Reading & Writing: Dissertations, Assignments and Projects

This video explains why you should use Library resources rather than relying on Google for researching for your assignments.

Process words help you to structure your essay, dissertation or project: Below is a list of most of the common process words and their definitions.

A workbook which is a short introduction to research and research methods outlining some key areas.

This resource from Manchester University draws on an approach to analysing academic texts originally pioneered by John Swales in the 1980s. It aims to provide you with examples of some of the phraseological ‘nuts and bolts’ of writing organised according to the main sections of a research paper or dissertation

This guide from the Open University takes you through the process of writing your assignment.

Based on the work of expert Stella Cottrell, international bestselling author of The Study Skills Handbook, this interactive resource will help you hone and develop your study skills at your own pace. Each module has been carefully designed so you can assess your current proficiency, track your progress, become more confident and get the most out of your course.

• Research Projects
• Conducting Your Research
• Reporting Your Findings

Please note that you will be required to log in to this resource using your BU login.

Presented by BU Senior Lecturer Camila Devis-Rozental as part of 10 days of Learning Study Skills Series Sept' 2020

This guide from Leicester University gives advice on how to devise a topic for your dissertation and then how to research and present your ideas.

Go to our Study Skills Workshops: Essay Planning page to access the following bite-sized video recordings with activities:

• Part One: Understanding & deconstructing and essay question
• Part Two: Strategies and techniques
• Part Three: Structure and writing
• Part Four: Drafting, editing and proofreading

A really useful guide from UCL on how to evaluate sources.

The CRAAP test was developed by Meriam Library at California State University:

• ​​Currency - The timeliness of the information.
• Relevance - The importance of the information for your needs.
• Authority - The source of the information.
• Accuracy - The reliability, truthfulness and correctness of the content.
• Purpose - The reason the information exists.

Research ethics applications for undergraduate and taught postgraduates are initially reviewed and approved by named supervisors within Faculties or approved by Faculty Ethics Programme Teams. Guidance for undergraduate and taught postgraduate students on how to complete and submit a Research Ethics Checklist can be found here.

Post Graduate Researchers (PhD, MPhil and MRes) and members of BU Staff should consult the Research Ethics tab in the Postgraduate Researchers' guide.

The Learning Development Team at the University of Leicester have produced a really useful slide show giving 10 top tips for essay writing. The is also a link from the page to a more in depth guide on crafting a really good essay.

This short video on critical essay writing, recorded by a lecturer at Sussex University, gives valuable tips on what to bear in mind when writing an essay. This page also includes a really useful checklist for essay writing.

Assignment Survival Kit from University of Kent

A tool to help you plan backwards from your hand-in deadline

A Guide to useful phrases to link ideas within a piece of written work. Produced by Anglia Ruskin University