How to write dissertations & project reports

✍ Scribed by Weyers, Jonathan D. B.; McMillan, Kathleen

• Publisher: Prentice Hall
• Year: 2011
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 303
• Edition: Rev. and updated ed
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Students need more help than ever before in selecting their dissertation or project topic and ensuring this major project gets the best marks. This book provides crucial support that will help organise their thinking and get them on the road to success.

✦ Table of Contents

Cover......Page 1
How to Write Dissertations & Project Reports......Page 2
Contents......Page 8
Preface and acknowledgements......Page 12
How to use this book......Page 13
Introduction......Page 14
Tackling a dissertation or project report: How to make the best possible start......Page 16
Choosing a dissertation or research topic: How to decide on a theme for your investigation......Page 23
Planning your Research......Page 32
Writing a proposal: How to structure a successful dissertationor research proposal......Page 34
Time management: How to write your dissertation or projectwhile balancing family, work and leisure......Page 42
Planning for dissertations: How to begin your research and evolvea model for your writing......Page 53
Planning for experimental projects: How to organise your efforts effectively......Page 64
Finding and Filtering Information......Page 72
Information literacy: How to make best use of the library resources......Page 74
Effective academic reading: How to read efficiently and with understanding......Page 84
Analysing and evaluating source material: How to filter and select relevant material as part of the research process......Page 98
Note-making from source material: How to create effective notes to supportyour dissertation and project research......Page 107
Applying Research Techniques......Page 120
Principles of quantitative research: How to obtain and analyse numericalinformation......Page 122
Principles of qualitative research: How to obtain and analyse descriptiveinformation......Page 136
Experimental research and field visits: How to develop and apply your skills......Page 148
Thinking critically: How to develop a logical approach to analysisand problem-solving......Page 156
Working with Data and Numbers......Page 168
Number crunching: How to solve problems in arithmeticand algebra......Page 170
Interpreting and presenting data: How to understand and produce graphs,tables and basic statistics......Page 183
Addressing Issues of Plagiarism, Referencing and Ethics......Page 196
Plagiarism and copyright infringement: How to avoid being accused of ‘stealing’ theideas and work of others......Page 198
Citing and listing references: How to refer appropriately to the work of others......Page 207
Ethics in researching and reporting: How to follow good research practice......Page 224
Writing a First Draft......Page 232
Structuring a dissertation: How to organise your writing withina standard framework......Page 234
Structuring a project report: How to select and shape your contentappropriately......Page 240
Academic writing style: How to adopt the appropriate language conventions......Page 248
Editing, Revising and Presenting......Page 260
Reviewing, editing and proof-reading: How to make sure your writing is concise and correct......Page 262
Exploiting feedback: How to understand and learn from whatyour supervisor writes on your work......Page 272
Presentation of dissertations and reports: How to follow the appropriate academicconventions......Page 278
References and further reading......Page 292
Glossary......Page 293