Report Writing

Report Writing

• Report Writing----Involves a Process which Produces a Written Document

• Raises Questions: How To Write?

• No Fixed Answer: General Suggestions

Theory VS Practice

• Theory VS Practice---General Debate

• Both Are Inter-Related

• How to Write? Learn By Writing---Cannot Avoid

• How To Write? Some Suggestions, Tips, Right Steps

• Helpful---Efficiency in Academic Research

Research Proposal

• Writing Begins with Research Proposal

• Critical---Brings Clarity in Ideas, Issues,

Scope and Organization of Study

• Writing Report: About Central Ideas, Issues, Areas of Concern

• Discussion of RP: Sort out Practical Issues

Objective

• Examples: • The objective of this study is to explain the fall

of ethno-national movements in Pakistan

• The purpose of this paper is to study the role of the state in economic development in South Asia in the post-cold war period

• Other Terms: Problem Definition, Problem Statement

Significance

• Why to Study This Issue: Make A Claim

• Theoretical Significance

• Practical Significance

Literature Review

• Claim and Proof Question

• Proof Of Your Claim---Gap in the Literature

Overview of Argument

• Argument (Hypothesis)

• Theoretical Argument

• Empirical Argument

Methodology

• How will you prove your hypothesis?

• How will you test your hypothesis?

Organization

• Parts of the study, Content?

• The way they are organized

• Linkage Between Parts

Definitional IssuesPart of Research Report

• Theme: Broad Idea, Broad Area under Discussion, Subject Matter of Conversation

• Theme of A Conference: Stability in South Asia

• Rise of Terrorist Movements in South Asia

• Political Stability and Foreign Investment in Pakistan

• Theme of Book: Clash of Civilization

Definitional Issues

• Central Thesis?

• Example: Stability (or other public goods such as peace, open seas, international trade, etc.) is provided by hegemons because they benefit most from it.

• Thesis: Idea, Hypothesis, Argument, Main Point

• Argument: Not only hypothesis, idea but also elaboration of mechanisms through which this occurs

Thesis

• Example: The globalization is so powerful that it is changing local culture in developing countries

• The attack on video shops in Pakistan is an expression of the resistance of the local culture against the global culture.

• Ideas, Hypotheses, Concepts, Phenomena

Thesis Statement

1. A Short Statement of the Thesis---One or Two Sentences

2. A Statement Which Presents Brief Argument to Reader

• A Theoretical Premise to be Proven• A (Theoretical) Position ( or Claim you Make) on

the Subject• A Statement which Identifies the Purpose and

Previews Main Ideas and Argument of the Study• A Guide (Roadmap) for Reader•

Report WritingGeneral Guidelines

• Why Report Writing? Sharing Results, Building Knowledge

• Thinking As Early As Possible

• Preserve Notes, Data

Report WritingGeneral Guidelines

• Original Research Question? Central Issue?

• Unit of Analysis---Ecological Fallacy

• Be Clear about Findings and Conclusions

• Data Evaluation, Interpretation, Conclusions

Report WritingGeneral Guidelines

• Many Parts of Report---Organization Thoughts Important

• Pre-Writing Stage: Arrange Notes, Outline (Main Ideas, Contents of Parts)

• Composing (First Draft---Free Writing, Complete Report

• Rewriting---Improvements, Discussion, Coherence, Errors, Citations, etc.

Report WritingGeneral Guidelines

• Parts of Report---Organization

• Introduction: Objective (Problem Identification, Reason for Research, Research Questions, Brief Argument, Description of Procedures)

• Discussion of Data, Material----Different Areas, Linkages, Relationships, Conclusions (Chapters, Sections, Headings, Subheadings)

Report WritingGeneral Guidelines

• Restate Relationships, Meanings Found in Data

• Relate Findings to Original Research Question

• Draw Conclusions: Specific, General (Restate Empirical Findings, General Issues, Broad Context)

• Policy Implications, Future Research Areas

Report WritingGeneral Guidelines

• Clarity and New Ideas---Process of Writing

• Limit Conclusions----Supported By Evidence

• Writer’s Block---Mind Goes Blank (Solution: Break)

• No Perfection

Report WritingGeneral Guidelines

• Clarity, Accuracy, Reflection of Logical Thinking, Step-By-Step Discussion, Coherence, Organization

• Reflects Good Understanding of Substantive (theory and data) and Methodological Areas

• Use of Technical Terms

Report WritingGeneral Guidelines

• Avoid Repetition

• Avoid Wordiness, Flowery Language

• Avoid Moralizing Style, Advocacy Research

• Avoid Plagiarism—a Form of Cheating

• Golden Principle: Apprenticeship---Role of Supervisor