15 April 2020_Highlight

Final recap

The practice on preparing your own report has been completed.

It's time that we have a quick recap on preparing a report.

Final recap

First, pay attention to the format.

• One of the ways to identify a particular genre is its look such as a letter, a recipe, a report, etc.

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A report should contain a title and at least 4 sections with headings and subheadings.

1 Introduction

1.1 Background: briefly introduce the topic

you are going to work on.

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1.2 Objectives: tell your readers why you

work on this topic and what you want

to find out.

1.3 Focus: what you want to focus on

(If your topic is not broad, sometimes it may

be left out.)

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2 Method

2.1 Collection of data: how and/or when you

collect the data. What about the return rate?

2.2 Data analysis: tell your readers how you

analyse the data collected

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3 Findings

3.1

3.2

Findings should be one of the most important sections in a report.

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It is because

• even though two people are doing the same topic with the same objectives and methods, they may not get the same findings.

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• Generally, we describe the data we have collected. The language of approximation should be used.

• We can present the data as they have been found but we also need to compare and contrast them.

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• We compare and contrast them especially when we want to discuss the findings to shed light on or provide insight into the topic.

• It can be a separate section. It can also be incorporated into the Findings section. That is 3 Findings, 4 Discussion, 5 Conclusion or 3 Findings and discussion and 4 Conclusion.

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4 Conclusion

4.1

4.2

We usually provide recommendations in the conclusion. How many recommendations are needed? It depends on what you have mentioned in your objectives.

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There is one more subheading that we can include in the conclusion.

It is the limitations.

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Remember that it is not a must but

• when we think that the sample size is small and may not be of significance or some of the aspects have not thoroughly been explored, we can have limitations as the last part in the conclusion.

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Some more points to bear in mind:

• Unity of the report
• the findings and the conclusion should provide information to address the objectives and/or the focus.

Final recap

• Pay attention to the language use e.g.
• tense and voice used in each section
• language of approximation
• modality for recommendations

Preparing a CV

What should be placed in the CV and what should be left out?

Preparing a CV

Age and Date of birth: may lead to discrimination

Privacy issue

The employer may post a letter instead of sending an email.

Preparing a CV

Primary education: long time ago & of less significance

Preparing a CV

for all

all related to work:

job titles, duties etc

Preparing a CV

All necessary information

for all

Preparing a CV

We cannot present them as they have appeared. We need to categorize them, re-arrange them and place them under the same headings.

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The headings can include:

• Personal particulars
• Education and Qualifications
• Work Experience
• Other skills
• Languages
• Hobbies and interests
• Referees

Recap

Personal particulars

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Education and Qualifications

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Work Experience

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Other skills

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Languages

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Hobbies and interests

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Referees

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Is everything fine now?

No, not yet

Modification is needed.

Overall presentation: not yet systematic and reader-friendly

Recap

To make it more reader-friendly, we need to re-arrange the presentation of

• the items with dates
• the member of Chartered Engineer
• the job titles and duties

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The items with dates

• the most recent ones come first

The member of Chartered Engineer

• should be placed under Education and Qualifications because the membership is a kind of qualification

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The job titles and duties

• should group them according to chronological order with the most recent ones first

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Therefore the CV should look like the following.

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Application letter / cover letter

• What is the purpose of a cover letter?
• What should be included in a cover letter?
• What is the format of a cover letter?

Application letter / cover letter

Listen to the second part of the talk.

Write a summary of how to prepare a cover letter.

Application letter / cover letter

Key ideas:

• A highlight:
• why you are the right person;
• what skills you can offer;
• why you want to work for that particular company or organization

Application letter / cover letter

• Provides specific examples and explains any gaps
• Reveal your personality in your writing style
• Keep it simple
• Not too long
• One page

Application letter / cover letter

• With strong opening and closing
• Align with the organization in terms of core visions and principles
• Creative or not depends on what organization you are applying for

Application letter / cover letter

• To stand out, provide projects or work involved with
• Things done recently that you particularly like

Application letter / cover letter

A cover letter is a highlight of one’s CV. It provides examples and fills gaps. It shows the alignment in core visions and principles. A cover letter should be about one page with strong opening and closing. To stand out, one can include projects or work one involves with or things done with delight recently.