Academic Skills Report: Evaluating Sources, Data, and Writing Skills

This academic skills report encompasses several key areas of professional development. It begins with an evaluation of sources, comparing and contrasting different texts. The report then moves on to data analysis, using a graph to discuss the economic impact of Brexit on the UK, US, and Eurozone. Following this, the report delves into academic writing, exploring the influence of Brexit on the UK job market, including unemployment rates and industry impacts. The report also includes sections on presentation skills and reflective writing, where the student assesses their own communication skills and identifies areas for improvement. Overall, the report demonstrates an understanding of critical thinking, data interpretation, and effective communication, with a focus on the practical application of these skills.

ACADEMIC SKILLS

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1 ...........................................................................................................................................1
Evaluating sources and critically engaging with texts................................................................1
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................2
Discussing data............................................................................................................................2
TASK 3 ...........................................................................................................................................4
Academic writing........................................................................................................................4
TASK 4 ...........................................................................................................................................6
Presentation.................................................................................................................................6
TASK 5............................................................................................................................................8
Reflective Writing.......................................................................................................................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Academic skills are very important for a successful career growth and to excel in life. It
helps in polishing the skills of an individual and provides reasonable knowledge which helps in
growth of the individual in academics as well as career growth. This report will help in better
understanding of the structural formats that are practised in the academics and report writing.
Reference writing, Graph representation, Report format, presentation and reflective writing will
be studied in the respective assignment.
TASK 1
Evaluating sources and critically engaging with texts.
Text A ↓
All students should use the text shown in the
box (also available on GSM Learn).
Text B ↓
This is a text of your choice.
Text C ↓
This is a text of your choice.
Citation/
reference
Greater London
Authority
(2018).Preparing for
Brexit. [online]
Cambridge, UK:
Cambridge
Econometrics. [online]
Available at:
https://www.london.gov
.uk/sites/default/files/pr
eparing_for_brexit_fina
l_report.pdf [Accessed
21 Nov. 2018].
Why Brexit might look
like it’s having a worse
effect on the jobs
market than it actually
is (2018). [Online].
Available
Through:<https://theco
nversation.com/why-
brexit-might-look-like-
its-having-a-worse-
effect-on-the-jobs-
market-than-it-
actually-is-90884>.
[Accessed 21 Nov.
2018].
Importance of
Communi
cation
Skills for
Students,
2018.
[Online].
Available
Through:
<http://w
ww.klient
solutech.c
om/import
ance-of-
communic
ation-
skills-for-
students/
>.
[Accessed
21 Nov.
2018].
Resource type
(e.g. book, journal
et.c.)
Online Online Online
Authority
(Who is the author?
Is he/she qualified to
speak on this topic?)
Cambridge
Econometrics
Mark Hart Vijay Sharma
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Currency
(Is the text up-to-
date?)
Yes Yes Yes
Content
(Is the content
relevant to your
topic?)
Yes Yes Yes
Accuracy
(Are any facts &
ideas supported with
evidence?)
Yes Yes Yes
Audience
(Who is this text
written for?)
Greater London
Authority
Public Public
Further notes/
comments
- - -
TASK 2
Discussing data
Title:
Two years after Brexit vote, these charts show the U.K. economy losing
momentum
2

Graph:
Reference
:
Two years after Brexit vote, these charts show the U.K. economy losing
momentum. 2018. [Online]. Available
through:<https://www.marketwatch.com/story/two-years-after-brexit-vote-these-
charts-show-the-uk-economy-losing-momentum-2018-06-22>.
The referendum of Brexit has caused a heavy loss to the country. It has slowed down the
pace of growth of United Kingdom by 1.3 percent in 2018. Studies depicts that the growth rate is
going to get a little boom in upcoming years. The currency rate of British pound is 14 percent
which is less than before the implementation of Brexit. The above graph shows growth of UK
economy in comparison to US and Eurozone. Hence, it can be concluded that Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) rate of United Kingdom has reflected a fall in past few year. Specifically, UK has
the least GDP growth than compared to UK and Europe. Additionally, many strategists have
states that investors steer clear in British stocks with the total percentage of -1.42% which shows
a huge loss occurred due to Brexit referendum. However, the GDP growth of US has shown a
significant growth to 2.8 percent in last 3 years. This reflects a positive impact of Brexit on the
economy of United States. Also, it has the strongest GDP rate among Europe and UK. Similarly,
Europe has seen to benefited from the EU referendum as well. This can be depicted from its
growth rate which almost reached near the growth rate of US with 2.6 percent at the mid of 2017.
However, it has shown a slight decline to 2.5% in coming year 2018.
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Hence, from the above graph, it can be concluded that Brexit does not have much of
favourable outcome for the economy of UK and has caused a heavy loss. However, it has shown
a positive impact on the economical growth of United States and Europe.
TASK 3
Academic writing
INTRODUCTION
Brexit can be defined as a referendum which has been passed by UK government in order
to withdraw United Kingdom from European Union. This report will discuss about the impact of
Brexit on the employment or job sector of United Kingdom. Also, this file will help in better
understanding of various elements that affects the job sector of respective country.
Impact of Brexit on UK job sector.
The EU referendum has caused a huge impact on the job sector of United Kingdom.
Unemployment has in the respective country from last two years. Also, it has shown a
continuous drop the rate of unemployment among United Kingdom. Low unemployment is a
generally remarked as a good sign of growth in an economy. Additionally, there has been less
number of business start-ups than comparing it to before. These start-ups plays a major role in
introducing innovation and growing the economy. A sudden fall in their yearly rise has reflected
a huge issue on the economical growth of United Kingdom.
The Wider Pattern
The impact of unemployment rate can be understood on a wider aspect through the
following data. Though, it is a normal tendency of the companies to hire and fire the employees.
However, the ratio of the scale has shown a huge impact on the sector. An analyses on the job
sector of UK was conducted which jotted down the data between 1998 and 2017. The data
reflects number of job creations and destructions during that time period. Hence, the average job
creation rate can be analysed from the mentioned data below:
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From the above data, it can be clearly understand that near by 4.5 million jobs were
created or destroyed during the time period of 2016-2017. This depicts that around 22% of jobs
in private sectors were either created or destroyed in the time time period of last 1 year.
However, there is only a little alteration in these employment rate from 1998-2017 which is
average of 20-28% over the time period of 20 years. Hence, it is very important to understand the
affects of Brexit in order to evaluate the normal level of turbulence during the past years and the
influence that EU referendum has created on the job sector of United Kingdom.
Along with this, it cannot be neglected that British industries are highly dependant on
trading with European Union. The exposure of Brexit on any industry can be measured by the
level of dependency of that industry in context to products and services that go beyond the
border of UK-EU. Hence, many industries had to restructure there supply chain and employees
to justify their loss that has occurred due to less post Brexit trade and EU referendum.
An Analyses on GDP exposure to Brexit shows near by 15 industries out of 54 are at risking
causing more than 20% of the economic activities at danger. These industries include chemicals,
fisheries, wholesale traders, warehouse, motor vehicles manufacturing and many more.
Similarly, few industries that are most influenced by Brexit are professional, scientific,
administrative and technical services.
5

CONCLUSION
From the above discussion it can be concluded that, Brexit has caused a huge impact on
the economic growth of United Kingdom by influencing the job market and employment sector.
It can also be analysed that Brexit has influenced many job sectors which were dependant on
trading their products and services across UK such as wholesale traders, warehouse, motor
vehicles manufacturing and many more. Hence, it can be concluded that even with a little rise in
the employment rate of United Kingdom, the overall growth of the job sector and employement
remains in loss.
Recommendation
From analysing the above scenario, it is recommended that certain measures need to be
taken in order to boom the job sector again. The government needs to support more by providing
certain subsidiaries and financial aid to the companies and start ups. Along with this,
REFERENCES
Why Brexit might look like it’s having a worse effect on the jobs market than it actually is
(2018). [Online]. Available Through:<https://theconversation.com/why-brexit-might-
look-like-its-having-a-worse-effect-on-the-jobs-market-than-it-actually-is-90884>.
[Accessed 21 Nov. 2018].
How Brexit will hit different UK regions and industries (2018). [Online]. Available
Through:<https://theconversation.com/how-brexit-will-hit-different-uk-regions-and-
industries-91287>. [Accessed 21 Nov. 2018].
TASK 4
Presentation
INTRODUCTION
Communication is a very important trait. It can be defined as a mode of exchanging
information through writing, speaking and other means.
Main Body
Method of Developing Communication-
 Writing practice
 Reading more books and materials.
 Speech Practice
6

Importance-
 Helps in learning process.
 Helps in Career development.
 Important for exchanging thoughts and knowledge.
Summary- Communication is a very important skill which helps in deciding the success in
academics. It is the ability to communicate with other group members, colleagues and other
university students.
References-
Importance of Communication Skills for Students, 2018. [Online]. Available
Through:<http://www.klientsolutech.com/importance-of-communication-skills-for-
students/>.[Accessed 21 Nov. 2018].
7

8

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Your groups’ comment about your presentation
Content
It was very much clear and informative.
Audience Engagement The group member find it interesting.
Organisation The PPT was well organised with accurate pictures.
Professionalism The Information as well as the Presentation method was very
professional.
Your reflection on your presentation
Content According to me, information was very much clear and
complete.
Audience Engagement I observed the behaviour of group members. They were really
enjoying it.
Organisation The presentation material was well structured and to the point.
10

Professionalism My presentation was very much professional
Action Points
My presentation was well organised with relevant data. However, I felt that I need to work on
my communication skills in order to boost up my presentation outcomes and increase the level
of presentation quality.
TASK 5
Reflective Writing
Communication is a very important skill for every individual. I personally feel that
communication is very important for academics and professional development. When I was
giving the presentation, I felt a little nervous because of my communication skills. Though I had
an accurate data but I felt that I was not able to deliver it as per my full potential. However, what
I evaluated was that my material and execution was to the point. Also, the audience was very
supportive and motivated me by showing full enthusiasm. But after delivering the presentation, I
felt that I could have prepared for it in order to feel more confident and deliver better quality of
the presentation. Hence, from my experience I have that I need to be more prepared in the next
presentation and public speaking activities. I will prepare for the presentation by giving mock
presentation which will help me feel more confident and prepared.
Communication is very important for students as well as the professionals who are
working. As per my point of views, it helps the student in enhancing their learning experience. It
is very important to exchange thoughts and knowledge to others. Similarly, it helps the
professional to work in team and helps in communicating with the customers. Hence, I suggest
that effective communication skills can help in student as well as professional culture. Hence, in
order to develop this skill, the individuals can read more books and articles, engage to group
activities, engage in speech and other public speaking activities.
CONCLUSION
From the above discussion, it can be concluded that academic skills plays a very crucial
role in growth of the individuals. Additionally, the structure format of report and essay writing
can be understand from the above scenario.
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