How to not write a bad report

EXAMINER’S HINTS – PART II

What to do and not do ?

• A report should

+ contains well balanced sections: introduction, method and result

+ Other sections should be annexes

• Introduction /method sections can possibly be shorter

- Result section should not be the smallest

What to do and not do ?

• Do not forget that readers are not experts

+ A report should start with a survey and give the problematic

– Do not use acronyms, jargons, or new concepts without defining them before.

• Though readers are not experts, they are scientists

+ Use references to support your ideas

– Avoid re-inventing the wheel by paraphrasing literature, especially in the introduction.

What to do and not do ?

• Always think about the context

+ The first sentences of paragraph should explain what, or how, or why different ideas/parts are in relation.

• The content of a text should mirror the title of sections

Example

An introduction: At this level the reader has not yet any idea about the meaning of keywords and the relation with previous section

What to do: Establish relations between angular information, time information and previous sections. This can be done by setting the context and using definition, literature…

What to do and not do ?

• Figures have no reason to be if there is no reference in the text

– Report should not contain pages of figures– If many figures are needed, critically assess the message

that you want to convey and use a proper layout (with inset…)

– Do not waste paper, think about ecology…

• Figures should be well presented+ Follow a methodological approach: describe, explain/analyse, and discussed

• Caption should give a short description (self-contain)– Do not use caption for explanation, analysis or

discussion

Example

the encircled n=5 level is marked in red.

Example

Figure 17: Schematic energy diagram of xenon atom in the vicinity of the doubly ionization threshold. Rydberg series converging to Xe2+ states are shown: in black, triplet series (3Pj) are populated upon one photon ionization, in grey, singlet series (1P0,1 - in grey) can be observed with multi-photon ionization.

Should be a relation with the body of the document

How to avoid simple mistakes?

Misses point

Identify Do simple procedure

Enumerate Describe List Combine Do algorithms

CompareContrast Explain causes Analyse Relate Apply

Theorize Generalize Hypothesize Reflect

Prestructural Unistructural Multistructural Relational Extended abstract

QUANTITATIVE PHASE QUALITATIVE PHASE

SOLO: Structure of the Observed Learning Outcome (Biggs & Collis)

Scale

Why does it rain more on a mountain side facing the coast compared to on the slope inland?1

1Adopted from the book “Hur vi lär” by Marton, Hounsell, Entwistle (Originally Collis och Biggs)

2. Because the maritime winds encounters the coastal side of the

mountain first.

1. Because it is raining more on the ocean side.

3. Because maritime winds contains water vapor. These winds

encounter the coastal side of the mountain first. Rain falls,

and there is no precipitation left for the inland side.Threshold for a Bachelor

Why does it rain more on a mountain side facing the coast compared to on the slope inland?1

4. Because maritime winds pick up water vapour, and when they are

forced upwards by the mountain side they cool. Water vapour is

therefore condensated, and rain falls. When the winds have passed

the mountain they are dry.Threshold for

Master

1Adopted from the book “Hur vi lär” by Marton, Hounsell, Entwistle (Originally Collis och Biggs)

Why does it rain more on a mountain side facing the coast compared to on the slope inland?1

5. This is probably only true when winds are coming from the ocean. The

water vapour has evaporated from the sea surface and reaches the mountain

side, where it is forced upwards and cools. The cooling causes the water

vapour to condensate into droplets, which fall out as rain. The upslope moving

wind is now not only drier, but also compressed and warm, and therefore

relatively less humid compared to before. This resembles the warm winter

conditions of the eastern mountain chains of Canada. My argumentation

postulates certain wind and temperature conditions, and the result would

be profoundly different under other circumstances.

Threshold for PhD

1Adopted from the book “Hur vi lär” by Marton, Hounsell, Entwistle (Originally Collis och Biggs)

1. Because it is raining more on the ocean side.

2. Because the maritime winds encounters the coastal side of the

mountain first.

3. Because maritime winds contains water vapor. These winds encounter

the coastal side of the mountain first. Rain falls, and there is no

precipitation left for the inland side.

4. Because maritime winds pick up water vapour, and when they are

forced upwards by the mountain side they cool. Water vapour is

therefore condensated, and rain falls. When the winds have passed the

mountain they are dry.

5. This is probably only true when winds are coming from the ocean. The

water vapour has evaporated from the sea surface and reaches the

mountain side, where it is forced upwards and cools. The cooling

causes the water vapour to condensate into droplets, which fall out as

rain. The upslope moving wind is now not only drier, but also

compressed and warm, and therefore relatively less humid compared to

before. This resembles the warm winter conditions of the eastern

mountain chains of Canada. My argumentation postulates certain wind

and temperature conditions, and the result would be profoundly different

under other circumstances.

Grades

G - E

VG - A/B

(50%)

(100-80%)

National EuropeanECTS

Enjoy writing !