1. Chapter 17: Reporting your results
Introduction
17.1 Planning
17.2 Using other texts
17.3 Language
17.4 Quality control

2. Introduction Some guidelines presented here
Final report depends largely on personal style

3. 17.1 Planning Plan the structure Chapter 1 Chapter 2 (or more)
May change during the course of the study
Chapter 1
Describe problem
State scope of the study: List all issues related to the filed of study that do not form part of the study
Outline of approach to investigate problem
Overview of remainder of report
Chapter 2 (or more)
Background information on field of study
Set the scene for later chapters
Establish frame of reference
Refer readers to sources where more information can be obtained

4. 17.1 Planning (continued) Chapter 3 (or more) Chapter 4
Details about own work
Design of experiment
Information about how experiment was conducted
Experimental results
Provide readers with overview before going into details
Use plenty of examples
Diagrams might be useful to clarify difficult concepts
Chapter 4
Results and conclusion

5. 17.1 Planning (continued) Chapter 5 Bibliography Appendices
Summary
State problem again briefly
Overview of the report
Future research possibilities
Bibliography
Appendices
Details not necessary to follow the story but may be useful to some readers, e.g. source code
Cover page, abstract, table of contents
Remind reader regularly of the plan
Use introductory and concluding sections in each chapter to put the chapter in context

6. 17.2 Using other texts Other texts can be used
As source material
For further reference by readers
Establish the system for references for the journal or dissertation beforehand
Give enough detail so that reader will be able to find a copy of the text
Authors, name of book/paper, publisher, year oof publication
Numeric method of reference
References in reference section are ordered alphabetically according to surname of first author and numbered consecutively
Refer to number in the text
Harvard
References in reference section are ordered alphabetically according to surname of first author with bullets
Refer to author name in the text
APA
Slight change in font on Harvard

7. 17.2 Using other texts (continued)
URLs:
Try to determine if the work was published in paper format
If not, give date of access
Look at examples of similar texts
Examples p121/2.
If you quote verbatim, put the text ion quotes and add the page number.
Better to paraphrase another person’s work
The more references the better

8. 17.3 Language Correct language is IMPORTANT!
Bad language is distracting. Readers may miss the message.
Writing in non-mother language is difficult.
Essential to ask a language expert to proof-read your report.
Spelling
Use spell checker
Ensure which standard should be used, US or UK, and set word processor accordingly
Style
Write formally, i.e. don’t use let’s, phone, contraption, gadget.
Avoid slang
Keep it simple: “The contumacious comportment of indolent (nonsedulous) students.” (Stubborn behaviour of lazy (not hardworking) students”)
Keep sentences short
Never write a report without a dictionary and thesaurus at hand

9. 17.3 Language (continued)
Use adverbs (“however, indeed, etc.) to relate sentences
Paragraphs are units of meaning
Paragraphs in the same section should relate to one another
At the beginning of a section, give the reader a roadmap of where you are going. Connect with previous section/chapter.
At the end of section, summarise and put into context. Give a lead to next section/chapter.

10. Do not blow a good research with a poor report
17.4 Quality control
How do you know that your report is good enough?
Reading it and rereading it
Let some time go by and reread it.
Let somebody else read it
Correct small errors before giving it to your supervisor
You might get a spellchecked version back and no comment on the contents.
In addition, you will have a very negative supervisor.
Do not blow a good research with a poor report