MSc Dissertation Writing Workshop

1
MSc Dissertation Writing Workshop

• Nikki Longden, Communication Systems
• Robert Blake, SLDC

2
WORKSHOP PLAN

• Task 1 Post-it Note Exercise
• Mini-presentation Plagiarism and how to avoid
  it
• Task 2 Dissertation Extract Exercise
• Questions and Answers with project supervisor

3
TASK 1

• Working in small groups, use the post-its to
  write down
• 1) your feelings about writing your dissertation
• 2) questions you would like to be answered about
  dissertation writing
• For exampleShould I have started writing by
  now?
• What if I dont get the results that I need?
• I enjoy working on my own and scheduling my
  time
• I do not enjoy working in such an unstructured
  way

4
AVOIDING PLAGIARISM

• Many of these slides have been taken from the
  mini project report writing session 2 slides
• This is an important topic to revisit as it is
  crucial for your success that you avoid
  plagiarism in your dissertation.

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WHAT IS PLAGIARISM?

• Plagiarism means using other writers ideas,
  words or frameworks without acknowledgement.
• It means that you are falsely claiming that the
  work is your own.
• This can range from copying whole papers,
  paragraphs, sentences or phrases without
  acknowledgement to merely changing a word or two
  within a sentence.

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WHAT IS PLAGIARISM?
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WHICH OF THESE IS PLAGIARISM?

• 1. Copying a paragraph verbatim from a source
  without any acknowledgement.
• 2. Copying a paragraph and making small changes -
  e.g. replacing a few verbs, replacing an
  adjective with a synonym acknowledgement in the
  bibliography.
• 3. Cutting and pasting a paragraph by using
  sentences of the original but omitting one or two
  and putting one or two in a different order, no
  quotation marks with an in-text acknowledgement
  plus bibliography.
• 4. Composing a paragraph by taking short phrases
  from a number of sources and putting them
  together using words of your own to make a
  coherent whole with an in-text acknowledgement
  bibliography.
• 5. Paraphrasing a paragraph by rewriting with
  substantial changes in language and organisation
  the new version will also have changes in the
  amount of detail used and the examples cited
  citing in bibliography.
• 6. Quoting a paragraph by placing it in block
  format with the source cited in text
  bibliography.
• Carroll J. 2000 Teaching News November, 2000.
  Based on an exercise in Academic Writing for
  Graduate Students by Swales and Feale, University
  of Michigan, 1993 on http//www.ilt.ac.uk/resourc
  es/Jcarroll.htm Accessed 12/05/2003

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HOW CAN WE AVOID PLAGIARISM?

• When you use the work of another person, you must
  give them credit for that.
• This is done by providing a citation in the main
  body of the text where you have used their work
  and adding an entry for that work in a list of
  references at the end of your dissertation.
• You need to cite even if you have summarised or
  paraphrased the work in your own words as it is
  not your work.

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WHY DO WE USE OTHER SCIENTISTS WORK?

• To demonstrate to readers examiners that we are
  familiar with the field that we have been
  selective in reviewing relevant studies
• To provide an overview of current knowledge in a
  particular area of application and
  or/methodology
• To provide a context for our current study and to
  locate our it within a specific field
• To review other studies critically
• To highlight a gap in knowledge, areas of
  application, etc
• To justify the use of a particular methodology or
  area of application
• To establish the validity of data cited
• To construct scientific knowledge on the basis of
  other scientists findings.

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WHY DO WE CITE OTHER SCIENTISTS?

• It is both expected and a very important skill
  for you to use the work of others in your
  project.
• If you do not have references in your work, you
  cannot show that the work you are doing is
  relevant to communications or that you have any
  understanding of where your work fits in to the
  field.
• You must use references in your dissertation!

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HOW DO WE USE OTHER SCIENTISTS WORK IN OUR WRITING

• We can either do this by rephrasing in our own
  words adding an acknowledgement.
• This can either through
• 1 - summary
• or
• 2 - paraphrase
• Direct quotation acknowledgement is rarely used

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INTEGRATING SOURCES INTO YOUR REPORT

• When referring other studies, they need to be
  integrated into your report.
• You need to use your writing style, your voice,
  rather than the disconnected styles of other
  researchers.
• So when you refer to another writer, you should
  begin end in your own impersonal voice, with
  the middle part consisting of paraphrase or
  summary of the source

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HOW DO WE CITE OTHER SCIENTISTS WORK?

• When youve paraphrased or summarised another
  writer, always acknowledge the source. You can do
  this in 2 ways
• 1) Paraphrase the idea, then give the surname of
  the author year of publication in brackets or
  reference number e.g.
• Statistical analysis can be used to demonstrate
  Berridge 2002 or 2
• This method emphasises the study.
• 2) Begin the sentence with the authors surname
  year of publication in brackets e.g.
  Berridge 2002 or 2 has demonstrated
  that statistical analysis can be used
  This method emphasises the
  author you are citing.

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HOW DO WE COMPILE A REFERENCES LIST?

• References should list alphabetically all the
  sources (books, journal, webs material etc) that
  you have used in the text. Do not include common
  knowledge http//owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/
  research/r_plagiar.html
• There are 2 main methods of listing references
• 1. in alphabetical order i.e. sorted by surname
  (Harvard)
• 2. In numerical ordering of appearance in the
  body of the dissertation/thesis.
• Consult your postgrad handbook for format.

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REFERENCES IN THE REFERENCE LIST AUTHOR YEAR
SYSTEM

• Bateman, A. (1999). Digital Communications.
  Design For The Real World. Addison-Wesley.
• Comer, D. (1999). Computer Networks and
  Internets. Prentice Hall, second edition.
• Proust, A.(2000). Oreilly network Personal area
  network A bluetooth primer online.
  http//www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/wireless/2000/11/0
  3/bluetooth.html
• Accessed 9th September 2004

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REFERENCES IN THE REFERENCE LIST NUMERICAL
SYSTEM

• 1 Bateman, A. Digital Communications. Design
  For The Real World. Addison-Wesley, 1999.
• 2 Comer, D. Computer Networks and Internets.
  Prentice Hall, second edition,1999.
• 3 Proust, A. Oreilly network Personal area
  network A bluetooth primer online, 2000
  http//www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/wireless/2000/11/0
  3/bluetooth.html
• Accessed 9th September 2004

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FURTHER HELP WITH REFERENCING

• For further advice see Andy Gilletts very
  helpful UEFAP site. Look under citation,
  reporting and references
• http//www.uefap.co.uk/writing/writfram.htm
• If there is demand, we can run an individual
  session for those students that would like more
  help in August

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TASK 2

• Please read the four dissertation extracts that
  you have been given
• When you have finished reading, please discuss
  the answers to those questions on the hand outs
  relating to the extracts as a group with the
  other people on your table