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TOURO COLLEGE
MASTER’S COURSE ASSIGNMENT
MPAN 653 – Master’s Project 1
INSTRUCTIONS:
The submission of a Master’s Project in the form of a Research Paper is a requirement for obtaining the
Master’s degree through Touro College. The purpose of the paper is to provide the student with a research
and scientific writing experience that demonstrates the student’s ability to search, interpret and evaluate the
medical literature in a defined area of medicine, investigate a clinical problem in that defined area, and
present the results in written form exhibiting organization, logical consistency and depth of knowledge.
SECTION I: FORMAT
A. The Review of the Medical Literature Format
There will be only one acceptable format for the required paper: The Review of Medical Literature
Format. This format consists of a review of the current published literature in a defined area of medicinefor
the purpose of explaining, clarifying, summari zi ng, analyzing or evaluati ng a topic. For example, the purpose
of the paper might be to:
Analyze a trend, process, discovery, method or other activity in medicine.
Evaluate a practice, treatment,discovery,method or otheractivity in medicine.
Clarify the pros and cons of a treatment or practice in medicine.
B Divisions and HeadingsofthePaper
The paper must have four (4) and only four divisions. Each of the four divisions must be identified with the
appropriate heading in the paper. The four divisions are: Introduction, Review of the Literature,
Discussion, and Conclusion. A description of each division you, as the writer, must include in the paper
follows:
1. Introduction: This is a statement of the purpose and scope of the paper. The Introduction sets the
tone and gives direction to the paper. The Introduc tio n should supply any background to allow the reader
to unders tand your intent, rationale, and focus, as well as the usefulnes s of the informatio n to the reader.
2. Review of the Literature: This is a review of pertinent published medical literature that summarizes,
explains and evaluates each article or publication in order to provide evidence and, thus, support for your thesis
or rational e. Comments about the purpose, rational e, methods, results and implications of each article, study
or publication reviewed should be included as appropriate.
3. Discussion: This is a thoughtful synthesis, or integratio n and analysis of the relations hips among the
publications, articles, studies and other literature you have reviewed in order to support and develop your
explanatio n, problem, evaluatio n or position. You should also, at the end of this section, state your
conclusions about your findings as a consequenc e of your review of the literature.
4. Conclusion: This is the last or concluding division of your paper. It should contain: 1) a summary of
your findings, 2) a discussion of the significance of those findings particularly for patient care, and, 3) a
discussion of any theoretical orpractical implications formedicine or patient care your findings may have.
NOTE: Papers not having these four divisions (and only four), with the appropriate
headings, will be considered unacceptable.
C. Formats NotAcceptable
The following formats are not acceptable for the research paper:
and Referenc es. Each of these sections should begin on a separate page. Specifications for each of these 2
1. Case Studies. A case study may not be used as a main focus for the paper. However, descriptions
of cases may be used as examples or illustrations of atopic.
2. “Lists” or “catalo g s” of diseases or disorders and their treatments copied from medical texts or
journals.
3. “How to” papers. For example, papers describing “how to” do a procedure, operation, treatment,
etc.
D. Types of Papers NotAcceptable
The following types of papers are not acceptable for the Master’s Project:
1. A paper written before enrollment in the Distance Learning Program. A paper submitted in
fulfillment of the Distance Learning Program requirement must be written during the time the
student is enrolled in the Distance Learning Program.
2. Group, ghost authored, web purchased or collaborative papers. As a distance learning
student you are required to do your own researc h and your own writing. Any significant work done
on the paper by anyone other than you constitutes academic dishonesty and will result in the
withholding of your degree.
SECTION II: TOPICS
Students may select any topic that is related to clinical medicine. Some examples:
An evaluation of different treatment approaches to a disease or disability. An explanation of a current health
threat to a population and what can be done about it. Advocacy of a particular ap proach to the treatment
of a disease in contrast to other approaches with supporting information.
When selecting a topic, the student should be sure that there are sufficient references in the medical
literature for the topic. A minimum of 12 references are required.
SECTION III: TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
Students must submit one copy of the required paper. Papers may not be faxed, e-mailed or submitted on
disc. The pages of the paper may be stapled, paper clipped or the pages may be loose. DO NOT submit
papers in any type of plastic, cardboard, spiral or ring binders. Students should keep a copy of the paper
in addition to the one being submitted.
The length of the paper must be a minimum of 15 full pages of text without illustrations, diagrams,
graphs or tables. The text must contain these four divisions with appropriate headings: 1 – Introductio n, 2 –
Review of the Literature, 3 – Discussion, and 4 -Conclusion. (The Title Page, Abstract and Reference
pages may not be counted toward the 15 (fifteen) page total. See Item 6 of these Requirem ents below fora
description of these sections.)
The paper must be typed, double spaced, using one side of the paper only, on 8.5″ x 11″ white paper.
Font size must not be greater than 12 points. Use one inch margins on all 4 sides of each page. (Margins
greater than one inch are not acceptable.)
Pages should be numbered consecutively beginning with the title page. Number all pages in Arabic
numerals in the upper right-hand corner. The number should appear at least one (1) inch from the righthand edge of the page, in the space between the top edge of the paper and the first line of text.
The paper must have a minimum of 15 (fifteen) different references from the medical literature cited in
the paper. These referenc es may be from medical journals, medical textbooks, medical monograp hs,
medical supplements or medical bulletins. There is no maximum limit on referenc es. However, all
references appearing in the reference section of the papermust be cited in the text. Conversely, each text
citation must be listed in the referenc e section. Other referenc es that are not from the medical literature may
be used in the paper (e.g. newspapers, magazines), but a minimum of 15 of the references in the paper
must be from the medical literature.
Students are required to have the following sections in the papers they submit: Title Page, Abstract, Text,
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sections follow:
A. Title Page. The title page should be numbered “one” (1) and include the titleof the
article, full name of the author, academic degree(s), title(s), and affiliation(s). The
author’s addressand telephone number should also beincluded.
B. Abstract Page. The abstract must be on a separate single page and should be page
2 of the paper (after the Title Page). Limit the abstract to 150 words or less. Do not
repeat the title at the beginning of the abstract or cite references. Avoid
abbreviatio ns . Include the purpose of the paper, main findings, principle conclusions,
and major terms (if necessary).
C. Text. The text of the paper must have a minimum of fifteen (15) full pages, double
spaced on 8.5” x 11″ white paper with one inch margins numbered consecutiv ely in
the upper right hand corner. The Title Page, Abstract Page, and Reference Pages
may not be counted toward the full 15 pages of required text. Font size must not be
greater than 12 points.
References cited inthe text must appearin the reference list; conversely, each entry in the reference list
must be cited in the text. The student must make certain that each source referenc ed appears in both
places and that the text citation and reference list entry are identical in number or spelling and year
(depending on which reference styleis being used). See next section (d-References)for anexplanation of
acceptable reference styles.
Figures and tables must not be placed in the text. See sections e (Figures ) and f (Tables ) for directions on
placement of Figures and Tables in the paper.
D. References. The reference list at the end of the paper documents the paper and
provides the information necessary to identify and retrieve each source. Students
should carefully choose references that are relevant to, and specifically support the
topic of the paper. The referenc e list must include only the sources that were used in
the research and preparation of the paper. The reference list must be on aseparate
page and titled “References”. All references appearing in the reference section of the
paper must be cited in the text. Conversely, each text citation must be listed in the
reference section.
You may choose any widely accepted and commonly used reference style or system. Three styles are
recommended here:
The CitationOrder System. The citation order system is simply a system of citing the references by
Arabic number in the order they appear in the paper. A complete description of this style may be
found in the American Medical Association Manual of Style (9th Ed ). Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore,
MD, ISBN# 0683402064.
Author – Date (or Name and Year) System. In this system the name of the author together with the
date of the publication is cited in the text. Authors are listed alphabetically in the References
section. The recommend ed referenc e for this style is the Publication Manual of the Americ an
Psychological Association (5th Ed). Americ an Psychological Association, Washing to n, DC, ISBN#
1557987912.
Author – Page System. In this system the name of the author together with the page number in the
publication from which the information was derived is cited in the text. Authors are listed
alphabetically in the References section. A complete description of this style may be found in the
following manual: Gibaldi, Joseph. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (6th Ed). New
York: The Modern Language Association of America, 2003.
Manuscripts in preparation, personal communications, and other unpublished information should not be
cited in the reference list but may be mentioned in the text in parentheses, with a note of approval (if
necessary) from the source of the statement appended to the paper (under Permissions).
E. Figures. All figures (e.g., illustrations, graphs, charts, photographs ) must be placed
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on a separate sheet of paper and numbered consecutively in Arabic numerals to
correspond with theirplacement in the text. All figures must include short descriptive
legends or captions. DO NOT place figures in the text. In the text, refer to figures by
their numbers with a notation in parenthesis (e.g., Insert Figure 2 here). Figures are
placed behind the References page in the orderreferenced in the text.
F. Tables. Tables should be typed and double spaced throughout, including column
heads, footnotes and data. Each table must be submitted on a separate piece of
paper. A concise heading describing the table’s content should be supplied as the
title. Number tables consecutively in Arabic numerals in the order of their
appearance in the text. DO NOT place tables in the text. The location of each
table in the text should be indicated by a notation in parenthesis (e.g., Insert Table 3
here). Tables are placed behind the Figures section of the paper (or behind the
References page where Figures are not used).
G. Permissions. Students who intend to have their paper published must obtain written
permission from the owners or authors of the following types of informatio n to use in their
papers:
Direct quotations of more than 50 words in their entirety.
Tables or illustrations that have appeared in copyrighted material.
Photographs of identifiable persons.
Photographs of children must be accompanied by a parent’s or guardian’s signed
release.
Personal communications.
H. Order of Sections for Submission.
Sections of the paper must be submitted in the following order:
Title Page
Abstract
Text
References
Figures
Tables
Permissions (if necessary)
SECTION IV: Important Notes for the Student
1. You cannot be recommend ed for the degree until the paper has been received, reviewed and
accepted by the faculty with a Pass grade.
2. Papers that do not include all of the required sections of the format or do not meet all of the
technical requirem ents for the paper will be return ed to you for revision or correctio n. To avoid
having a paper returned, you should make certain that you review and understand all of the
requirements (on pages 15 thru 20) before writing the paper.
3. Youwill not receive comments onyourpaper from the faculty,and the paper will not bereturned
unless unaccep tabl e. You are strongly advised to keep a copy of the paper for your own use.
4. Papers will be graded Pass or No Pass. Papers graded No Pass will be returned to you with an
explanation of why the paper has failed to meet the Pass requirements. Additionally, you will be
required to phone the Distance Learning Program Professor who graded the paper in order to discuss
the revisions and corrections that need to be made in order to receive a Pass grade. You must then
resubmit the paper with the necessary revisions and corrections to receive a Pass grade. Youwill
not receive your degree without a Pass grade on the Master’s Project.