How to write dissertations & project reports

301 Pages·2009·2.5 MB·English

by  Kathleen McMillan

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How to write dissertations & project reports provides all of the tips,
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Pearson Education Limited
Edinburgh Gate
Harlow
Essex CM20 2JE
England
and Associated Companies throughout the world
Visit us on the World Wide Web at:
www.pearsoned.co.uk
First published 2007
Rejacketed edition published 2010
© Pearson Education Limited 2008, 2010
The rights of Kathleen McMillan and Jonathan Weyers to be identified as
authors of this work have been asserted by them in accordance with the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in
a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without either the prior
written permission of the publisher or a licence permitting restricted copying
in the United Kingdom issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd,
Saffron House, 6–10 Kirby Street, London EC1N 8TS.
ISBN: 978-0-273-72693-7
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
13 12 11 10 09
Typeset in 9.5/13pt Interstate by 35
Printed and bound in Great Britain by Ashford Colour Press Ltd., Gosport
The Publisher's policy is to use paper manufactured from sustainable forests.

..
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Smarter Study Guides
Instant answers to your most pressing university skills
problems.
Are there any secrets to successful study?
The simple answer is no – but there are some essential skills, tips and
techniques that can help you to improve your performance and
success in all areas of your university studies.
These handy, easy-to-use guides to the most common areas where
most students need help (even if you don’t realise it!) provide
accessible, straightforward practical tips and instant solutions that
provide you with the tools and techniques that will enable you to
improve your performance and get better results – and better grades.
Each book in the series allows you to assess and address a particular
set of skills and strategies, in crucial areas such as exam preparation
and performance, researching and writing dissertations and research
projects, and planning and crafting academic essays. Each book then
delivers practical no-nonsense tips, techniques and strategies that will
enable you to significantly improve your abilities and performance in
time to make a difference.
The books in the series are
l How to succeed in Exams and Assessments
l How to write Essays and Assignments

l How to write Dissertations and Project Reports
Or for a complete handbook covering all of the study skills that you
will need throughout your years at university:
l The Smarter Student: Study Skills and Strategies for Success at
University
Get smart, get a head start!
The Smarter Student series is available at all good bookshops or online
at www.pearson-books.co.uk/studyskills.
iii
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Contents
Preface and acknowledgements ix
How to use this book xi
Introduction
1 Tackling a dissertation or project report– how to
make the best possible start 3
2 Choosing a dissertation or research topic– how to
decide on a theme for your investigation 10
Planning your research
3 Writing a proposal– how to structure a successful
dissertation or research proposal 21
4 Time management– how to write your dissertation or
project while balancing family, work and leisure 29
5 Planning for dissertations – how to begin your research
and evolve a model for your writing 40
6 Planning for experimental projects– how to organise
your efforts effectively 51
Finding and filtering information
7 Information literacy– how to make best use of the
library resourc es 61
8 Effective academic reading– how to read efficiently
and with understanding 71
9 Analysing and evaluating source material– how to
filter and select relevant material as part of the
research process 85
10 Note-making from source material– how to create
effective notes to support your dissertation and project
research 94
v
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Applying research techniques
11 Principles of quantitative research– how to obtain and
analyse numerical information 109
12 Principles of qualitative research– how to obtain and
analyse descriptive information 123
13 Experimental research and field visits– how to develop
and apply your skills 135
14 Thinking critically– how to develop a logical approach
to analysis and problem-solving 143
Working with data and numbers
15 Number crunching– how to solve problems in
arithmetic and algebra 157
16 Interpreting and presenting data– how to understand
and produce graphs, tables and basic statistics 170
Addressing issues of plagiarism, referencing and ethics
17 Plagiarism and copyright infringement– how to avoid
being accused of ‘stealing’ the ideas and work of others 185
18 Citing and listing references– how to refer appropriately
to the work of others 194
19 Ethics in researching and reporting– how to follow
good research practice 211
Writing a first draft

20 Structuring a dissertation– how to organise your
writing within a standard framework 221
21 Structuring a project report– how to select and shape
your content appropriately 227
22 Academic writing style– how to adopt the appropriate
language conventions 235
Editing, revising and presenting
23 Reviewing, editing and proof-reading– how to make
sure your writing is concise and correct 249
vi Contents
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24 Exploiting feedback– how to understand and learn
from what your supervisor writes on your work 258
25 Presentation of dissertations and reports– how to
follow the appropriate academic conventions 264
References and further reading 277
Glossary 278

Contents vii
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Preface and acknowledgements
Welcome to How to Write Dissertations and Project Reports.
We’re pleased to you have chosen this book and hope it will help you
compose and present high-quality work that reveals your academic
skills in the best possible light. Our aim has been to provide practical
tips to guide you from planning to submission, so that your work is
well developed and meets academic requirements. We’ve tried to
remain faithful to the philosophy of our earlier book, The Smarter
Student, by creating a quickly accessible resource that you can dip
into in time of need. We had many kinds of students in mind when we
decided to write this text and we hope that it will meet your personal
needs – regardless of your experience and background.
We would like to offer sincere thanks to many people who have
influenced us and contributed to the development and production of
this book. Countless students over the years have helped us to test
our ideas, especially those whose writing we have supervised or guided.
We are grateful to following colleagues and collaborators who have
helped us directly or indirectly: Margaret Adamson, John Berridge,
Margaret Forrest, Alan Grant, Neale Laker, Fiona O’Donnell, Neil Paterson
and Anne Scott. Also, we acknowledge those at other universities who
have helped frame our thoughts, particularly our good friends Rob
Reed, Nicki Hedge and Esther Daborn. We owe a special debt to the
senior colleagues who encouraged various projects that contributed to
this book, and who allowed us the freedom to pursue this avenue of
scholarship, especially Robin Adamson, Ian Francis, Rod Herbert and

David Swinfen. At Pearson Education, we have had excellent advice
and support from Steve Temblett, Georgina Clark-Mazo and Joan Dale
Lace. Finally, we would like to say thanks to our long-suffering but
nevertheless enthusiastic families: Derek, Keith and Fiona; and Mary,
Paul and James, all of whom helped in various capacities.
We’d be delighted to hear your opinion of the book and receive any
suggestions you have for additions and improvements.
Kathleen McMillan and Jonathan Weyers
University of Dundee
April 2007
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