Conclusion Introduce topic & provide a contextforthe essay Answerthe question by developing a discussion Restate the Main Point Introductions have two parts: 1. General statements about your topic. These sentences need to: • Attractreader’s attention • Introduce the topic in a general way to orientate your reader to the subject and to provide background information. This provides the context. Keep statements brief. • Providebackgroundinformation 2. The thesis statement. It is often the last sentence of the introduction and gives the readerthe following information: State specific topic. • Identifies your position on the topic or question • Listthe subtopics that will be discussed • Limits the scope of what will be discussed • Indicates the pattern of organisation of the essay and gives a clear outline of what will follow • Indicates your argument or contention when you are asked to ‘draw conclusions’ about a subject. Here, show your knowledge and understanding of material that has ...
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Introduction Body Conclusion Introduce topic & provide a contextforthe essay Answerthe question by developing a discussion Restate the Main Point Introductions have two parts: 1. General statements about your topic. These sentences need to: • Attractreader’s attention • Introduce the topic in a general way to orientate your reader to the subject and to provide background information. This provides the context. Keep statements brief. • Providebackgroundinformation 2. The thesis statement. It is often the last sentence of the introduction and gives the readerthe following information: State specific topic. • Identifies your position on the topic or question • Listthe subtopics that will be discussed • Limits the scope of what will be discussed • Indicates the pattern of organisation of the essay and gives a clear outline of what will follow • Indicates your argument or contention when you are asked to ‘draw conclusions’ about a subject. Here, show your knowledge and understanding of ...
How to critically analyse research results and conclusions The table below provides the criteria for judging the strengths and weaknesses of research results and conclusions: appropriate choice and use of statistics correct interpretation of results all results explained alternative explanations considered significance of all results discussed consistency of results with previous research discussed results add to existing understanding or knowledge limitations discussed results clearly explained conclusions consistent with results Evaluating the Results and Conclusions Strengths Weaknesses Chose and used appropriate statistics inappropriate choice or use of statistics Results interpreted correctly or accurately incorrect interpretation of results the results have been over-interpreted For example: correlation measures have been incorrectly interpreted to suggest causation rather than association All results were explained, including inconsistent or misleading results inconsistent or ...
How to critically analyse a methodology The table below provides the criteria for judging the strengths and weaknesses of methodology. An evaluation of a methodology usually involves a critical analysis of its main sections: design; sampling (participants); measurement tools and materials; procedure design tests the hypotheses or research questions method valid and reliable potential bias or measurement error, and confounding variables addressed method allows results to be generalized representative sampling of cohort and phenomena; sufficient response rate valid and reliable measurement tools valid and reliable procedure method clear and detailed to allow replication Evaluating a Methodology Strengths Weaknesses Research design tests the hypotheses or research questions research design is inappropriate for the hypotheses or research questions Valid and reliable method dubious, questionable validity The method addresses potential sources of bias or measurement error. confounding va...
How to critically analyse arguments, viewpoints or ideas The table below summarizes the criteria for judging the strengths and weaknesses of an argument, viewpoint or idea: reasons support the argument argument is substantiated by evidence evidence for the argument is relevant evidence for the argument is unbiased, sufficient and important evidence is reputable balanced clear logical convincing Evaluating Arguments, Views or Ideas Strengths Weaknesses Reasons and evidence provided support the argument the reasons or evidence do not support the argument - overgeneralization Substantiated (supported) by factual evidence insufficient substantiation (support) Evidence is relevant and believable Based on peripheral or irrelevant evidence Unbiased: sufficient or important evidence or ideas included and considered. biased: overlooks, omits, disregards, or is selective with important or relevant evidence or ideas. Evidence from reputable or authoritative sources evidence relies on non reputa...
How to critically analyse a concept The table below summarizes the criteria for judging the strengths and weaknesses of a concept: key variables identified clear and well-defined meaningful logical relevant up-to-date Evaluating Concepts Strengths Weaknesses Key variables or constructs identified key variables or constructs omitted or missed Clear, well-defined, specific, precise ambiguous, vague, ill-defined, overly general, imprecise, not sufficiently distinctive overinclusive, too broad, or narrowly defined Meaningful, useful conceptually flawed Logical contradictory Relevant questionable relevance Up-to-date out of date Critical analysis examples of concepts Many researchers have used the concept of control in different ways. There is little consensus about what constitutes automaticity. Putting forth a very general definition of motivation means that it is possible that any behaviour could be included. The concept of global education lacks clarity, is imprecisely defined an...
How to critically analyse a theory, model or framework The evaluative words used most often to refer to theory, model or framework are a sound theory or a strong theory. The table below summarizes the criteria for judging the strengths and weaknesses of a theory: comprehensive clear logical practical applicable empirically supported up-to-date parsimonious Evaluating a Theory, Model or Framework The table below lists the criteria for the strengths and their corresponding weaknesses that are usually considered in a theory. Strengths Weaknesses Comprehensively accounts for main phenomena overlooks or omits important features or concepts Clear, detailed vague, unexplained, ill-defined, misconceived Main tenets or concepts are logical and consistent concepts or tenets are inconsistent or contradictory Practical, useful impractical, unuseful Applicable across a range of settings, contexts, groups and conditions limited or narrow applicability Empirically supported by a large body of evi...
What does ‘critical’ mean? A critical analysis does not mean writing angry, rude or disrespectful comments, or expressing your views in judgmental terms of black and white, good and bad, or right and wrong. To be critical, or to critique, means to evaluate. Therefore, to write critically in an academic analysis means to: judge the quality, significance or worth of the theories, concepts, viewpoints, methodologies, and research results evaluate in a fair and balanced manner avoid extreme or emotional language You evaluate or judge the quality, significance or worth by examining the:strengths and weaknesses computer keys showing performance or an strengths, advantages, benefits, gains, or improvements disadvantages, weaknesses, shortcomings, limitations, or drawbacks
What does ‘analysis’ mean? A critical analysis means analysing or breaking down the parts of the literature and grouping these into themes, patterns or trends. In an analysis you need to: 1. Identify and separate out the parts of the topic by grouping the various key theories, main concepts, the main arguments or ideas, and the key research results and conclusions on the topic into themes, patterns or trends of agreement, dispute and omission. 2. Discuss each of these parts by explaining: i. the areas of agreement/consensus, or similarity ii. the issues or controversies: in dispute or debate, areas of difference ii. the omissions, gaps, or areas that are under-researched 3. Discuss the relationship between these parts 4. Examine how each contributes to the whole topic 5. Make conclusions about their significance or importance in the topic
How to write a successful critical analysis Kozzi-pros-cons-128x128Click on the arrows beside the topics below to learn more about the content and definition of a critical analysis, and the ways to evaluate a theory, concept, argument, methodology, and research results and conclusions. For further queries or assistance in writing a critical analysis email Bill Wrigley. What do you critically analyse? In a critical analysis you do not express your own opinion or views on the topic. You need to develop your thesis, position or stance on the topic from the views and research of others. In academic writing you critically analyse other researchers’: theories concepts, terms viewpoints, arguments, positions methodologies, approaches research results and conclusions This means weighing up the strength of the arguments or research support on the topic, and deciding who or what has the more or stronger weight of evidence or support. Therefore, your thesis argues, with evidence, why a particu...
How to Write a Critical Analysis Essay The critical analysis process has two key components, each of which is equally important. The first is the reading process. The purpose of a critical analysis assignment is to demonstrate an understanding of your subject matter. This means you carefully read, watch, or otherwise study your source text. The second part is the writing process itself. Below are nine organizational and writing tips to help you craft the best possible critical analysis essay. 1. Read Thoroughly and Carefully. You will need to accurately represent an author's point of view and techniques. Be sure you truly understand them before you begin the writing process. 2. Choose a Thesis Statement. Your thesis should make a claim about the author's point of view and writing style. It should present a perspective that you can back up with evidence from the text; remember, the purpose of your essay is to provide analysis of someone else's work. Choose a thesis stateme...
page numbers.
In-text references should include page number details (if available) if you are paraphrasing or quoting. Page numbers are not required if referencing an entire work, e.g. (Milligan 1985). Use p. when citing from a single page, e.g. (Fardipour et al. 2020, p. 107) and pp. for a range of consecutive pages, e.g. (Dawkins 2012, pp. 15-16). If an article has an article number, then p. or pp. cannot be used. In that instance, use the article number, a hyphen and the page number that you are citing from, e.g. (Jayawardena et al. 2017, e2600-6) if you are citing from page 6 of Jayawardena et al.’s 2017 article with the article number e2600. Additional details such as volume numbers should only be used when necessary to avoid confusion with other volumes of the same series by an author. If page numbers are not provided and the information resource is not an article with article number, then use author's name and year of publication.
What are journal articles? Journals are an important source of information for academic study and research. Journal articles often provide more up-to-date or detailed information than a textbook. You may hear journals sometimes referred to as 'periodicals', 'serials', or 'magazines'. Journals may be in electronic (ejournal) or print format. Traditionally, printed journals are published in issues (or parts) throughout the year and at the end of a year these parts may be bound into a single volume. Within each issue are individual articles on different topics, each by a separate author. Although many journals are now accessed electronically, this traditional form of publishing in issues and volumes still affects the way articles are organised online and the way they are referenced. Understanding a reference to a journal article You may see references to journal articles in reading lists or in reference lists in books, journal articles and other academic pap...
Where to Find Information for a Journal Article Typically, the information needed for a reference is found at the beginning of a journal article. See the example below with labeled elements. Reference List Formatting Use these guidelines to properly format your reference list in APA Style: Begin the reference list on a new page after the text. Place the section label "References" in bold at the top of the page, centered. Order the reference list entries alphabetically. Double-space the entire reference list (both within and between entries). Apply a hanging indent of 0.5 in. to each reference list entry, meaning that the first line of the reference is flush left and subsequent lines are indented 0.5 in. from the left margin. Reference List Order Works are listed in alphabetical order in the reference list, by the first word of the reference list entry. Arrange entries in alphabetical order by the surname of the first author followed by the initials of the author's gi...
COM151 Week 3 - What is Research? Melissa Schroder All Sections No unread replies.No replies. Hi everyone, Welcome to week 3 in Developing Research and Analytical Skills. This week we will look at what is research? What does it mean to be a research student? We explore how to develop familiarity with a research field; taking a position within a field; research concepts; and some methods for successful research at university. Something to think about: research can vary between different disciplines (i.e. how creative writers research can vary to how a historian approaches research, likewise how scholars in the humanities approach research may be different to how those in STEM research). Week 3 Readings Set Text: Making the Grade Chapter 4 Finding out - becoming well informed, pp. 41-61 Readings: Rhodes, Karen in Adams, Paul, Openshaw, Roger and Trembath, Victoria 2006, Score more: essential academic skills for tertiary education, Thompson/Dunmore Press, South Melbourne, Chapter 12: ...
Welcome to 'Developing Research and Analytical Skills' (COM151)! Melissa Schroder All Sections No unread replies.No replies. My name is Melissa Schroder. I am the Course Convenor and tutor for Developing Research and Analytical Skills (COM151) and along with Stephanie Burdett, I will be the main point of contact for you for this Unit. We are here to assist you with all your unit related questions regarding the week-by-week modules, content and assessments. About Ms. Melissa Schroder (Course Convenor & Tutor) myphoto2022.jpg My background is in Education and Linguistics. For the past 20 years I have been teaching academic skills (reading, writing, research and study skills) to undergraduate and postgraduate students. I enjoy working with students and helping them make sense of the university world. I welcome any questions you have about what you are reading and learning. Please make use of the discussion board so that others can also benefit from your questions. em...
How To Write a Critical Analysis in 5 Steps (With Tips) Updated February 17, 2023 Writing a critical analysis demonstrates your critical-thinking skills. This skill is essential for completing some educational courses and working in the academic field, as a critic or in some managerial or decision-making roles. In this article, we discuss what critical analysis is, the process for writing one and offer some writing tips and an example of a well-written critical analysis. Read more: Analytical Skills: Definitions and Examples Related jobs near you Sydney, NSW Part-time jobs Full-time jobs Remote jobs Urgently hiring jobs View more jobs on Indeed What is critical analysis? Critical analysis is the detailed examination and evaluation of another person's ideas or work. It is subjective writing as it expresses your interpretation and analysis of the work by breaking down and studying its parts. You may write a critical analysis to critique a piece of literature, a film or TV progra...
1. The Principle of Intellectual Property In the world of higher learning and university-level study, academics and researchers own the ideas they put into the public domain. When you reference in an academic assignment, essay or research article, you are acknowledging the source of the ideas - the author who originally published the material you are using. Your reference attributes the idea to its author (this is why referencing is sometimes talked about as “attribution”). Another way to put this is that referencing helps us to acknowledge the work of others. Any academic writing that is published in an academic journal or book is the result of extensive work - the labour of researching, writing, then having that work subjected to critical scrutiny and often reviewing and rewriting before final publication (see the discussion of ‘Peer-reviewed research’ in the Glossary for more on that). The task of researching, preparing and publishing academic work is significant work that oft...
Principles of note-taking. Note taking What to do Select Be selective, choose only important points or useful ideas System Be consistent, repeat the same approach across all the articles you research Purpose Work out what the text or lecture is about - what is key? Pattern How is the material presented? Organisation How is the material organised? Does it follow a logical sequence? What’s the structure? Argument What is the idea that is presented – what argument is being built? Comment Add your own comments – agree/disagree, good evidence/poor point Diagram Use concept maps to show connections
Week 1 & Quiz Code! Melissa Schroder All Sections No unread replies.No replies. Dear COM15, We hope you have enjoyed the first week of this unit. For everyone who has joined us late or who has not yet started looking at this week's topic, please make sure that you have completed the following tasks by the end of this week: Check your access to the Discussion Board and share your introductory post Familiarise yourself with the Learning@Griffith Platform and read this week's Study Guide > Welcome to the Course & What do I need to know topics Familiarise yourself with the Assessments and due dates Hopefully you have started looking at the assessment items for COM15. The first assessment (A1) is 4 quizzes. You will be able to complete each quiz twice, so please take note of your incorrect answers for your second attempt. You will need the password / codeword to log into the quizzes. Please just copy and paste the password from here. The password is case sensitive so pl...
Study Break and A1 (Quizzes)! Melissa Schroder All Sections No unread replies.No replies. Dear COM15 Students, I hope you are well and enjoying the course so far. Thank you for your participation on the discussion board - there have been some great responses to the weekly tasks. Please remember that your first assessment A1 (Quizzes) is due soon. You can complete these quizzes at any time, however all four must be completed by Monday 28 August 2023 at 9am. There are no extensions possible for this assessment. There is a study break next week and we will offline from Saturday 12 August until Monday 21 August 2023. We will respond to any emails and discussion board posts after this time. Have a nice (short) break, and we look forward to working towards the next assessment task with you in the upcoming weeks. Kind regards, Melissa and Stephanie
Systems Maintenance – 20th August 9am-4:30pm AEST Several key student systems will be unavailable from 9am–4:30pm AEST on Sunday 20th August due to planned system maintenance. During this period, a number of applications and web pages will be unavailable including: myGriffith, Programs & Courses, Degree Finder, Enrolments, Online Admissions, Course Profiles, Credit Applications, Scholarships, Internal Transfer, and Response Tool. For a full list of other L&T tools affected please visit our planned maintenance page. Learning@Griffith will continue to be available for the duration of the outage window. We appreciate your understanding while this critical work is completed.
Customize your Outlook calendar view How you set up your calendar view can make it easier to understand and manage, so don’t hesitate to personalize it. Take a few minutes to play around with your Outlook calendar settings to find out what works best for you. Dark mode for Outlook calendar Most applications provide a dark mode option, but it might not have crossed your mind to view your calendar that way. To put your Outlook calendar in dark mode (or black theme): Image source Go to toolbar, select File, and then select Office Account. Under Office Theme, select Black. Select the back arrow at the top to return. The theme will carry across all of your Microsoft 365 applications. Color-code your Outlook calendar Outlook calendar also lets you “Categorize” your meetings and events. You can use a color-code system to customize meetings, personal appointments, and more — making your calendar easier to digest at a quick glance. Image source “Create categories with designated colors ...
Tutorial 1 - Test yourself Dancing Man - activity Do I know where the information about my teachers is? Do I know where the Referencing Guide is located? Do I know what is considered acceptable online conduct in the online world at uni? Where will I be submitting my assignments? Where do I go if I need to request an extension? Have I checked out the readings and articles in the Readings and Topic Folders accessed via the Readings link in the course navigation menu? Have I read the FAQs? How did you go? Remember to share your experiences, comments and questions in the Discussions.
iPhone or iPad setup Microsoft 365 apps and email on iOS Set up the Outlook app for iOS Set up an Outlook account on the iOS Mail app Set up Microsoft 365 on iOS Other mobile devices Troubleshooting on Mobile Set up the Office app and Outlook on iOS devices Excel for Microsoft 365 Word for Microsoft 365 Outlook for Microsoft 365 More... For step-by-step instructions, choose the apps you want to set up on iOS Click to set up Outlook for iOSClick to set up Office apps on iOS Note: On an iPad Pro? The Office app is ready for the iPad Pro. You can now download a single Office mobile app (which combines Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) from the App store. Also see What can you do in the Office apps with Microsoft 365 for more details. Related topics Troubleshoot email setup on mobile FAQ Install Office on your PC or Mac
Writing in 3rd Person The way you put together the material you gather for written assignments will be unique: no-one else will do it in quite the same way. This is especially true in the social sciences and humanities fields, where there is a lot more scope for interpretation than other more ‘fixed’ disciplines such as anatomy or tax law. The emphasis in most university units is on the gathering and synthesis of material from authoritative sources, not on giving your personal opinion (since most people need to learn how to research and think critically, but no-one really needs to be taught how to have an opinion!). This means your opinion has to be supported by the evidence and the material created by other scholars. When you come to write the ideas that you have, you need to be able to show where those ideas have come from, and why they are important. One way that you can show you are thinking analytically, and not just giving your opinion, is by ensuring you use the third person v...
