Gsp hpsds l2_7.3_structuring your report

1. Unit 7
STRUCTURING YOUR REPORT
globalstudypass.com | Unit 7 HIGHER PROJECT

2. globalstudypass.com | Unit 7
GETTING STARTED
The report may be the longest assignment you have
written to date and it can be overwhelming to think about
writing up your work.
Early planning can help you break down the writing into
manageable sections, give your work structure, and help
you get your message across more effectively.
It is important to see the writing stage as part of the
process, not something that happens at the very end.
It is often not until you start explaining something in
writing that you find where your argument/discussion is
weak or incomplete.
TIPS
• It’s hard to get started but it’s
best to have a go at writing -
you can always revise it later
on
• Keep reading and amending
your work – each section will
probably need at least two
drafts
• A good structure will help
with this.
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INTRODUCTION
RESEARCH REVIEW
DISCUSSION
CONCLUSION/EVALUATION
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Present your written report in six sections.
The 2 major sections will be:
• the Research Review section where you
look at what other people have written
and done;
• the Discussion, where you put forward
your own ideas and arguments.
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3
4
2
1
STRUCTURE
APPENDICES6
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4. globalstudypass.com | Unit 7
Explanation of your project topic/question and objective,
with reasons for choosing your project
The information you have found with references and
comments on sources
Answers to your question + your point of view with reasons
INTRODUCTION
RESEARCH REVIEW
DISCUSSION
CONCLUSION/EVALUATION
BIBLIOGRAPHY5
3
4
2
1
STRUCTURE
Explanation of how your ideas and skills have developed, what
worked well and what did not. What you have learned from
the project and what you would do differently in future
List of where you got your information from
APPENDICES Questionnaire, raw data, Project Proposal, Production Log
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INTRODUCTION
RESEARCH REVIEW
DISCUSSION
CONCLUSION/EVALUATION
BIBLIOGRAPHY
250 – 300 words
600 – 800 words
650 – 850 words
250 – 300 words
no word limit
Your report should be about 2000
words in total.
There are no rigid rules about the
number of words in each section.
These figures are just for guidance.
WORD COUNT
APPENDICES no word limit
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INTRODUCTION
RESEARCH REVIEW
DISCUSSION
CONCLUSION/EVALUATION
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1
ORDER OF WRITING
Write your report in the order
shown here.
Start by writing the main body:
• Research Review
• Discussion
2
4
3
5
APPENDICES6
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How should it be constructed?
Break it down into 2 sub-sections:
1. Project topic or research question
Describe the work you actually did.
2. Rationale and Background
Why you chose this particular
research topic or question, including
your personal reasons.
What is it?
• It states your question.
• It sets the scene for your project.
• It tells the reader what the context is and where it’s
going.
• Write it after you’ve written the Research Review
and Discussion.
What makes a good Introduction?
• One which highlights different aspects of the
question, for example scientific, ethical,
philosophical, historical, or cultural aspects. Word Count 200 – 250 words
INTRODUCTION
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How should it be constructed?
• Aim to tell a coherent story:
o What has happened;
o Key dates;
o Who’s been involved;
o Who did what;
o The influences on their work;
o What they’ve written and said;
o Which ideas are relevant.
• Avoid plagiarism – write in your own
words.
What is it?
• Focuses on a specific topic; organised around and related directly to
your project.
• Compiles the research/information that has been published on the
topic by recognised scholars and researchers.
• Provides background for the problem (research question) or puts the
problem into historical perspective.
• Informs the reader about the current concepts, the state of research on
the topic, and any controversies.
• Describes the pros and cons of particular studies and may suggest
areas for further research.
• Organizes the literature into a narrative.
What makes a good research review?
• Choose credible sources.
• Don’t just reproduce information – analyse it.
• Explain what the information means, and how it’s relevant to your
project.
Word Count 600 – 800 words
RESEARCH REVIEW
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In the main body text state the name of the author and
the year their work was published. This is a citation
Hawking (1988) explores how the universe
began and what made its start possible.
Hawking, S (1988) A Brief History of Time
New York: Bantam Dell
Referencing your source material allows readers to find your sources and read them for themselves.
The reader should then be able to cross-reference the
citation to a more detailed list - the bibliography.
Use the Citations and Bibliography tool in Word.
REFERENCING
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When writing your Research Review you must include a short evaluation of each source:
• primary or secondary?
• fact, speculation, or opinion?
• objective or biased?
The first time you use a source, insert a footnote and write your evaluative comments there. It’s a way
of providing supplementary information without interrupting the main flow of text.
To create a footnote in Word:
• select ‘References’ on the main toolbar;
• then ‘Insert Footnote’
FOOTNOTES
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How should it be constructed?
• Start by setting out clearly
the different ways in which
other people have answered
your question.
• The give a clear statement of
your own answer to the
question, supported by lines
of argument based on
evidence.
What is it?
• Dissertation – where you use your research to come up with an
answer to your chosen question.
• Investigation /Field Study – where you present your results and
analyse whether the data you’ve obtained supports your hypothesis.
What makes a good discussion?
• Argue persuasively. Use the material you’ve researched to build a
logical case for your point of view.
• Show you can engage with other/different ideas to your own.
• Identify counter-arguments: what do other people who disagree with
you think? Why do they think that? Respond!
• Don’t just engage with easy arguments – look for the strongest
possible arguments against the position you’re defending and answer
them with the strongest arguments for your case.
• Identify clearly what you really think about your topic.
Word Count 650 – 850 words
DISCUSSION
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How should it be constructed?
• Try to use different words to say the
same things that you’ve already said in
your Discussion.
What is it?
• A clear summary of your own point of view
and the arguments for it.
• Real conclusions, not just a
summary/repetition of the findings.
• Write it after you’ve written the Research
Review and Discussion.
What makes a good conclusion?
• Reinforce the arguments already made in your
discussion .
Word Count
250 – 300 words
CONCLUSION/EVALUATION
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What is it?
• A list of all the sources
referred to in your
project.
• The bibliography is there
to make it clear to readers
how you’ve used other
people’s work and to
enable readers to find the
same sources for
themselves.
How should it be constructed?
• In the main text, each time you quote or refer to a printed source,
give the surname(s) of the author(s) in brackets followed by the year
of publication e.g.(Klein, 2014) or (Cox and Wong, 2010)
• If there are three or more authors, list then first one then ‘et al’ e.g.
(Abramovitch et al, 2012)
• If you’re referring to a website, include the name of the author (if
known) and URL of the home page e.g. (Ahlberg, newscientist.com)
• List sources in alphabetical order of surname of first author,
regardless of the order in which they relate to your main text.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
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For journals or magazines
Surname, Initials (Year) Title of article, Name of journal in italics, Volume number (issue number if applicable) in
bold, Page number(s)
For books
Surname, Initials (Year) Name of book in italics, Publisher, Place of publication, Chapter number, Page number(s)
For websites
Author or editor (Year) Title [online}. Publisher, Place of publication. Available from: URL [Date of access]
BIBLIOGRAPHY RULES
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APPENDICES: SUMMARY
What is it?
• Project Proposal Form.
• Project Production Log.
• For an Investigation/Field Study – all your
raw data.
TIP
Make sure your Production Log is up complete and up
to date.
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Marks will be awarded for the quality of your written communication. Aim to make your report as user-
friendly as possible.
DO
• Use short clear sentences.
• Use short clear paragraphs.
• Aim for a logical development.
• Organise text under headings and sub-headings.
• Explain unfamiliar terms.
• Include illustrations.
• Summarise important points.
• Refer to How to Write in Plain English
http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/files/howto.pdf
• Use data to convey your message.
• Use lists and tables.
• Think carefully about the style of graphs and
charts – e.g. pie chart or line graph?
DON’T
• Use jargon.
• Use tiny print and narrow margins.
• Contradict yourself.
• Ignore spelling and punctuation errors.
• Forget the rules for using numbers in text.
• Include too many significant figures.
• Ignore guidance about the number of words.
WRITING STYLES DOS AND DON’TS
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It is important that your work is well presented and you
should always try to leave a few days at the end to make
sure you can add all the finishing touches.
Make sure your headings are consistent, everything is
labelled properly, and all the pages are there!
It is always worth having someone else read through your
work - maybe a family member or a friend. Most
academics will have at least one person read their work
before they submit it to a journal. The person
proofreading doesn’t have to understand everything.
TIPS
Leave time to read through your
work.
Check formatting, and for spelling
mistakes. Make sure all of your
references are correct in the text
and in the reference list.
FINISHING TOUCHES
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