Report Writing & Referencing

1. Report Writing & Referencing A lecture for Year 1 B.Ed students By Karen Dellar Study & Learning Centre RMIT University

2. A Report : • Is a structured written presentation directed to interested readers for a specific purpose, aim or request • It’s function is to • Give an account of something, • Answer a question • Offer a solution RMIT University

3. What is the difference between an Essay and a Report???

4. Essay Report Establish a proposition or responds to a question or proposition Investigates, presents and analyzes information to help make decisions or account for decisions. Has linked and fluent paragraph structure Has defined sections with (sub)-headings and numbering Uses fluent sentence structure to express ideas. Uses lists and bullet points for clarity and brevity RMIT University

5. Essay Report Sections are easily identified and can be read in isolation. Needs to be read as a whole Is a factual and objective presentation of data. Presents a writers opinion or interpretation (albeit supported with evidence.) Has a specific audience appropriate to its purposes. Is aimed at a broad academic audience RMIT University

6. EssayReport Ideally, completely text based Includes diagrams, tables and graphs Large amounts of supporting information are included in appendices. Supporting information is woven into the text RMIT University

7. The difference??? Report Essay RMIT University

8. An Effective Report is: • Appropriate to its purpose and audience • Accurate • Logical • Clear and concise • Well organized under headings RMIT University

9. General Structure of a Report • Transmittal document ( for business purposes) • Title page • Table of contents • Abstract/Executive Summary • Introduction • Discussion • Conclusions • Recommendations • Bibliography RMIT University

10. More Detailed Structure of a Report • Title • Executive summary / Abstract • Table of Contents • 1. Introduction • 1.1 Purpose of the report • 1.2 Issues • 1.3 Research methods • 1.4 Limitations and assumptions RMIT University

11. Structure of a Report • 2. Discussion • 2.1 Literature Review • 2.1.1. Issue #1 • 2.1.2. Issue #2 • 2.2 Method • 2.2.1 . Procedure • 2.2.2 . Sample Size • 2.3 Discussion and analysis of data • 2.3.1. Issue #1 • 2.3.2. Issue #2 • 2.3.3. Reliability /accuracy of data RMIT University

12. Structure of a Report • 3. Conclusions • 4. Recommendations • 5. References • 6. Appendices RMIT University

13. The Assignment: The Case Study of a Child’s Literacy

14. The report is about your student A (unique) Title Literacy Needs of C21 Related to your student Needs analysis of student Child’s background Actual Reading Test and Analysis of observations Child’s Involvement with Reading Recommendations for student RMIT University

15. Use literature to support what you want to say about your student literature Literacy Needs of C21 Related to your student Needs analysis of student literature Actual Reading Test and Analysis of observations Child’s background literature Child’s Involvement with Reading Recommendations for student literature literature RMIT University

16. A recommended procedure • Complete all observations and analyses of student first. • Think about the overall picture of your student, the main issues, strengths or needs. With these in mind: • Write up the background, observations and analyses • Compile supporting material for appendices • Write the Recommendations • Write the Introduction RMIT University

17. A recommended procedure • Final compilation of reference list / bibliography • Write Abstract (if required) • Insert Table of Contents RMIT University

18. Referencing: APA Style

19. You must cite a reference source when you use: • a direct quote • information expressed in your own words (ie. paraphrase) • statistics • diagrams, tables, graphs • photos RMIT University

20. You do not need to cite a reference when you use: • Your own personal experience or opinion • Common knowledge (definition?) RMIT University

21. In-Text Referencing DeFazio (1999) claims that referencing conventions for technological resources will become more consistent with wider use. Conventions for referencing the internet will gain greater consistency with increased use in scholastic work. (DeFazio, 1999) The rules for referencing sources are “formulaic and very strict” (DeFazio, 1999, p.107) RMIT University

22. Paragraph Example (APA) Disadvantaged groups within society also experience inequalities in health care. Thompson (1999) states that a person’s health has a direct relationship to their social and economic standing within the community. Groups with a low socioeconomic status have poorer health than those with a high socioeconomic status (National Health Strategy, 1998). The high infant mortality rates for Indigenous Australians and the lower life expectancy for Aboriginal women (Brown, 2001) are two examples that show inequalities in health care for particular groups within the Australian community. Therefore, for health programs to be more effective, the community needs to look at … RMIT University

23. Other examples • Use of et al. for 3 to 5 authors of a book or journal article Harter, Schmidt and Hayes (2002) argue that individual, group and organisation level factors are related to performance and retention. Harter et al. (2002) also state that job satisfaction is important and is directly related to retention. • Secondary sources Brown and Martin (as cited in Harmon, 2002) have reported a case study of a student with differing literacy issues in his first and second languages. RMIT University

24. The Reference List • A new page at the end of your assignment • Arranged in alphabetical order according to author’s surname • Includes all references cited in-text RMIT University

25. Reference List Entry DeFazio, T. (1999) Studying in Australia: a guide for international students, Sydney, Allen & Unwin. RMIT University

26. Some useful APA Resources

27. RMIT Referencing Sites • Quick Guide http://mams.rmit.edu.au/x3tdu4s30085.rtf • Longer Version http://mams.rmit.edu.au/szq3g615ahbdz.rtf RMIT University

28. APA Electronic Style Guide 2007(now available in library catalogue) https://login.ezproxy.lib.rmit.edu.au/connect?session=sRpltsIS8Yazv9fn&url=https://login.ezproxy.lib.rmit.edu.au/login/digital/ereserve/APAguide/style_reference.pdf RMIT University

29. Google “APA Referencing” • http://library.curtin.edu.au/research_and_information_skills/referencing/apa.pdf • http://www.library.jcu.edu.au/LibraryGuides/apa.shtml • http://www.lib.monash.edu.au/tutorials/citing/apa.html RMIT University

30. The main reasons for referencing • To show you have read widely on a topic & you have identified important ideas in other writers’ research • To draw on experts to support the points you are making and hence make them more persuasive • To allow the reader to locate, check and follow up the sources used RMIT University

31. Plagiarism • If you do not indicate the sources of your ideas, it could appear that you are wrongfully claiming another author’s ideas or words to be your own • This is known as plagiarism RMIT University

32. How to avoid plagiarism • Become familiar with the American Psychological Association (APA) referencing system • Develop a system to record bibliographic information for all sources you use • Take careful notes and develop a system to distinguish: *Text you have copied from the source *Text you have paraphrased or summarised *Your own ideas RMIT University

33. How to avoid plagiarism • Include APA in-text referencing (author, date) with every draft • Compile your reference list as you write your assignment • Get into the habit of paraphrasing appropriately RMIT University

34. Paraphrasing Preferred Please • Lecturer’s usually prefer paraphrasing to direct quotations. Why? RMIT University

35. Quotes….. “blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah,” (Thingo, 1999, p.22) “blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah,” (Thingo, 1999, p.22) RMIT University

36. Paraphrasing…… • Shorter • To the point • More elegant RMIT University

37. Smith (1999) states, “Children rely mainly on parents for gender stereotypes” (p. 12). Task: change this quote to a paraphrase RMIT University

38. Suggestions Smith (1999) states that parents are important gender stereotypes for children. Parents play an important role as gender stereotypes for children (Smith, 1999). RMIT University

39. Paraphrasing What strategies did you use to complete the task? RMIT University