Synopsis Writing

Dr J. S. Bhawalkar
Prof. & Head, Dept. of Community Medicine, Padmasri Dr D.Y. Patil Medical College, Pune

Writing a Synopsis

Everything comes to him who hustles while he waits. ~ Henry Ford

Some How-To Hints How

Don't use some fancy font or cute flowery paper. Stick with the same basics you learned for manuscript formatting....an easy to read font like dark courier size 12, good twenty weight white paper. Print on front side only, double spaced unless the guidelines ask for something else. Just make sure it's easy to read.

Some How-To Hints How

 

When it comes to the length of a synopsis, longer isn't better. Of course, depending on the plot, you might find you can get by with less, or you might find you need more. The key word here is "need". If they ask for pink paper with a size ten font, that's what you give them. Their wish is your command. Smile.

Sample Synopses


something new. It kind of takes the fear out of it and just makes it so much easier. That being the case, I asked a number of researchers to please share the synopsis with us that won them their contract or landed them a wellknown researcher. Many of those always willing to help other writers, agreed to share without a second thought.

The Basic Structure of synopsis

TITLE (S)Summary (Structured Abstract) (I)Introduction (What is the Research Question?) (M)Methods (How will it be Studied?) (R)Results (What is expected?) (A)Analysis (How data will be analysed?) Acknowledgements References

Title
   

Should be specific But comprehensive Short But sufficiently descriptive No abbreviations Should be easy To catalogue

Structured abstract
Objective Design Setting Patients and methods Results Conclusions Key words

Introduction
Existing state of knowledge Gaps in knowledge which research will fill. State what you Intend to do Give pertinent references It does not Review the history of the subject Does not identify all the other gaps in knowledge Don not include methods, results and discussion

Reason (s) for Carrying Out Research (The "Why"). Aims & Objectives
Your synopsis should explain why the selected topic is worthy of further exploration.  It should also demonstrate that you appreciate the main areas of debate around the topic and show how your proposed research would contribute to/further that debate.  Numbering of References, if any should start from


MATERIALS & METHODS

     

IEC Approval Type of Consent: informed, routine, and such. Inclusion Criteria Exclusion criteria If a RCT : Method of Randomization Materials Required

MATERIALS & METHODS (contd.)



Method of Randomization: How the groups are going to be formed If any Blinding is involved. What variable is going to be differentiating the groups

  

Methodology (The "How").



State the main "planks" of your thinking or proposed arguments and outline how you intend to put them together. In writing this part of the synopsis, it is helpful to start by setting out their thoughts as an informal point brief However, if you decide to adopt this approach, you should bear in mind that a thesis is not the same as a research paper; i.e. it is seldom possible to reach firm conclusions and you are not required to recommend a course of action.

Methodology (The "How").

 

Actual Procedure of conducting the study In each individual patient, as such &/or In All the proposed number of patients in the study Various modalities, utilised for assessment Specific parameters viz; VAS, VRS, Anxiety Scale Akinesia score, sedation score, APACHE.....

  

Methods


What Subjects/patients/animals/specimens techniques were used? Reason for selecting the experimental design of the study Statistical methods used for analysis The section should be called "Materiel and Methods" only if inanimate specimens have been used.
(continue)

 

Methods
Patient / Animals / Specimens Numbers How are they grouped (cases /controls) Criteria Informed consent obtained

Techniques


Give enough details for readers to assess the validity of the results, and repeat the study If standard techniques is used, give appropriate reference,any modifications should be clearly explained If drug trial- clear description of trial

Statistics
Clearly mention the statistical methods used for appropriate verification of reported results. (consult a statistician before starting the study)

Results


Communication of facts, measurements, and observations gathered by the author Start with the results that are easier to interpret Results should be set out in tables and figures Do not duplicate illustrations

Discussion


What gaps in knowledge remain to be filled? Main results should be summarised at the beginning of discussion Only mention previous results or comments which illuminate or which are illuminated by the present results.
(continue)

Discussion
Final paragraph in which the message of the article is firmly stated. Point out where further gaps in knowledge could usefully be filled instead of "further research is needed". Intention of author to explore the "Gaps" further.

Acknowledgements (Silent partners)

We wish to thank - all those who deserve recognition for their contribution but who have not made a significant intellectual contribution and are therefore not included as authors

(Colleagues,Institutions, Organizations providing financial help, laboratory and secretarial staff)

References
1.Standard journal article
Vega K., Pina I., Krevisky B. Heart transplantation is associated with an increased risk for pancreaticobiliary disease. Ann Intern Med 1996 Jun 1: 124(11): 980-3

2.Books and other monographs

Phillips SJ, Whisnant JP. Hypertension and stroke. In: Laragh JH, Bremier BM, editors. Hypertension: pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management. 2nd ed. New York: Raven Press; 1995. P.465-78.

References
3.Disertation
Kaplan SJ. Post-hospital home health care: the elderly's access and untilizaiion (dissertation]. St. Louis (MO): Washington Univ: 1995.

4. Unpublished material
Leshner AL. Molecular mechanisms of cocaine. N Engl J Med. In press 1996.

5. Electronic material
Morse SS. Factors in the emergence of infectious disease. Emerg Inftect Dis [serial online] 1995 JanMar (cited 1996 Jun 5]; 1(1): [24 screens]. Available from URL: http:/www.cdc.gov/ncdod/EID/eid.htm

Summing Up
In the words of Stephen Lock, A good article has a definite structure. Make its point and then shuts up

Sending Manuscript to the university



Required number of copies in a heavy envelop enclosing figures / photos / photo micrographics in card boards in separate envelop Covering letter signed by the guide/HOD Has not been submitted else where Approved by all authors Authors will bear the cost of colour illustration

   

Requirements for Submission of Manuscript of synopsis

Must Read Instructions from the university authorities (Uniform requirements for manuscripts submitted to biomedical Journals 1997)
Abstract Introduction Review of literature Methods Materials Subjects Patients Plan of analysis Ethical clearance cert. Proforma, definitions, details of procedures as annexure
references

Typing White bond paper (8.1/2 x 11 or A4 with 1 margins Typing - Double space Number pages consecutively beginning with title page (upper or lower right hand corner)

Requirements for Submission of Manuscript

Manuscript on DISC
  

Include a printout version Name the file clearly Label the disc with format of the file and file name

Provide information on hardware and software used.

Title Page (1st Page)

 

Title of the article (concise information) Name of author(s) Highest academic degree(s)  Affiliation  Department

 Institution

 

Disclaimers if any

Name and address of author for correspondence about the manuscript  Source of support in the form of grants, equipment, drugs  Short running head or foot line of no more than 40 characters

Abstract and Key Words (2nd Page)

  

150 words for unstructured abstract 250 words for structured abstract Abstract should be
 

Purpose of the study Basic procedures (selection of subjects, observational and analytical methods) 3-10 Key words Assist indexer and cross indexing Terms from medical subject heading (MeSH) should be used

  

Introduction (3rd Page)



State purpose of the study Summarize the rationale for study or observation Give Strictly pertinent reference Do not include data or conclusion

Method (4th Page)



Describe selection of the observational, Experimental subjects including controls

Experimental method (reference for standard methods)

Statistical methods Ethics

Acknowledgement


Those who do not justify to be Authors should be Acknowledged

Those who have provided technical help Financial and material support

Some Guidelines


Go through the uniform requirements for Biomedical publications Write simple grammatically correct sentences Brevity is the best practice Avoid irrelevant details Show the draft to colleagues Read final draft carefully Typographical and grammatical mistakes give bad impression Check tables and figures (Captions, size, clarity)

     

Authorship


All person designated as authors should qualify for authorship

Author should have participated sufficiently in the work to take public responsibility for the content

Authorship credit should be based on substantial contribution to:

 

Conception

Design  Analysis & interpretation of data

Authorship


Drafting, revising it critically, for important intellectual contents and final approval of the contents

Participating solely in acquisition of funding, collection of data does not justify authorship

General supervision of research group is not sufficient for authorship

Order of the author should be a joint decision of the authors