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Structuring your Extended Project

Structuring your Extended Project. The University of York Katy Mann. Structure. Why is structure important in a piece of academic writing? List three reasons and compare with your partner. Academic writing. Academic writing conforms to a set of general moves.

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Structuring your Extended Project

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  1. Structuring your Extended Project The University of York Katy Mann

  2. Structure • Why is structure important in a piece of academic writing? • List three reasons and compare with your partner.

  3. Academic writing • Academic writing conforms to a set of general moves. • “ Academics say they enjoy innovative structures devised by their students, but they also warm very positively to this classic model “ ( Barnes, 1995 p.130)

  4. The classic extended project is organised into sections: • Title page ( not counted) • Contents ( List of acronyms) ( not counted) • Abstract ( Abbrev.Acknowledgements) ( not counted) • Introductions • Review of background literature • Critique/ comment on literature • Summary & conclusion • Recommendations • References ( not counted) • Bibliography ( not counted) • Appendices ( not counted) • (Blaxter, 2006)

  5. The reader’s five questions • 1. What is the question/ problem or situation addressed? Title/ Introduction • 2. How was the matter studied? Methods • 3. What information/ data was obtained? Results/ Appendices • 4. What interpretations/ comments and evaluations were made? Discussions/ conclusions • 5. What actions are recommended? Conclusion/ recommendations

  6. Structural Moves • Within most sections of the project report there are a series of moves ( Swales, 2000).

  7. Introduction 10-20% • Functions • To establish the background/ context and importance of the research • To explain the value • To identify the gap • To provide the reader with a clear structure • To clarify any key terms/ abbreviations

  8. Structure of the Introduction

  9. Literature review • Functions • To give the reader all the information they need to understand your research • To demonstrate the depth and breadth of your reading • To establish connections between your study and previous studies • To point out you know the arguments for and against the subject matter • To inspire, educate and excite the reader

  10. Literature review structure

  11. Taxonomy of skills (Bloom, 1964)

  12. Balance your arguments

  13. Types of resources

  14. Types of resources

  15. Methods functions • To describe exactly what you did • To explain why you did it • To describe the advantages and disadvantages of the method • To allow another research to repeat / expand on your research

  16. Structure of Methods • Describe different methods often used in this type of research • Detail method selected and justify • Describe exact procedure • Discuss weaknesses

  17. Results and discussion/ analysis • Functions: • To discuss relevant results or findings • To demonstrate your critical thinking/ evaluation

  18. Conclusion & recommendations

  19. References/ Bibliography • Zotero-Firefox extension • Word 2007- referencing tool • NOT footnotes

  20. Appendices • Copy of questionnaire • Interview transcripts • Pictures/ diagrams not essential • Observation records • Extracts/ images

  21. Small things, big difference • Avoid all things that may confuse-abbreviations • And so on….. etc • Signpost-direct the reader • Reference details in text and in References • Numbers under 10 spell out • Capitalisation-learn the rules and apply them • British spelling-adjust spellcheck

  22. Examiner’s comments - • Narrow range of literature • Lack of critical analysis • Poorly structured • Lack of references • Weak reflection and refinement of aims

  23. Model examples • Read through the model/ exemplar reports from previous cohorts. • Think about why they were awarded A or A* • Read the examiner’s commentary and compare it to your view.

  24. Checklist • Does the introduction help the reader understand how your research fits into a wider area of study? • Does the literature review demonstrate that you are familiar with a wide range of literature relevant to your study? • Is your method section clear and detailed enough to allow another researcher to replicate it?

  25. Checklist continued • Is the information in the results and discussion section relevant to your research questions? • Are all your conclusions drawn from your research and supported by evidence? • Are all the transitions managed smoothly? • Are all the in-text references included in the References section?

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