Managing Your Final Year Project

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Managing Your Final Year Project

• This workshop will
• Introduce the differences between projects and
  dissertations
• Explore the process for producing your completed
  project.
• Examine the links between theory and practice
  when designing experiments or testing designs

• Louise Livesey
• Academic Skills Adviser

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Todays Plan

• Differences between dissertations and final
  project reports
• The process of producing a completed project
  report or dissertation
• Links between theory and practice for designing
  experiments or testing designs
• Tips for writing your final year project report
  or dissertation

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1.Differencesdissertations and final project
reports

• Generally speaking, if a
• report is required, answer an exploratory
  question or hypothesis collecting evidence and
  analysing it, or designing an item and testing
  it and offering recommendations. Format
  specified by the course and school.
• dissertation is required, the research activity
  will be in-depth and use of primary and secondary
  sources fieldwork professional practice. An
  extended essay with sections specified by the
  course or school.

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Stages of process
2.The process of producing a complete work
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Activities in Agree Your Proposal
2.The process of producing a complete work

• Draw up your proposal
• Check with your supervisor
• Obtain Ethics Clearance

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Activity 1 Activities in Choose a Research
?/Hypothesis
2.The process of producing a complete work

• More than one research ? To support the main
  central ? e.g.
• Consider the level of interest in and usefulness
  of your research and availability, cost,
  maintenance and storage of resources.
• Create a list of key words

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Activity 1 Activities in Reviewing the Literature
2.The process of producing a complete work

• Contact subject librarian
• Select most relevant texts
• Read carefully making notes
• Keep a list of everything you read

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Activity 1 Activities in Implementing Research
2.The process of producing a complete work

• Identify the participants, equipment and other
  resources required.
• Design and create materials, and recording
  documents and databases
• Collect and collate data
• Keep accurate records.

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Activity 1 Activities in First Draft
2.The process of producing a complete work

• Set your ideas in some sort of coherent form
• Write in bullet points then expanding to
  sentences.
• Sentences drawn together into paragraphs,
• Use visuals
• Do not worry about the reader they will never
  see this version.

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Activity 1 Activities in Revise, Edit and
Proofread
2.The process of producing a complete work

• Double the length of time you think it might take
  you as a back-up.
• Remind yourself of your central
  question/hypothesis
• Check the order of ideas and the flow
• Make sure your text is in an appropriately
  academic style and contains subject specific
  terminology.
• Check your grammar, punctuation, spelling,
  citations and references
• Look in your module or programme handbook for any
  format requirements

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Activity 1 Activities in Final Draft submission
2.The process of producing a complete work
Hooray!
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The Scientific Method
3.Links between theory and practice
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4. Tips for writing

• Be brutal if you have left yourself only a
  little time, write just the words you will use in
  the word count.
• Cover the basics try to make sure your sources
  are off the reading list or are mentioned in
  lecture materials.
• If you cannot get hold of the recommended
  sources, at least use current ones (where
  appropriate).
• Answer. The. Question. Or. Brief. (even if it is
  yours)
• Still allow some time for attention to detail
  because poor referencing, punctuation, and
  formatting can be costly in terms of marks.

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References
Birmingham Law School. How to Write a Research
Proposal. Birmingham University of Birmingham.
online Available at http//www.birmingham.ac.u
k/schools/law/courses/research/research-proposal.a
spx Accessed 2.10.2014 Cottrell, S. (2013).
The Study Skills Handbook. 4th ed. Basingstoke
Palgrave Macmillan Ltd. Tomato Sphere. (2014)
The Scientific Method. Canada Lets Talk Science
online Available at http//www.tomatosphere.org
/teacher-resources/teachers-guide/principal-invest
igation/scientific-method.cfm Accessed
3.10.2014 Wisker, G. (2009) The Undergraduate
Research Handbook. Basingstoke Palgrave
Macmillan Ltd.
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Academic Skills Advice

• Where are we? Chesham Building B0.23
• What do we do? Support undergraduate students
  with their academic skills by running clinics and
  workshops, having bookable appointment slots, and
  enabling students to drop-in for Instant Advice.
• Who are we? Michael and Helen specialise in Maths
  Support Lucy and Russell advise students on
  study skills and I (Louise) deliver the
  workshops
• When can you come for help? Everyday both face to
  face and on-line
• How do I get in touch? Email academic-skills_at_brad
  .ac.uk or website www.brad.ac.uk/academic-skills

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Any questions?