Post on 09-Feb-2016
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REPORT WRITINGPart II: Writing the Report
FIRST: COMMON PROBLEMS WITH YOUR PARAGRAPHS
Problems with Paragraphs PLAGIARISM: copying without quotation
(‘blah blah blah’) TOO MUCH QUOTING: using quotations
for all or most of your paragraph Quotations should be no more than 5% of
your report Use them wisely
SOLUTION: paraphrase!!
Problems with Paragraphs (cont.) Put a space after punctuation: xxx.
Yyy, zzz, etc. No space after/before parentheses:
(Ellis 2007) Font: Times New Roman 12 point only
Note: be careful of SimSum getting into your paper
Problems with Sources Source has nothing to do with
paragraphExample: one reference in a paragraph about noise pollution was to an article about horses
Source not relevant to paragraphExample: references in a paragraph about housing costs in China talked about housing costs in Switzerland and England
Source doesn’t support statements in paragraph
Problems with References Alphabetical order by whatever is first Some referenced an index of
documents; make sure you reference the document itself
Go to the original if you can Spacing after punctuation: same as in
paras Many others, see your attachments
Report An essay in which you:
Research a topic present your findings
Used in university and business You will have to write many reports
REPORTS
Report Language Formal:
No contractions No slang
Third person: Use: it, they, Mr. Smith, the company, etc. Do not use:
First person: I, we Second person: you, your, etc.
Report Format Paragraphs:
Introduction Body: three or more Conclusion
References Five or more Different sources
Introduction One or two sentences of background
Historical perspective Definition Importance of topic etc.
Thesis statement
Introduction: ExampleMicrosoft defines a computer virus as “a
small software program that spreads from one computer to another computer and that interferes with computer operation.” Viruses have become a major problem computer systems large and small all over the world. How did this happen? This report will trace the proliferation of computer viruses beginning with the widespread adoption of the internet, various efforts to eradicate them, and the current state of the ongoing battle against these scourges of our time.
Intro example:First sentence
Microsoft defines a computer virus as “a small software program that spreads from one computer to another computer and that interferes with computer operation.”
Definition
Intro example:Second sentence
Viruses have become a major problem computer systems large and small all over the world.
Importance
Intro example:Third and fourth sentences
How did this happen?
This report will trace the proliferation of computer viruses beginning with the widespread adoption of the internet, various efforts to eradicate them, and the current state of the ongoing battle against these scourges of our time.
Transition
Thesis statement
Check question What topics will the report cover?
1. ____________________________2. ____________________________3. ____________________________
These are the topics for your paragraphs!
Body: Paragraph 1Although viruses have been around since the early days of mainframe computers in the 1970s, they only became well-known to the general public since the rapid expansion of the internet in the late 1990s.
Topic Sentence, first topic
More Sentences
More sentences Supporting topic sentence adding more detail
Body: Paragraph 2Seeing a potentially huge market for detecting and getting rid of viruses, several companies such as …
Topic Sentence,
second topic
More Sentences
More sentences Supporting topic sentence adding more detail
Body: Paragraph 3Currently, the battle between viruses and the companies dedicated to eliminating them has evolved into ...”
Topic Sentence, third topic
More Sentences
More sentences Supporting topic sentence adding more detail
ConclusionAt least two of the following: Restatement of intro/thesis statement.
Example: It is clear that viruses pose a major challenge to …
Summary of body paragraphsExample: This report has shown that the rise of computer viruses over the last decade and a half …
Conclusion (cont.) Give your opinion about what should be
done, if appropriate.
Example: Given the facts in this report, it would seem that the cure for computer viruses …
Look to the future, if appropriate.
Example: It is clear that if the governments of the world do not act decisively, and soon, that …”
Exercise Read the sample report I will hand out Label the following parts:
Introduction Background sentences Background sentences types Thesis statement Topics to be discussed (topic 1, topic 2, etc.)
Body: Topic sentences: match with topics in thesis statement
Conclusion: Label types of sentences (restatement, summary, etc.)
DOING RESEARCHReview:
Three types of sources1. Primary:
original material such as letters, lab notes, diaries, etc.
2. Secondary: magazines articles, books, etc., that get their
info largely from primary sources.
3. Tertiary: wikis, encyclopedias, textbooks, etc., that
collect and distill information from primary and secondary sources.
- adapted from “Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Sources” http://www.lib.umd.edu/guides/primary-sources.html
Examples:Sources you may use Newspapers
China Daily New York Times Financial Times
Magazines Time Beijing Review Business Week
TV websites: CCTV BBC NPR
Government websites
Reputable company websites
Academic journalsAll sources must be in English!
Examples:Sources you may not use Wikis:
Wikipedia Wikihealth etc.
Blogs Forums Email lists
Tertiary sources Encyclopedias Textbooks
Search engines Google Baidu etc.
Tertiary Sources: How to use Can’t use them in report But, you can use wikis, textbooks,
encyclopedias, etc., to Find primary and secondary sources Give an overview of the topic Help organize your paper
Secondary sources Be careful of secondary sources such as
books and magazines
Ask yourself: Is the source reliable? Who is writing and why?
CITATIONS AND REFERENCES
When to Cite Sources “Whenever you quote, paraphrase,
summarize, or otherwise refer to the work of another, you are required to cite its source …”
- http://library.duke.edu/research/citing/
Whenever you present something as fact: “… 81.25% of the people in China …” “… economic growth in China is projected to slow
to about 6.5 percent this year.” The Titanic sank on April 15, 1912.
Citation Types & Formats At least five (5) in-text citations Reference list: at least five references Must have a reference for every citation Must have at least one citation for
every reference
Report Topics I have many topics in bag Without looking, pull out a topic If you don’t like your topic:
You can pull out another one but, If you do, you must take the second one
or you can choose your own topic …
Topics You can choose your own topic, but I
must approve it before you can write Your Contemporary Topics books have a
lot of good topics for further research Of course, they are textbooks, so you can’t
use them for sources, but… They can give you an overview and some
ideas Or do you have other ideas?
Topic form I will give you a form to fill out Write down your topic and list the 5 or
more sources you intend to use1. Article names2. Websites
I have to approve your topics and sources before you start your report
Due next class period
Example topic form:Due next class Topic: __187. Spam_________________
Sources:1. ‘Information Technology Industry:
Spamalot’ New Orleans CityBusiness2. ‘How to fight junk E-Mail’, Primus Canada 3. ‘Fight Spam on the Internet!’
spam.abuse.net4. ‘A New Way To Fight Junk Email & Viruses’,
Processor5. ‘How to Report Spam’ SpamLaws.com
Report RubricDeadly Sins (-10 pts. each) Spelling, capitalization, etc. ___ TUST standards errors ___ Late: -10 for each day ___ 500+ words (deduct for short) ___ Plagiarism: -10 each instance ___
Content (50 pts.): Intro: Intro. topic, Thesis Statement ___ 3+ paragraphs with topic sentences,
development and in-text citations ___ Conclusion ___
Organization (20 pts.): Statements logical and relevant ___
Mechanics (30 pts.): Grammar, usage, punctuation: ___ 5+ references, proper format ___
Final Draft Due second lesson next week:
a. Class 43: May 18 Wednesdayb. Class 42: May 19 Thursdayc. Class 41: May 19 Thursdayd. Class 44: May 20 Friday
The report counts the same as two regular essays for your final grade
Important:Accepting the final draft I will check your report before you turn
it in If I see errors I will not accept it.
You must fix them and submit the next day along with the version(s) that were rejected.
It will be counted late (Better 1-2 days late than lose many points
for errors) If I don’t see any errors, I will accept
your report. Then, and only then, should you email it to me.
Email accepted report Email accepted report as a Microsoft
Word document attached to an email. The subject line of your email must be:
Report [Class] [English Name] Example: Report 42 Joe
Email to: bob.tust@gmail.com