Summary and Instruction Words Matching Quiz

Analysing and Answering Report Questions

• Read the entire question twice to ensure accurate interpretation.
• First impressions can lead to errors that might not meet marker expectations.

Look for Instruction Words

• University essay questions often include one or more instruction words that guide the essay's purpose.
• Understanding these words is crucial for accurate interpretation.

Instruction Words (Task Words)

• Discuss: Analyze and present different perspectives on a topic.
• Describe: Provide a detailed account of something.
• Analyse: Break down a topic into its component parts and explain their relationships.
• Assess: Evaluate the value or importance of something, considering positive, negative, and disputable aspects.
• Comment on: Analyze or assess a topic.
• Compare: Identify similarities and differences.
• Contrast: Highlight differences between topics.
• Criticise: Make judgments and explain the criteria used for those judgments.
• Define: Clearly state the meaning or interpretation of a topic.
• Describe: Provide a detailed account of something.
• Discuss: Analyze the topic and its interpretations, presenting arguments for and against leading to a conclusion.
• Evaluate: Similar to 'assess', consider your opinion on the issue and show the arguments for and against your position.
• Examine: Present your issue in depth and investigate the implications.
• Explain: Describe something and give reasons for it.
• Illustrate: Use examples and diagrams to clarify.
• Interpret: Clarify or explain, often providing a judgment or showing how issues relate to one another.
• Outline: Present main features/organize your answer in a clear structure that shows how ideas are connected.
• Identify: Determine key features of the issue.

Look for Topic Words (Key Words)

• Topic words (keywords) are usually easy to locate in an assignment and tell you what you have to write about.
• Use these words to find related information.
• For example: Discuss the differences between in-text citations and the reference list. Use relevant examples in your discussion.

Look for Restrictions

• Restricting words/phrases narrow the topic.
• Geographical location and dates are common restrictions.

Rewrite the Question

• After analyzing, check the understanding of the question.
• Paraphrase the question in 25 words or fewer. (e.g., The question is asking me to...)

Formulating a Research Topic

• Often used with mini-theses, projects, or full theses.
• Formulate a question based on course objectives.
• Identify gaps in existing literature.
• Consider unusual situations or circumstances.
• Explore curiosities or "what if" scenarios.
• Example: An investigation on the effect of prenatal care on the health of expecting mothers and their babies.

Academic Summaries

• Concise and succinct representation of academic texts (books, journal articles, research reports).
• Enable readers to quickly determine if a text is worth reading.
• Help readers briefly understand the content of a journal article for further consideration.

Academic Summary vs. Abstract

• Abstracts briefly describe the aim, method, major results, and conclusions of a study.
• A summary shows the structure of the argument in the text, essentially the skeleton of the argument.
• Summaries are written in the author's own words.

Types of Academic Summaries

• Descriptive: Focused on facts and main points; rarely includes writer's opinion.
• Evaluative: Includes writer's opinion on the work's value, intended audience, purpose, usefulness, and shortcomings.

When to Use Different Summaries

• Descriptive: When you want to gain and express an understanding of the author's text.
• Evaluative: When you want to determine the usefulness, validity, or strength of an argument or other important aspects.

Paragraphing

• A paragraph is a collection of related sentences organized around a central idea.
• Each paragraph has a minimum of three and a maximum of five sentences.
• Paragraphs are organized around a single central argument.

Importance of Paragraphs

• Organize ideas in longer texts such as letters and essays.
• Easier for the reader to follow the ideas.
• Clearly shows where one topic ends and the next begins.

Paragraph Structure

• Common paragraph structure contains a topic sentence, supporting sentences, and a concluding sentence.
• Topic sentence: Introduces the paragraph's central idea.
• Supporting sentences: Elaborate on the topic sentence providing evidence.
• Concluding sentence: Summarizes the information in the paragraph; can be seen as a reversed topic sentence.

Example of a Paragraph

• Canada is one of the best countries globally due to factors such as a comprehensive healthcare system accessible to all citizens; a high standard of education; well-trained teachers; and efficiently run, clean cities with plenty of green spaces.

Exercise

• Paragraph writing exercises about various prompts, such as a recent family vacation, a special childhood toy, a career interest, and an important person in Namibian history.

PEEL Structure

• A method of organizing academic paragraphs.
• Focuses on a single idea per paragraph related to the essay's introduction.
• Point: Main point/topic for the paragraph.
• Evidence: Support the point with evidence and examples.
• Explanation: Explain how the evidence supports the answer.
• Link: Refer the point back to the question, including relevant keywords.

Example of PEEL

• Advocates of online learning often refer to its advantages over traditional instructor-led training as it delivers instruction to geographically dispersed employees, saving the company travel expenses and lost production time, implying cost-effectiveness, and the potential for computer technology to replace HRM professionals.

Presenting Your Own Voice

• Balance your voice with those of other authors, who are usually scholars in the field.
• Academic writing presents a clear position on the topic, giving a distinct authorial voice.
• Integrate other voices (scholars' perspectives) to support your stance.
• Clearly distinguish your voice from other voices and cite all sources appropriately.

Tips for Using Various Voices

• Start and end paragraphs with your voice.
• The introduction and conclusion primarily focus on your own perspective.
• Use other voices in the body paragraphs to provide evidence and support.
• Conclude the argument with your own final position.

Example of Integrating Ideas with 'Other Voices'

• The current diversity of the student population poses significant challenges, including an approach often referred to as "bolt-on" (Bennett et al., 2000). This approach utilizes extra-curricular study skills courses, often in dedicated learning centres (Gamache, 2002; Haggis & Pouget, 2002) in contrast with the "built-in" approach where learning develops through subject teaching.

Things to Remember (Paragraph Writing)

• One Key Idea per Paragraph
• Respect the specified 'Direction'/Focus/Argument of the Question
• Provide Evidence to Support Claims
• Include Relevant Keywords from the Question

Unity and Coherence in Paragraph Writing

• Unity: All sentences refer to the main idea/topic.
• Coherence: Sentences are logically organized, with a clear development plan.

Transitions/Cohesive Devices

• Transitions/linking words connect sentences and paragraphs for clarity and flow.
• Examples: addition, consequence, generalizing, exemplifying, illustrating (for example), emphasizing (chiefly, especially), similarity (similarly), exception (aside from), restating/rephrasing (in essence).

Illustration, Emphasis, Similarity, Exception, and Restatement

• Illustration: (e.g., for example, for instance). Examples support claims.
• Emphasis: (e.g., above all, chiefly, especially). Highlights key points within a discussion.
• Similarity: (e.g., comparatively, likewise). Shows connections or parallels between different ideas.
• Exception: (e.g., aside from, except). Points out exceptions or contrasting situations.
• Restatement: (e.g., in essence, in other words). Rephrases ideas for clarity and emphasis for a different perspective

Contrast and Comparison, and Sequence

• Contrast: (e.g. contrast, conversely). Highlights differences between concepts.
• Comparison: (e.g. similarly, alike). Highlights similarities between concepts.
• Sequence: Shows a clear step-by-step progression.

Summarising

• Summarising: (e.g., after all, in any case, in short). Concludes paragraphs/sections or the overall argument with a sense of closure.

Exercise (Additional Examples)

• Write a paragraph about a recent vacation.
• Detail the most loved aspects of the trip.
• Paragraph about a special childhood toy.
• Paragraph about a career.
• Paragraph about an important Namibian historical figure.

Plagiarism

• Using information legally, acknowledging sources is essential.
• Copying information and hoping it won't be noticed is not acceptable.
• Using someone else's words without acknowledging the source is plagiarism.
• Using the source's ideas or structure without acknowledgement is considered a form of plagiarism.

What is Plagiarism?

• Misconduct, violating university/institute regulations.
• Taking/using someone else's thoughts & presenting them as your own.
• Copying another student's work is a form of plagiarism.
• Downloading assignments from the internet is considered plagiarism, dishonest and unacceptable.
• Helping others cheat is a form of misconduct.

Why is Plagiarism Bad?

• Violates academic ethics and is a form of theft and fraud.
• Plagiarism undermines the integrity of the student/individual, and also the academic environment.
• Plagiarism reflects low competence or a lack of understanding of how to ethically conduct academic work.

What Happens to Plagiarists?

• Penalties for plagiarism vary. Consequences will likely include a zero grade for the plagiarized work; potential disciplinary actions; and potentially failure of the course in question.

How to Avoid Plagiarism (Direct Quoting)

• Keep the source's name and the quotes together.
• Select quotes that powerfully inform and/or add significant value to the work. Overuse of quotes can weaken credibility and interfere with style.
• Indicate quoted material accurately by using quotation marks.
• Provide references to the source and include page numbers.

How to Avoid Plagiarism (Indirect Quoting/Paraphrasing)

• Keep the source's name near the text in your notes.
• Rewrite the key ideas using different words and sentence structures.
• Indicate the source.
• Ensure that your words and sentence structures differ significantly from the original text.

Types of Plagiarism

• Direct Plagiarism: Copying text word-for-word without acknowledgement.
• Hired Plagiarism: Purchasing work and presenting it as your own.
• Borrowed Plagiarism: Sharing/copying another's work/ideas without crediting the source.
• Self-Plagiarism: Recycling previous work for a new project.
• Mosaic Plagiarism: Using parts of multiple sources without acknowledging their origin.
• Collaboration Plagiarism: Presenting group work as individual work.
• Contributing Author Plagiarism: Failing to acknowledge contributors.
• Aggregated Plagiarism: Citing numerous sources, but original content is insufficiently developed.
• Outline Plagiarism: Repeating another person's outline structure without adapting the content.
• Bibliography Plagiarism: Copying a bibliography from another source.
• Secondary Source Plagiarism: Failing to cite sources while using ideas and material from research that is not your main source.
• Accidental Plagiarism: Unintentionally using the words/phrases of another author without proper citation.

Reasons for Plagiarism

• Workload pressures.
• Pressure to succeed.
• Misunderstanding plagiarism.
• Lack of self-respect.
• Believing plagiarism is easy.

What are Essays?

• A piece of writing usually with 5+ paragraphs.
• Discusses a singular topic with multiple points.
• Thesis statement presents the main points introduced in the introduction.

Parts of an Essay

• Introduction: Introduction grabs attention and includes the thesis statement of the main argument points.
• Body: The body paragraphs develop the thesis statement with supporting evidence and arguments.
• Conclusion: Summarizes the main points of the argument and may include an opinion, prediction, or solution to a problem.

Research Reports/Essays: Learning Objectives

• Essay writing.
• Qualitative methodologies (approach, methods).
• Quantitative methodologies (approach, methods).
• Mixed methods (approach, methods).

Research Report Definition

• Research is a cyclical process of thinking about ideas, conducting research, writing, and going back and forth between each step.
• Academic research is a systematic and rigorous process used to investigate and solve problems.
• Reporting the research in a report often means a thesis, dissertation, or journal article.

Qualitative Approach

• Focuses on non-numerical data (text, video, audio) to gather in-depth meanings and understandings.
• Useful for acquiring deep insights into a topic, for generating new ideas, and understanding concepts, experiences, and opinions.
• Often used in humanities and social sciences.

Qualitative Research Methods

• Observations: Recording observations in detailed field notes.
• Interviews: One-on-one conversations with individuals.
• Focus Groups: Group discussions around a specific topic.
• Surveys: Questionnaires with open-ended questions to gather data from a larger sample size.
• Secondary Research: Utilizing existing data (written texts, images, audio, video).

Quantitative Approach

• Focuses on numerical data to discover patterns, make predictions, test cause-and-effect relationships, and generalize to wider populations.
• Common in natural and social sciences.

Quantitative Research Methods

• Descriptive Research: Summarizing data to establish an overall picture or average.
• Correlational Research: Investigating relationships between study variables.
• Experimental Research: Systematically examining whether cause-and-effect relationships exist between variables.

Mixed Methods Approach

• Integrates elements from quantitative and qualitative research.
• Aims to provide a more detailed understanding.
• The mix of data can give a more comprehensive understanding of complex topics.
• Can be applied to specific research designs (e.g. convergent, parallel, embedded, explanatory, exploratory).

Research Design Types (Mixed Methods)

• Convergent Parallel Design: The collection of both approaches (qualitative and quantitative) occurs simultaneously.
• Embedded Design: One of the approaches is considered the primary focus.
• Explanatory Sequential Design: Quantitative research occurs first, followed by qualitative research.
• Exploratory Sequential Design: Qualitative research precedes quantitative research to gather deeper insights.

Literature Review

• Examines existing research to identify gaps/areas requiring more study.
• Presents an overview of prior studies to help establish what has already been done (summarizing, synthesizing, and offering a critique).
• Emphasizes the strengths and weaknesses of existing research, highlighting debates and controversies in the field.

Reviewing Literature

• Broaden/deepen your understanding of a problem.
• Look at theories related to the chosen topic.
• Consult books, journals, and online resources.

Homework Assignment

• Find a literature review within your field of study.
• Reflect on different components of the literature review (length, sources used).

Presentation and Data Analysis

• Narrative Presentation: Summaries data sets using conclusions and comparisons for a deeper understanding.
• Graphical Representation: Visual representation of numerical data/relationships; commonly used in academic presentations to present, explain, and interpret findings, and aid understanding.

Graphical Representation Types

• Line graphs (continuous data, predicting future trends)
• Bar graphs (comparing categories, quantities represented).
• Histograms (frequency of numerical data, categories based on intervals).
• Line plot (shows frequency of data on a number line).
• Box and whisker plot (summarizes data by dividing it into four parts; showing the range, median, interquartile range).
• Stem-and-leaf plot (organizing data for presenting frequencies).
• Pie charts (comparing proportional relationships of data categories in a circle).

Data Tables

• Frequency Tables (displaying number of data points).

Referencing Sources

• Provide proper citations to follow ethical academic practices.

Test your understanding of different types of summaries and instruction words in this matching quiz. Each question challenges you to pair various summaries with their characteristics and meanings, enhancing your comprehension skills. Perfect for learners wanting to improve their summarization and analytical skills.