CAES9722 Academic English for Biomedical Sciences Assessment Guide 2026 | HKU

Overview of Assessments

Assignment Description and Instructions

1. Popular Science Article Instructions (Individual assessment 500-600 words)

Communicating scientific ideas to a non-science audience is an essential skill for scientists. In this assignment, you will write a popular science article (PSA) on a topic of your choice within the field of Biomedical Science. This will be an individual assignment.

1. Key requirements:

Choose a topic related to the field of biomedicine, based on a new and
interesting research article published within the last 3 years from the current month.

Write 500-600 words

Target your writing for an educated non-specialist reader using features learnt on this course

•  Outline the science involved (E.g. explaining the mechanism of action or a scientific process, rather than simply announcing a new technology).
• Include at least one visual, such as a photo, diagram, or infographic.
  Follow the guidelines outlined in Appendix 4 in this document when selecting and incorporating visuals.
• Use a minimum of 5 quality sources, one of which should be the main primary research article that your PSA centres on (published within the last 3 years from the current month). Refer to Appendix 2 in this guide for more information on the type of sources.
• Refer to the marking criteria provided on the next pages to understand expectations and how you will be assessed on this assignment.

2. Referencing Style:

Use the CSE 8th edition for all citations and references (See Appendix 1). Cite your images following guidelines provided in this assessment guide (See Appendix 4).

3. Peer Review:

• In session 4, you will present your PSA to your classmates and receive peer feedback (not assessed) on your work prior to submission.

Popular Science Article Assessment Criteria (25%)

2. Wikipedia Article Instructions (1500-2000 words per pair)

Writing a Wikipedia Article will give you practice in a style of writing needed for a global audience. It will also enhance your research skills for the type of sources required by Wikipedia. You will work with a partner and write 1500 to 2000 words. Your Wikipedia article will be ideally on a chosen area of Biomedical Science from Wikipedia's list of requested articles. You will be expected to write clearly, follow the conventions and expectations for Wikipedia medical articles, and use citation and referencing. You will give and receive feedback from other students, and the quality of the feedback itself will be assessed (reviewer's score 10%). The goal of this assignment is to create an article that meets the high standards required for publication in Wikipedia's main space by the end of the assessment period. As contributors to the information ecosystem, you are expected to invest the time and effort necessary to provide accurate, well-researched, and reliable information. Your work will not only be evaluated for academic purposes but will also serve as a valuable resource for readers worldwide who rely on Wikipedia for knowledge. This assignment is an opportunity to develop your skills as a researcher, writer, and collaborator while making a meaningful contribution to the global community.

Instructions

There is a lot involved in creating content for a medical Wikipedia article. Please make sure you follow the stages involved and all the instructions provided below.

Stage 1: Create Wikipedia Accounts

The activities in the course booklet in the 1" input lesson on Wikipedia provide the steps and links amongst other requirements for account setup. Please follow these closely. For this assignment, you will be working with the English version of Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org), as the medical wiki article you are writing is intended for the English Wikipedia. Please ensure the following steps when you set up your account.

• Each member of a pair/group must open their own Wikipedia account in the English version of Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org) using their HKU email credentials. Avoid using personal email accounts.
• Choose an English username that does not identify you personally.
  Add the requested details to the shared doc provided on the master Moodle. This helps us keep track of articles and users. It also ensures we are not duplicating topic choices across groups.
• Make sure that each time you log in after creating your accounts that you are logged into English Wikipedia.

The answer to this is no. With each member having a user name and account, this allows us to track and verify contributions in the edit histories. Wikipedia can also better track and manage the content, as well as maintain accountability and transparency. Edits made without user accounts are often viewed with more scrutiny and may be subject to stricter moderation. Each member should ensure they each have an account and are logged in every time they edit the article for this assignment in the Sandbox. If we can't verify and identify you were the main contributors to your drafts, then this may lead to penalties.

Stage 2: Outline Your Article

• Choose a topic from the requested article list. Try to find topics related to biomedical science. Do not draft your article in the requested article link. Your final drafts must be in a chosen personal account Sandbox.
• Start outlining your Wikipedia article in a cloud-based document (e.g. Google Docs or OneDrive). This provides a space where you can gather sources and generate ideas together. This also provides a backup copy if need be with a digital history of contributions.
• Once you have the content ready, log into Wikipedia and copy and paste the content to the chosen account Sandbox. Since you are working in a pair/group, decide which personal account to use to house the article. Make sure you are logged in if you are editing the content to your peer's sandbox. Do not duplicate the article content across 2 or 3 wiki accounts. Wikipedia will consider this sock puppetry and shut down your
  accounts.

Stage 3: Submit 1st Draft

• Ensure your content is in your chosen Wikipedia sandbox by the 1st draft submission deadline.
• Add wiki conventions for formatting and images in your article to enhance
• readership. See the Week 8 resources on Moodle for information on how to insert citations, a reference list, images and links to guidelines for adding content. These resources also outline how to locate your account sandbox so you can double check that you are drafting in the right space.

It is common to have a few images throughout a medical article to enhance readership. It is also generally expected that an image is provided alongside the lead paragraph and is a requirement in this assignment. The lead paragraph is the first section of the article and serves as an introduction to the topic. Statistically, it is the most read part of a Wikipedia article, as many readers may not venture beyond this section. Given the high visibility of the lead paragraph, ensure that the image you choose for the lead paragraph is relevant to the topic. All visuals in your article should be properly sourced and attributed according to Wikipedia's guidelines. Generate a PDF copy of your sandbox draft to submit to Turnitin for plagiarism checking.

*Important: After making edits to your sandbox, wait at least 30 minutes before generating the PDF copy to allow Wikipedia to fully transfer the updated content to the PDF. This will ensure the PDF matches your latest sandbox version.

• Note that some formatting from your sandbox may not transfer perfectly to the PDF. This is okay - we will refer to your sandbox to assess layout, images, captions and formatting. The submission to Turnitin is solely for plagiarism checking of the content. Make sure the correct sandbox link is provided for us on the shared doc on Moodle so we can do this.

Stage 4: Peer Review and Tutorial

• Receive feedback from peers (which will be assessed).
  Attend a tutorial with your teacher to discuss your 1st draft.

This is an opportunity to check that your article is in the right drafting space and that you are following expectations and Wikipedia guidelines.

Stage 5: Submit Final Version

• Finalize your sandbox article based on the feedback received.
• Generate a PDF copy of the final version to submit to the Turnitin link on Moodle by the final deadline. Again, allow at least 30 minutes between finalizing your sandbox content and generating the PDF to ensure they match.

*Important*:

• Once you have submitted your final PDF, do not make any further edits to your sandbox until the assessment marking is completed. Any changes made after submitting will be visible in the edit history with timestamps and usernames and may result in grade deductions.
• Do not click "submit your draft for review" in your article or move your article to the live space at any stage. All student articles must go through the 9722 course assessment process before being moved to the main Wikipedia space. This typically happens after teachers have marked the final submissions at the end of the semester. Premature submissions complicate the assessment process and may lead to grade deductions.

Additional Notes:

• Only one person per pair/group needs to submit the assignment drafts on Turnitin. To avoid plagiarism flags, the same person should submit both drafts.
• All students must individually fill out and submit the academic integrity declaration form.

3. Presentation Instructions (4-5 minutes per individual)

In your pairs/groups, you will present your Wikipedia topic to an audience consisting of your classmates and a visiting faculty tutor. Even though you will be working in pairs, you will be individually assessed according to the assessment criteria. When preparing for this, simply summarizing your entire Wikipedia article is not the goal. Instead, select a specific context from the list provided below and repackage the information from your article to suit that particular setting. This may involve simplifying complex concepts and/or selecting specific aspects of your topic that are most relevant to the chosen context. Your goal is to convey the key points in a clear, engaging, and accessible manner, tailored to the needs and interests of your target audience. Following your presentation, there will be a Q&A session where you will engage with your audience, address their queries, and provide further insights into your topic.

Step 1: Pick Your Context

As a pair, choose one of these settings to target your presentation:

• Academic Conference Presentation.
• Sales Representative Pitch.
• Outreach Talk to a Community. E.g., at an elderly centre.
• Public Talk by an Organization. E.g. TED@HKU.
• Talk to Students (Primary, secondary, higher education).

Step 2: Define Your Purpose & Sections

• Decide on an overarching goal for your context (Educating? Inspiring? Sharing a research update? Persuading? Selling?).
• Break it into sections where each presenter's part has a specific purpose contributing to that goal.
• First Speaker's Role: The first speaker must clearly introduce the chosen context at the start of the presentation, in order to set audience expectations. This can be woven into your opening as part of a fictional role you're playing or it can be stated briefly before the formal presentation begins. You can keep making references to the context throughout the presentation.
• Ensure your individual section has a start, a clear end, and a logical flow. There should be a clear handover between speakers.
• Design a slide deck between you and implement the Assertion-Evidence Approach. There is a PPT template on the master Moodle with the AE approach built in. You can use this as your foundation. You can also use Canva but will need to incorporate the AE approach design yourself.

Step 3: Adhere to Your Time Limit

• Each presenter is allocated 4-5 minutes each. Focus on delivering a concise and impactful message within the allotted time. Stick to this time range.

Rehearsal:

Your teacher will arrange a rehearsal session. During this rehearsal, you will present the first 2 minutes or 2 to 3 slides of your section. This will provide you with an opportunity to practise your delivery, receive feedback, and make any necessary adjustments before the final presentation. Do not treat the rehearsal as your first attempt or a chance to develop your content from scratch. Your content should already be developed and ready to present. Use this time to experiment with your tone, pace, body language, and eye contact. Feedback will focus on clarity, delivery, quality and relevance, not on line-by-line editing or proofreading.

FAQS:

• Can we use notes? Yes, but don't rely on them too much. Practise to stay confident and engaging. This assignment is not just about content, it's about honing your presentation skills. Use cue cards if needed. Avoid reading from phones or devices (it looks unprofessional). Avoid delivering from behind the lectern. Work on engaging your audience with vocal variety and body language. Check the marking criteria for "Delivery & Visual Aids."
• Can we roleplay or interact? You can take on a role (e.g., a doctor or researcher) tied to your context, but present independently. This means no interaction with partners during your 4-5 minutes.
• Can we add new info (like stats)? Yes. If it helps you repackage the info better and provide purpose for the context but avoid going off topic.

Content & Citations

To keep your presentation professional and ethical, properly cite all sources for ideas. Here's an easy system to follow:

Citing Ideas: Follow the same guidelines and rules for APA 7th edition.

• On the Slide: Add an in-text citation at the bottom of a slide. Format: (Author, Year). Example: (Smith, 2021). If you are discussing ideas from several authors, place the authors in alphabetical order. Example: (Anderson, 2019; Lee, 2021; Smith, 2021).
• In the Reference List: Include a full reference on a final slide titled "References." Format: Author, A. A. (Year). Title of work. Source. Example: Smith, J. (2021). Climate trends. Journal of Science, 12(3), 45-50.
  Images: Simple Steps: Use Copyright-Free Images. These are often already built into the slide software (Canva & PowerPoint) but can be found in several sites.

Guidelines for Using Images in Canva:

Always use images labelled as "Free" in Canva's photo library (found under the "Photos" tab). These images are typically sourced from copyright-free platforms like Unsplash, Pixabay, or Pexels through Canva's partnerships and are safe for educational use without additional cost. If you cannot find suitable images via this route, go directly to these sites to download images as they may have more options:

• Unsplash
• Pixabay
• Pexels
• Flickr

Create your own with Biorender (Format: © Angela Chan created with Biorender) Avoid Watermarked Images: If an image in your final design appears with a watermark (e.g., a "Canva Pro" or other overlay), it means the image is not free to use under your current account. Do not use watermarked images in your final product, as they indicate premium content that requires payment or a Canva Pro subscription. We do not expect students to pay for images. Again, try and find copyright-free images outside of Canva using the sites above.

Unless stated otherwise, all photos used from Canva's free library do not require individual attribution for classroom projects, as they are covered under licenses like Creative Commons Zero (CCO). However, for ethical practice and on this course, please include a general note in your presentation, such as:

"Unless stated otherwise, all/these images are sourced from Canva's/PowerPoint's Free Photo Library."
Add this note in a small text box on relevant slides or on a final "Image Credits" slide.

4. Peer Review Overview and Assessment Criteria (10%)

As a cognitively engaging activity, peer reviewing contributes to the process and product of writing and benefits both the reviewers and the receivers. The peer review of the PSA articles is not assessed but will serve as a practice round for peer review of the Wiki articles which is assessed. It is particularly helpful for wiki writing given the peer review nature of wiki articles. Procedure for the review is as follows:

1. Refer to the assignment instructions and familiarize yourself with the 4 assessment criteria for this assignment. Understanding these criteria will help you provide focused and relevant feedback.

2. Give feedback on a peer's draft using the question prompts provided on the Moodle. Please respond with information from the text and in complete sentences. Please aim for around 30 words for each response. In some cases you may simply need to explain what is needed if items are missing. Links are provided to guidelines in the question prompts for the Wiki peer review to help you provide accurate advice.
3. Review the feedback you receive and use it to refine your final draft. For the Wiki peer review, you should discuss the feedback received with your partner(s) before a meeting with your teacher. In this meeting, you will provide an overview of what you have learnt from the feedback you have received and what you intend to change/improve.