Study Skills Report Writing

y Completing y Assignments y Lab Report y Project Report

y Stressful process y It can be made Ea7y! y B7eak it down (small chunks)

Study Skills Report Writing

y Ea7Y Se7en step guide.
y Report Writing

made easy

y Note the Due Date in your diary y Set a Start Date y 3 weeks before the due date y Organise your assignment files

Study Skills Report Writing

y SEVEN EASY JET STEPS

1 Collect task information 2 Analyse the task 3 Collect and organise information 4 Plan the overall report structure 5 Draft effective paragraphs 6 Integrate the evidence 7 Edit and proofread

Study Skills Report Writing

1 Collect Task information
y Collect all the relevant materials
y y y y

Task /assignment / brief / Sheet Assessment Criteria Sheet Lecture handouts Personal lectures notes

y Write a checklist
y

Assignment specified list y What to y Do or Include y (EVERYTHING )

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2 Analyse The Task
y Read the Assignment / brief / Sheet
y
y

Look for Key Words

Topic words the words and concepts to be Researched Task words instruction how to structure information found (e.g. discuss, outline, analyse) Limiting words limit the scope of the subject to be research and addressed

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y Brainstorm what you already know
y Determine what should be read y Consider similar terms for research
y

Thesaurus

y Question the material gathered while researching

y Is this relevant? y Does it help answer questions / complete task? y How does it connect to other evidence? y Can evidence come together to create a single

argument? y What are my main points? How do they fit together?

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3 Collect and Organise Information
y Start with module resources
y

from BlackBoard

y Use DMU Library website

y

For library resources

y Consider a variety of resources y Including books: journals: websites y Sources must be y Current : authoritative: relevant

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y When Making Notes
y Skim read at first
y

Get an idea of the topic and work out a general thesis. on information that is specifically relevant to the task. Encyclopaedias (if necessary), then general books, specialised books, websites , and finally journal articles Note all the bibliographical details of all the resources used

y Then take notes

y

y Start with the more general sources

y y y y y y

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y Look for patterns and themes in notes. y Think about how themes relate to each other.

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4 Plan the overall structure Using your notes: y Each grouping of theme evidence y information in a paragraph / report section. y The theme for a group of evidence y converted to the main point of the paragraph /report section. y The overall summary of the main points y can be made into your thesis.

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y Think about
y How paragraphs can be logically structured y The relationships between the main points
y

(e.g. agree/disagree)

y How transition words / phrases can be used to

signpost this to the reader

y

E.g. Therefore / this shows / in can be inferred / etc.

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y Overall Structure
y Academic writing generally follows a diamond structure:

Study Skills Report Writing

y Body paragraphs
y Ordered to suit the type of task given.

y Plan number of words for each section y Work with the overall word allowance for assignment y E.g. 1500 words y Introduction and conclusion y Each about 10% of the total number. y E.g. 150 words each,
y

1200 words remaining

y Divide remainder equally (~) y among the body paragraphs / sections y E.g. About 400 words each

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5 Draft Effective Paragraphs
y Body Paragraphs
y Like mini-essays: y Topic and Concluding sentences y Introduce and Sum up the point y Supporting and Evidence sentences y back up the point.

y Topic Sentence y This states he main point of the paragraph y And links it with the thesis. y Supporting Sentences y Add information to the main point.
y

For example, define terms or explain concepts

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y Evidence Sentences
y Examples, data, statistics, quotes which back up

the point. These must be cited and referenced.

y Concluding Sentence
y This restates the point. y May provide link to next paragraph.

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y Introductory and Concluding paragraphs /sections
y Slightly different structure to body paragraphs. y Like bookends of academic writing y Tend to mirror each other

y Introductory paragraph/section
y Introduces the topic y States the thesis (main point of the assignment) y Outlines the structure of the assignment y main point of each body paragraph / section y Defines the scope (limits) of the assignment

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y Concluding Paragraph
y Paraphrases the thesis y Sums up main points of body paragraphs /sections y Does not include any new material y Concludes strongly

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6 Integrate the Evidence
y The wording of the evidence
y Needs to be adapted to smoothly fit into the

assignment. y This can be done in three ways

1 QUOTING
Using the authors own words to express their ideas. Use quotation marks

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2 PARAPHRASING Using the authors information using your own words

3 SUMMARISING Briefly mentioning authors ideas No further explanation

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7 Edit and Proofread
y Editing looks at assignment as a whole
y Structure y Source of information y Task /assignment requirements y Style

y Proofreading looks details

y Word choice y Spelling y Punctuation y Grammar

Study Skills Report Writing

SUMMARY

1 Collect task information 2 Analyse the task 3 Collect and organise information 4 Plan the overall report structure 5 Draft effective paragraphs 6 Integrate the evidence 7 Edit and proofread

Study Skills Report Writing

Study Skills Report Writing