Academic Skills Assignment: Essay Writing, Note-Taking, and Report

This assignment, designed for a BTEC Higher National Diploma (HND) in Marketing, focuses on developing essential academic skills. The assignment is divided into several sections, including essay writing, note-taking, and report writing. Section One addresses essay writing, exploring topics such as college expectations, the importance of planning and time management, and the advantages and disadvantages of using the internet for academic research. Section Two presents note-taking and paraphrasing exercises, using various sources. The assignment also touches upon report writing, in-text referencing, creating a reference list, proofreading, and critical analysis of learning styles. Finally, the Gibbs reflective model is included to encourage students to reflect on their learning experiences. The goal of this assignment is to equip students with the necessary skills to succeed in their academic journey and future careers.

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Table of Contents
1.1 WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS IN COMING TO THE COLLEGE?”...................3
1.2 Discuss the importance of planning the academic tasks and managing the time effectively
at the College...............................................................................................................................3
1.3 Advantage and disadvantages of using internet for academic research.................................4
SECTION 2.....................................................................................................................................4
2.1................................................................................................................................................5
2.2................................................................................................................................................5
2.3................................................................................................................................................6
2.4................................................................................................................................................6
2.5................................................................................................................................................6
SECTION 3.....................................................................................................................................7
Which of the above phrases in bold indicates.............................................................................7
3.2 Report writing........................................................................................................................7
SECTION 4.....................................................................................................................................8
4.1 In-text referencing.................................................................................................................8
4.2 Reference list exercise...........................................................................................................8
4.3 Proof reading and correction.................................................................................................8
SECTION 5.....................................................................................................................................9
SECTION 6...................................................................................................................................13
Critical analysis report on learning style...................................................................................13
SECTION 7...................................................................................................................................14
7.1..............................................................................................................................................14
7.2..............................................................................................................................................14
7.3..............................................................................................................................................14
SECTION 8...................................................................................................................................15
Gibbs reflective model...............................................................................................................15
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................16
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Section-One:
1.1 Topic: WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS IN COMING TO THE COLLEGE?”
Introduction:
A college is an institutional that awards degrees to students. Students are being taught
lessons that can help them out to know as how to do better in the future. How to deal
with problems and others. For higher study we all have to go to the college. Here
students learn many new things and gain knowledge related to their specific topic and
filed. One of the expectation is to be organized. When the students remain organized
they can easily complete their given assignments . They can make proper plans and
agenda to complete all the task and assignments.
When the students remain organized at will save their time and taken utilized such time
by following their hobbies and interest (Hunter, 2017) Another Expectations will be
becoming successful in the entire class . It is the objective of each and every students
who are entering into the college that the mast get success in each and every work
which is being assigned to them in a class. Students can only get success when they
remain attentive in the class.
Apart from this the next two very important Expectations is that students must attend all
their lectures and classes. When the remain regular in the class they will learn very
important things which will help them in Their near future. Whatever is being teaching to
them within the class students will not get such lessons by remaining outside the class.
Main Body:
My main aim and expectations for coming to the college is to make myself able to get
employment opportunity in my desired field. I believe that for gaining knowledge and
learning new things, we all have to go to college. Here we learn different and effective
ways of working in a group, working individually. In college we are given different
projects that we have to complete in a timely manner and this deadline help us out in
increasing time management, decision making and problem solving skills (Cagle, 2018).
So, developing all these skills for getting better employment opportunity and career
development was one of the main reasons to come to college. Some other reasons and
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expectations in coming to the college include: getting long term financial gain, job
stability and career satisfaction (Jorgenson and et.al., 2018).
It is my main objective of entering into the college that I want Employment opportunity
from the college and therefore I will try to enhance my skills and change my skills so
that I can get ready for the corporate world. For getting employment opportunities I need
to improvise my skills as well as every need to gain in depth knowledge about each and
every topic which is related with the companies and employment. Apart from this I need
to find out my weaknesses and strength as well so that I can grab the opportunities.
Apart from this I need to strengthen my background as well as knowledge so that I do
not need to face failure.
Along with this I need to take various training and suggestions so that I can easily crack
the interviews of different companies. To get best employment opportunities I need to to
conduct some personality development any to work on my communication skills my
problem solving skills and others so that I can easily perform well in the interviews.
Apart from this I will try to meet my college alumni so that I will get more information
about the employment opportunities and as per my interest I can get those
opportunities. Besides this I will try to make a good condition with my teachers as well
as my seniors so that they will also help me to crack the interviews of different
companies.
I will try to get some soft skills sessions and interview preparations as well so that I
know what kind of a curriculum is being required by the interviewers. Along with this I
will try to groom myself so that I can put a better first impression on the company and
interviewers as well. This will help me to get employment opportunities.
Conclusion: It can be concluded from the above study that for higher study and
increasing knowledge, students need to go to the college. As like school, college also
play a vital role in the lives of students and it help us out in career development.
Reference:
Hunter, M.G., 2017. Four Essays on a Student's Expectation that they will Complete College.
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1.2 Discuss the importance of planning the academic tasks and managing the time
effectively at the College
Introduction:
Time management refers the process of planning as well as controlling as how much
time we have to spend on specific time for completing projects with given deadline. It
will discuss importance of planning of academic tasks as well as managing time at the
college. Time management can be improvise by giving priorities to each and every
task so that anyone can complete all the task within the time frame .150 words
Main Body: Planning the academic tasks and managing time is important as it helps us
out in submitting projects in a timely management. It is believed that when we submit
our projects in a timely manner then it releases stress or makes us stress free. On the
other hand, when we do not submit our projects with the given deadline then it
increases stress as students become depressed as what they will do and all other
consequences. Time management and planning can helpful in the future as it can help
in performing their job at workplace and boost confidence
Planning the academic tasks help us out in managing our tasks and make us able to
complete important or prioritized tasks with effectiveness. Educational planning helps us
out in identifying issues, conditions and factors of education. It increases our focus on
the main goal and vision (Wibrowski, Matthews and Kitsantas, 2017).
Conclusion: It has been summarized that academic planning as well as time
management skills plays a vital role in college as it boosts confidence and make
students focused towards their goals.
Reference:
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1.3 Advantage and disadvantages of using internet for academic research
Introduction:
Internet and social media playing a vital role in academic research as it is making
students able to continue their learning and teaching. Internet has changed education to
the great extent and virtual learning in Covid-19 pandemic is one of the best and
effective examples of it. Along with advantages, it has some limitations that this study
will discuss.
Main Body:
Internet for academic research has numbers of advantages and benefits. Some
advantages of making use of internet for academic research include:
It promotes opportunities. Students can complete any type of project individually as they
do not have to rely on guidance of teachers and others. It is better for virtual learning
and in specific situation such as pandemic (Rayan and et.al., 2017).
Some disadvantages that are associated with internet for academic research include:
High chances of plagiarism as sometimes students copy and paste information
that they find by using internet related to their specific project. It can decrease their
knowledge and limits learning. Distraction as while using internet for academic
research, students get distracted by advertisement and other things that can also affect
their academic learning (Rice and et.al., 2017).
Conclusion: It has been summarized from the above essay that internet has both
positive as well as negative impacts on students live when they make use of internet for
academic research and learning.
Reference:
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SECTION 2
2.1 Exercise-1:
Since 1945 there has been an underlying assumption that the world’s poorer
countries are gradually ‘developing’ towards the western model and that
international aid policy should be geared to this end. The success of some Asian
countries, notably Japan (which was restructured under US guidance after 1945),
lent weight to this thesis. Though the World Bank now divides countries into high,
middle and low income countries, rather than developed and developing
countries, the basic premise has remained – countries afflicted with high levels of
poverty, disease and deprivation can improve their standards by adopting
western-style institutions and economic management.
Source: (Buckley, R. (ed.) J. & Pallant, A.,2004)
Note Taking: It can be summarized that as per the assumptions, poorer
countries were developing and Japan weighted this thesis and accordingly
countries were being divided as per their income such as: high-, middle- and low-
income countries. It created numbers of barriers in trading and also affected
relations. It is the reason as developing countries striving hard for becoming
developed.
It must be in bullet points- only few words please
Paraphrasing: There have been some assumptions since 1945 that all poorer
countries are developing towards the Western model. There were some countries who
reconstructed under US guidance such as: Japan focused to this thesis. As per this, all
countries have been divided by the World Bank and its new policies under middle, low
and high income rather dividing them into developing and develop countries (Dagenais
and et.al., 2020)- incorrect referencing. All countries that are suffering a lot from
diseases and poverty can now improve their condition and can make them able to
become an improved economic country by following western style institutions. (Buckley
and Pallant, 2004)
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2.2
Note Taking: It can be said that body language plays a vital role in improving
communication. For clear and concise communication, it is important for listener to
focus on words an paying attention on words that are being said by speaker rather
focusing on their hands and body. The way of sitting and facial expression also
plays a vital role in making speaker believe that listener is concerned and paying
attention whatever they are saying.
Paraphrasing: For becoming a good conversationalist, it is important for people to
become a good listener by focusing on spoken words by speaker during conversation.
For making speaker feel valued, it is important to show some gesture by nodding head
and by smiling. After completing sentence and story of others only listener need to talk
and tell their story otherwise it can have bad impression on speaker and can affect
communication. Being relaxed and having good body language is vital for better
communication (Jabbarova, 2020).
2.3
Note Taking: It can be said that a well improved and well-organized companies are
based on values and focus on customers’ needs. They believe that customers have
different needs and while making buying decision they focus on tangible and
intangible values and accordingly, companies improve values and satisfy
customers.
Paraphrasing: A well-organized and successful company is the one that focuses on
creating values in different manner as per the needs of customers. In regard to
Ryan air, that is a successful company, it can be said that customers can easily
measure tangible as well as intangible values by pricing, its appearance, taste,
quality and others. Success of companies depends on an ability of manager to
understand needs of customers and accordingly build values.
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2.4
Note Taking: It can be said that marketing plays a vital role in satisfying needs of
customers. This activity makes companies or employers able to understand needs of
customers as what they prefer, what they like and others (Boateng, 2019). As per the
research and marketing functions, companies including fast food can increase
customers’ satisfaction rate.
Paraphrasing:
Marketing is the only one function that provide priority of customers ‘needs as all
functions are being performed for satisfying customers. Employers identify market
needs by conducting marketing activities and with improved research skills. As per
the type of services and needs of customers, employers focus on areas accordingly
such as: In fast food services, as per the customers’ needs, employers focus on
providing training to employees about how to provide attractive and timely services.
2.5
Note Taking: when companies do not comply with laws and fails in satisfying
customers’ needs then they recall their products that shows loss and failure (Parnell,
Stanton and Plant, 2017).
Paraphrasing: There are around 436,000 hybrid vehicles recall by Toyota that include:
the latest Prius model. There are around 200,000 Prius cars and 8,500 cars, sold in
Japan and in the UK as well. As per this, it will have to bear around $2bn loss.
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Section-Three: REPORTING VERBS
3.1 Look at the paragraph below and evaluate it in terms of academic writing.
Dickson (1999) said that chocolate is the best motivator that employer can
use to encourage their staff to work hard. And then Brown (2001) said that
it is not true, because chocolate is not healthy. Smith (2003) said:
“Chocolate makes you fat and if you are fat, you become lazy and don’t
want to work”.
Answer:
1. Look at the sentences below and discuss the difference in their meaning
1. Brown (2001) claims that a far more effective approach is…
2. Brown (2001) points out that a far more effective approach is…
3. A far more effective approach is… (Brown, 2001)
Answer:
It means that Brown is sure that this one is the best and the most effective approach
than others. (Brown, 2001)
2. It means Brown only tells that it may be the most effective approach. (Reference)
3. It shows in general manner that the most effective approach may be this.(Reference)
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2. Which of the above phrases in bold indicates…….
a. ...your point of view which is supported by Brown?
b. Brown’s point of view which you agree with?
c. Brown’s point of view with no indication of yours?
Answer:
Which of the above phrases in bold indicates?
a. claims
b. Believe
c. Opinion or feeling
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3.2 Answer:
Essay term Definition
Analyse Break an issue into its constituent parts. Look in depth at each part using supporting arguments and
these interrelate to one another.
Assess Weigh up to what extent something is true. Persuade the reader of your argument by citing relevan
any flaws and counter-arguments as well. Conclude by stating clearly how far you are in agreemen
Clarify Literally make something clearer and, where appropriate, simplify it. This could involve, for example
process or theory, or the relationship between two variables.
Compare Identify the similarities and differences between two or more phenomena. Say if any of the shared s
important than others. ‘Compare’ and ‘contrast’ will often feature together in an essay question.
Contrast Concentrate on the dissimilarities between two or more phenomena, or what sets them apart. Point
significant.
Critically
Evaluate
Give your verdict as to what extent a statement or findings within a piece of research are true, or to
evidence taken from a wide range of sources which both agree with and contradict an argument. C
decision on what you judge to be the most important factors and justify how you have made your ch
Define To give in precise terms the meaning of something. Bring to attention any problems posed with the
may exist.
Demonstrat
e
Show how, with examples to illustrate.
Describe Provide a detailed explanation as to how and why something happens.
Discuss Essentially this is a written debate where you are using your skill at reasoning, backed up by carefu
and against an argument, or point out the advantages and disadvantages of a given context. Reme
Examine Look in close detail and establish the key facts and important issues surrounding a topic. This shou
try and offer reasons as to why the facts and issues you have identified are the most important, as
could be construed.
Explain Clarify a topic by giving a detailed account as to how and why it occurs, or what is meant by the use
writing should have clarity so that complex procedures or sequences of events can be understood,
be substantiated with relevant research.
Explore Adopt a questioning approach and consider a variety of different viewpoints. Where possible recon
line of argument.
Identify Determine what the key points to be addressed are and implications thereof.
Illustrate A similar instruction to ‘explain’ whereby you are asked to show the workings of something, making
appropriate to add weight to your explanation.
Justify Make a case by providing a body of evidence to support your ideas and points of view. In order to p
opinions which may run contrary to your own before stating your conclusion.
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