SBI241: Case Study Instructions Assessment A clinical case study will be provided to you (related to kidney disease) and a couple of questions will be asked. You will have to do scientific literature search
A clinical case study will be provided to you (related to kidney disease) and a couple of questions will be asked. You will have to do scientific literature search to answer the questions.
Support your answers with appropriate evidence (references). This assignment tests your ability to search scientific literature and present your answer in a scientific language. CDU library has heaps of resources to support you. Please make full use of these helpful resources:
Tips on academic/scientific writing: Avoiding plagiarism: APA referencing guide General Guidelines on how to write your assignment The word range for this assignment is between 800 words, this does not include references. Please stick to word limit, failing to do so will result in losing marks. Do not copy the case study details in your submission, just provide your answers.
Only word and pdf formats are acceptable (formats like “.pages” are NOT acceptable). This assignment must be submitted via Turnitin on Learnline. No COVER PAGE required. Proof reading or feedback of any kind of ASSIGNMENT QUESTIONS will not be provided prior to submission. Please contact the Learnline technical support if you have problems submitting the assignment. Formate: Font size 12; Font type: preferably Calibri or Arial. Line spacing 1.5 to 2.
Extention: You will have to submit an official extension request with supporting documents at least 5 days before the deadline.
Assignment mark: It is expected to take around 2 weeks to get your assignment marks being released after submission deadline.
Assessment Requirements This assessment requires students to respond to questions based on a clinical case study related to kidney disease. Students must conduct a scientific literature search to develop evidence-based answers and present them in clear academic/scientific language.
Key assessment expectations include:
Students must not copy the case study into their submission : only responses to the questions should be included.
Responses must be supported with credible scientific references using APA referencing style.
Word limit: 800 words (excluding references) : marks may be deducted for exceeding the limit.
The assignment must be written in a formal academic tone, avoiding plagiarism and following CDU academic integrity rules.
Submission format:
File type: Word or PDF only
Font size 12
Font style Calibri or Arial
Line spacing 1.5–2
Submission must be uploaded via Turnitin on Learnline.
No cover page is required.
Proofreading or pre-submission feedback on answers will not be provided.
Extension requests must be submitted at least 5 days prior to the deadline with supporting documentation.
Assessment marks are expected within two weeks after submission deadline.
Students are encouraged to use CDU Library resources, writing guides, APA referencing support, and plagiarism-avoidance tools.
How the Academic Mentor Guided the Student The Academic Mentor supported the student through a structured, scaffolded learning and writing process, ensuring alignment with assessment standards and learning objectives.
Step 1 : Understanding the Case Study and Clarifying Task Requirements The mentor first helped the student:
interpret the case study scenario
identify the clinical focus (kidney disease pathology and patient context)
review the assessment rubric and marking criteria
highlight what the questions were asking (content depth, analysis, evidence use)
The student was guided to break down each question into:
key clinical concepts
biomedical processes involved
areas requiring research evidence
This helped the student avoid narrative retelling and instead focus on critical scientific explanation.
Step 2 : Developing a Scientific Literature Search Strategy The mentor demonstrated how to:
search peer-reviewed databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Google Scholar)
use keywords related to:
kidney physiology
renal disease mechanisms
evidence-based interventions
filter results for:
recency (last 5–10 years where applicable)
clinical relevance
systematic reviews and journal articles
The mentor reinforced evaluating sources for credibility, validity, and reliability.
Students were encouraged to prioritise:
clinical research
medical guidelines
academic journals
rather than general websites or non-scholarly sources.
Step 3 : Structuring the Scientific Responses The Academic Mentor guided the student to present responses in a logical, scientific format:
For each question:
Introduce the concept briefly
Explain underlying pathophysiology or clinical mechanism
Link explanation to case study context
Support arguments with literature evidence
Paraphrase appropriately to avoid plagiarism
The mentor emphasised:
concise explanation aligned to the word limit
integrating citations within the discussion
maintaining scientific tone and terminology
Step 4 : Referencing and Academic Integrity The mentor ensured the student understood:
APA in-text citation style
reference list formatting
paraphrasing techniques
avoiding direct copying
The student was guided to:
cross-check references with APA guide
ensure all cited sources appeared in reference list
keep Turnitin similarity within acceptable range
This strengthened understanding of ethical academic practice.
Step 5 : Final Draft Review and Self-Editing Rather than proofreading content, the mentor guided the student through self-review strategies, including:
checking word count compliance
ensuring clarity and coherence
confirming alignment with learning outcomes
verifying formatting standards (font, spacing, file type)
The mentor reinforced the importance of:
scientific clarity
evidence-based justification
structured academic writing style
