Topic: Periodontal Health

The general subject area for your essay is outlined below:
On the bases of contemporary cutting-edge research, “critically review recent advances in the understanding of the role of immunonutrition in the protection against and treatment of one or more human disease(s). Where appropriate, comment on, or speculate on the role(s) of recently recognised risk genes involved in these processes. Your essay may wish to consider, or indeed focus on macronutrients, such as fats and carbohydrates. Alternatively, you may prefer to focus on micronutrients such as specific vitamins or other less established phytochemicals, or indeed to consider a broader spectrum covering dietary therapy in general”.

Marking scheme
Introduction: Your chosen research topic should include an overview of nutritional approaches appropriate to the therapy of your disease(s) of choice; the aetiology, pathogenesis and possibly sequelae of these disease(s) if known should be clearly introduced and defined; a brief overview of the diagnoses and treatments discussed in the body of the essay should be initially outlined. The introduction should set the agenda for the rest of the essay and identify clear research questions that relate to the role of nutritional therapy in treatment of disease.

Body of essay: A detailed analyses of the mechanism(s) of the disease(s) and potential advances in diagnoses and/or treatments should be provided; material should be presented at the appropriate academic level (i.e., level 6 – see appropriate academic indicators if you are unsure what this means); current and accurate; each point should be well-supported with examples and arguments. This section may focus on genetics and or the molecular biology and physiology of named disease states. No diseases are off the agenda and could include nutritional immunomodulatory effects on, for example, cancer, vascular health, and infection. It might equally consider oestrogenic and apopotic effects of both under and over nutrition. Whichever approach you choose to take, there should be clear evidence of originality of thought and critical analysis, as published research into these areas is unlikely to supply a full picture of these novel pathologies. Clinical data including (if appropriate) epidemiological studies, should be used in order to illustrate points wherever appropriate.

Essay structure: The essay should contain complex and high level examples and analyses but should still be easy-to-read. There should be a logical flow of narrative and order, with appropriate headings and/or subheadings as needed; tables and figures should be appropriately numbered and have appropriate legends; graphics should be used appropriately, labelled for clarity and appropriately referenced and/or ideally redrawn if taken from an external source to illustrate originality/critical analysis. Integration of ideas should be evident.

Conclusion: The final conclusion to your essay should link to the question(s) that were initially posed in the introduction - with full credit awarded for conclusions which place the summary information in a thought-provoking and wider context. For example, credit can accrue for appropriate consideration of the possible future developments of this subject.
A self-penned diagram must be included in the conclusion that illustrates a cutting-edge interpretation of the mechanisms and biomarkers involved in current, or indeed, future immunonutritional therapy. The mark for this diagram, should you choose to include it, will constitute a maximum of 10% of the total essay mark, (i.e. half the mark for the conclusion).The text and diagrams should reflect how you have used critical analysis to conceptualise at a molecular level developing approaches to the successful use of nutrient therapy in human disease. Note that the conclusion should not just be a summary or repeat of the preceding text – it should clarify or answer research questions identified in the introduction to the essay and explain any shortfalls in the current research.

Written expression: There should be appropriate paragraph and sentence structure (not run-on or incomplete sentences, or inappropriately long or short paragraphs). Credit will accrue for accurate spelling, grammar and punctuation and for elegance of written expression and thought.

References: There should be multiple, current cutting edge primary research papers used in your research as well as appropriate additional literature sources and not be lifted directly from published reviews. Correct (i.e., Harvard formatted) in-text and summary citations should be utilised. Non-peer reviewed or inappropriate web-based references will lose credit. The references should be of a sufficient academic to act as an excellent guide to a professional reader who is interested in quickly assimilating background literature to an original and otherwise difficult to access subject that you, through your research, have opened up.

Topic: Periodontal Health The general subject area for your essa...