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Researching
for your assignment
Charmaine Botha
Learning Skills Advisor
Monash South Africa
CONTACT DETAILS
Learning Skills Advisors Librarians
Charmaine Botha Sibusisiwe Mgquba
Focus: Focus
Health Sciences, Social Sciences, Health Sciences, Social Sciences,
ADP & HDR ADP & HDR
Tel: 011 950 4455 Tel. 011 950 4150
charmaine.botha@monash.edu Sibusisiwe.mgquba@monash.edu
Date
What do we want to achieve with an
academic essay?
Demonstrate
to your lecturer that you are able to:
Embark on an inquiry analyse question
Find Information / research
Evaluate and Analyse the information
Organize the information
Apply the information to answer the question
Communicate your knowledge (written/oral)
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Assessment Task 3: Report (Unit Guide)
Due date period: Week 7, 8 September 2014
Length: 900 words (Note the Table of Contents and the Reference list do not
count toward your total word count.)
Value: 25%
Details of task:
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Presentation requirements (Unit Guide)
Your report needs to contain the following:
Title Page
Table of Contents
1. Introduction ................................................................................... 1
2. Literature review ................................................................................... 2
2.1 Issue 1 ................................................................................. 3
Introduction (approx. 100 words)
Literature Review (approx. 400 words)
Recommendations (approx. 300 words)
Conclusions (approx. 100 words)
Reference List
This is a list of all the references you have cited in your report.
All references in this list should be formatted according to the APA style guide on
the library website: http://www.lib.monash.edu.au/tutorials/citing/apa.html
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Where to START
Begin by identifying the key concepts
e.g. the topic / sub-topic / content areas
Identify the directive words e.g.
analyse, discuss, list, explain etc.
Note any limitations e.g. scope, time
period, field of study, area
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Analysis of brief :
Directive Limitations Key Concepts
Write a report
to Grade 12 learners.
In this report you want to
Discuss (What, how, why, when, where)
two transition issues (see lecture notes NB NB)
a new student can face (first year student)
when he/she enters a university.
(A report has to have RECOMMENDATIONS in, on how to deal with the
issues)
Use the feedback you got from the Ability Task to inform your writing.
Explored one transitional issue already
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Break down
TWO ISSUE # 1
Transition ISSUES
What
. NEW UNIVERSITY
Students face DISCUSS
RECOMMEND WHAT WHY -WHEN Why
HOW
TO AVOID/ MANAGE Where
ISSUE # 2
How
(Recommend)
What Communicate:
Why Report to
Title Page
Grd 12 learners Table of Contents
Where
How 1. Introduction (approx.100 words)
(Recommend) 2. Literature Review (approx. 400 words)
2.1 Issue 1
2.2 Issue 2
3. Recommendations(approx.300 words)
4. Conclusions (approx. 100 words)
Reference List (APA)
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Find Witnesses
WHAT types of resources are required (books, journals,
websites, statistics, etc.) and set about acquiring them.
Often books are good for big picture information,
while journals are often good for supporting details.
Look at your reading list, use the reference lists of these
books and journals, to identify what will be required.
Remember you will need to evaluate the worth of these
resources, so read critically.
WHERE will you FIND the resources?
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What is a Database?"
A database is
simply an
organized
structure of
data stored in a
computer
system and
typically
enabled for
easy retrieval
of that data.
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Library resources
Resource Name Keywords Results Comments
SEARCH
SA Library New (first year) students Physical Book(s) SA has limited books in
Physical Books transition / change Title: Understanding students in this area at least one or
University transition. two versus large number
Specific issues (eg drinking) of students (reserved)
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Linking resource and topic
Topic: Resources
Transition Issues Prescribed reading A C D
A Prescribed Reading D F B
B Prescribed reading A C E
C Prescribed Reading D E
D Book A B C D E F
E New Article C E F
F New Article A C E
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Linking resource and topic
Topic: Resources
Transition Issues Books / Journals Articles / Websites/
Newspapers etc
SUB-TOPICS (issues)
A Prescribed reading A C D
B Prescribed Reading D F B
Prescribed reading A C E
C
Prescribed Reading D E
D
Book A B C D E F
E
New Article C E F
F New Article A C E
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Acknowledging your resources:
Citing and referencing)
NB NB NB : if you cite and reference correctly, you will not plagiarize
Ways to cite and reference:
1. MANUALLY (DO the library on-line tutorial 15minutes):
http://resources.lib.monash.edu.au/learning-objects/test/apa-quick-guide/
http://monash.edu/library/skills/resources/tutorials/citing/
3. Using ENDNOTE (but you still need to have the manual referencing
background knowledge)
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Plan your argument
Once you have analysed the topic and gathered
references, you will need to construct a rough plan.
Some students prefer to make a plan before reading,
some after. However, it is important to remain flexible,
as your knowledge of the topic and opinion on it may
change as you read more.
You might find that your witnesses are vague or
unreliable and you may need to find others
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The essay/report structure
Can be seen as a diamond with the introduction and conclusion at the top and bottom and the
body paragraphs fitting into the middle of the diamond in a series of smaller diamond shapes.
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Plan and write (draft)
Introduction what I set out
to do
Body - what I have found
Communicate: 1
Report 2
3
Conclusion what I have
realized/ concluded
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Prepare to communicate your argument
After having completed some reading and/or
writing, set about constructing your response or
thesis statement to the question. Again, however,
remain flexible. There is no such thing as perfect
knowledge of a topic!
Often it is best to start writing on a body section,
as the introduction and conclusion may change as
your work progresses.
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Body paragraphs
Paragraph element Purpose
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Review / edit (final)
Read for content
Read for grammar
Communicate:
Report Read for spelling
Get someone else to read
and comment
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Writing your essay
For more assistance on writing or communicating
your findings, contact a learning skills advisor
in the library
charmaine.botha@monash.edu (011 950 4455)
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