Writing Professional Papers Worksheet with Scavenger Hunt: A Simple Strategy to Strengthen Dietetic Writing

Abstract

Time between learning scientific writing skills and when dietetic students need to transfer that knowledge to discipline-specific research papers in upper division courses may result in a lack of writing skills. Dietetic educators be unfamiliar with writing strategies to improve student writing. A Writing Professional Papers worksheet was developed to help students define components of professional papers, draft a thesis, and then participate in a scavenger hunt using examples of two types of professional papers to identify target issues and avoid common issues seen in student papers. Students in an upper division Maternal and Child Nutrition course responded to an anonymous survey indicating self-perceived impacts of a mini lecture utilizing the Writing Professional Papers worksheet. Eighty-seven percent made changes to their writing methods as a result of what they learned in the mini lecture, and free response comments highlighted students felt better prepared to succeed on their writing assignment. A mini lecture utilizing the Writing Professional Papers worksheet may be an effective strategy to help students reflect on and improve their writing methods