Paper, Order, or Assignment Requirements

The four practical sessions embedded within this module aim to introduce you to some of the diagnostic techniques employed in clinical chemistry, medical microbiology, haematology and cellular pathology laboratories. You will also be assigned a case study, which you will follow through each of these four practical sessions. You will be assessed on your ability to interpret the laboratory data specific to this case study.
For your extended written practical report, you will be required to:
1. Clearly and scientifically record your own observations, using diagrams where appropriate;
2. Interpret your findings, with reference to the case history provided;
3. Arrive at a provisional diagnosis;
4. Relate your findings to the published literature;
5. Write a reflective statement (RS) on what you have learnt during your attendance of module practical sessions and the writing of your extended practical report.

Preparation of your Extended Practical Report
DETAILED INFORMATION RELATED TO THE PREPARATION OF YOUR EXTENDED PRACTICAL REPORT AND REFLECTIVE STATEMENT
The final version of your Extended Practical Report should include all the relevant information pertaining to the case study assigned to you, from all four practical sessions attended plus any relevant information identified in the published literature, in the following seven sections:
1. Introduction:250
This should introduce the case study you have been assigned and include relevant information regarding the case history, clinical features and other ancillary information. Any citations should be referenced appropriately using the Harvard system.
2. Report – Practical 1 (Results and Discussion):total words 500
The results should be derived for the patient in the case study from the first practical session. Be sure to compare your findings to known reference ranges and report both ‘abnormal’ and ‘normal’ results. Reference can be made to the patient samples tested and methods used, but you are not expected to write these up as you would a conventional practical report. The results should also be discussed here and include all the ‘abnormal’ results of the patient in your case study, an acknowledgement of all the other ‘normal’ results reported, an engagement with the relevant published scientific literature, and an evidence-based diagnosis of the likely condition of the patient. Any citations should be referenced appropriately using the Harvard system.
3. Report – Practical 2 (Results and Discussion):total words 500
The same as with 2. above, but for the second practical. Appropriate reference should be made to the results and discussion of Practical 1.
4. Report – Practical 3 (Results and Discussion):total words 500
The same as with 2. above, but for the third practical session. Appropriate reference should be made to the results and discussion of Practical 1 and/or 2.
5. Report – Practical 4 (Results and Discussion):total words 500
The same as with 2. above, but for the fourth practical session. Appropriate reference should be made to the results and discussion of Practical 1, 2 and/or 3.
6. Conclusions: total words 250
This should include a brief round-up of your main findings from this practical report and the likely diagnosis of the patient in your case study.
7. Referencing and reference list:
It is important to use a consistent mode of referring to published material in the text and in listing references in the reference list at the end of the Extended Practical Report. Therefore, please use the Harvard system for

referencing (see Appendix 2). Please note that source material should not be reproduced verbatim or subject to only minor changes.
In total, the Extended Practical Report should not be more than 2500 words in length (excluding citations and the reference list) and should embody all four practical sessions’ findings for the case study you were assigned.
General Guidance
Tables and Figures: these should each have an independent numbering system so they can be referred to easily in the body of text. All tables and figures should be titled and referred to in text. Conventionally, titles appear above the table whilst legends to figures appear under the illustration.
Illustrations: The sources from which diagrams, drawings and graphs are derived should be stated in the legend. Photomicrographs or microscopic drawings should give the magnification or the size of the subject in the legend. Ensure that you properly cite copies of diagrams, tables or other copyright material (this covers most published material); you should obtain permission from the publisher if you are using copyright material and this should be acknowledged in the legend.
Symbols and abbreviations: Where units are cited these should be the recommended SI units. Where abbreviations are used they should first be cited in full, followed in brackets by the abbreviation and thereafter they can be abbreviated. Do not enter full stops after each letter of acronyms nor after abbreviations ending in the normal letter (e.g. Mr and Dr).
Generic and specific names: These names must be underlined or italicised in the text. The full generic name should be given on the first occasion of use (e.g. Escherichia coli). Subsequently, the genus can be abbreviated to a single letter (E. coli) provided no ambiguity is introduced. Remember, terms such as company names Microsoft, ‘et al.’ and ‘in vitro’ should be italicised.
Chemicals and enzymes: standard nomenclature should be employed.
Layout: You must produce your Extended Practical Report using a word processing programme. Microsoft Word is well used nationally and available for use on the computers at the University. The report should be typed out on one side only of A4 paper with 1.5 line spacing and Arial point 12 throughout. Do not indent paragraphs, but leave a one-line space between paragraphs.
When you have finished, read your final draft, preferably a few days before submitting the work. A spell checker only goes so far and a fresh eye is helpful for spotting errors. Marks will be given for presentation. Please note that all Extended Practical Reports will also be checked for plagiarism.
Attendance at practical sessions and tutorials
This is essential as it will enable you to fully engage with your assigned case study as well as review content that may be assessed in the end-of-module exam. Two marks will therefore be given for each practical session attended, and a further mark will be given for each tutorial session
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attended. A register will be taken at each practical/tutorial session; it is your responsibility to make sure you have signed the register(s).
Preparation of your Reflective Statement: total words 500
This should be a self-reflective piece on what you have learnt during your attendance of module practical sessions and the writing of your extended practical report. Try to include both key laboratory skills and transferable skills in your reflective statement. It should be no longer than 500 words in length; this is separate from the word limit assigned to the Extended Practical Report.
The Extended Practical Report and Reflective Statement should be submitted as one document electronically .
Marks will be awarded in the following way:
Extended Practical Report Marks
Introduction
5
Report – Practical 1 (Results and Discussion)
15
Report – Practical 2 (Results and Discussion)
15
Report – Practical 3 (Results and Discussion)
15
Report – Practical 4 (Results and Discussion)
15
Conclusions
5
Referencing
5
Presentation
5
Attendance at practical sessions and tutorials
10 Reflective Statement 10
Total
100
Grading criteria:
1st class: Submitted on time. Well thought out and presented to the recommended format, contains excellent detail and logical development, contains no errors. Excellent coverage and understanding of topic. Overall, exceptional standard.
2.1: Submitted on time. Well thought out and presented to the recommended format. Good integration and logical development, but contains a few errors. Excellent coverage and understanding of topic.
2.2: Submitted on time. Well thought out and presented to the recommended format, but lacks integration, logical development and contains errors. Good understanding and reasonable coverage of topic.
3rd class: Submitted on time. Recommended format, but contains errors. Acceptable logical development and integration of the relevant literature. Incomplete understanding of topic.
Fail: Not submitted on time or poorly thought out and presented.