Information and technology skills --
2. Frequently asked questions (FAQs) --
3. Choosing a research project --
Before you choose a research project --
Basic considerations for choosing a research project --
Advice for undergraduate students --
Advice for postgraduate students --
4. Researching a topic --
Sources of information --
5. Writing a research project proposal --
Purpose of a research proposal --
Structure of a research proposal --
Tips on writing style and language in a research proposal --
Checklist for writing a research proposal --
6. Planning a research project --
Phases of a research project --
Be focused on your objectives --
Tips on making a Gantt chart --
7. Research methodology and research methods --
Quasi-experimental research --
8. Keeping research records --
Purpose of keeping a research log --
Contents in a research log --
Writing a research log --
Recording literature searches --
Hardcopy versus electronic copy --
Things to avoid in keeping a research log --
Rules on keeping a research log --
Writing at the beginning of a project --
Avoiding procrastination --
10. Grammar, punctuation and word usage guide --
Common grammar problems --
Tenses : Present, past, future --
Subject-verb agreement --
Passive and active voice --
Reasons for using the passive voice --
Common sentence problems --
Run-on sentences and comma splices --
Misplaced and dangling modifiers --
Common punctuation problems --
Commonly misused and confused words and phrases --
Pairs of words commonly confused --
11. Do's and don'ts of technical writing --
Do's of technical writing --
View your writing as a process --
Observe the five C's of technical writing --
Don'ts of technical writing --
12. Strategies for writing a good report or thesis --
Write the first draft quickly --
Revising and checking for plagiarism --
13. Writing the introduction and literature review --
Components of an introduction --
Strategic use of steps in the different parts of an introduction and literature review --
Common logical pitfalls in an introduction --
Some key language features of an introduction and literature review --
Writing the literature review as a separate section or chapter --
Checklist for introduction and literature review --
14. Writing the materials and methods --
Components of materials and methods --
Some considerations in writing materials and methods --
Some key language features in materials and methods --
Checklist for materials and methods --
15. Writing the results and discussion --
Components of results and discussion --
Organising results and discussion --
Common logical pitfalls in results and discussion --
Some key language features of results and discussion --
Tips on typing equations --
Checklist for results and discussion --
16. Writing the conclusion --
Functions of a conclusion section --
Components of the conclusion section --
Illustration of a conclusion section in a research paper --
Language features of the conclusion --
Do's and don'ts in writing the conclusion section --
Checklist for writing the conclusion --
17. Writing the abstract and front matter --
Components of an abstract --
Some key language features in an abstract --
Some considerations in writing an abstract --
Checklist for writing an abstract --
Results and discussions --
Checklist for an abstract and front matter --
Features of two main referencing systems --
Tips for sorting reference list --
19. Using sources and avoiding plagiarism --
Three methods of integrating sources into your writing --
Procedure for paraphrasing --
Procedure for changing the words in the original text --
Changing the structure of the original text --
Useful expressions to use when paraphrasing --
Checklist for avoiding plagiarism --
20. Revising and editing --
General advice before you revise --
Set aside plenty of time for rewriting --
Avoid revising from memory --
Adopt the reader's perspective --
Stage 1 : Revising-content, overall organisation and paragraphs --
Checking overall organisation --
Stage 3 : Proofreading --
Stage 5 : Document integrity --
21. How to create figures --
Photographs and images --
Copyright and permission --
Quality of photographs and images --
Using the drawing tool in Microsoft Office Word --
Creating charts in Microsoft Office Excel --
Changing the attributes of a chart --
Choosing the type of chart to use --
Tips for positioning figures, images and charts in Microsoft Office Word --
22. How to create a good layout --
Ten simple rules for a good layout --
Layout of report or thesis --
Create a template file --
23. How to prepare for an oral presentation --
Preparing for an oral presentation --
Materials and Methods slides --
Results and Discussion slides --
References Cited slides --
24. Do's and don'ts of oral presentations --
Delivering your presentation --
Verbal component : Use of words --
Vocal component : Use of our voice --
Visual component : Body language --
Using presentation tools --
Procedure for finishing quickly --
Tip : How to find your conclusions slide instantly --
Checklist for a presentation --
Delivering your presentation --
