OUGD601 - CoP3 - Resolving your Research Project (Academic Conventions)

Introduction - What are you going to address and how are you going to address it?

Academic Conventions are like an institutional framework for you work.

They structure and standardise. They aspire to academic honesty.

At this level you are expected to be able to:

• Demonstrate a critical knowledge of practice
• Apply theory tot practice
• Analyse relevant material
• Evaluate theory and evidence within the context of study
• Reflect - critiquing and critically reflecting on your leaning and using this to improve practice.

Deep & surface learning

Remembering, understanding, applying, analysing, evaluating, creating

Surface approach - Avoid

• Concentration of learning outcomes
• Passive acceptance of ideas
• Routine memorisation of facts
• Sees small chunks
• Ignore guiding patterns and principles
• Lack of reflection about, or ignorance of, underlying patterns and theories
• Little attempt to understand
• Minimal preparation and research

Deep approach

• Independent engagement with material
• Critical and thoughtful about idea and information
• Relates ideas to own previous experience and knowledge
• Sees the big picture
• Relates evidence to conclusions
• Examines logic of arguments
• Interested in wider reading and thinking
• Ongoing preparation and reflection

How do I evidence deep thinking?

• Academic writing is formal and follows some standard conventions
• Each academic discipline has its own specialist vocabulary which you will be expected to learn and use in your own writing
• The substance of academic writing must be based on solid evidence and logical analysis, and presented as a concise, accurate argument.
• Academic writing can allow you to present your argument and analysis accurately and concisely. Directness.
• Aim for precision. Don't use unnecessary words or waffle. Get straight to the point. Make every word count. If there is any uncertainty about a particular point, use cautious language.
• Avoid abbreviations and contractions
• Avoid slang words and phrases
• Avoid conversational terms
• Avoid vague terms

In many academic disciplines, writing in the first person is not acceptable as it is believed to be too subjective and personal. Many tutors prefer impersonal language to be used in assignments.

Structure

• Preliminaries - title, acknowledgements, contents, list of illustrations
• Introduction - The abstract, statement of the problem, methodological approach
• Main body - review of the literature, logically developed argument, chapters, results of investigation, case study
• Conclusion - Discussion and conclusion, summary of conclusions
• Extras - Bibliography, appendices

Resolving your essay - 15th January, 4pm

Getting stuck

• Ask yourself why are you really stuck?
• Avoid negativity
• Picture what being 'unstuck' would look like

Project self assessment

• Write down the major aims of the project
• Give a brief summary of the work so far
• Comment on your time management
• Do you know what the final project will look like?
• What steps will you take o ensure it gets there?
• What areas of the project are your worried about?
• What risk management plans do you have?
• How are you going to use the remaining tutorials?