Academic Skills Development

This assignment focuses on developing essential academic skills. It explores concepts like paraphrasing, defining research, evaluating sources (using a BTB example), understanding the IMF's role, and applying referencing techniques. The work includes examples and references to support the discussed points.

REFLECTION AND ACADEMIC SKILLS
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Table of contents
Mindmap regarding academic skills................................................................................................3
Immigration writing style................................................................................................................3
Paraphrasing about CSR..................................................................................................................4
Refection about citation, referencing and plagiarism......................................................................4
Synthesis about IMF........................................................................................................................5
Defining research.............................................................................................................................5
Evaluation of source about BTB......................................................................................................5
Reference List..................................................................................................................................7
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Mindmap regarding academic skills
While taking active part in the seminar and workshop I have developed idea within me to extract
the knowledge from various academic activities. While developing understanding from about
different areas such as CSR, IMF, and BTB I have understood the principles of paraphrasing.
Knowledge is also developed about citation and referencing. In addition to that, I have
understood the ways through which I can summarize the content on any area. Mindmap is the
framework of the whole academic plan that helps in maintaining right track. For example, while
paraphrasing the text on refugee, I could easily make it more precise and concise making it
explicit.
Immigration writing style
Immigration refers to migrate from one place to another due to several factors such as
governmental policies. While writing on this, I have focused a specific country and displayed the
statistics of immigration in the preceding years. The role of government and any restriction
introduced, were also been explained. It could be noticed that I have maintained flair in writing
while taking about current state of immigration in the chosen country. The writing style followed
the academic approach maintain flow using explicit words and phrases. I developed my
knowledge about academic writing style that would help in future in academic projects.
Paraphrasing about CSR
Corporate social responsibility refers to the principles of social and environmental consciousness
while operating any business regardless of sectors. Different sources such as web sources (online
materials), books and journals have been used to deduce knowledge about CSR. I have used the
online sources majorly as it has provided me with the chance of using vast number of sources.
After reading the material, I have paraphrased those, meaning writing the concepts using own
words. Maintaining academic honesty is crucial, therefore following the principles I have
developed my content. Notably, sources used to develop content have been cited to avoid
plagiarism.
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Refection about citation, referencing and plagiarism
Citation is the quotation or the reference to any academic source (e.g. book, journals, and
websites) to maintaining academic honesty and integrity. It can be published or unpublished
sources. On this note, it should be referred that citation upholds intellectual honesty and giving
correct sources is very crucial following any of the citation style (Harvard, APA and MLA).
There can be different styles as well e.g. in-text, footnote and endnote.
Material contained at the footnote or in the bibliography is called referencing. In citation, name
of the author, year and page number (optional) is given and in the reference list information such
as name of the publishing house, name of the journal and articles are listed alphabetically.
Basically, the readers come to know, what sources of which authors have been used to develop
content. In my project, I have used Harvard referencing format after downloading the guides
from university site (Westby, 2017).
Plagiarism is to possess someone else’s idea or work as own work. It violates the principles of
academic integrity and honesty. When someone takes idea from other author’s academic source
but fails to cite the source or refer the reference then plagiarism comes in. In order to avoid this
citation is a must.
Synthesis about IMF
I have been provided with two sources to augment my understanding about IMF, from which I
have used the first source (Tech.mit.edu, 2017). The author vividly describes the structural
adjustment agreement in time of issuing any loan. From this, it is noted that monetary austerity,
fiscal austerity, privatization and export-oriented growth are the areas on which the body works
to maintain strictness and restrict unfair conduct for self-interest. The effect of these initiatives
has been laid down creating a decisive impact on the economy of developing country. From the
discussion made, I have developed clear understanding about this and understood its significance
in present context.
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Defining research
The author always searches for a new area or a new dimension of the same topic to research on
unexplored areas. Literature review is very crucial to determine the area of interest where further
research could be conducted. Research is required to develop knowledge about a topic and assess
the unexplored area or come up with a new dimension (Marshall et al. 2013). Different sources
exist in different areas in digital or printed format, but this would be the sole responsibility of the
researcher to consider the authentic and relevant academic sources. Online database offers wide
range of sources and it can be used for the same purpose keeping the reliability and validity in
mind.
Evaluation of source about BTB
Ban the Box (BTB) is a global campaign, aiming towards removing the check box whether the
applicant holds any criminal records. I have chosen the area regarding the policy update by the
Federal Reserve Bank. The source is basically a journal article that has been found from online
scholarly sites (Google Scholar). Sources, name of publishing journal, name of the year along
were mentioned. The source is a current one and it is applicable in my area of research. The
intension of the source is to assess the movement against ban the box. It has also been aimed to
evaluate the initiatives taken the government explaining negotiation strategies (Capponi et al.
2016). I have found that the authors have cited or referred the used sources in form of
bibliography which boosts the credibility of the article. In addition to that, it has also been seen
that wide number of scholarly sources have been used that illustrates that authors hold a neutral
position not biased. The article also tells the story from different point of views of the different
parties involved in the process making it more credible and reliable. However, arguments could
be out forward by stating that distinguishes between the facts and opinion is quite tough as
sometimes whether the author is opining or stating the fact is difficult to understand. Overall, the
source helped in answering the chosen area aptly exploring different dimensions to make the
study credible to the authors.
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Reference List
Capponi, A., Dooley, J.M., Oet, M.V. and Ong, S.J., (2016). Capital and resolution policies: The
US interbank market. Journal of Financial Stability.
Marshall, B., Cardon, P., Poddar, A. and Fontenot, R., (2013). Does sample size matter in
qualitative research?: A review of qualitative interviews in IS research. Journal of Computer
Information Systems, 54(1), pp.11-22.
Tech.mit.edu. (2017). In Protest of the IMF and World Bank - The Tech. Available from:
http://tech.mit.edu/V120/N17/col17plaro.17c.html [Accessed on 12 Feb. 2017].
Westby, C., (2017). Character Referencing and Working Memory. Word of Mouth, 28(3), pp.1-5.
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