1. Academic Skills Week Workshop 3: Report Writing & Dissertations
Scottish University of the Year 2017
Academic Skills Week Workshop 3: Report Writing & Dissertations
Michael Allardice
Academic Skills Centre
11th October 2017

2. DUSA & CASTLE
This is a partnership between DUSA and CASTLE and each workshop will have a member of the DUSA Exec involved.

3. Key elements of Reports Focus on Dissertations Questions
Workshop Plan
Key elements of Reports Focus on Dissertations Questions

4. To begin!
Working with the people around you – groups of 2 or 3 people – develop a list of questions you would like us to answer (if we can) in this session. Make the questions as short as you can, pass them to the front and we will group them together and respond Title your questions: Reports or Dissertations

5. HEALTH WARNING!
The not so Small Print!
Each School has its own “House Style” – make yourself familiar with that expectation

6. Academic Writing Your writing must be: Readable Sensible Objective
Accurate in fact
Honest
Your writing must be:

7. Some Basic Expectations
Objective
Factual
Honesty
Neutral
- avoid ‘I’, ‘you’, ‘we’ and ‘one’
Valid facts
- not hearsay
Supported by evidence
- use only reliable sources and cite them

8. The Scientific Expectation:
The community of scientists is bound by a set of values, traditions, and standards that embody honesty, integrity, objectivity, and collegiality. These values are reflected in the particular principles and practices characteristic of specific scientific disciplines.
(definition from the: National Academy of Sciences, 1992, in Responsible Science, Volume I: Ensuring the Integrity of the Research Process)

9. It is the written outcome of an experiment or study reporting the;
What is a report?
It is the written outcome of an experiment or study reporting the;
background
design
usefulness of the data
leading to conclusions about a (scientific) process or principle… that will respect and comply with the traditional values & expectations of the subject/discipline’s community.

10. Objective:
Scientific objectivity is a characteristic of scientific claims, methods and results. It expresses the idea that the claims, methods and results of science are not, or should not be influenced by particular perspectives, value commitments, community bias or personal interests, to name a few relevant factors. Objectivity is often considered as an ideal for scientific inquiry, as a good reason for valuing scientific knowledge, and as the basis of the authority of science in society.
(definition in Stanford Encyclopaedia of Philosophy, 2014, Scientific Objectivity.)

11. What were your key questions:

12. Reports - General
There are some general elements for any report that are common to all: Introduction Methods & materials Results Discussion Conclusion

13. Specific Elements Some reports also ask for the following: ABSTRACT
CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
AIM(S) OF PROJECT (HYPOTHESIS) - [RESEARCH QUESTIONS]
LITERATURE REVIEW
RECOMMENDATIONS
REFERENCES/BIBLIOGRAPHY
APPENDICES

14. Framing Reports – One possible approach
Context
Key ideas – Hypothesis
Aim of Project
Situation/Problem
Introduction
Main Body
Problem?
Solution(s)
Results
Evaluation/Discussion
Key ideas &
supporting evidence
Recommendations/
your view
Place in wider context
Conclusion

15. An alternative structure
ABSTRACT
Author, Title, Date
Introductory
sections
Introduction/
Lit. Review
An alternative structure
Main body
Methods &
Materials
Results
Discussion
Conclusion
Concluding Section
Recommendations
REFERENCES
Gordon Spark, ASC November 2013

16. REMEMBER ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR SCHOOL FOR THE “HOUSE STYLE”
Report Style
Depends on your discipline:
REMEMBER ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR SCHOOL FOR THE “HOUSE STYLE”

17. Dissertations

18. DISSERTATIONS What is a Dissertation?
Extended writing expected of many Final Year undergraduates and all postgraduates.
They can range from 5,000 to 80,000 words in length
Normally you are expected to develop and design your own research topic/project and work under the guidance of a Supervisor

19. What is your Question?
Sometimes you will be given a question to research, but often it is open to you to decide. Questions do not always have to be set in concrete – they can ‘adapt’ as your research & thinking evolves. Begin with the area of interest and then start to narrow your focus on one particular topic

20. Brainstorm
Begin the project by brainstorming your topic – What do you already know?
Are there any gaps in your knowledge?
Who has written on this topic?
Where are the controversies?
Are there gaps in the research: if so, what are they?

21. Reading/Researching
Never underestimate the importance of the reading you do!
Take notes as you go
be organised and systematic about your approach
Begin writing, even if you do not feel you have the ‘final answer’. It will help you clarify your thinking
Maintain some form of “version control” and regularly back your files up!

22. Planning
Have a plan and keep referring back to it. Sometimes you will need to update and re-configure your plan depending on the influence your research is having.

23. Structure
Identify and discuss the structure of your dissertation with your Supervisor.
Check to see if there is a standard House Style for your discipline.
See how previous students have structured similar studies.
Ensure you conform to all the regulations.
With longer dissertations they are likely to be split into chapters

24. Chapters
Chapters are a little like paragraphs – each one ought to deal with a particular theme of your dissertation. The number and length of your chapters depends on the size and range of topics you need to cover. A basic contents page might look a little like this: Chapter 1 – Background and aims of the project Chapter 2 – Literature Review Chapter 3 – 1st substantive theme Chapter 4 – 2nd substantive theme Chapter 5 – 3rd substantive theme Chapter 6 - conclusion

25. Literature Review
These are often the starting point for dissertation studies:
who has already written on the subject of this dissertation?
what have they found?
What gaps are there in the literature?
What areas for development of new ideas or processes or thinking are there?

26. Working with a Supervisor
Aim to establish a good working relationship with your supervisor
Meet with them at regular intervals
Keep them updated on your progress
Never be afraid to ask them questions
Take a note of the things you discuss in your meetings
Ensure you understand their expectations

27. DO NOT LEAVE EVERYTHING TO THE LAST MINUTE!
Time-management
With a long-term project it is important that you plan ahead and keep producing.
Have a good working time-line or plan
DO NOT LEAVE EVERYTHING TO THE LAST MINUTE!

28. And Finally…
Any other questions?
RLF Writing Fellows

29. Contacts
The Academic Skills Team can be contacted through: For other issues go to: