2. LEARNING OBJECTIVES
◊ Types of Reports
◊ Choice of topic and type
◊ How to Write Reports
◊ Anatomy of a Report
◊ Presentation
◊ Bibliography
◊ Copyright issues
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4. DISCOURSE
"Dissertation" comes from the Latin term dissertātiō, meaning
"discourse[1]."
[1] Discourse is communication that goes back and forth (from the
Latin, discursus, "running to and from"), such as debate or argument.
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5. REPORTS
The word "thesis" comes from the Greek θέσις, meaning
"position", and refers to an intellectual proposition. That
needs to be proved or disproved
A report is a document characterized by information or
other content reflective of inquiry or investigation, which is
tailored to the context of a given situation and audience. The
purpose of reports is usually to inform.
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6. APPROACHES
An analytical paper breaks down an issue or an idea into
its component parts, evaluates the issue or idea, and presents
this breakdown and evaluation to the audience.
An expository (explanatory) paper explains something to
the audience.
An argumentative paper makes a claim about a topic and
justifies this claim with specific evidence.
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7. SOME EXAMPLES
Dissertation: A critical review of feminist criticism in recent
Indian writings in English. Highlighting the debate.
Thesis: Have pollution levels gone down in Delhi? Arguing the
case with some evidence.
Report: What is sub-prime crisis? Or Nanotechnologies in daily
life or Global Warming. Gathering and presenting information.
Essay: Rashtravadi andolan aur yuva lekhak.
Janvadi lekhakon mein boli ka pratibimb.
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8. COMMON UNDERSTANDING
OF A REPORT
In the practical world of business or government, a report conveys
information and (sometimes) recommendations from a researcher
who has investigated a topic in detail.
A report like this will usually be requested by people who need the
information for a specific purpose and their request may be written in
terms of reference or the brief. Whatever the report, it is important to
look at the instructions for what is wanted
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9. CONSIDERATIONS FOR
CHOICE OF TOPIC
Current topic – lots of information available on
net.
Old topic – information available in library. But
must have scope to show a new angle.
Scope for data analysis and graphic presentation
makes the final presentation attractive. Good at
computers? Go ahead.
Good expression – essay type better.
General or specific - Have a specific point to make
go for thesis. But with only one clearly stated
hypothesis.
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10. CRITERIA FOR DECIDING
Choice of Issues
Assessing your capabilities
Availability of information or data
Time frame
Feasibility
Interest
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11. 5 STEPS TO REPORT WRITING
1. Define the problem
2. Gather the necessary information
3. Analyse the information
4. Organize the information
5. Write the report
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12. PROBLEM DEFINITION
Review the background information - do not re-invent the wheel. Use existing
reviews.
Pick up the precise topic
State the problem/ issue
All of the above has to be done by yourself and to yourself. You could consult
a colleague or senior.
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13. STRATEGIES TO ORGANIZE
REPORTS
Comparison/contrast – FDI -India vs. China
Problem-solution – Child labour and night schools.
Elimination of alternatives – Nuclear energy: debating alternative
sources of energy.
General to particular – Fundamental rights to RTI.
Geographic or spatial – Female foeticide: The Case of Punjab.
Functional – How do credit cards work?
Chronological – Fifty years of post colonial writings.
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14. LANGUAGE
UK English and US English
• International English and Indian English
Denotation and Connotation
• Let me know when you’re free next week for a meeting.
• Could you let me know what times you have free?
Tone
• She is hung up on trivial details.
• She is meticulous and takes care of details that others sometimes ignore.
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16. WE DO IT IN STYLE!
Chicago Manual of Style
Microsoft Manual of Style
AMA Style Guide
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Online research
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17. ANATOMY OF A REPORT
Cover Page
Acknowledgements A thank you to the people who helped you.
Contents or Table of Contents
List of Illustrations
Executive Summary
Report Body
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18. COVER PAGE
Cover Sheet This should contain some or all of the following: full title of the
report; your name; the name of the unit of which the project is a part; the name
of the institution; the date.
If there are multiple authors the presenters surname must be in capitals.
The details of the author for correspondence must be given
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19. CONTENTS OR TABLE OF
CONTENTS
Headings and subheadings used in the report with
their page numbers. Remember that each new
chapter should begin on a new page.
Use a consistent system in dividing the report into parts.
The simplest may be to use chapters for each major part and
subdivide these into sections and subsections. 1, 2, 3, etc, can
be used as the numbers for each chapter. The sections for
chapter 3 (for example) would be 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, and so on. For a
further subdivision of a subsection you can use 3.2.1, 3.2.2,
and so on.
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21. ABSTRACT
Abstract or Summary or Executive Summary or Introduction
This is the overview of the whole report. It should let the reader see,
in advance, what is in it. This includes what you set out to do, how
reviewing literature focused and narrowed your research, the relation
of the methodology you chose to your aims, a summary of your
findings and of your analysis of the findings.
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22. REPORT BODY
Introduction
• Purpose and Scope; Limitations, Assumptions, and
Methods
Background/History of the Problem
Layout - section wise
Body
• Presents and interprets data
Conclusions and Recommendations
References or Works Cited
Appendixes
• Interview transcripts, questionnaires, question
tallies, printouts, and previous reports
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23. AIMS AND PURPOSE
Aims and Purpose or Aims and Objectives
Why did you do the work? What was the problem you were
investigating? If you are not including a literature review, mention
here the other research which is relevant to your work.
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24. METHODOLOGY
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• Methodology deals with the methods and principles used in an
activity, in this case research. In the methodology chapter you
explain the method/s you used for the research and why you thought
they were the appropriate ones. You may, for example, be doing
mostly documentary research or you may have collected you own
data.
• You should explain the methods of data collection, materials used,
subjects interviewed, or places you visited. Give a detailed account
of how and when you carried out your research and explain why you
used the particular methods which you did use, rather than other
methods.
• Included in this discussion should be an examination of ethical
issues.
25. DATA COLLECTION
Primary or Secondary – Questionnaire or experimental
observations.
Source – Unctad Trade & Development Report 2001.
Time period – with justification.
Missing data – treatment of.
Cross sectional or time series.
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26. MAIN: PRESENT AND
INTERPRET DATA
Give a clear presentation of your results:
What is the hypothesis (ses) (if any).
What did you find out?
How did you verify?
Could there be any exceptions?
Show the essential data and calculations here. You may want to use
tables, graphs and figures.
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27. PRESENTATION
This has two aspects:
The written report and the oral presentation.
Regarding the written report look below:
1. General guidelines
2. Document Design
3. FAQ and CE
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28. GENERAL GUIDELINES I
Type your paper on a computer and print it out on standard,
white 8.5 x 11-inch paper,
Double-space the text of your paper, and use a legible font
like Times New Roman or Courier. The font size should be
10-12 pt.
Leave only one space after periods or other punctuation
marks (unless otherwise instructed by your instructor).
Set the margins of your document to 1 inch on all sides.
Indent the first line of a paragraph one half-inch (five spaces
or press tab once) from the left margin.
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29. GENERAL GUIDELINES II
Create a header that numbers all pages consecutively in the
upper right-hand corner, one-half inch from the top and flush
with the right margin. (Note: Your instructor may ask that you
omit the number on your first page. Always follow your
instructor's guidelines.)
Use either italics or underlining throughout your essay for
the titles of longer works and, only when absolutely necessary,
providing emphasis.
If you have any endnotes, include them on a separate page
before your Works Cited page.
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30. DOCUMENT DESIGN
Use no more than 5 fonts.
Use no more than 5 colors.
Use glossy paper.
Use white space.
Use templates.
Use parallelism.
Avoid double emphasis.
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31. FAQ AND CE
Questions
• You, We, I – personal pronouns
• Standards for reports
• How long?
Common Errors
• It’s a common error! Its consequences are great!
• Singular & Plural errors.
• Neutrality (he/she, John)
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32. REFERENCING STYLE
Author(s). "Title of Article." Title of Periodical
Day Month Year: pages.
Poniewozik, James. "TV Makes a Too-Close
Call." Time 20 Nov. 2000: 70-71.
Buchman, Dana. "A Special Education." Good
Housekeeping Mar. 2006: 143-8.
Web-resources:
Decent Proposal” by John Fellows,
www.sellingpower.com, 2002
Newspaper report - Better Business Writing,
The Sunday Times, 22 April 2002.
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33. PROPRIETY OF
REFERENCES
Acknowledge all sources.
All things referred to in the text must appear in bibliography.
All things in bibliography must find a place in the text and must be
referenced. Smith (2003) or [2] Arya.
References must be in alphabetical order.
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34. COPYRIGHT
All open source material like wikipedia need not be
referenced.
Figures / Tables from net or books should be if source is
open and known.
Some websites like “open learn” of Open University UK,
only need acknowledging.
Source code from “open source” need not.
Priced material/published material can be used if
acknowledged and after permission.
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35. ORAL PRESENTATION
Avoid lengthy and technical explanation. Judges already know the subject matter.
Acknowledge your co-authors and others’ if necessary.
Prepare 1 slide per minute of presentation.
Try to engage the audience.
Do not read out very fast.
Pause at logical place.
Stand erect and look just above the spectators.
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36. IRONIC!!!!
How was my presentation?
Thanks!
Any queries please address to
Any praise.
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