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College of Business:
Guidelines for referencing and presentation
in written reports and essays

Version: 4
Approved: April 2010
Review date: Not later than December 2011
Contents
HYPERLINK l "_Toc260645597" 1.Introduction 2
HYPERLINK l "_Toc260645598" 2. Referencing 4
HYPERLINK l "_Toc260645599" 2.2.1 Paraphrasing 4
HYPERLINK l "_Toc260645600" 2.2.2 Direct quotes 4
HYPERLINK l "_Toc260645601" 2.3.1 Referencing internet
sources 5
HYPERLINK l "_Toc260645602" 2.4.1 Printed material and
multimedia 10
HYPERLINK l "_Toc260645603" 2.4.2 Electronic journal
articles 20
HYPERLINK l "_Toc260645604" 2.4.5 Order of entries in a
reference list 22
HYPERLINK l "_Toc260645605" 3. Plagiarism 25
HYPERLINK l "_Toc260645606" 3.1.1 What constitutes
plagiarism? 25
HYPERLINK l "_Toc260645607" 3.1.2 What is the penalty
for plagiarism? 25
HYPERLINK l "_Toc260645608" 4.Essay writing 28

HYPERLINK l "_Toc260645609" A Step By Step Guide to
Essay Writing 28
HYPERLINK l "_Toc260645610" Step 1 Choose your topic
28
HYPERLINK l "_Toc260645611" Step 2 Read the
instructions, relating to your assessments as set down in your
Course Guide 28
HYPERLINK l "_Toc260645612" Step 3 Analyse the topic 28
HYPERLINK l "_Toc260645613" Step 5 Starting your
research 30
HYPERLINK l "_Toc260645614" Step 6 Mind mapping 30
HYPERLINK l "_Toc260645615" Step 7 Focus your research
30
HYPERLINK l "_Toc260645616" Step 8 Draw up a detailed
plan 32
HYPERLINK l "_Toc260645617" Step 9 Writing the Essay32
HYPERLINK l "_Toc260645618" Step 10 Writing the first
draft 34
HYPERLINK l "_Toc260645619" Step 11 Editing your final
draft 35
HYPERLINK l "_Toc260645620" 5. Report Writing 36
HYPERLINK l "_Toc260645621" A step by step guide to
report writing 37
HYPERLINK l "_Toc260645622" Step 1 Choose your topic
37
HYPERLINK l "_Toc260645623" Step 2 Read the
instructions relating to your assessments as set down in your
Course Guide 37
HYPERLINK l "_Toc260645624" Step 3 Analyse the topic 37
HYPERLINK l "_Toc260645625" Step 4 Brain storm – what
do you already know about the issue? 37
HYPERLINK l "_Toc260645626" Step 5 Starting your
research 37
HYPERLINK l "_Toc260645627" Step 6 Mind mapping 37
HYPERLINK l "_Toc260645628" Step 7 Focus your research
38

HYPERLINK l "_Toc260645629" Step 8 Draw up a detailed
plan 39
HYPERLINK l "_Toc260645630" Step 9 Writing the report
40
HYPERLINK l "_Toc260645631" Step 10 Using your plan to
start writing 43
HYPERLINK l "_Toc260645632" Step 11 Writing the first
draft 43
HYPERLINK l "_Toc260645633" Step 12 Formatting your
report 44
HYPERLINK l "_Toc260645634" Reference list 48
HYPERLINK l "_Toc260645635" Bibliography 48
HYPERLINK l "_Toc260645636" Glossary 49
HYPERLINK l "_Toc260645637" Acknowledgements 50
Tables
Table Title Page
Table 1 Referencing styles – type of author 6
Table 2 Referencing styles – no author 6
Table 3 Referencing styles – books 7
Tables 4a-d Referencing styles 10
Table 5 Order of entries in a reference list 22
Table 6 Other referencing systems 23
Table 7 Commonly used abbreviations in referencing 24
Table 8 Direct use of another person's work without citation
26
Table 9Paraphrasing without citation 26
Table 10 Piecing together texts and linking them 26
Table 11 Integrating ideas from multiple sources 27
Table 12 How to avoid accusations of plagiarism 27
Table 13 Action/instruction words used in assessment tasks29
Table 14 Mind mapping for essays 30
Table 15 Checklist for essays34

Table 16 Mind mapping for reports38
Table 17 Sections of a report40
Table 18 Examples of the language used in the different
sections of a report45
Table 19 Formal versus informal language45
Table 20 Report writing checklist 47
Table 21 Glossary 49
1. Introduction
The written word is the basis of business communication today,
whether in a formal business report, a letter, informal memo or
email. As a business professional, you will be judged by how
well and how clearly you use words to communicate.
As well as teaching technical business skills in a broad range of
disciplines, RMIT Business is also committed to help you
develop appropriate business writing skills for the University
assessments you will be required to submit.
This document is intended for RMIT Business TAFE and
undergraduate students, although postgraduate students are
encouraged to use it as a starting point. It details how to format
your written work and demonstrates: the differences between
academic essays and business reports;
guidelines for their preparation;
how to ensure you meet the technical requirements;
how to cite references;
how to avoid plagiarism.
You will find a set of broad guidelines to help overcome
common problems with grammar, formatting, and use of
abbreviations. This document is intended as an integral

reference on matters of style and method. It will also help you
further develop your written communication skills.
The RMIT Business Guidelines are based on the Style manual
for authors, editors and printers (2002), referred to here as Style
manual (2002) which is published on behalf of the
Commonwealth of Australia, and is the Commonwealth
Government’s preferred style. The Style manual (2002) can be
used to provide guidance on areas which are not covered in the
RMIT Business document, but if there is any inconsistency you
should follow the RMIT Business document.
There may be certain other style requirements published in a
course guide or indicated by the lecturer in charge.
Examples used in this guide are presented in text boxes to make
them easy to follow.
Example of correct in-text reference using quotes
‘Whilst this work has been developing in the USA it had very
different beginnings in Britain ‘ (Wright 1982, p. 51).
Additional support and assistance with essay writing, writing
style, and referencing can be found by viewing the Learning
Lab <www.dlsweb.rmit.edu.au/lsu>.
1.1 Getting started
Do not leave the task until the last minute. You are urged to
consider the following advice in relation to written
assessments:Start thinking about the topic as soon as it has been
selected and list the questions you believe you should try to
answer. Do background reading, but keep checking the set topic
to ensure that you stay focused.

Place the topic of your answer within the appropriate context.
For example, an essay question on the macroeconomic policies
of a particular country will require you to define
‘macroeconomic’ before you can write about policies in
different countries. So you may need to complete background
reading before commencing the specific reading related to your
written task.
What do you need to fully answer the question? Do you need to
collect data, source more reading materials, analyse new or
existing data? Where will you source this information?Allow
time to secure essential references, remembering most libraries
often do not have sufficient multiple copies of references.
Learn quickly to get the relevant information for your
assignment, using the table of contents, chapter summaries,
indexes and reviews. Always record the details of the
publications in full for inclusion in your notes or plan in case
you decide to refer to a source in your essay.You should use all
available research resources including the Internet and other
electronic sources, to both save time and allow you to conduct
international research and data gathering from home or work.
However, in using these new technologies you must ensure that
database resources, web pages, email, electronic discussion
lists, etc. are properly acknowledged (see chapter 3 for
electronic document referencing).
1.2 Editing
Do not leave editing until the last minute, but leave sufficient
time to rewrite work to improve your expression. Remove
irrelevant or redundant material. Refine arguments to be more
concise and forceful, and to remedy any other deficiencies.
Hint:
Often, the best way to ensure your writing flows systematically
is to read your work aloud. Your natural pauses become your
punctuation and paragraph breaks, and sometimes, while
reading aloud, it becomes obvious what needs to be deleted and

what is missing from your analysis.
1.3 Confidentiality
If you include confidential and/or controversial material and do
not wish your essay or report to be viewed by people other than
RMIT staff, you should discuss this with your lecturer or course
coordinator.
1.4 Referencing
What is referencing?
Referencing means acknowledging someone else’s work or
ideas. It is sometimes called ‘citing’ or ‘documenting’ another
person’s work.
Referencing is a basic University requirement.
As an RMIT Business student, you are required to use the
Harvard referencing system as outlined in the following pages.
This author date system is based on the Australian Government
2000, Style manual for authors, editors and printers, 6th edn,
John Wiley & Sons, Australia.
Note: The Harvard system has many variations. You must use
this version known as the AGPS style.
We have created an interactive website to assist you in the
pursuit of referencing to the required standard. The site contains
examples you can read as well as self help exercise with the
information presented in a just in time format. It would be
beneficial fore you to bookmark the RMIT Business online
referencing resource.
Why reference?
To draw on the ideas, language, data, and/or facts of others.
(You are expected to read and research widely.)
To provide depth and support to academic work through citation
of theories or key writers whose work supports your answer,

argument, or contention.
To demonstrate knowledge of current thinking in the field.
To support academic writing, essays, business reports, and oral
presentations.
To demonstrate your ability to synthesis and analyse ideas
sourced through your research.
To acknowledge work from others that you have quoted,
summarised, paraphrased, synthesised, discussed or mentioned
in your assignments.
To provide a list of the publication details so that your readers
can locate the source if necessary.
To demonstrate the level and breadth of research undertaken by
a student. References used correctly will benefit your work and
may add to your final grade.
Note:Without appropriate referencing students are in effect
“stealing” the work of others- this is tantamount to academic
fraud and is called plagiarism.Failure to reference your work
means that you may be found guilty of plagiarism which incurs
academic penalties. Further information can be found at RMIT
Regulations 6.1.1 – Student Discipline. Failure to use the
correct referencing format may affect the grading of your
academic work.
2. Referencing
2. 1 Introduction
Whenever you rely on someone else’s work you must
acknowledge that by providing details of the source. Harvard
Referencing has been developed to provide standard, compact
ways of conveying this necessary information.
In this system, each reference is indicated in two areas of your
work:in the text (in-text citation) by using the name of the
author(s) and the date of publication of the work.In the
reference list, where the full details of each reference, including
the title and publishing details are given

2.2 In-text citations
There are two ways of referencing in-text:Paraphrasing
Direct quotes
2.2.1 Paraphrasing
When paraphrasing, the ideas of the author(s) are expressed in
your own words.
Paraphrasing is used to indicate to the reader:
· your understanding of the content in the reference you are
using.
· your ability to relevantly and appropriately use ideas and
information to support an argument or an opinion.
2.2.1.1 How to reference in-text
There are two options for in-text referencing
· Adding the citation at the end of the sentence.
· Using the author’s name as part of your sentence.
· When paraphrasing include the author’s name and date of
publication.
e.g.
Lack of variability in a product is an important measure of its
quality (Shannon 2003).
OR
Shannon (2003) describes the role of statistics in minimising
product variability.
2.2.2 Direct quotes
When quoting, the exact words of the author(s) are used. Direct
quotes should be kept to a minimum.
2.2.2.1 How to reference in-text
There are two options for in-text referencing
· Adding the citation at the end of the sentence
· Using the author’s name as part of your sentence
· When using direct quotes include the author’s name, date

of publication and page number
e.g.
Statistical thinking can be defined as a ‘set of thought processes
and value systems that focus on understanding, managing and
reducing variation in the output of the firm’ (Shannon 2003, p.
5).
OR
Shannon defines statistical thinking as a ‘set of thought
processes and value systems that focus on understanding,
managing and reducing variation in the output of the firm’
(2003, p. 5).
2.3 A reference list
The publication details of every item cited / used in your
writing need to be included in the reference list at the end of
your paper. Any websites used must also be documented in full.
This enables the reader to locate the source if they wish.
Each reference list entry requires a specific format depending
on the reference type i.e. whether it is a book, book chapter,
journal article, website, etc. This is indicated in the following
tables (page 6 onwards).You must use a variety of sources in
your written work e.g. books, journals and websites etc. This
indicates that you have researched widely.
What is the difference between a reference list and a
bibliography?
A reference list details in alphabetical order by author family
name, all the works/articles/journals/ monographs/web pages
and data sources you have cited in your written work. A
bibliography lists, in alphabetical order by author family name,
all the works/articles/journals/ monographs/web pages and data
sources you have used or accessed to create your written work.
Note: RMIT Business requires all students to use a reference
list in assessment tasks unless otherwise instructed by your

lecturers.
2.3.1 Referencing internet sources
Referencing of web resources follows the same principles as for
printed material. Often it is difficult to decide how to reference
a web site, especially when it originates from a corporate or
government body.
It may not be clear:who or which part of an organisation is
responsible for the content. (Check the header, footer or
“About” section of the site).when it was created or last updated.
(Many sites are continuously updated – check for clues such as
references to events which happened in a particular year or look
for a copyright date. If it is clear that a site is continuously
updated use the current year.) which part to take as the title.
(Home pages do not always require a title. For subordinate
pages, choose the most obvious heading on the page).who is
responsible for publishing it.
The important thing is to make it clear exactly which part of the
site you are referring to and provide details of the bodies
responsible.
Viewed date
As documents on the web are subject to sudden change, it is
essential to include the date on which you accessed the
document, especially if no date can be found on the document
itself.
Web addresses (URL - Uniform Resource Locator)
Provide the full URL for the site.
If you are accessing information via a Library database, give the
name of the database not the URL.
As URLs often change, e.g. when a site is restructured, you
need to provide sufficient information such as title and author

for the reader to locate the document on the site.
Enclose the URL in angle brackets
e.g. <www.ibisworld.com.au>. followed by a full stop.
It is important to use the URL prefix to identify type of access
involved e.g. http:// ftp:// gopher://
General rules for in-text referencing where the name(s) of the
authors are given
For books, journals, websites, conference papers and
newspapers, the general rule is to use the family name and the
date.
Table 1
Referencing style – types of author
In-text reference
One author
Family name
Year of publication
Kumar (2007) argued that…
...(Kumar 2007).
Two or three authors
Family name
Year of publication
Brown and Lee (2008) offer the opinion that…
....(Brown & Lee 2008).
Four or more authors
The name of the first author followed by ‘et al.’
Year of publication
Note: Family names of all authors, and initials, to be used in
the reference list

Ng et al. (2004) stated that…
…(Ng et al. 2004).
For specific information regarding referencing, refer to pages 8-
22 of this Guide or use the online referencing resource
<www.dlsweb.rmit.edu.au/bus/public/referencing/index.html"
www.dlsweb.rmit.edu.au/bus/public/referencing/index.html>.
General rules for in-text referencing where the name(s) of the
authors are not given
Table 2
Referencing style – no author
In-text reference
Newspapers from a database or hard copy
Name of paper – in italics
Date
Page
Date viewed
Database if applicable
In-Text Reference
As stated in the Financial Review (1 August 2007, p. 62, viewed
27 August 2007, Factiva Database)…..
…. (Financial Review, 1 August 2007, p. 62, viewed 27 August
2007, Factiva Database).
Websites – corporations / institutions
An organisational publication with no individual author e.g. a
corporate website or report, treat the company as the author
Name of authoring body, corporation / institution
Year of publication
Telstra (2007) provided the latest….
...,(Telstra 2007).

For specific information regarding referencing, refer to pages 8-
22 of this Guide or use the online referencing resource
2.4 Books
The following table demonstrates how to correctly reference
your work both in-text and in the reference list using books.
Table 3
Reference type
Reference list
In-text citation
Book – one author
Family name and initial(s)
Year of publication
Title of book- italicised
Publisher
Place of publication
Shannon, J 2003, ‘A companion tobusiness statistics’, Pearson,
Frenchs Forest, NSW.
Note the use of upper and lower case in the titles of all books
… (Shannon 2003).
OR
Shannon (2003) argues

Note:for direct quotes enclose the exact words of the writer in
‘single’ inverted commas Include the page number(s)
Shannon (2003, p. 45) defines…
...(Shannon 2003, p. 45).
Book – four or more authors
The name of the first author followed by ‘et al.’ is used for the
in-text reference.
In the reference list write the names of all the authors.
Kotler, P, Brown, L, Adam, S & Armstrong, G 2004, Marketing,
6th edn, Prentice Hall, Frenchs Forest, NSW.
… (Kotler et al. 2004).
OR
Kotler et al. (2004) state ...
No clear author
Where there is no clear author, enter under the title of the
book.
Style manual for authors, editors and printers 2002, 6th edn,
John Wiley & Sons, Australia.
The Style manual for authors, editors and printers (2002)
describes …
Edited book
Single editor

Multiple editors
Note:
ed. - editor
eds - editors
Cortada, J (ed.) 1998, Rise of the knowledge worker,
Butterworth-Heinemann, Boston.
Cope, B & Mason, D (eds) 2001, C-2-C: creator to consumer in
a digital age, Common Ground Publishing, Altona, Vic.
…(ed. Cortada 1998).
…(eds Cope & Mason 2001).
Book chapter / article
Author(s) of chapter - family name(s) and initial(s)
Year of publication
‘Title’ of chapter - in single
inverted commas
[in] Editor of book (if different)Title of book – italicisedEdition
Publisher
Page number(s)
Ahmadjiian, CL 2006, ‘Japanese business groups: continuity in
the face of change, in S Chang (ed.) Business groups in East
Asia, Oxford university Press, UK, pp.29-52.
Note:

The Initial(s) of editor(s) comes before their family name(s).
Include the page numbers for the whole chapter.
Ahmadjiian (2006) observes that...
...(Ahmadjiian 2006).
E-book
Author(s) family name(s), Initial(s)
Year of publication
Title of book,
Edition
Publisher
viewed day month year
database name
When the e-book is in a library database as a page image (pdf),
cite it as if it were a hard copy book.
To show where the e-book was located online, add the date of
viewing and either database name or URL.
If the book is only available on a Library database as HTML or
plain text, then you must cite the date of viewing and either the
database name or URL.

Zietlow, J, Hankin, JA & Seidner, AG 2007, Financial
management for nonprofit organizations : policies and practices,
John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey.
or
Zietlow, J, Hankin, JA & Seidner, AG 2007, Financial
management for nonprofit organizations : policies and practices,
John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, N.J., viewed 7 November
2007, Ebook Library database.
Liu, C & Albitz, P 2006, DNS and BIND, 5th edn, O’Reilly,
Sebastopol, CA, viewed 7 November 2007,
<http://proquest.safaribooksonline.com/0596100574>.
Zietlow, Hankin and Seidner (2007) state...
….Zietlow, Hankin & Seidner 2007).
Alternatively an anonymous article e.g. from an encyclopedia or

dictionary can be cited in the text with no entry in the reference
list.
No reference needed.
The new Palgrave dictionary of money & finance (1992) defines
hedging as …
Several items with same author and year
If you are referring to more than one work written by the same
author in the same year, the letters a,b,c etc are added to the
date to indicate which one you mean.
In the reference list the works are listed alphabetically
according to the title. If the title starts with ‘A’, ‘An’, or ‘The’,
the alphabetical order is determined by the second word in the
title
Hill, CWL 2004a, Global business today, 3rd edn, McGraw Hill
/ Irwin, Boston.
Hill, CWL 2004b, Strategic management theory: an integrated
approach, 6th edn, Houghton Mifflin, Boston.
Hill (2004a) suggests that...
Hill (2004b) suggests that...
...(Hill 2004b).
...(Hill 2004a).

Several items with same first author and year
When an author publishes more than one work in the same year,
but with different co-authors, the name of the second author
determines the order in which the works appear in the reference
list.
Kotler, P, Brown, L, Adam, S & Armstrong, G 2004, Marketing,
6th edn, Prentice Hall, Frenchs Forest, NSW.
Kotler, P & Lee, N 2004, ‘Best of breed’, Stanford Social
Innovation Review , vol. 1, no. 4, pp. 14-23.
Kotler et al. (2004) suggested that...
Kotler and Lee (2004) offer the opinion that...
… (Kotler et al. 2004).
… (Kotler & Lee 2004).
Secondary citation (citation within a citation)
A secondary citation is when you refer to the work of one
author cited by another author.
Primary sources are preferred.
If the original source is not available you must include the name
of both writers for in-text references.
Only the source you have read appears in the reference list.
Horton, S 2006, Access by design: a guide to universal usability
for web designers, New Riders, Berkeley, California.

‘Form ever follows function’ (Sullivan, cited in Horton 2006, p.
1).
In 1896 Louis H. Sullivan observed that ‘form ever follows
function’ (cited in Horton 2006, p. 1).
2.4.1 Printed material and multimedia
Table 4a
Reference type
Reference list
In-text citation
Journal articles
Author(s) family name(s), initial(s)
Year of publication,
‘Title of article’, in single inverted commas
Journal name –in italics,
month
volume: vol.
number: no.
issue,
page number(s): p. or pp. – for the whole article
Note:
Some journals or magazines are designated by month and year,
rather than by volume and issue.
Note:
For journal and newspaper names only, all major words are in
upper case

Lencioni, PM 2002, ‘Make your values mean something’,
Harvard Business Review, July, p. 113.
Sloman, SA, Over, D, Slovak, L & Stibel, JM 2003, ‘Frequency
illusions and other fallacies’, Organizational Behaviour and
Human Decision Processes, vol. 91, no. 2, pp. 296-309.
Weber, T 1999, ‘Gandhi, deep ecology, peace research and
Buddhist economics’, Journal of Peace Research, vol. 36, no. 3,
pp. 349-61.
Lencioni (2002) reported that...
...(Lencioni 2002).
Table 4a
Reference type
Reference list
In-text citation
Journal articles online
Author(s) of article - family name(s) and initial(s)
‘Title of article’, in single inverted commas
Journal name, in italics volume: vol.
number: no. .
issue ,
page number(s): p. or pp. viewed day month year, database
name or URL.

Note:
Often journal articles come from a variety of different sources.
They are cited differently, depending on their format.
If a journal article appears in a library database as a page image
(pdf), cite it the same way as the original hard copy format.
If the article was located online, you must add date viewed and
either database name or URL.
If the article is only available on a Library database as HTML
or plain text, then you must cite the date viewed and either the
database name or URL.
If the article has been located on the internet and not on a
database, you must cite the date viewed and URL.
Brewer, P & Sherriff, G 2007, ‘Is there a cultural divide in
Australian international trade?’, Australian Journal of
Management, vol. 32, no. 1, pp. 113-134.
or
Management, vol. 32, no. 1, pp. 113-134, viewed 11 November
2007, Ebsco database.

Management, vol. 32, no.1, p 113, viewed 11 November 2007,
Factiva database.
Management, vol 32, no. 1, viewed 11 November 2007,
<http://www.agsm.edu.au/~eajm/0706/06-brewersherriff.html>.
Brewer and Sherriff (2007) suggest…
...(Brewer & Sherriff 2007).
Table 4a
Reference type
Reference list
In-text citation
Newspaper articles
Author(s) – family name(s) and initial(s),
'Title of article’ - in single inverted commas

Newspaper name – in italics,
day month,
page number(s): p. or pp.
Kemp, S 2003 ‘Leak pushes AMP to record low’, The Age, 7
August, p. 1 (Business section).
Kemp (2003) reported that ...
...(Kemp 2003).
Note: if the newspaper article does NOT have an author then
provide details in in-text citation only, NOT in the reference list
or bibliography
Not required.
As stated in The Age (17 August 2007, p. 12) …
...(The Age 17 August 2007, p. 12).
Newspaper articles online
Author(s) – family name(s) and initial(s)
Year of publication
‘Title of article’ - in single inverted commas
Newspaper name –in italics
day month
page number(s) p. or pp.
<URL> or <name of database>.
See instructions as for journal articles where citing PDF or
HTML formats of newspaper articles

Khadem, N 2007, ‘Lid stays on wages growth’, The Age, 15
November, p. 1 (Business section), viewed 16 November 2007,
<Factiva database>.
Khadem (2007) reported that...
...(Khadem 2007).
Published conference papers
Author(s) – family name(s) and initial(s),
'Title of paper’ - in single inverted commas'
in Editor (if applicable), Title of published conference
proceedings, including place held and date(s) – in italics,
Publisher,
place of publication,
page number(s).
Note: The initials of the editors go in front of the family
name(s)
Dong, Y 2001, ‘The Chinese experience’, in P Drysdale, (ed.),
The new economy in East Asia and the Pacific: Proceedings of
the 27th Pacific Trade and Development Conference, Australian
National University, Canberra, 20- 22 August, 2001, Routledge
Curzon, London and New York. pp. 130-139.

Dong (2001) analysed ...
...(Dong 2001).
Table 4a
Reference type
Reference list
In-text citation
Online conference papers
Author(s) – family/surname(s) and initial(s)
Year of publication
'Title of paper’ - in single inverted commas
Editor (if applicable)
Title of published conference proceedings, including place held
and date(s) – in italics
Publisher
database name or <URL>.
Note:
The initials of the editors go in front of the family name(s)
Jakubowicz, A. 2002, 'Race vilification and communal
leadership', in W. Jonas (ed.), Beyond Tolerance: National
Conference on Racism, Sydney, 12-13 March 2002, Human
Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission, Sydney, viewed 17

June 2002,
<www.humanrights.gov.au/racial_discrimination/beyond_tolera
nce/speeches/jakubowicz.html>.
Jakubowicz (2002) argued that…
… (Jakubowicz 2002).
Unpublished conference papers or presentations
Author(s) Family name(s), Initial(s)
Year of publication
‘Title of paper’ – use single inverted commas
Paper presented to
Title of conference/forum
Location of conference/forum
Date of conference/forum
Page(s)
Pannan, L, van der Craats, C & McGovern, J 2002, 'Multi-level
stepwise approach to engaging all academic staff in on-line
delivery', paper presented to 2nd RMIT Teaching and Learning
Forum, Melbourne, 24 October 2002.
Pannam, van der Craats and McGovern (2002) described ...
... (Pannam, van der Craats & McGovern 2002).
Theses
Author – family/surname and initials Year of preparation of
thesis
‘Title of thesis’ in single inverted commas
Award,

Institution
Baxter, JS 2001, 'Rural land use and value in Northern Victoria
1880-1960', PhD thesis, RMIT University.
Baxter (2001) investigated…..
…(Baxter 2001).
Table 4a
Reference type
Reference list
In-text citation
Theses online
Author – family/surname and initials
Year of preparation of thesis,
‘Title of thesis’,
Award, Institution,
viewed day month year,
<URL> or <name of database>.
Khanh, VL 2006. ‘Customer Loyalty in Web-based Retailing’,
PhD thesis, RMIT University, 14 November 2007, <ADT
database>.
Khanh (2006) explored...

...(Khanh 2006).
Government publications
These include departmental reports, reports of commissions of
inquiry, committees of review and committees of parliament.
Author or organisation name
Title of report,
catalogue. no.,
Publisher,
Place of publication,
Government publications can be reported in a variety of ways.
See the Style manual for authors,editors and printers2002, pp.
220 – 223 for further examples.
Australia, Parliament 2003, Fraud control arrangements in the
Australian Customs Service, Parliamentary Paper 32, Canberra.
(Australia, Parliament 2003).
Government publications online

Author or organisation name
Title of report,cat. no.,
Publisher,
<URL>.
Many government publications are available on the Internet.
The way you access a document affects your citation.
Australian National Audit Office 2003, Fraud control
arrangements in the Australian Customs Service, viewed 4
August 2003, <www.anao.gov.au/
WebSite.nsf Publications/
2F8FE1D39613A8B8CA256CF300709A62>.
Note: Enclose the URL address with < >.
Australian Bureau of Statistics 2004, Mental Health in
Australia: A Snapshot, cat. no. 4824.0.55.001. ABS, Canberra,
viewed 18 August 2005, <www.abs.gov.au>.
… (Australian National Audit Office 2003).
...(Australian Bureau of Statistics 2004).

Table 4a
Reference type
Reference list
In-text citation
Company or Industry Information
Company name
Year of publication
Title of report in italics
Publisher,
Coles Myer Ltd 2005, Corporate social responsibility report
2005, Coles Myer, Tooronga, Vic.
...(Coles Myer Ltd 2005).
Company or industry information online
Company name
Year of publication
Title of report in italics
Publisher,
<URL>.
IBISWorld 2005, Wine Manufacturing in Australia (C2183),

IBISWorld Pty Ltd, viewed 28 November 2005,
<www.ibisworld.com.au>.
Datamonitor 2005, Westfield Group (Australia): company
profile, Datamonitor, viewed 23 January 2006, Business
Searching Interface (EBSCO) database.
Although the domestic wine market is expected to be stagnant
from 2006-2010, wine exports will continue to grow, although
at a lower rate than previously (IBISWorld 2005).
The Westfield Group has interests in 129 shopping centres in
Australia, New Zealand, the UK and USA (Datamonitor 2005).
CD-ROM
Author(s)/editor(s) name(s), Initial(s)
Year
Title(in italics)
Edition
CD-ROM
Publisher
No author or editor
Note: the in-text reference would be to the title of the CD in
italics.
DeBolt, V. 2007, Mastering integrated HTML and CSS, CD-
ROM, Wiley Publishing, Indianapolis, USA.

Best practice in sport and recreation for tourism development
within APEC economies 2001, CD-ROM, APEC Secretariat,
Singapore.
Debolt (2007) suggested that….
…(Debolt 2007).
APEC has provided guidelines for developing sports facilities in
the region (Best practice in sport and recreation for tourism
development within APEC economies 2001).
Table 4a
Reference type
Reference list
In-text citation
Videorecordings and television programs
Title of program – italicised –(if part of an ongoing series, list
the episode title first, then the series name)
year of recording
format
publisher/distributor
place of recording
date of recording (if applicable)
viewed day month year (if applicable)
database name or <URL> (if applicable)
Note: the in-text reference would be to the title of the program,
also in italics.

Accounting for the environment 1994, videorecording,
Educational Media Australia, South Melbourne.
Economy records strongest growth and shows no sign of
slowing, another rate rise predicted:Lateline Business 2007,
television program, ABC Television, Melbourne, 4 September,
viewed 11 January 2008, TVNews Database.
7.30 Report 2005, television program, ABC, 20 November.
Business Sunday 2005, television program, Nine Network, 20
November, viewed 2 December 2005,
<http://businesssunday.ninemsn.com.au/mediapopup.aspx?medi
aID=16806>.
Accounting techniques are increasingly being applied to
problems of pollution and land use (Accounting for the
environment 1994).
Lateline Business (2007)
On Lateline Business (2007) it was stated that Australian
economic growth….
When interviewed on 7.30 Report (2005) the Treasurer said …

Several businesses are sponsoring environmental research on
Heron Island (Business Sunday 2005) …
Personal communications including email, SMS, conversations,
interviews
Personal communications should be cited in the text, but do not
need to appear in the list of references
Not required.
This was confirmed in an email from C. Costa on 5 November
2007.
Further details of this may be given in the list of references if
you wish the reader to be able to follow up the reference. To
avoid breaching privacy you should obtain permission of the
person before doing this.
Sender’s name, year, email, date month, <sender's email
address>.
Costa, C 2007, email, 5 November 2007, <[email protected]>.
Table 4b
Reference type
Reference list
In-text citation
Home pages
These do not always have a title. They should follow the
format:
Name of the organisation
date

Title (if any, written in italics)
name of organisation responsible for publishing site (often the
same) place of publication (usually the location of the
registered office) viewed date
<URL>.
Telstra 2005, Telstra, Melbourne, viewed 2 December 2005,
<http://telstra.com.index.jsp>.
business.gov.au 2005, Department of Industry, Tourism and
Resources, Canberra, viewed 2 December 2005,
<www.business.gov.au/Business+Entry+Point>.
Note that there is no single correct method of referencing the
above site. It is important to be consistent. One of several
acceptable alternatives would be:
Business Entry Point 2005, business.gov.au, viewed 2 December
2005, <www.business.gov.au/Business+Entry+Point>.
Many corporate web sites provide information to a variety of
user groups (e.g. Telstra 2005, Vodaphone 2005).
The Australian Government’s business gateway
(business.gov.au, 2005) provides information on starting or
running a small business.

OPTIONAL
Home page addresses can be provided directly in the text
without appearing in the reference list.
However pages which are part of a larger site should be
referenced as below
The Australian Government’s business gateway (2005)
<www.business.gov.au> provides information on starting or
running a small business.
Table 4b
Reference type
Reference list
In-text citation
Document on a web site
Author(s) /editor(s)
Year of document,
Title of document –in italics
name of the sponsor of the source date of viewing
<URL>.
If a document is available as a PDF (page image) file, this is
often easier to cite as it is closer to a printed format. It also
allows you to specify particular page numbers

Australian National Audit Office 2005, The management and
processing of leave, viewed 2 December 2005,
<www.anao.gov.au/WebSite.nsf/NewAuditReports/D8761E0D72
DFCE
60CA2570BB0037B103/$file/Audit+Report+16.pdf>.
Telstra n.d., Audit governance and financial reporting, Telstra,
viewed 1 December 2005.
<www.telstra.com.au/abouttelstra/corp/a_governance.cfm>.
Many government departments do not manage their employees’
leave within the terms of their Enterprise Agreements
(Australian National Audit Office 2005, p. 10).
OR
The Australian National Audit Office reports that many
government departments do not manage their employees’ leave
within the terms of their Enterprise Agreements (2005, p. 10).
Although the Telstra Act makes the Auditor-General of
Australia responsible for auditing Telstra, certain functions are
carried out by an agent (Telstra n.d.).
Company or industry information on a website or database
If this information is sourced from a library database it is better

to include the database name rather than the URL
IBISWorld 2005, Wine Manufacturing in Australia (C2183),
IBISWorld Pty Ltd, viewed 28 November 2005,
<www.ibisworld.com.au>.
Datamonitor 2005, Westfield Group (Australia): company
profile, Datamonitor, viewed 23 January 2006, Business
Searching Interface (EBSCO) database.
Although the domestic wine market is expected to be stagnant
from 2006-2010, wine exports will continue to grow, although
at a lower rate than previously (IBISWorld 2005).
The Westfield Group has interests in 129 shopping centres in
Australia, New Zealand, the UK and USA (Datamonitor 2005).
Wiki entry
As wikis are a collaborative source, usually there is no named
author.
‘Title of article’
Year,
Title, - in italics
format,
viewed day month year, <URL>.

‘The exponential power of connectedness’ 2007,
Connectedintelligence, wiki article, viewed 11 November 2007,
<http://connectedintelligence.wikispaces.com/
Exponential+Power+of+Connectedness>.
In (Connectedintelligence 2007) …
Table 4b
Reference type
Reference list
In-text citation
Weblog site
Author(s) of weblog – Family name(s) and initial(s)
Year,
Weblog name,
format,
viewed day month year, <URL>.
Weblog post
Author(s) - family name(s) and initial(s)
Year,
‘Title of post’,
Weblog name, in italics
format,
date of posting day month, viewed day month year, <URL>.
Webber. S & Boon, S 2006, Information literacy weblog,
weblog, viewed 10 January 2008, <http://information-

literacy.blogspot.com>.
Webber. S 2008, ‘Events from CILIP’, Information literacy
weblog, weblog post, 9 January, viewed 11 January 2008,
<http://information-literacy.blogspot.com>.
(Webber & Boon 2006).
Webber (2008) posted the following information...
Intranet/course notes
Format:
Author(s) family name(s) and Initial(s)
Title of work – in italics
course notes from (Course Code),
Publisher,
viewed day month year, [email protected]
Smith, H 2005, Metadata, course notes from ISYS6655, RMIT
University, Melbourne, viewed 8 July 2005, [email protected]
2.4.2 Electronic journal articles

Table 4c
Reference type
Reference list
In-text citation
Journal articles online
If a journal article appears in a library database as a page image
(pdf), you may cite it the same way as the original hard copy
format.
If you wish to show where the article was located online, you
may add date of access and either database name or URL.
If the article is only available on a Library database as HTML
or plain text, then you will need to cite the date of access and
either the database name or URL.
If the article has been located on the internet and not on a
database, you will need to cite the date of access and URL.
Management, vol. 32, no. 1, pp. 113-134.
OR
Management, vol. 32, no. 1, pp. 113-134, viewed 11 November
2007, Ebsco database.

Management, vol. 32, no. 1, p 113, viewed 11 November 2007,
Factiva database.
Management, vol. 32, no. 1, viewed 11 November 2007,
<www.agsm.edu.au/~eajm/0706/06-brewersherriff.html>.
Brewer and Sherriff (2007) suggest…
…(Brewer and Sherriff 2007).
2.4.4 Legislation and legal cases
When referring to legislation including Acts, Ordinances and
Regulations, the title must be reproduced exactly, without
changing the capitalisation or spelling. The words Act and Bill
are generally written with a capital letter.
An Act or Ordinance may be cited by the short title, which is
usually drafted into modern legislation. The first reference must
always include the short title in italics. Subsequent references
may refer to it by an undated, descriptive title in Roman type
(normal or regular type).
Legislation or legal cases are only included in the reference list
if they are important to the understanding of the work. In this
case it is best to set the list apart from the main body of the
reference list and use the heading Legislation or Legal
authorities.
Further guidance is provided in the Style manual for authors,
editors and printers 2002, pp. 224-8.
Table 4d
Reference type

Reference list
In-text citation
Legislation
An Act or Ordinance may be cited by the given short title. The
first reference must always include the short title in italics.
Subsequent references may refer to it by an undated, descriptive
title in roman i.e. normal or regular type.
Not generally required.
The Trade Practices Act 1974 (Commonwealth) provides that
…
One of the shortcomings of the Trade Practices Act is …
The jurisdiction must be made clear, either by including it in
the body of the text or in abbreviated form in brackets after the
act title.
The Fair Trading Act 1999 (Vic) covers …
OR
In Victoria this is covered by the Fair Trading Act 1999
Legal cases
To fully cite legal authorities list name of case in italics (date)
or volume number, or both; abbreviated name of report series;
and beginning page. No commas are used.
Commercial Bank of Australia Ltd v. Amadio (1983) 151 CLR
447
This case appeared in 1983 in the Commonwealth Law Reports,
volume 151, starting on page 447.

Legal referencing
If you have been instructed by your lecturer to use footnotes in
your referencing, refer to the link given.
http://mulr.law.unimelb.edu.au/files/aglcdl.pdf
2.4.5 Order of entries in a reference list
Note: The following provide examples of how to order your
reference list. No full stops are used between an author’s
initials, and no comma is used after the last author's initials.
The dots following the entries’ names indicate the details of the
reference that should follow.
Table 5
Reference list order rules
Reference list
The reference list is arranged first alphabetically by author, and
if the authors are the same then by date.
A reference with multiple authors follows single author entries
beginning with the same author name.

Where an item has no author it is listed by its title.
Where several works have the same author and year of
publication, add the letters a, b, ... etc according to the
alphabetical order of the titles in the reference list, ignoring the
initial articles A, An or The.
Jones, AB 2000, ...
Origin Energy 2005, …
Smith, AK 1990, ...
Smith, AK 1999, …
Smith, AK 2004, …
Stein, B 2003, …(single author entry)
Stein, B, Lee, HK, Yin, CX & Singh, GS 2000, … (plural and
alphabetical author entry, that is, Lee comes before Reynolds in
the English alphabet.)
Stein, B & Reynolds, JS 1995, …
Stein, B & Reynolds, JS 2000, … (This reference is sorted by
its date, it has the same authors as the reference before it but
was written at a later date)…
Style manual for authors, editors and printers 2002, ...
Young, JC 1988a, Economic indicators …
Young, JC 1988b, A quick guide … (Economic comes before
quick in the English alphabet)
Young, JC & Smith, AK 1988, …
2.5 Other referencing systems
Although you are normally required to use the style described
above, you will come across many other methods of referencing.
These include other versions of the Author-date or Harvard
system as well as Note systems. Further details of some of these

styles are available via the Library website at
www.rmit.edu.au/library/reference/manuals or in style manuals
in the Library.
Table 6
Referencing system
Examples
Other author-date styles
There are many other versions of the Author-date or Harvard
style apart from that described above. The main similarity is
that they use in-text citations and a reference list. However they
may differ in their use of punctuation, brackets, italics,
underlined or bold formatting, method of designating volume,
issue and pages numbers, etc.
Only use a different author-date style if your lecturer
specifically requests it, and make sure you follow the required
style closely.
Reword to include exceptions eg Law.
APA style, as described in the Publication manual of the
American Psychological Association 2001, 5th edn, APA,
Washington, DC. This style is widely used internationally in
the social sciences.
Many academic journals have their own author-date style.
Many style manuals e.g. Chicago, MLA and Turabian include an
author-date style.
Note systems
While it is not RMIT Business style, you may at some stage be
asked to use the Note system of referencing, either footnotes or

endnotes. This system is commonly used in law, as well as
sciences and humanities. Examples of styles using a Note
system are shown opposite.
Only use a Note style if your lecturer specifically requests it,
and make sure you follow the required style closely.
Australian Legal Citation Style, as described in Australian
guide to legal citation 2002, 2nd edn, Melbourne University
Law Review Association and at
http://mulr.law.unimelb.edu.au/files/aglcdl.pdf
Documentary note style as described in Style manual for
authors, editors and printers, 2002, 6th edn, John Wiley & Sons,
Australia, pp. 208-15.
Vancouver style as described in Style manual for authors,
editors and printers, 2002, 6th edn, John Wiley & Sons,
Australia, pp. 215-8 or other sources.
2.6 Commonly used abbreviations in referencing
The abbreviations listed below may appear in other
bibliographies, lists of references, footnotes and endnotes:
Table 7
Abbreviation
art.
app.
c. (Latin circa) e.g. c. 1835
cf.
ch., chs
col., cols

edn (note: no full stop)
ed., eds
e.g.
et al.
f., ff.
fig., figs
id.
i.e.
n.d.
no., nos
p., pp.
para., paras
rev.
2nd (note: no full stop – see ch.8.2 on numbering)
sec., s., ss.
vol., vols
article
appendix
approximately, about
compare
chapter(s)
column(s)
edition
editor(s)
for example
and others
and the following pages
figure(s)
the same
that is
no date
number(s)
page(s)
paragraph(s)
revised

second (edition)
section (s. for section, ss. for subsection of legislation)
volume(s)
2.7 Using EndNote with RMIT Business style
EndNote is a software program that helps you keep track of the
details of books, articles, websites or other information sources
which you may need to refer to in your assignments or thesis. It
is particularly recommended for use by staff and postgraduate
students.
EndNote allows you tocreate, store and manage references to
books, journal articles, web sites, conference papers,
multimedia and other sources of information
insert selected references directly into a word processed
document and automatically create and format bibliographies in
a chosen style
search and retrieve records from remote catalogues and
databases
RMIT has a site licence for EndNote, which allows you to use it
at RMIT and on your own computer. Further details are
available on the Library's EndNote tutorial at
www.rmit.edu.au/library/endnote"
www.rmit.edu.au/library/endnote. This site also has an output
style available for download, labelled "Harvard ed6" which
follows Style manual (2002) as used at RMIT Business.
3. Plagiarism
3.1 RMIT University definition of plagiarism
RMIT has an assessment charter, which elaborates key
responsibilities common to all staff and students in relation to

assessment and defines the University’s policy on plagiarism.
Plagiarism is defined (RMIT University 2003a) as stealing
somebody’s intellectual property (IP) by presenting their work,
thoughts or ideas as though they are your own. It is cheating.
It is a serious academic offence and can lead to expulsion from
RMIT.
Plagiarism can take many forms - written, graphic and visual
forms, and includes use of electronic data and material used in
oral presentations. Plagiarism may even occur unintentionally,
such as when the origin of the material used is not properly
cited.
3.1.1 What constitutes plagiarism?
Under the charter, you may be accused of plagiarism if you do
any of the following:
· Copy sentences or paragraphs word-for-word from any
source, whether published or unpublished (including, but not
limited to books, journals, reports, theses, websites, conference
papers, course notes, etc.) without proper citation.
· Closely paraphrase sentences, paragraphs, ideas or themes
without proper citation.
· Piece together text from one or more sources and add only
linking sentences without proper citation.
· Copy or submit whole or parts of computer files without
acknowledging their source.
· Copy designs or works of art and submit them as your
original work.
· Copy a whole or any part of another student’s work.
· Submit work as your own that someone else has done for
you.
Enabling Plagiarism is ‘the act of assisting or allowing another
person to plagiarise or to copy your own work’ (RMIT 2003a).
It is also a serious academic offence. More detail on what
constitutes plagiarism is found in the January 2003 Policy on

Plagiarism
3.1.2 What is the penalty for plagiarism?
Plagiarism is not permitted in RMIT University. Any use of
another person’s work or ideas must be acknowledged. If you
fail to do this, you may be charged with academic misconduct
and face a penalty under RMIT Regulations 6.1.1 – Student
Discipline. This may be viewed at
http://mams.rmit.edu.au/7w2uew7i6v2.pdf
Penalties for plagiarism (RMIT University 2003b) include:
· recording of a failure for the assignment or course.
· cancellation of any or all results.
· suspension from the program.
· expulsion from the program.
3.2 Examples of plagiarism
RMIT University’s Learning Skills Unit has developed a range
of examples to help you identify the most common forms of
plagiarism, such as:
Table 8
Direct use of another person's work without citation
If the sentence opposite appeared in an assessment :
It is plagiarism because the words have been copied directly
from a book
Work motivation and performance increase when employees feel
personally accountable for the outcomes of their efforts.
A properly referenced paper would use the sentence this way:
McShane and Travaglione (2003 p.199) state that ‘work
motivation and performance increase when employees feel
personally accountable for the outcomes of their efforts’.

Table 9
Paraphrasing sentences, paragraphs and ideas without citation
These are your words but not your idea/information.
When employees feel responsible for their work, they tend to be
more motivated which results in higher performances.
You MUST show where the idea came from. Hence…
Note: no page number needed as not a direct quote.
When employees feel responsible for their work, they tend to be
more motivated which results in higher performances (McShane
& Travaglione 2003).
Table 10
Piecing together texts from one or more sources and linking
them
The following in a paper is plagiarism:
Employees must be given control of their work environment to
feel responsible for their successes and failures. This is called
employee involvement, designed to encourage increased
commitment to the organisation’s success.
A correct way of referencing the paragraph is:
‘Employees must be assigned control of their work environment
to feel responsible for their successes and failures’ (McShane &
Travaglione 2003, p. 199). Robbins, et al. (2001 p. 237) call
this ‘employee involvement …designed to encourage increased
commitment to the organisation’s success’.

Table 11
Integrating ideas from multiple sources
A good model of how to integrate ideas from multiple sources.
Read through the example. Note:Usually the first sentence is a
statement of proposition introducing the ideas that you want to
put forward in the paragraph.
Then support the proposition by at least one or more authorities.
Include a statement of opinions contrary to the proposition
(demonstrates that you have considered all sides to the
argument).
Summarise your argument or proposition in your own words.
Eunson (1987, p. 67) defines motivation as ‘what is important
to you’, and explores the importance of ‘money as a motivator’.
However, recent studies outlined by Leonard, Beauvais and
Scholl (1999) suggest that personality and disposition play an
equally important role in motivation.
Conversely Robbins et al. (1994, p. 241) put forward the idea
that ‘motivation is a set of processes that stimulate, direct and
maintain human behaviour towards attaining a goal’
In other words ‘motivation’ is a complex concept, which
encompasses a variety of competing theories. There are many
reasons why people behave differently in the workplace, but it
is because these differences exist that managements pay
attention to the theories, which provide them with frameworks
for problem solving.
3.3 How to avoid plagiarism
Use this checklist to ensure you avoid accusations of
plagiarism:
Table 12
How to avoid accusations of plagiarism
DO NOT directly copy phrases and / or passages (transcribe)

without a reference and / or quotation marks
DO NOT paraphrase other writers’ work in your written work
without citing references.
DO NOT make a direct reference to an author or authors you
have not read, even if you may have read about them.
(While the use of secondary sources is not encouraged, if the
primary publication is out of print or difficult to obtain, you
should cite the secondary source you have actually read rather
than the original that you have not read.)
DO NOT copy another person’s work, in part or in whole, or
allow someone else to copy part or all of work you have
completed.
DO NOT write your work in conjunction with other students
without prior permission. (Except in group assignments where
wider consultation is expected, you should only meet with other
students initially to discuss the essay topic and/or analyse the
question.)
DO NOT submit written work already submitted for assessment
in any other course.
Examples based on information available on RMIT Library
referencing section.
Further information is available online from the Study and
Learning Centre.
4. Essay writing

What is an essay?
An essay is:a continuous piece of writing that sets out to
discuss or argue a point of view or opinion.information
presented formally often with the intention of defending or
promoting a particular point of view.
Why are you required to write essays?
to demonstrate knowledge and expertise in a subject area.
to apply theories and models to given topics/ questions/ issues -
to support the proposition you are putting forward.
to demonstrate your ability to synthesise various sources of
information in a coherent and concise piece of writing enabling
the reader to easily follow the flow of ideas.
to develop your ability to argue, persuade, explain, inform
and/or discuss.to convince the reader by the logic of the
argument presented.
A Step By Step Guide to Essay Writing
Step 1 Choose your topic
If you have a choice of topics – select the one that interests you
the most or that has relevance to your chosen career.
If you are allowed to create your own essay topic, choose a
subject that you want to learn more about and which interests
you.
Step 2 Read the instructions, relating to your assessments as
set down in your Course Guide
Always check your Course Guide to ensure that you are clear
about what you are required to do:When is the essay due?
How long is it?
What is the format?
How does this topic relate to the course?
How does this topic relate to the current area being studied?
Step 3 Analyse the topic
Break the topic into its component parts to understand what the

main elements of the task are. Essay topics can usually be
divided into three sections:Content What is the topic
about? InstructionWhat have you been asked to do in relation to
the topic?Scope How has the topic been limited – is
there a focus on particular
organisations/ countries, /year(s)?
Underline key words and draw circles around the
action/instruction words. Below is an example of an essay
question.
Compare and contrast the financial reports and ratios oftwo
Australian companies
It is important that you fully understand what the instruction
words are telling you to do.
Table 13 provides a list of words and definitions that are often
used in your assessment tasks.
Table 13
Action/instruction words used in assessment tasks
Definitions
Analyse
Separate or break the subject matter into its parts to discover
their nature, proportion, function and relationships.
Argue
Systematically support or reject a position by presenting
reasons and evidence for acceptance or rejection, while
indicating your awareness of opposing points of view.
Comment
Make critical observations about the subject matter; be careful
not to cast too wide a net here, or to write in too many
generalisations.

Compare
Find similarities and differences between two or more ideas,
events, interpretations etc. Ensure you understand exactly what
you are being asked to compare.
Contrast
The remarks on ‘compare’ also apply to ‘contrast’. Usually the
difference is that you should concentrate on dissimilarities.
Define
Provide clear, concise, authoritative meanings, in which you
address the nature or essential qualities. Details are not
necessarily required, but you may wish to cite the boundaries or
limitations of the definition, since meanings can extend beyond
simple definitions.
Describe
Recall facts, processes or events. You are not asked to explain
or interpret. Try to provide a thorough description, emphasising
the most important points.
Discuss
Present a point of view, that of others and/or your own. This is
likely to entail both description and interpretation. Your
opinion should be supported by arguments and evidence.
Evaluate
Here you are asked to appraise in order to make a judgment,
which means considering both strengths and weaknesses.
Illustrate
Clarify, exemplify or elucidate by presenting a figure, picture,
diagram or concrete example.
Outline
Give an organised description or an ordering of information in
which you state the main point, but omit details. Present the
information in a systematic arrangement or classification.
Review
Re-examine, analyse and comment briefly (in an organised
sequence) on the major points of an issue.
Summarise
Provide a brief statement or an account covering the main

points in sequence or by assimilating parts into a general
comment: omit details.
Step 4 Brainstorm - What do you already know about the
topic?Using your reading, lectures and your own experiences
think about what you already know about the topic.On a blank
piece of paper, write down all the ideas that you think might be
related to the topic.
A brainstorm is the beginning of a mind map – these random
ideas can be organised into a structured mind map that will
provide you with a guide for your research and your writing.
Step 5 Starting your research
Although you are required to read and research widely, it is
better to gain an overview of the topic by firstly reading the
recommended texts – don’t go straight online unless instructed
to do so by your lecturer / tutor.
The texts will give you a broad understanding of the main ideas,
writers and theories associated with the topic.
By familiarising yourself with the key concepts, the next stage
of your research will be more targeted.
Step 6 Mind mapping
A mind map is a visual way of gathering your ideas about a
particular topic.
Mind maps help you to identify the main ideas and what
research needs to be conducted to provide the evidence that
supports these ideas.
Your mind map is a good time management resource. It will
help you to focus your search for information more efficiently

and to organise your ideas into a coherent argument when you
write your essay.
Table 14
Mind mapping for essays
Topic question
On a blank piece of paper, write down the topic.
Key ideas
Use the brain storming notes and information gained from
general reading to jot down the key ideas. This is the first step
in developing a mind map.
Research
As you continue to do research, start to put the information into
groups so that you can see the connections between
ideas/theories. This will help you to sort out which are the key
ideas and what is the supporting information.
Delete any unnecessary ideas
Once you have completed this task, you can delete any
unnecessary ideas that you have now identified as irrelevant.
Single page
Keep your mind map to a single page.
For more information on mind mapping go to the Learning Lab -
Study Skills <www.dlsweb.rmit.edu.au/lsu>.
Step 7 Focus your research
As Business students you need to be familiar with current trends
and thinking. Websites, newspapers and journals will be
important resources for your research.
When you are using the online resources use the search engines
provided by the university such as Factiva, Proquest, Blackwell
Synergy, IBIS world, Informit. These will provide you with
sources that can be relied on for accuracy and integrity.
At this stage you must read with a purpose and only make notes

when you are sure that the text has the information you need to
use in your assessment task.
Always make sure you have recorded the full reference list
entry details – you will need this information later.
For more information on recording your research go to the
interactive online referencing resource for Business students
<http://www.dlsweb.rmit.edu.au/bus/public/referencing>.
Refer to your course guide for recommended reading lists. If
there are no recommended texts, you will need to use resources
available through the Library data bases
<http://www.rmit.edu.au/library>.
Hints and Tips on Efficient Reading Strategies
Once you have identified the key words and concepts relating to
the topic, use these reading strategies to make your research
more efficient and to maximise the use of your time.
Skim and scan. Use key words and concepts to quickly locate
information
Use chapter headings, abstracts, introductions, conclusions to
find the main ideas the writer is exploring – if they are relevant
– continue
Make notes when key information has been identified
Contact the Library Liaison Officer for your course if you need
assistance.
For additional help with reading more efficiently visit the
Learning Lab <www.dlsweb.rmit.edu.au/lsu>.
Hints and Tips on Critical Reading
One of your tasks when researching is to determine the validity,
accuracy and credibility of your sources. This requires you to
consider carefully what you are reading. It is always important

to critically examine the statements being made and the
evidence being used.
For your assessment tasks you will often be using the websites
of companies and organisations. The information they provide
will be positive and promotional so it is important to question
the objectivity and reliability of the data.
Do this by considering the following questions:-
Who is the writer?When was the article written?
What evidence has the writer provided to support their
argument?
How convincing is it? Why? - What are the grounds for saying
so?
How logical is it? - Again, what are the grounds for saying so?
What assumptions / overgeneralizations does the writer make?
What are the implications of this work?
What has the writer failed to consider? Where are the gaps?
Is there evidence of bias?
Do you agree or disagree with this writer’s standpoint?
With which parts of the argument do you agree/disagree, and for
what reasons?
Is the methodology / the analysis appropriate?
Are there any weaknesses or errors in the writing or
calculations?
What are primary information sources?
Students are required to use primary sources whenever possible.
This means that you read and reference the original works of the
authors. Information you have gathered from first hand
experience – eg. an interview or survey – is also a primary
source.
What are secondary information sources?
When you use the ideas /words of one author that have appeared

in another writer’s text you are using a secondary source.
Below are two examples of how to use a secondary source in a
sentence:
(1) Bartlett and Ghoshal (cited in Daft 2004) suggest that
companies expanding into global markets are forced to do so
because of economic, technological and competitive factors,
which relate to economies of scale, economies of scope and
cheaper production factors.
(2) Companies expanding into global markets are forced to do
so because of economic, technological and competitive factors,
cheaper production factors (Bartlett & Ghoshal, cited in Daft
2004).
Note: Wherever possible, use primary sources
Step 8 Draw up a detailed plan
Before writing the first draft of your essay use your mind map
and your summarised notes to draw up a detailed essay plan
identifying the main ideas and the evidence that supports those
ideas.
A detailed plan can help you to have confidence when you start
to write. You know what you want to write, why you are
including it and the logical order in which to present it.
Step 9 Writing the Essay
Essay Structure
An essay is a structured form of writing. Your purpose in
writing an essay is to demonstrate to the reader that you
understand the topic and can use research to support your
argument.

An essay has 3 parts-:the introductionthe main section where
the argument is developed, and the conclusion
See Diagram 1 below for a detailed outline on what each part
should contain.
Diagram 1
Essay Structure
Introduction
an outline for the reader
Begins with a brief general statement setting the
essay/assignment in the context of the assessment question.
Indicates the areas and perspectives to be discussed in the
essay.
Leads to a statement, which summarises the essay and indicates
the writer’s point of view.
Terms or definitions that are critical to an understanding of the
essay should be introduced at the beginning.
Main section
the development of the discussion or argument
Each paragraph contains one main idea, which is expressed in a
topic sentence (usually the first sentence).
The topic sentence contains the key idea discussed in the
paragraph and should relate directly back to the assessment
question.
The rest of the paragraph expands on the topic sentence or gives
evidence or examples.

Each paragraph needs to be linked to the following one to create
a logical development of the argument for the reader.
Conclusion
In the conclusion the main points or arguments made in the
essay are summarised and the main point of view is restated.
A conclusion may also include:Implications
Predictions
Recommendations
It should always relate back to the assignment topic or the
objectives set out at the beginning of your essay.
Do NOT introduce new ideas in your conclusion.
·
Paraphrasing, Synthesising and Direct Quotations
When you write your essay, you will need to use techniques
such as paraphrasing and synthesising.

Paraphrasing is expressing in your own words the ideas of
another writer.
Synthesising is the ability to express in your own words the
similarities or differences in the ideas of a number of authors.
You must always acknowledge the sources for your ideas even
when you use your own words. For more information on how to
paraphrase and synthesise go to <www.dlsweb.rmit.edu.au/lsu>.
For more information on how to reference when paraphrasing go
to <www.dlsweb.rmit.edu.au/bus/public/referencing>.
Direct quotations are when you use the exact words of the
author/source.
You may use direct quotation in your assessment tasks, but
these should be kept to a minimum.
Whenever quoting from any source you must correctly reference
the work. For further information on how to reference direct
quotes, go to
<www.dlsweb.rmit.edu.au/bus/public/referencing>.
For more information on direct quotes, go to
<www.dlsweb.rmit.edu.au/lsu>.
Note: Do NOT just cut and paste information from sources! To
just use the words of an author does not demonstrate your
understanding or ability to create a logical argument. The
quality of your work will be better if you paraphrase and
synthesis your research, as this will show that you are able to
interpret and critically analyse what you have read in relation to
the topic.
Step 10 Writing the first draft

Using the detailed plan you have now developed, set aside a
block of time to write the first draft of your essay. Aim to write
the whole essay in the time you have set aside as this will give
your work a clear flow. Do not be concerned at this stage with
correct grammar, spelling, referencing as this will be done at
the editing stage.
Once you have written this first draft it will be much easier to
see where evidence is lacking, and where information could be
more logically re-organised.
As you will probably need to write several drafts before the
essay is ready for submission, make sure you have allowed
sufficient time to do this.
Consider the items below to ensure your essay is a well written
and well constructed piece of writing.
Table 15
Checklist for essays
Each paragraph contains one central idea
The above idea is supported by sufficient evidence from your
research
The last sentence in each paragraph links to the main idea of the
next paragraph
The writing:has a logical structure and the overall argument is
easy to follow
presents a reasoned and supported argument
uses only relevant information which is accurate – precise /
specific
uses impersonal language – do not use personal pronouns such a
‘I’ or ‘we’ unless you are given permission to do so

is objective and unbiased
uses formal English – do not use abbreviations or
colloquialisms or SMS language
Step 11 Editing your final draft
You need to edit your draft before submitting the final version.
Read your Course Guide carefully to ensure that you have met
the requirements of the assignment.
Observe the word limit or you may be penalised. Word limits as
the words imply set the limit on the number of words that can
be used. The topic has been designed so that the issues and
complexities can be explored within this word limit.
Using ‘Tools’ on the menu bar in Microsoft Word, check your
spelling and grammar and make the necessary changes
Remember: Good academic writing is clear, straightforward and
grammatically correct. Sentences do not have to be overlong or
use very complex vocabulary.
Referencing
All essays must be referenced according to the guidelines set
out
or
<http://prodmams.rmit.edu.au/s9sx559hurvc.rtf.>.
or
5. Report Writing
What is a business report?

A report is a document that:records an investigation into a
specific problem(s)/ subject.
analyses researched information.
contains factual / statistical information.
makes recommendations about how to resolve the problems that
have been addressed.
and/or the type of action that should be taken.
sets out information in a formal and structured manner using
numbered headings and sub-headings to make it easier to read
and access the information.
A business report is written in a simple, ordered and precise
manner to ensure that the information provided is easy to read
and to access.
What is the purpose of a business report?
Reports are usually written for specific readers to communicate
information which has been compiled as a result of research and
analysis of data.
Why are you required to write reports?
To develop the ability to thoroughly research a problem or an
issue
To analyse the results
To record and draw conclusion from the analysis
To communicate that information clearly and concisely
Employers value people who have developed these skills in
written communication.
In organisations and businesses, reports are often used as the
basis on which major decisions are made.
What are the different types of reports?
There are many different types of reports. They vary according
to the reason/s for the report and for the purpose it will serve

for the intended reader.
In the College of Business, you are required to develop the
skills of report writing using investigative methods and research
from a variety of sources
Note:Always check your Course Guide for the required report
format to ensure that you are meeting the specific assessment
criteria.
A step by step guide to report writing
Step 1 Choose your topic
If you are given a list of topics from which to choose, select the
one that interests you the most or that may have relevance to
your chosen career.
If you are allowed to create your own report topic choose a
subject that you want to learn more about and that interests you
or is a current problem in your workplace that you wish to
address.
Step 2 Read the instructions relating to your assessments as
set down in your Course Guide
Always check your course guide to ensure that you are clear
about what you are required to do.When is the report due?
How long is it?
What is the format?
What is the structure?
How does this topic relate to the course?
How does this topic relate to the current area being studied?
Step 3 Analyse the topic
Break the topic into its component parts to understand what the
main issue is that must be addressed.

Report topics can usually be divided into three sections:Content
What is the issue or problem to be addressed?
InstructionWhat have you been asked to do in relation to the
topic?Scope How has the topic been limited – is there a
focus on particular organisations/
countries /year(s)?
Underline key words and draw circles around the
action/instruction words.
It is really important that you understand what the instruction
words are telling you to do.
Step 4 Brain storm – what do you already know about the
issue?
A brainstorm is the beginning of a mind map – these random
ideas can be organised into a structured mind map that will
provide you with a guide for your research and your
writing.Using your reading, lectures and your own experiences
think about what you already know about the problem/issue.On
a blank piece of paper, write down all the ideas that you think
might be related to the subject under review
Write down where you think you need to go to get information
other than from books, journals websites etc. Think about who
you know in business who you might be able to interview.
Step 5 Starting your research
Although you are required to read and research widely, it is
better to gain an overview of the topic by firstly reading the
recommended texts – don’t go straight online unless instructed
to do so by your lecturer or tutor.
The texts will give you a broad understanding of .the main
ideas, writers and theories associated with the issue.
By familiarising yourself with the key concepts, the next stage

of your investigation will be more targeted.
Step 6 Mind mapping
A mind map is a visual way of gathering your ideas about a
particular topic.
Mind maps help you to identify the main ideas and what
research needs to be conducted to provide the evidence that
supports these ideas.
Your mind map is a good time management resource. It will
help you focus your search for information more efficiently and
to organise your ideas into a coherent and logical structure
when you write your report.
Table 16
Mind mapping for reports
Topic question
On a blank piece of paper, write down the topic.
Key ideas
Use the brain storming notes and information gained from
general reading to jot down the key ideas. This is the first step
in developing a mind map.
Research
As you continue to do research, start to put the information into
groups so that you can see the connections between
ideas/theories. This will help you to sort out which are the key
ideas and what is the supporting information.
Delete any unnecessary ideas
Once you have completed this task, you can delete any
unnecessary ideas that you have now identified as irrelevant.
Single page
Keep your mind map to a single page.
For more information on mind mapping go to the Learning Lab -
Study Skills <www.dlsweb.rmit.edu.au/lsu>.

Step 7 Focus your research
As Business students you need to be familiar with current trends
and thinking. Websites, newspapers and journals will be
important resources for your research.
When you are using the online resources use the search engines
provided by the university such as Factiva, Proquest, Blackwell
Synergy, IBIS world, Informit. These will provide you with
sources that can be relied on for accuracy and integrity.
At this stage you must read with a purpose and only make notes
when you are sure that the text has the information you need to
use in your assessment task.
Always make sure you have recorded the full reference list
entry details – you will need this information later.
For more information on recording your research go to the
interactive online referencing resource for Business students
Refer to your course guide for recommended reading lists. If
there are no recommended texts, you will need to use resources
available through the Library data bases
<www.rmit.edu.au/library" www.rmit.edu.au/library>.
Hints and Tips on Efficient Reading Strategies
Once you have identified the key words and concepts relating to
the topic, use these reading strategies to make your research
more efficient and to maximise the use of your time.
Skim and scan. Use key words and concepts to quickly locate
information
Use chapter headings, abstracts, introductions, conclusions to
find the main ideas the writer is exploring – if they are relevant
– continue

Make notes when key information has been identified
Contact the Library Liaison Officer for your course if you need
assistance. For additional help with reading more efficiently
visit the Learning Lab <www.dlsweb.rmit.edu.au/lsu>.
Hints and Tips on Critical Reading
One of your tasks when researching is to determine the validity,
accuracy and credibility of your sources. This requires you to
consider carefully what you are reading. It is always important
to critically examine the statements being made and the
evidence being used.
For your assessment tasks you will often be using the websites
of companies and organisations. The information they provide
will be positive and promotional so it is important to question
the objectivity and reliability of the data.
Do this by considering the following questions:-
Who is the writer?When was the article written?
What evidence has the writer provided to support their
argument?
How convincing is it? Why? - What are the grounds for saying
so?
How logical is it? - Again, what are the grounds for saying so?
What assumptions / overgeneralizations does the writer make?
What are the implications of this work?
What has the writer failed to consider? Where are the gaps?
Is there evidence of bias?
Do you agree or disagree with this writer’s standpoint?
With which parts of the argument do you agree/disagree, and for
what reasons?
Is the methodology / the analysis appropriate?
Are there any weaknesses or errors in the writing or
calculations?

What are primary information sources?
Students are required to use primary sources whenever possible.
This means that you read and reference the original works of the
authors. Information you have gathered from first hand
experience – eg. an interview or survey – is also a primary
source.
What are secondary information sources?
When you use the ideas /words of one author that have appeared
in another writer’s text you are using a secondary source.
Below are two examples of how to use a secondary source in a
sentence:
Bartlett and Ghoshal (cited in Daft 2004) suggest that
companies expanding into global markets are forced to do so
because of economic, technological and competitive factors,
cheaper production factors.Companies expanding into global
markets are forced to do so because of economic, technological
and competitive factors, which relate to economies of scale,
economies of scope and cheaper production factors (Bartlett &
Ghoshal, cited in Daft 2004).
Step 8 Draw up a detailed plan
Collecting the data for a report takes place over an extended
period of time. Before you start writing, you need to use your
mind map, your notes from various sources, texts, websites,
surveys, interviews and more to draw up a report plan
identifying the main ideas and the evidence that supports those
ideas.
A plan is like a road map which allows you to have a clear
understanding of the direction your report is going to take. A
detailed plan can help you to have confidence when you start to
write. You know what you want to write, why you are including
it and the logical order in which to present it.

Step 9 Writing the report
Report Structure
It is important to follow your course guidelines or company
/organisation instructions for your industry projects as
guidelines for how to present your report are generally given to
you. However, if you have not been given instructions about
the format of your report, below is listed the structure of a
business report.
Reports are generally divided into the following sections:-Cover
sheet (use the RMIT cover sheet as per your course guide)
Title page
Acknowledgements (if necessary)
Table of contents
Executive Summary
Introduction
Main section(s) of the report
Conclusion
Recommendations
AppendicesGlossary
Reference List
Table 17 covers each part in detail.
Table 17
Sections of a report
Explanation
Cover sheet
Download from the Course Guide
Every assignment must have the cover sheet stapled to the front
of your assignment.
See <http://mams.rmit.edu.au/7ksj9bbov094.doc"
http://mams.rmit.edu.au/7ksj9bbov094.doc>.

Title page
The title of the report copied from the Course Guide.
If you have created your own project then the title needs to be a
clear explanation of what the report is about
The title page also includes:-Student name and number
Lecturer’s name or the manager who requested the report
Date the report was submitted
Name and number of the course
Table of Contents
The Table of Contents provides the reader with an easy guide to
where information is located in the report.
Any report that is longer than a few pages needs a Table of
Contents.
The Table of Contents listssections, sub-sections of the report
and the corresponding page numbers.
diagrams and appendices.
.
The Table of Contents should be written when the final draft
has been completed to ensure that the page numbers and
headings match.
All numbering must be consistent and accurate.
For instructions on how to generate an automated Table of
Contents in Microsoft Word go to
<http://office.microsoft.com/en-
au/word/HP051892931033.aspx>. This enables you to match
headings and page numbers into your Table of Contents.
Abstract/ Executive Summary
In companies and organisations, the Executive Summary is

critically important as managers tend to read this section first to
gain an overview of the whole report.
The Executive Summary provides a short and comprehensive
summary of the whole report.
gives the bare facts of the report including the findings and
conclusions.
provides enough detail for the reader to have a clear
understanding of the main facts and critical findings.
is typically very short.is written in the past tense as it is a
record of what has been done.
Although the Executive Summary appears at the beginning of
the report, this section should be written after the report has
been finalised and you have had time to reflect on the report as
a whole.
Introduction
The Introduction provides a brief, accurate background for the
main section of the report.
Introductions typically includethe purpose of the report/
background the scope, methods used – issues covered/not
covered
the limitations of the report and outlines terms of
reference/definitions
Questions to be considered-
What is the situation that has made an investigation into the
issue or problem necessary?
How will the research be carried out?
What are the aims/ objectives? What are you setting out to do?
(These objectives will be addressed throughout the report and
provide the framework for the research and the conclusions).
Scope-

Often an issue will be extremely broad and you will need to
narrow the focus to the specific areas to be investigated.
There will be other factors that limit the scope of the report.
State what they are e.g. time, budget, geographical location,
client availability, a particular company …
Terminology -
If there are terms or words that are critical to an understanding
of the report but may be unfamiliar to the reader, introduce
them and define what they mean as used within the report.
Main section(s) of the report
may include:
a literature review (optional depending on assessment
instructions)
Methodology
Findings
Analysis
There is no particular formula for this section of the report.
What you are required to do is to thoroughly investigate,
examine and analyse the factors that impact the current
situation.
There is often a Literature Review as a component of your
report.
The research methodology(ies) and the reasons why you have
chosen them need to be explained.
A variety of methods can be used depending on the problem
being investigated.
Examples of methodologies include questionnaires, focus
groups, interviews, experiments, literature searches.

The findings / results from the research are documented and
analysed.
Your research needs to be presented in a logical sequence using
numbered headings that clearly show the reader what
information is contained in each paragraph.
Note: Refer to your Course Guide to ensure that your report
meets the assessment criteria.
Conclusion
The conclusion summarises the main points investigated and
comments on the significance of the findings.
The conclusion/s are based on the results of the research you
have conducted and not on your personal opinion. All the
conclusions must be supported by the material / facts you have
presented in the report.
Remember the conclusion/s should always relate back to the
stated objectives of the report.
Do not introduce new ideas /theories/ issues in the conclusion.
Recommendations
The recommendations are based on the conclusions and provide
possible solutions or courses of action to resolve the problems
examined in the report. when and how action should be taken

Having completed the report, recommendations may include any
of the followingwhat action should be taken and who should be
involved in its implementationwhat could have been done
differently to achieve better more comprehensive outcomes
what possible costs or risks are involved in carrying out your
recommendations
what makes this the best solution
what further research might be conducted for continuous
improvement
Appendix / Appendices
Information that is not essential to the general understanding of
the report but may be important in supplying further
information for the reader is placed in an Appendix:
a copy of the questionnaire you have used when interviewing
a financial statement / annual reports
technical data
The information in the Appendix must be discussed in the main
part of your report and the reader directed to both the Appendix
number and the page where it can be found.
Glossary
If you have used words, phrases and terms which may not be
familiar to the reader, you need to place these in an alphabetical
list accompanied by a short explanation.
If they are unusual or essential to an understanding of the text,
such terms should be defined at the beginning of the report or
the reader should be directed to refer to the glossary.
Reference List
All the references used n your report must be documented fully
in the reference list using the Harvard system used by RMIT

College of Business.
The guide to RMIT referencing can be found at
<www.dlsweb.rmit.edu.au/bus/public/referencing"
www.dlsweb.rmit.edu.au/bus/public/referencing>.
If you have not used Harvard referencing before, the online
tutorial on <www.dlsweb.rmit.edu.au/lsu>. will help you.
Step 10 Using your plan to start writing
In Step 8 you wrote a detailed plan which included the various
sources, texts, websites, surveys, interviews that you researched
for your report. Your plan has identified the main ideas and the
evidence that supports those ideas.
Sort your plan into sections so that you know what you want to
include in the introduction, the various paragraphs in the main
part of your report, the conclusion and recommendations. The
more organised this plan is, the easier it will be to write the
report.
Step 11 Writing the first draft
Using the detailed plan you have now developed, set aside a
block of time to write the first draft of your report. Aim to write
the whole report in the time you have set aside as this will give
your work a clear flow. Do not be concerned at this stage with
headings, numbering systems, correct grammar, spelling, or
referencing as this will be done at the editing stage.
Once you have written this first draft it will be much easier to
see where evidence is lacking, and where information could be
more logically re-organised. Then you can start to create
headings and subheadings related to each section of
information.
Leave the numbering of each section until you have a final

draft.
As you will probably need to write several drafts before the
report is ready for submission, make sure you have allowed
sufficient time to do this.
When you write your essay, you will need to use techniques
such as paraphrasing and synthesising.
Paraphrasing is expressing in your own words the ideas of
another writer.
Synthesising is the ability to express in your own words the
similarities or differences in the ideas of a number of authors.
You must always acknowledge the sources for your ideas even
when you use your own words. For more information on how to
paraphrase and synthesise go to <www.dlsweb.rmit.edu.au/lsu>.
For more information on how to reference when paraphrasing go
to <www.dlsweb.rmit.edu.au/bus/public/referencing>.
Direct quotations are when you use the exact words of the
author/source.
You may use direct quotation in your assessment tasks, but
these should be kept to a minimum.
Whenever quoting from any source you must correctly reference
the work. For further information on how to reference direct
quotes, go to
For more information on direct quotes, go to

Step 12 Formatting your report
Headings
A report is divided into numbered sections using headings and
subheadings which highlight the main parts and ideas within the
report. Headings need to be brief and informative.
Headings are used to:separate the text into smaller, more
manageable units that summarise the content of each headed
section.
assist the reader to find information quickly and easily.
present a new idea / aspect of the content.
A sub-heading is used when this idea is extended and further
explored.
Numbering system
You need to use a consistent numbering system to identify the
different sections of a report. It is recommended that you use
the decimal system as shown in the example below.
MANUFACTURING
1.1 Staff
1.1.1Recruitment
1.1.2Training
1.1.3Salary
1.1.4Promotion
1.2 Equipment
1.2.1Costing and budgeting
1.2.2Ordering
1.2.3Repair and maintenance
1.3 Inventory
1.3.1 Raw materials
1.3.2 Component parts
1.3.3 Inventory management
1.4 Output

1.4.1Work in progress
1.4.2Finished goods
2 SALES
2.1 Staff
2.1.1Recruitment …
All numbered sections and headings must all be included in the
Table of Contents and must match with the respective page
numbers. This ensures that the reader can access information
easily.
Remember each page of your report must also be numbered.
Style of language
Reports are intended to be read easily and to provide quick
access to information. You are writing about facts or relevant
pieces of information. Therefore the style of language is simple
and direct.
Sentences should not be complicated - state the point you are
making clearly and directly.
A report is written in an objective and impersonal manner as it
is presenting facts. Unless you have been asked for your
personal opinion you should not be using personal pronouns
such as ’you’,’ we’ and ‘I’. Do not offer your own personal
point of view.
Language needs to be formal. Do not use abbreviations or slang
or SMS.
Table 18
Examples of the language used in the different sections of a
report
Reasons for the report

This report was commissioned as a result of ongoing concerns
about..
The report sets out to examine the reasons for …
This report investigated..
Objectives
This report aims to explore the options available...
The main objectives of the report are to examine the reasons …
This report examines the relationship between …
Methodology
In order to review current procedures …
Staff members were asked to complete an on-line
questionnaire…
Findings
The investigation clearly showed that …
Initial findings suggest that ….
Conclusions
Analysis of the data showed that …
The following conclusion can be drawn from the investigation
…
Recommendations
It is recommended that …
Because of the …, it is suggested that the following actions be
considered.
Do NOT use informal language. Note the way impersonal and
passive language has been used in Table 19.
Table 19
Informal versus formal language
Informal
Formal

I think that this sort of thing should never happen again.
Correct procedures, as set out in the Staff Manual, must be
followed so that such incidents do not occur again.
I reckon if customers are unhappy about the service or our
product, the boss needs to know.
When complaints are made, the problem needs to be reported
and the situation monitored.
You should have got the minutes by now.
The minutes for the AGM has been circulated to all participants.
Cul8r
The committee will meet tomorrow.
Bullet points
In some reports, bullet points are acceptable. Check that they
are allowed in your report.
When you use bullet points as part of the sentence, each bullet
point is in lower case and should be grammatically correct, e.g.
The success of a report depends on:-
the objectivity of the presentation
the value of the research
the analysis of relevant information
the ease with which information can be accessed
Use of visual material
Graphic materials, e.g. figures, tables, illustrations and charts
are a very useful way of presenting information.
If used in the text, visual material should be positioned as close
as possible to the discussion and cited appropriately, both in the
text and the reference list.
If used in the Appendices, they should be clearly labelled and
referred to in the discussion within the report. They must also
be cited appropriately and listed in the Table of Contents.

In your discussion, you will need to inform the reader what the
graphic material represents, e.g. point out any important trends
or generalisations and highlight the significant point(s) you are
making.
Different types of figures and tables fulfill different functions.
You should always choose the most appropriate type of
illustration for your purpose. For example:-line graphs are
useful for showing trends,
bar graphs clearly show comparisons
pie charts can be used to show sub-categories in relation to the
whole e.g. the percentage of students attending RMIT
University classified by nationality.
If you are giving the report orally, pie charts and graphs are
easier to read and understand than tables.
Refer
to<www.dlsweb.rmit.edu.au/lsu/content/2_AssessmentTasks/ass
ess_tuts/Format_LL/figures.html>.
Editing your final draft
You need to edit your draft before submitting the final version.
Read your Course Guide carefully to ensure that you have met
the requirements of the assignment.
Observe the word limit or you may be penalised. Word limits,
as the words imply, set the limit on the number of words that
can be used. The topic has been designed so that the issues and
complexities can be explored within this word limit.
Using ‘Tools’ on the menu bar in Microsoft Word, check your
spelling and grammar and make the necessary changes.

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