Report

Report writing
writing –– week3_10/11
week3_10/11
 Topics
Topics covered...
covered...

 Title
 Aims , Objectives
 Summary or abstract
 Don't forget to print 'Notes pages'
 Academic
Academic Report
Report -Title
-Title
– Most important to make an immediate impression and
attract the reader
– have to be clear and not very long
– not very broad and generic
* e.g. wireless networks
* e.g. Database systems

– involves a research question not a generic area of study

* e.g. enhancing security procedures within Wireless
Networks,
* e.g. designing fast stored procedures - an
investigation
– possibly not very detailed and conclusive (see
examples in footnote)!
 Title
Title –– cont’d
cont’d
– try to avoid detailed topics ..

Example 1:
– “An investigation of Network QoS using with
Selective simulation / modelling approach and without
implying too many parameters”

Example 2:
– An Evaluation of the Speed & Effectiveness of User
Interface Recognition and Interpretation Techniques in
Analysing Online Games using Monte Carlo method.
 Aims
Aims and
and Objectives
Objectives
 In describing the goal or aim you are likely to use words
like
– “I intend to analyse/ study/ explore/ examine/ propose
…”.
 aims can then be broken down into set of objectives (and
objectives into “tasks”...)
– statements of what you want to achieve by carrying out
your project
 objectives must state what you intend to achieve,
– best stated using verbs like: to investigate, to study, to
develop, to analyse etc..
Aims
Aims &
& Objectives
Objectives -- examples
examples
Aim:
– Study and gain an MSc degree in Computing

Objectives:
• Study and read related various modules
• Read chapters and related papers
• Assimilate and reflect on material covered
• Do and pass coursework and exams
• Review past papers
• -----
 examples
examples –cont’d
–cont’d
Aim:
– Study (or examine) possible impact of Wimax on
Business within the United Kingdom

Objectives:
• Study and investigate the area of Wimax
• Investigate the area of Wifi and compare with Wimax
• Analyse and evaluate Wimax installation in other
Countries
• Research and plan a questionnaire and interview with
IT managers
 Summary
Summary // Abstract
Abstract
– Sometimes called abstract or the synopsis
– An overview of work achieved in the report
– A good tip to re-read on completion
* Is it a true summary of the report ?
– Contents in a Summary:
* shortcomings with existing or current method
* propose new methods or approach for
investigation
* main results or conclusion/ outcome of
investigation
 Abstract
Abstract -- cont’d
cont’d
 Components of an abstract in any discipline:
– Rationale/motivation: Why do we care about the
problem? What practical, scientific, theoretical or
artistic gap is your research filling?

– Problem statement: What problem are you trying to

solve? What is the scope of your work (a generalized
approach, or for a specific situation)? Be careful not to
use too much jargon. In some cases it is appropriate to
put the problem statement before the motivation, but
usually this only works if most readers already
understand why the problem is important.
 Components
Components –– cont’d
cont’d

– Methods/procedure/approach: How did you go about

solving or making progress on the problem? Did you
use simulation, analytic models, prototype
construction, or analysis of field data for an actual
product?

* What was the extent of your work (did you look at one
application program or a hundred programs in twenty
different programming languages?) What important
variables did you control, ignore, or measure?
 Components
Components –– cont’d
cont’d
– Results/findings/product: As a result of
completing the above procedure, what did you
learn/invent/create?
* most scientific papers conclude that something
(e.g. Performance, QoS, utilisation, etc. is so
many percent faster, smaller, or otherwise better
than something else. Put the result there, in
numbers. Avoid vague results such as "very",
"small", or "significant"
– Conclusion/implications: What are the larger
implications of your findings, especially for the
problem/gap identified in step 1?
* follow the new model, approach?
– Refer to examples; Notes pages!