1. Writing a Report Questions to ask

2. Why am I here? Who is the reader and what do they need to know? Imagine an outside examiner with no knowledge of your approach. Is it clear? Get someone else to read it. Make sure it is in a logical order. Edit out any unnecessary material.

3. Contents Contents page - Make it clear, logical and consistent. Divide into sensible sections. Bibliography – Reference using Harvard system – use library help sheets or go to http://del.icio.us/pathill. http://del.icio.us/pathill

4. Sections Introduction Why am I researching this topic? Background  Context  Reasons for interest Objectives  What am I hoping to achieve?  What are my research questions?

5. Sections How have I addressed these questions? Methodology  Quantitative or qualitative?  Sample  Ethical issues Literature Review What theory is relevant? What has been done before? Where does my research fit in? Hypothesis

6. Results & Analysis What have I found out? Quantity/quality of data Specific findings: Tables- number and list in contents Graphs- label as Fig 1 etc –list in contents Transcripts - in appendix but quote in text How does this relate to the theory? How does this relate to past findings?

7. Conclusion and evaluation Reiterate the main findings Evaluate methodology Identify further research

8. Appendices The reader should be able to make sense of the report without these. Anything not referred to in the text might not be read.

9. EDIT Aim to finish well before deadline Leave it alone for at least 24 hours Read it through out loud or get someone else to read it for sense Check contents page for logical order Check references and numbering Check introduction and conclusion – do they relate clearly to what you have done? Check spelling, punctuation and grammar (see http://mhm.hud.ac.uk/academic-skills/editing.html for more guidance) http://mhm.hud.ac.uk/academic-skills/editing.html