Unit - 4
Writing Practices
A resume is a short document used to summarize the job search and qualifications of the prospective employer. The resume includes contact details for the job seeker, work experience, education, and the appropriate skills to support the job application.
Your renegotiation is a critical part of today's job application process. Writing a good resume is more important than ever now that online job posts tend to attract hundreds if not thousands of applicants. A refurbished, ready-to-start application will increase your chances of getting an interview while poorly written resumes may be lost at sea of applicant
The “spelling of resume ” actually originates from French, and means “summary.” To this day, the purpose of a resume is still to provide employers with a summary of your relevant qualifications.
If you’re applying for a job, you need at least a resume to be considered for the position.
On a base level, a resume is made up of the following five parts:
- Contact details
- Introduction
- Educational background
- Work history
- Relevant skills
THE PURPOSE OF A RESUME
Many job seekers assume that the purpose of a resume is to provide a full overview of their professional history.
Instead, the goal of your resume is to convince employers you’re worth interviewing. To that end, your resume is a valuable tool you can use to highlight your experience to prospective employers.
If your resume provides a concise summary of your relevant qualifications and skills in a format that makes your ability to handle the work as clear as possible, you will get more interviews.
Resume vs. CV
Sometimes you will see the words go on and the CV is used interchangeably. They are not the same. The resume is a short documentary designed to market your professional skills while the cv contains an informative list of your expertise, of your courses, and other information.
C.V stands for curriculum ("course of life"). CVS are separate by design. Think of them as an encyclopaedia version of your professional life, taking your career history, education, credentials, relationships, publication and professionalism. They can extend well over three or four pages.
In the United States, CV’s are usually limited to professions with general positions where deep expertise is critical, such as academics, science and medicine. These CV’s are filled with extended education categories, work history, internships, gigs talk, teaching appointments, magazine publishing and other information that establishes trust.
Re-use across many industries and very short on just one or two pages. That's because the resume is not intended to capture all the details of your previous experience. Your resume should be designed and updated based on the details of each activity you use. Negative jobs in past jobs can be eliminated to save space and attract more attention to your used and accessible skills.
How to write the resume:
1. Select the resume format and the categories you need
2. Always include contact details, work experience, and education
3. Use traditional topics for high compliance
4. Apply practical skills directly to the job description
5. Replace basic tasks with impactful performance
6. Do not include an old goal statement or reference section
7. Preview and double-check what you wrote
8. Save as docx file (optional) or pdf.
If you think you are done, ask someone else to take care of you. Alternatively, take it to job scan for a quick answer.
Contents of a Good Resume
At the very least, your start-up should include your contact details, work experience, and education. Additional job summary sections, skills, volunteer work, and additional qualifications can be added when related to the job you work for.
The work ethic here is "worth it." remember that your resume is intended to quickly highlight the reasons why you are well prepared for the job. It is not intended to explain all the tasks you have done. Instead of simply listing your daily obligations from past activities, read the job listing and try to find the answer to each of the requirements listed. This is likely to get the attention of an employer who can only look at your return for a few seconds. It also broadens your application tracking system to apply to algorithms that help companies identify top candidates.
Below you will find out which parts of the restart to include in your start-up and how to adapt to the job you are looking for.
Elements of a Resume
Contact information
The title of your start-up should include the following information:
- Name
- Phone number
- Location (city, country, zip code)
- Email address
- Linked profile URL
It may seem obvious, but job seekers sometimes forget an important piece of contact information in this section. Double check and make it as easy as possible for employers to contact you for job interviews.
Phone number:
Enter a personal phone number, not a work number. Enter your city, state, and zip code (e.g. “Seattle, WA 98104”). This is important as other applicant tracking systems allow employers to filter the candidates based on location. Employers will always start with local selectors first. If you are traveling from somewhere, write down your current location and your future location.
Email address:
Use a valid email address. An email address based around your name is correct, such as jackieromano12@email.com. Your "happy" email address may work well in your life, but the terms "beersnob88" or "biebersuperfan" may not be so clear. Even using a seemingly outdated email client - such as AOL or Hotmail - can harm your prospects. Consider creating a free Gmail account for your search.
Linked Profile url:
If the employer is surprised by your qualifications, they will look at your online profiles. All job seekers should create a strong LinkedIn profile and include a url in their resume. This will make the life of the employer a little easier and help them to cross-check the claims on your resume.
Work experience:
Part of the work experience is the heart of your resume. Separate this category from a clear, existing topic, such as "work experience," "work experience," or "employment history." this will help guide employers towards your resume and ensure that the applicant tracking system (ats) is well defined.
Under the main heading, list each activity in chronological order. Each function should have its own sub-heading that includes the following information:
- Company
- Workplace
- Your job tittle
- Start and end dates
For example:
ABC corporation, settle
Distribution manager (01/2017-present)
The first things an employer looks for in your resume are the topics of the work you hold and the number of companies you've worked with. This format not only makes it easy for them to access that information, but our research has found that this sequence also provides greater ats compatibility.
Under each subheading, include responsibilities and measurable outputs that are relevant to the job you are working on. Remember, you don't have to include all the activities that were part of your daily routine. Use your available space to highlight the skills and knowledge requested in the job description. Job scan helps you decide exactly what skills are requested and whether or not you have highlighted them.
Education:
When you have a few years into your career, your education level may also be reduced under your resume. Unless you're using a profession that places more emphasis on education (such as academics, law, or medicine), most job seekers can escape by simply providing the following information on their resume:
• Agency name
• Stem
• School location
• Years visited
If you have just graduated from college, your education level surpasses your professional experience and includes many details. Skills developed in school are real skills that are important in the professional world. Recent rooms can include appropriate coursework, communities, organizations, and extracurriculars that strengthen their identity.
Activities:
98% of fortune 500 companies use applicant tracking systems (ats) to filter, filter, and enter applicants. Other ats, such as taleo, can automatically add your own content to the job description, allowing employers to focus only on the best "applicants". Employers are also looking at their application site to find keywords, such as "customer service," "accounts available," or "adobe photoshop."
Overloading or coming up as a search result is about adding complex skills and keywords to your resume. A good way to identify key skills in a list and search algorithms is to identify which skills are most prominent in the job description. Aligning these skills to your resume, where applicable, increases your chances of being selected for an interview
Strong skills should apply to all your resume capabilities. Entering the skills category for your start-up is not a prerequisite, but it can help you have a natural place to list the essential skills in the job you work for. The dedicated skills section also makes your resume much easier for employers trying to quickly find out if you meet their needs.
If you are using the skills section, remember that the list of skills and keywords is not enough. Add context to these skills to your full potential so employers can believe. This includes factors such as projects you have used in skills, the number of years of experience in a given skill, or the level of your expertise.
Historical and free:
Some restart forms allow space for some optional components. Only use the category of awards or honours in your resume if it makes sense for the job you work for. Active reputations will improve your credibility while poor prizes simply distract you from your best titles. For example, decide to get a monthly career or get a great customer satisfaction rating for your department, but maybe not if you are a kart race expert in your free time.
Volunteer work and study:
The work you do as an active volunteer can add to your qualifications and skill set as all paid experience. Also, the word "works." highlight the volunteer work of your start-up that uses the skills that apply to the job you work for. Carefully list voluntary organizations or affiliated organizations, such as political or religious organizations.
What you can leave from your view:
- Statement of note:
The statement of intent has been used as a standard for the restart and appears in other implementation templates. Traditionally, the purposeful statements were a brief introduction to the resume which explains why the submission is returned. For example, "purpose: to secure a position as a communications manager at a leading sales centre."
Including a purpose that you can restart these days can make you appear later. The job summary statement replaced the purpose of today's reboot. Any other information can serve as a cover letter.
While a statement of objectives describes your goals, a concise statement outlines how you can add value to the company.
- Examinations:
It is not necessary to write your directions in your resume unless otherwise stated in the job description. In addition, it is assumed that you have references, so there is no need to include "references available on request" either. Use the space you save to add additional skills and achievements.
- Soft skills:
When it comes to your resume, soft skills are not nearly as important as technical skills. That is because it is difficult to demonstrate within the context of a restart. For example, an employer will not take your name from you if you say "you work hard" or "you solve a problem." in fact, it looks like it's short.
Instead of simply writing soft skills, find opportunities to show off your interpersonal and behavioural skills. Achievements and measurable results are a great way to do this. For example, instead of saying "hard work," indicate in writing that you have completed x projects that are more than your department average.
- GPA:
Only list your GPA as part of your continuing education program if you have recently graduated from college and have a good GPA, similar to a 3.5 or better with a 4.0 rating. There are a few exceptions. Some industries, as professionals, are waiting to see your GPA.
Length of your resume:
While a one-page start-up is sometimes considered to be the best, a two-page resume may be required after five or ten years of staffing, especially if all of your experience is relevant to the job you are pursuing. Managers sometimes have three or more pages running.
That said, your resume should not be longer than it should. Short, step-by-step resumes will easily be digested and highlight your most important skills. After writing your resume, try removing the excess fluff and inappropriate content to reduce your page count and draw your attention to your best titles. No matter how many pages you start, try putting your most impressive titles at the top of the first page with a summary or category of skills.
There are several different ways to format your resume. Choosing the right format will make the writing process easier. When choosing a format, consider the function you are using for it. The chronological, compositional, and functional styles of each work serve a specific purpose.
The success of a business or industrial organization lies in doing its job for this purpose, gathering information and passing it on to those who need it is important. In the broader collection and transfer of information is happening all the time in every area of formal life. So, scientists, working brokers, testers, journalists, and various professionals, government and private organizations are asked to write and report to their management on important topics at the institution or the person involved.
Reports can be as short as a few sentences and as long as a few large pages. Although reports can be verbal and informal, here we are concerned with written and formal reports.
While writing the following principles can be kept in mind:
- Consider your Audience:
When organizing and preparing your reports you need to know who your audience is and whether or not your content meets their interests and needs.
- Enable Your Report:
Legitimacy has to do with how easy or readable it is. As most reports in normal cases type, all meetings with good typing should be followed. If there are handwritten reports, special attention should be given to writing clearly and clearly. Any departure from the above requirement will prove displeasing to your audience.
- Make your Report readable:
Clarity, durability and systematic presentation of readable content. The concept is summarized better than the following:
The author does a lot by giving his reader a lot of information and taking away from him a little time.
In this regard the following five goals are met:
a) Use short sentences.
b) You prefer convenience to the building.
c) Choose a common name.
d) Use the economy and avoid unnecessary words.
e) Act actions as far as possible
- Avoid unnecessary Names and Texts:
Just like unwanted fat in the body, padding, prolixity and repetition violates the respect of good writing, not to mention the respect they wrote for you. So 'agree' and 'prefer' will be more acceptable than pompous 'agree with' and 'prefer'. As such, why use 'at that point in time' and at a time when we have the best and most economical holdings at that time 'and' when '. Viewed from the point of view of the report, or requested for the report, a good report will contain four important details, an analysis of the information, conclusions and recommendations. It should always be remembered that effective reporting requires special attention to the needs and expectations of the reader. It means that the author of the report has to 'snap a picture', he must think and understand himself.
A technical report is comprised of the following sections:
A. Title Page
The title page includes the main title of the report, it must be short and concise. You can also include the word counts of your summary and main body.
B. Table of Contents
Help your reader quickly and easily find what they are looking for by using informative headings and careful numbering of your sections and sub-sections.
For example:
C. Introduction
The introductory part of the report comprises of statement of the objectives of the report and how the report should be treated by the readers. It should indicate towards the problem that is going to be addressed in the main body. It should be catchy and interesting to grasp the attention of the reader from the very start.
D. The Body
The main body consists of the central theme or the main idea of the report. It can be divided into a number of sections and subsections to separate your research and subsequent findings in a logical order.
E. Figures, Graphs, Formulae and Tables
This section consists of the statistical representation of the data you have collected. Ideas should be conveyed in the form which is most suitable to the reader and easily understandable by the reader. Excessive use of these tools should be avoided.
F. Conclusion
The conclusion is a kind of summing up of all the points you have stated in the main text. It should be a definite solution to the problem introduced during the introductory part of the report. The conclusion must be short and to the point.
G. Summary
Summarize all the key points stated in the report including your research, your findings and your conclusion. The summary should feel like a brief overview of your investigations and outcomes. The summary should be constructed in such a way that it can be called a stand-alone document on its own.
H. References
References must include detailed information of all your citations and the sources of material quoted in your texts. It can also include bibliography for further reading.
I. Appendices
This is the last element of a report. It refers to any material which can be useful in the detailed understanding of your subject. It is not meant for the casual reader but for readers who are highly interested in the subject.
Memo Report
A memo report or memorandum is an internal and informal form of communication which is written to inform and to call to action. It is normally used for communicating policies, procedures or other information within the organisation.
Unlike Interpersonal communication a memo report is presented to a large number of people. A memo has to be concise and concrete in terms of providing information.
One of the instances where you could be asked to write a memo report is in a lab. Here the audience for your memo report is your professor who has asked you to conduct an experiment and supply him with appropriate results.
All memo reports consist of two parts: the heading and the body
The Heading
The heading part follows the format given below:
TO: (The name of the receiver and their designation)
FROM: (Your name and designation or title)
DATE: (Current Date)
SUBJECT: (The purpose of writing the report)
The Body
The body of a memo report, like any technical report, should be concise and to the point. It needs to be properly structured and organised. It should consist of the following elements:
Opening:
This section should consist of 2 to 3 sentences and should state the main purpose of the memo. It should include the main problem with which the memo is concerned with and how it is going to be addressed. A good way to start the opening statement would be “The purpose of this memo is to inform you regarding the recent changes….”
Findings:
While writing a technical report it is crucial to include a summarized version of your findings regarding the concerned topic. It should include key points so that the reader can understand the purpose of the memo immediately. This section can also be labelled as “summary” or “recommendations”
Discussion:
This is the longest section in the memo which deals with all the information and evidences you have collected to support your arguments. This section can be subdivided into four subsections namely, Methods (any experiments or calculations involved), Analysis (the analysis of collected data), Results (summary of results obtained from methods and analysis) and Commentary (your objective views on your findings)
Conclusion:
After discussing your research, you should summarize the main elements of your finding in 2 or 3 sentences that should reiterate all the implications in the memo.
References:
All citations and bibliography are to be mentioned in the references section.
Progress Report
A progress report is a type of report which is written in order to inform a supervisor, associate, or customer about progress you’ve made on a project over a certain period of time.
A progress report must answer the following questions:
- What percentage of the work is complete?
- Which part of the work is currently being performed?
- Which sections of the work are yet to be completed?
- What unexpected problems have arisen in the project?
- What is the overall status of the project?
- How much more time will be required to complete the work?
A progress report can be structured in three different ways:
a) Memo – An informal memo report to be sent to someone within the organization.
b) Letter – An informal or formal letter to be sent to someone outside of the organization.
c) Formal Report – A formal report to be sent to someone outside the organization
You should choose the type of progress report depending upon your requirements.
A progress report has no specific structure but should always include the following elements:
- The title and the words “Progress Report” on top of the document
- Section headings to simplify the reading process.
- The name of the writer along with their designation and the receiver’s name and designation.
- The opening should be titled “scope and purpose” where the introduction defines the purpose of the report.
- Two sections titled “Progress….” And “Remaining work” should always be included. The former defining how much work has been successfully completed and the latter describing what part of it is yet to be done.
- A section projecting results and the tentative timeline of completion should also be included.
- The paragraphs should be short and concise and the tone respectful.
Status Report
A status report is an informative piece of writing which keeps the clients, project managers, supervisors and team members up to date regarding a certain project.
It comprises of the efforts, progress and risk associated with a project. A project status report can be a weekly, monthly or quarterly formulated report.
A project status report may be used to:
- Streamline communication efforts across the organization and stakeholders
- Make it easier to gather and disseminate information about key elements of the project
- Ensure stakeholders have all necessary information for decision-making
- Amplify key messages and goals around the project
- Act as a logbook for past key events and actions
What is included in a status report:
- Summary of Work Completed
- A Plan for What Comes Next
- Updates on Budget and Timeline
- Any Action Items/To-Dos
- Report on Risks, Issues, and Mitigation
Below is the format of a status report:
1. Project Name / Client Name
This section should contain the title of the project along with the name of the client. Make sure you record WHO the report is for and WHAT the report entails (ie. What project).
2. Project Vision
Here the main objectives of the project are to be listed in a clear and to the point manner. This is the only static unchanging section of a status report.
Examples:
Drive qualified customers to “purchase” mobile devices based on an improved UI.
With this project, we hope to increase online sales through the implementation of a drip email marketing campaign.
Launch a website by June 2018 that allows customers to purchase the highest quality & best-tasting product in its category.
3. Project Health
Here the health status of the project can be highlighted. The use of colours could be very helpful for notifying the health status for example, green for successful, yellow for a few complications and red for issues requiring immediate and critical attention. A note to support is always helpful.
Examples:
Green: We’ve obtained approval on drip email designs. No budget concerns at this time.
Yellow: The drip email designs need significant revisions, therefore the final delivery date has been delayed by 1 week.
Red: The drip email campaign has drastically shifted direction since starting. We need to set-up a meeting to establish a wants/wishes for the project.
4. What We Completed This TIMEFRAME
These should be listed in bullet format. Keep these short & simple. Don’t explain the “how” just what.
Example:
Obtained approval for 3 drip email designs
5. What We Plan to Complete Next TIMEFRAME
This section should include what is planned in clear and precise bullet points.
Example:
Develop the three emails
Perform internal QA & testing
Pass off to client QA & testing
6. Issues/Roadblocks
This is where you can raise any red flags or obstacles keeping you from moving forward.
Example:
If we do not obtain client feedback by 06/02, we will be in jeopardy of not being able to send the email to consumers the same day as the product will be available in stores.
7. Upcoming Tasks & Milestones
This should include a set of goals to be achieved in the near future. Is there anything that the viewer should review? and what’s coming up next?
Examples:
Dd/mm: Client QA & Testing
Dd/mm: Email Deployment
Survey Report
A survey report is a document which elaborates the findings of a survey in an objective manner. Survey reports usually consist of detailed statistical analysis of the surveyed data divided into various sections. A survey report has no specific format and is curated as per the requirements of the surveyor.
Surveys can be conducted by means of questionnaires, door to door information gathering or by using internet surveying facilities. A survey report may be presented in factual form (numbers, percentages and proportions) along with its implications.
Like other reports, a survey report can also be broken up into several headings namely,
- To
- From
- Survey
- Date
- Purpose
- Introduction
- The Body
- Conclusion
Below is a basic survey report sample:
To: Mrs Joanna Brown
From: Liam Black Subject:
Survey "Ban on using and selling fireworks".
Date: 1st January 2008
Purpose
The aim of this report is to present results of the survey carried out to find out what is people's opinion on public displays and selling fireworks. That will help to decide if using and selling fireworks should be banned. The survey was carried out among people aged 25-50.
Ban on public displays of fireworks
Seventy-two per cent of people asked if there should be a ban on public display of fireworks were of the opinion that public displays should not be banned five per cent were for banning public displays of fireworks while three percent were not sure of their opinion. The facts stated above suggest that people do not mind public displays of fireworks and they would not want any limits on them.
An overall ban on sale of fireworks
The majority of people asked if there should be an overall, ban on sale of fireworks replied 'yes'. One fifth of interviewed said 'no'. One out of ten reported that they would rather ban sale of fireworks while a small portion of people (5 per cent) answered that they would rather not ban the sale of fireworks. Seven per cent did not have any opinion on the subject. It shows that over half of viewers are for banning sale of fireworks.
Children buying and using fireworks
A significant percentage of people (eighty-three) asked if they would allow their children to buy and use fireworks responded "no". The rest of interviewed said "yes". That shows that there should be absolute ban on selling fireworks to children as it may be very harmful and dangerous for them.
Conclusion On the basis of the findings above, it would seem that majority of people find fireworks dangerous and they would claim a definite ban on selling them, especially to children. People also do not trust displays of fireworks which should be banned. They also suggest that government should take some actions to restrict laws associated fireworks and sale of fireworks.
Trip Report
A trip report is an informative document provided to one’s supervisor after their business travel. It includes the collection of events during the trip, the expenditure accrued during the trip and information regarding the purpose of the trip.
A trip report should be curated with the following elements in mind:
1. Purpose: The purpose of a trip report is to justify the purpose of the trip and the money that was spent by the travelling individual. Because trip reports provide proof of expenses, it is imperative that they are accurate and provide a clear explanation of the trip.
2. Audience: Trip reports are targeted towards one's immediate supervisor; however, the report may become a portion of a larger report, or it may be forwarded to other managers, accountants, and even CEOs. Trip reports eventually provide company accountants with information for yearly reports, projected annual budgets, and crucial information for tax filing.
3. Mode: While trip reports can be written as a letter, memo, or e-mail, you should remember that trip reports are official documents that should always be written in a formal tone. Whichever mode of communication that you choose or that you are instructed to use as a means for providing your information, you should plan, organize, and write your report following the convention of business genre and following correct writing conventions (grammar, punctuation, and usage).
It is essential to organise and structure the trip report into different headings and subheadings so as to make it easily readable.
4. Formatting and Elements of the Report:
A. Subject line: On the subject line, you should include the destination, purpose, and date of the trip.
B. Statement of purpose: The first line of the text of your report should be your statement of purpose or the purpose of the trip—be specific. Depending upon your position in the company, it may be necessary to include the name of the person who approved the travel.
C. Introductory summary: The summary can be divided into sections, depending upon the reason for the trip. In each section, you should elaborate so that your company will have information for a follow-up trip.
I. Contains the reason for the trip.
II. Who you met. You should always provide full names, titles, and conversations
That related to your trip.
III. What you accomplished. A work trip is planned for achieving a specific task which should be mentioned in detail.
D. Summary of actions: A description of the events that took place on the trip.
E. Depending on the report, you may be asked to provide recommendations based on your findings from the trip.
F. Outcomes: Describe any results of the trip.
G. Spreadsheet: Provide a detailed list of expenditures, and photo copied receipts. (Do not highlight the receipts. Highlighting can impair the quality of the copy.)
Complaint Report
Many companies encourage the use of complaint reports as the proper method of formally stating a complaint. These reports are usually used to address unsatisfactory transactions or conditions concerning a company. Writing a complaint report properly is key to getting your concern heard and the problem remedied.
A complaint report consists of the following elements:
The Heading
The heading part follows the format given below:
TO: (The individual or company to whom the complaint is addressed)
FROM: (The individual registering the complaint)
DATE: (Current Date)
SUBJECT: (The main purpose summed up in one sentence)
The Body
The body must contain an introduction where you should write the purpose of your report and what is the primary concern of the report. It should then include the main subject, in this case the complaint. The issue at hand should be properly discussed and you should try to provide reasonable solutions to the problem. The tone should not be aggressive at it would make it more difficult to find a suitable resolution to your grievances. The concluding sentence should sum up the report in 2-3 sentences, try to reiterate the key points you have mentioned earlier and try to suggest a few measures that would help in solving your issue.
Joining Report
A joining report is a report written to the immediate supervisor or manager in the event of returning to work after a leave or vacation. These reports are the shortest kinds of report only intimating the supervisor of one’s return to the job. A joining letter on the other hand refers to a letter written by an individual to confirm his position where he is newly appointed to work at an organisation.
There is no set format for a joining report but it can follow the template given below:
JOINING REPORT
I hereby report myself for duty after returning from leave from this day on ……………….. (forenoon/
Afternoon).
I have availed the following kinds of leave.
Earned leave for ……………………….. Days (from ……………… to ………… )
Half Pay leave for ……………………… days (from ……………… to ………… )
Commuted leave (MC) for ……………... Days (from ……………… to ………… )
EOL (with/without MC for …………days (from ……………… to ………… )
With permission to prefix/suffix holidays on ……………………..)
Signature: ……………
Name in block letter:
Designation: ………….
Laboratory Report
A laboratory report is a formal, analytical and concise record of an experiment. The discussion of the experiment, the various procedures and the subsequent results obtained should be clear and specific enough that a reader could easily replicate the experiment. One of the main purposes of writing a laboratory report is to communicate the work done in the laboratory to the management on a regular basis. Another reason for writing a laboratory report is to record an experiment for the future and archive it.
Format
Although most laboratory reports will include the following sections, some experiments will require a
Different format. All reports should be tailored so as to meet the requirements laid down by the experiment.
Abstract: The abstract should contain a brief informational synopsis of your experiment. It is advisable to keep the abstract under 200 words. While writing the abstract, assertive or declarative sentences should be used rather than writing a long descriptive prose.
Introduction: Here the background of the experiment which is to be undertaken is explained in a few lines. The introduction should explain the objectives you hope to achieve from the experiment. When appropriate, the background should indicate theoretical predictions.
Procedures (or Methods): This section includes a detailed set of instructions of how the experiment is ought to be conducted. Each instruction should be so precise that the reader should be able to replicate it if he so desired. There should be no ambiguity and error when it comes to numbers and quantities. All statistical information should be well organised.
Results and Discussion (sometimes presented as separate sections): This section must convey results relevant to the goals of the experiment. Here the analysis of the results obtained from the experiment must be carried out along with its implications. All possible sources of error should be acknowledged with potential solutions if any. Results can also be presented in the form of graphs and tables if the experiment needs it.
Conclusions: Here you should place the specific results acquired into the context of the experiment as a whole. The discussion section should serve as sufficient conclusion if the experiment and report is short. Remember to evaluate the results you obtained in light of the objectives stated in the introduction.
Appendices: This section must include the information which is too extensive or tangential to warrant inclusion in the main body of the report, but necessary as procedural or analytical evidence.
DATA COLLECTION
Data collection is the process of gathering and measuring information on targeted variables in an established systematic fashion, which then enables one to answer relevant questions and evaluate outcomes. The data collection component of research is common to all fields of study including physical and social sciences, humanities and business.
While methods vary by discipline, the emphasis on ensuring accurate and honest collection remains the same. The goal for all data collection is to capture quality evidence that then translates to rich data analysis and allows the building of a convincing and credible answer to questions that have been posed.
Before going into the details, this was the two methods our group used to obtain the data on our research titled "Adjustment Challenges Faced by International Students Of UTHM".
SOURCES OF DATA COLLECTION
Primary source
- your own data from own investigation
- very important especially when solving a problem or investigating an issue
METHOD of collecting primary data
Questionnaire
Systematic compilation of questions that are distributed to an identified group of people through survey, mail phone or email. People who answered are called respondents
INTERVIEW
An interview is a conversation between two or more people where questions are asked by the interviewer to elicit facts or statements from the interviewee. Interviews are a standard part of qualitative research. They are also used in journalism and media reporting and in various employment-related contexts.
The qualitative research interview seeks to describe and the meanings of central themes in the life world of the subjects. The main task in interviewing is to understand the meaning of what the interviewees say. Interviewing, when considered as a method for conducting qualitative research, is a technique used to understand the experiences of others.
OBSERVATION AND EXPERIMENT
Informal observation by using eyes and ears based on the researcher visiting a facility or observe operations. A specific observation is done with a checklist on what to look out for. We can also run a few experiments on our test subject to see how they respond. It is very useful when studying objects physical activities the environment or human behaviour.
SAMPLING
In statistics, quality assurance, and survey methodology, sampling is concerned with the selection of a subset of individuals from within a statistical population to estimate characteristics of the whole population. Each observation measures one or more properties (such as weight, location, color) of observable bodies distinguished as independent objects or individuals.
n survey sampling, weights can be applied to the data to adjust for the sample design, particularly stratified sampling. Results from probability theory and statistical theory are employed to guide practice. In business and medical research, sampling is widely used for gathering information about a population.
Hence the randomness of a sample is important. Selecting respondents that would be represent the population of interests so that every member of the population has an equal probability to be chosen to participate in the research brings about a better, more accurate result of the study carried out.
Secondary source
As is the case in primary research, secondary data can be obtained from different research strands:
Prior documentation such as Census, housing, social security as well as electoral statistics and other related databases. Internet searches, libraries; progress reports; etc. It does not include interviews as this collect primary data for analysis to generate information
A clear benefit of using secondary data is that much of the background work needed has already been carried out, for example: literature reviews, case studies might have been carried out, published texts and statistics could have been already used elsewhere, media promotion and personal contacts have also been utilized.
This wealth of background work means that secondary data generally have a pre-established degree of validity and reliability which need not be re-examined by the researcher who is re-using such data.
Furthermore, secondary data can also be helpful in the research design of subsequent primary research and can provide a baseline with which the collected primary data results can be compared to. Therefore, it is always wise to begin any research activity with a review of the secondary data.
Need for Clear and Concise Technical Writing-
Technical writing is the ability to simplify complex concepts for a specific audience. Great technical writing does more than just get the message across — it helps engage readers and motivate them to learn more about a subject.
Clear and concise technical writing is needed for Producing content that’s easily readable, engaging and logically segmented to draw reader interest. This is no simple task.
Attributes of Technical Writing- Technical writing, just as any other form of writing, has certain characteristics which distinguish it from other types of writing. It is very different from writing opinion pieces, essays, prose, non-fiction or fiction.
It is clear and straight forward. If you are interested in technical writing for professional purposes, it is very important to know that this type of writing requires that the writer stick to the subject matter and relay information in a clear and concise manner.
The language is very direct and straight to the point. The writing will avoid words that people do not understand and will avoid an eloquent writing style.
It is very detailed and informative. The perfect example of technical writing is a textbook. The written content of most textbooks is geared to providing information by describing the subject matter as fully as possible.
It is very structured. This type of writing has a very obvious composition that makes it easy for the reader to follow along. Solid structure is needed with technical writing as it allows the audience to easily access the information as needed.
Types of Technical Writing- Technical writing provide detail-oriented instruction to help users understand a specific skill. The most common types include:
Traditional: Repair manuals, medical studies
End-user documentation: Electronics, consumer products
Technical marketing content: Press releases, catalogs
Benefits of Technical Writing-
1. Clearer Communication-
A high-quality, well-versed documentation and manuals reflect well on your organization. Readers will translate the level of competency revealed through the documentation onto your brand. Contract technical writers help clarify complicated concepts through translating developer jargon into simpler language, helping your organization meet the needs of your target audience.
2. Awareness-
Technical writers consider content from the user’s perspective. Technical writers are aware and know how to connect to your audience, and they have the special talent of understanding complex content from both the viewpoint of industry-experts and the average consumer. They are capable of understanding the unique needs of your audience, which will allow them to create effective technical communications that will resonate well.
3. Reduced Costs
Professional technical writers have the skill and knowledge necessary to complete a coherent end-product faster with the specific needs of the product market in mind. Eventually, well written and understood manuals will result into a reduction of service calls to your technical-support department.
4. Professional Formatting & Presentation
From the document layout and font to the appropriate size for charts, a technical writer is able to make your content look professional. Your documentation is one element of many that complete your company brand. It is just as much part of your product as its other features and should complement it accordingly. Colours, styles, and logos can go a long way to making the documentation look like your documentation.
A precise is like a miniature portrait of the passage: it retains the absolute essential points accompanied with the mood and tone of the author of the passage. The one aspect that needs to be taken care of is that one should not add one’s subjective interpretation or comments to the précis and should try to retain the original author’s voice and opinions. As far as the writing style is concerned, the writing should be clear with effective sentences (no rambling) and diction should be flawless. Ultimately, it is the coherence of the views presented in the précis that matters, and this can be achieved by making sure that one is concise and to the point. Unnecessarily long sentences should be avoided and the transition from one point to another should be smooth and consistent. Finally, the précis should make sense and be logical in its content and presentation.
Precis Writing is a summary. It is an exercise of compression. A precis writing is a gist of any passage in as few words as possible. A precis should mention all important details of the original paragraph so that anyone who is reading it is able to understand the idea of the original passage.
What a Precis is Not?
While keeping the above in mind, you need to keep in mind what a precis is not. The following are some of things that should 'not' be a part of or a reflection of the precis:
- Simply a summary of a passage.
- Simply an abstract of a passage.
- An outline of a passage.
- a mere selection of a few important sentences from a passage.
- a collection of disconnected facts and statements.
Features of a Good Precis
- Is marked by clarity, brevity and precision.
- Is not just lifting of the sentences from the original. It should be written in the precis writer's own words.
- Is a miniature version of the original passage.
- Must have a logical order and be well-knit and well connected.
- Must have coherence.
- Must use linking devices such as so, therefore, and, because further etc.
- Must follow the order of ideas of the original extract.
- Must have a title.
- Is written in reported speech.
- Must not contain any details not found in the original.
Rules of Precis Writing
To avoid making any errors in writing a precis, follow a set of rules as mentioned below:
- Read the comprehension carefully
- Note down the important points
- Make a rough draft of the precis
- Make use of simple and precise language, as much as possible
- Draft the final precis once all the points have been included
Every year lakhs of candidates appear for the competitive exams conducted in our country. Out of those only a few are able to crack the exam and get appointed. Since most competitive exams have now become computer-based, the descriptive test is still checked offline.
Candidates must know that with thousands of entries that need to be checked, there are certain quick points which the examiner looks for and which may get the maximum marks for your precis writing.
Based on the same information, given below are a few Dos and Don’ts, which a candidate needs to understand before starting to write a precis.
Dos for Precis Writing
- Begin with the basic idea of the passage to make the precis convenient to read.
- Give a clear idea pertaining to what the reader is about to read.
- While reading the passage, make a note of all the important points and include them in the precis.
- Follow the main idea of the passage with the facts/points of improvement/ methods, etc. as mentioned in the comprehension.
- Include all the important keywords and terms which are used in the passage.
- Keep a track of the tenses you use. Data related to historical events of the past must be described in the past tense only.
- There must be a relation between the data you are writing in the precis. It should have some common links.
Don’ts for Precis Writing
- The length of the precis must be shorter than the length of the passage.
- Do not overcomplicate the precis and use easy vocabulary.
- Do not make assumptions or add information in the precis as per your own imagination.
- Do not give your own opinion or criticism over the comprehension.
- Avoid using abbreviations.
- Do not enter statements in the question format in the precis.
- Don’t focus on any one point for very long. Keep the information as precise as possible.
References:
- Oxford Guide to writing and speaking, John Seely, O.U.P
- A Communicative Grammar of English, Leech, G.N. And Jan Svartvik
- Better English Pronunciation, J.O O’ Corner, Cambridge.
- Effective Technical Communication, M.Asraf Rizvi, Tata McGraw Hill
- Technical Communication Today, Bovea et al. Pearson.
