CHARLOTTE LEBOEUF-YDE, DC, MPH, PHDPROFESSOR IN CLINICAL BIOMECHANICS

SDU

An appetizer for the article writing course

Why write an article?

Because you mustTo make your findings known to othersTo look good and become famousThe Nobel Prize

What is a good article?

Nice to readEasy to understandInterestingUsefulCorrect

What is a bad article?

Difficult to readDifficult to understandUninterestingUselessIncorrect

How to write a bad article

Write it for yourself:Write, re-write, re-write, re-write and re-writeCut and paste yourself into total confusionLearn the text by heartOmit relevant explanatory stepsLots of detailsStir, boil and give to your (busy) supervisorBecome annoyed when criticism is given

How to write a good article

Write it for the reader:Determine the objective(s)Keep it simpleBrainstorm firstStructure the contents (the ”filling” is not yet

important)

Lots of sub-headings, while you structure the MSOne section at a timeSeek assistance in the early stagesWrite text at the end

Recipe course on how to write an article will help you to…

… write for the reader… produce a good article… do it rather quickly

Workshop for five whole days without interruptions (no SMS-s, mobile phones, patients, or other jobs at the same time!)

(brief) Course outline

Day 1: Defining the objectives preciselyIntroduction/background

Day 2: MethodDay 3: ResultDay 4: DiscussionDay 5: Lay-out, ref.list,

acknowledgements, Abstract

Where and how

Sleep-over at Park Hotel, Middelfart 5th-7th of March

(Good food, pleasant surroundings, bring jogging gear if you want, no kids, no cooking, no vacuum-cleaning)

Middelfart hospital, Penthouse 15th and 16th of March OR at SDU/WP – venue to be determined

Bring an idea of the manuscript you want to work on

What’s the big deal?

Each session: Introduction/explanation followed by workshop in which the whole group gets an insight into each others’ projects, help each other and each person structures his/her own work.

Homework: In the evening, own work to be done.Next day: Presentation of own work, feed-back from course

leader and discussion with and assistance from group.Caution: Nobody will be good at this from the beginning,

everybody must be able to adapt to comments and critique, and we shall work together.

Outcome: Everybody will have a well-structured article when the course is over.

Continued assistance: If you wish, and your supervisor allows it, you can come back for further assistance afterwards.

This is difficult so…

You must be able to put up with the workshop format.

You must develop the ability to look at your own work at a distance and accept the help of others.

You need to keep your head clear.You must be willing to adapt this systematic

approach.

The details will probably be no problem, as most of you probably are nerds, anyway

Writing an article can be great fun provided that

You ”know” how to do itYou can work with others in a smart way

WELCOME TO THIS COURSE!