attend Meetings Prepared: Come to our bi-weekly meetings prepared to discuss your progress, ask questions, and engage in a productive discussion.

Here are some key points to remember while you're writing and before submitting assignments:

• Download and install the Grammarly add-in.
• Address the issues in your writing that Grammarly identifies. (Assignments that have multiple spelling or grammar errors or that have problems with clarity and conciseness will be sent back to you for correction before grading.)
• Assess how well you have addressed the content for each section with AI before submitting your assignments. If you have missed certain content, address it before submitting your assignment. (If you haven't been using ChatGPT or another chat tool, we can go over how to use this when we meet.)

I've created a short list of readings to reinforce some principles of effective scholarly writing. They're all short, just a couple of pages. They're split out week by week. By the end of the semester, you'll have read them all. They talk about the kinds of things I look for in scholarly writing. My hope is to get us all on the same page when it comes to writing your papers next semester. I attended a writing workshop held by George Gopen at the University of Utah in 2023. While these articles are addressed to a legal audience, the same principles apply to scholarly writing in the sciences.

Week 1 (May 12)

• Read: #2 The Importance of Stress: Indicating the Most Important Words in a Sentence https://www.georgegopen.com/uploads/1/0/9/0/109073507/litigation2stress_position.pdf

Week 2 (May 19)

• Read: #3 Ensuring readers Know What Actions Are Happening in Any Sentence https://www.georgegopen.com/uploads/1/0/9/0/109073507/litigation3actionsandverbs.pdf
• Assignment: Question, Problem Statement, Purpose Assignment

Use this prompt to evaluate your reference list in that assignment.

Do these references follow proper APA 7 formatting guidelines? Please suggest specific improvements where needed. Here are the references: "[paste references here in quotes]"

Week 3 (May 26)

• Read: #4 Whose Story Is This Sentence? Directing Readers' Perception of Narrative https://www.georgegopen.com/uploads/1/0/9/0/109073507/litigation4whose_story.pdf
• Using Zotero for References & Using AI Prompts to Rate Articles on JHEBP Strength and Quality (18 min) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYcs1bPoDR8
• Assignment: Question, Problem Statement, Purpose Assignment

Use this prompt to evaluate your reference list in that assignment.

Do these references follow proper APA 7 formatting guidelines? Please suggest specific improvements where needed. Here are the references: "[paste references here in quotes]"

• Assignment: Evidence Summary Table Assignment

These prompts may help you double-check how you rate the level of evidence for your articles.

Rate a study on the Johns Hopkins Level of Evidence.

What is the level of evidence for this study based on the Johns Hopkins level of evidence ranking system (Level I: Experimental study, randomized controlled trial (RCT), or meta-analysis of RCTs. Level II: Quasi-experimental study. Level III: Non-experimental study, qualitative study, or meta-synthesis. Level IV: Opinion of nationally recognized experts based on research evidence or expert consensus. Level V: Opinion of individual expert based on non-research evidence.)?

(obsolete as of 2025) Rate a study on the Johns Hopkins quality rating using letters.

What is the quality rating for this study based on the Johns Hopkins quality rating system (A High quality: Consistent, generalizable results; sufficient sample size for the study design; adequate control; definitive conclusions; consistent recommendations based on comprehensive literature review that includes thorough reference to scientific evidence. B Good quality: Reasonably consistent results; sufficient sample size for the study design; some control, fairly definitive conclusions; reasonably consistent recommendations based on fairly comprehensive literature review that includes some reference to scientific evidence. C Low quality or major flaws: Little evidence with inconsistent results; insufficient sample size for the study design; conclusions cannot be drawn.)?

Rate a study on the Johns Hopkins level of support rating system.

What is the level of support for decision-making rating for this study based on the Johns Hopkins level of support rating system used in the 5th edition of the Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice for Nurses and Healthcare Professionals: Model & Guidelines (Strong: Single studies with a formal study design that is controlled trials with or without randomization; Moderate: Interventional studies without control or randomization and observational designs; Limited: Anecdotal evidence that doesn't fall into one of the previous categories.)?

Week 4 (June 2)

• Read: #7 Who Done It? Controlling Agency in Legal Writing, Part II https://www.georgegopen.com/uploads/1/0/9/0/109073507/litigation7controllingagencypt2.pdf
• Assignment: Project Objectives Assignment

Use this prompt to evaluate your text in the Updated Purpose and Refined Objectives sections.

How well does the following text discuss each of these elements? What is the problem that needs to be solved? What is the purpose of the project? What are the objectives of the project? Do the objectives address the problem described? Do the objectives support the overall purpose? Are the objectives stated in a logical order? Are the project's purpose and objectives clearly stated? Are the objectives specific, measurable, relevant, and attainable? "<Paste the problem statement here.> <Paste the purpose statement here.> <Paste the objectives here.>"

Week 5 (June 9)

• Read: #8 How to Overburden Your Reader; Separate Your Subject from Your Verb https://www.georgegopen.com/uploads/1/0/9/0/109073507/litigation8svc_separation.pdf
• Assignment: Apply JHEBP Model Assignment

Use this prompt to evaluate your text.

How well does the following text discuss each of these elements? What is the framework, model, or theory used to guide the activities of your project? Is the framework, model, or theory summarized for the reader? How does the framework, model, or theory align with and guide the work on the project? Is any relevant literature cited? Is there any evidence this type of intervention may work? "[Paste the text you want evaluated here.]"

Week 6 (June 16)

• Read: #10 Why the Passive Voice Should Be Used and Appreciated - Not Avoided https://www.georgegopen.com/uploads/1/0/9/0/109073507/litigation10whythepassiveshouldbe_used.pdf
• Assignment: Project Objectives Assignment

Use this prompt to evaluate your text in the Updated Purpose and Refined Objectives sections.

How well does the following text discuss each of these elements? What is the problem that needs to be solved? What is the purpose of the project? What are the objectives of the project? Do the objectives address the problem described? Do the objectives support the overall purpose? Are the objectives stated in a logical order? Are the project's purpose and objectives clearly stated? Are the objectives specific, measurable, relevant, and attainable? "<Paste the problem statement here.> <Paste the purpose statement here.> <Paste the objectives here.>

Week 7 (June 23)

• Read: #12 The #2 Problem in Legal Writing: Solved https://www.georgegopen.com/uploads/1/0/9/0/109073507/litigation12the2probleminlegalwritingsolved.pdf
• Assignment: Objective Methods Outcomes Table Assignment

Use this prompt to evaluate your Objectives-Methods-Products table. (You can copy and paste your entire table into ChatGPT.)

Please evaluate this table that describes the objectives, methods, and desired products or outcomes. Are the objectives clearly and succinctly stated? Are the objectives listed in a logical order? Are the methods described using verbs? Are the products or outcomes described using nouns? Is there good alignment between each objective and its associated method and product or outcome? Are the methods listed for each objective likely to result in the desired product or outcome? Please suggest any improvements to the table where appropriate. Here is the table: [paste table here]

• Assignment: Evidence Summary Table Assignment

Use this prompt to evaluate your References list.

Do these references follow proper APA 7 formatting guidelines? Please suggest specific improvements where needed. Here are the references: "[paste references here in quotes]"

Week 8 (June 30)

• Read: #18 The Progress of Thought: To Move Forward, Link Backward https://www.georgegopen.com/uploads/1/0/9/0/109073507/litigation18theprogressof_thought.pdf
• Assignment: https://utah.instructure.com/courses/1157957/assignments/16026638

Use this prompt to evaluate your References list.

Do these references follow proper APA 7 formatting guidelines? Please suggest specific improvements where needed. Here are the references: "[paste references here in quotes]"

• Assignment: https://utah.instructure.com/courses/1157957/assignments/16026645
  • Note: Before creating a Gantt chart, please watch the following video and create a deliverables diagram and submit it to me first. I'd like to make sure the deliverables look good before you spend time creating a Gantt chart. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wngwm4L8CLI

Week 9 (July 7)

• Read: #19 What's at Issue? The Construction of the English Paragraph, Part I https://www.georgegopen.com/uploads/1/0/9/0/109073507/litigation19construction-english-paragraph.pdf
• Read: #20 What's at Issue? The Construction of the English Paragraph, Part II https://www.georgegopen.com/uploads/1/0/9/0/109073507/litigation20whatsatissuepart2.pdf
• Read: #21 Connectivity: The Construction of the English Paragraph, Part III https://www.georgegopen.com/uploads/1/0/9/0/109073507/litigation21connectivity.pdf
• Assignment: Objectives Methods Products Outcomes Table Assignment

Use this prompt to evaluate your Objectives-Methods-Products table. (You can copy and paste your entire table into ChatGPT.)

Please evaluate this table that describes the objectives, methods, and desired products or outcomes. Are the objectives clearly and succinctly stated? Are the objectives listed in a logical order? Are the methods described using verbs? Are the products or outcomes described using nouns? Is there good alignment between each objective and its associated method and product or outcome? Are the methods listed for each objective likely to result in the desired product or outcome? Please suggest any improvements to the table where appropriate. Here is the table: [paste table here]

Week 10 (July 14)

• Read: #22 The Point of a Paragraph and Where to Find It: The Construction of the English Paragraph, Part IV https://www.georgegopen.com/uploads/1/0/9/0/109073507/litigation22point-of-paragraph.pdf
• Read: #23 Five Varieties of Point Placement: The Construction of the English Paragraph, Part V https://www.georgegopen.com/uploads/1/0/9/0/109073507/litigation23five-varieties-point-placement.pdf
• Assignment: Evidence Synthesis Assignment

Use this prompt to evaluate your text. (Include the text from the synthesized findings boxes, evidence consistency cell, evidence inconsistency cell, and best evidence recommendation cell.)

What evidence is cited in the following text to answer each of these questions? What is currently known about the problem in general, including relevant previous studies? Who is affected by the problem? What are the impacts of the problem? How does the problem affect those individuals? When is it a problem? Why is it a problem or why does the problem matter? What are the costs or the other negative impacts of the problem? How prevalent is the problem or how many people are affected? Are there any existing trends that contribute to the problem? Are probable causes of the problem identified? Are there any formal standards related to this problem? How are the main concepts relevant to the problem defined? Is any supporting literature or evidence cited? "[Paste the text you want evaluated here.]"

Week 11 (July 21)

• Read: #24 How Paragraphs Speak to Each Other https://www.georgegopen.com/uploads/1/0/9/0/109073507/litigation24--howparagraphsspeaktoeachother.pdf

Week 12 (July 28)

• Read: #25 A Quiver of Punctuation: How to Handle Two Clauses in One Sentence https://www.georgegopen.com/uploads/1/0/9/0/109073507/litigation25punctuationquiver_handling2clausesin1sentence.pdf
• Read: #29 A Once Rogue Punctuation Mark Gains Respectability: What You Can Now Accomplish with an M-Dash https://www.georgegopen.com/uploads/1/0/9/0/109073507/litigation29_aonceroguepunctuationmarkgains_respectability.pdf
• (Optional) A summary of Gopen's review of the use of different punctuation marks he wrote in one of his books is available at https://github.com/cmcntsh/ReaderExpectationApproachWriting#use-of-punctuation

Get ready for writing next semester

• Skim through my writing page: https://github.com/cmcntsh/PoWeRWritingGradStudents
• You don't need to go to all of the links. You can go to the links in any areas of writing you personally find problematic.
• Pay particular attention to how I highlight papers when I'm evaluating the writing. I'll be doing that type of highlighting on your papers next semester. https://github.com/cmcntsh/PoWeRWritingGradStudents#here-are-the-things-im-looking-for