Theme: Communicating Research with Clarity, Coherence, and Academic Integrity
Duration: 1 week (self-paced)
Level: MA / MSc / Early PhD Preparation
Format: Fully self-contained lesson for independent study
🔷 12.1 Purpose of This Module
This module equips you with the tools to structure, write, and present your research clearly and persuasively. It focuses on developing academic tone, cohesion, visual clarity, and fidelity to disciplinary conventions—whether in a written dissertation, journal article, or oral presentation.
By the end, you will be able to:
- Structure a full academic report or thesis correctly
- Write with clarity, coherence, and formal academic tone
- Present data visually and textually
- Cite sources accurately and avoid plagiarism
- Communicate findings effectively in oral or visual formats
🏗 12.2 Structure of a Research Thesis/Dissertation
| Section | Purpose | Typical Content |
|---|---|---|
| Abstract | Brief summary | Research aim, method, key findings, conclusion (150–300 words) |
| Introduction | Contextualise study | Background, problem statement, aim, objectives, research questions, structure |
| Literature Review | Review prior research | Key debates, gaps, and theoretical frameworks |
| Methodology | Justify design | Paradigm, methods, sampling, instruments, ethics |
| Findings | Present results | Tables, quotes, visuals; clear presentation of data |
| Discussion | Interpret findings | Relate to literature, analyse implications, assess limits |
| Conclusion | Summarise and reflect | Restate key points, contributions, future directions |
| References | Academic sources used | Harvard, APA, or other citation style |
| Appendices | Supplementary info | Consent forms, tools, transcripts, raw data extracts |
✍️ 12.3 Academic Writing Style and Tone
✅ Characteristics of Good Academic Writing:
| Quality | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Clarity | Use straightforward, precise language | “The results indicate…” not “It kind of shows…” |
| Formality | Avoid slang or conversational phrases | Use “participants” not “people” or “guys” |
| Objectivity | Avoid overly personal language unless justified | “The researcher observed…” not “I saw…” |
| Cohesion | Use linking words and structure | “However”, “In contrast”, “This suggests that…” |
| Evidence-based | Claims must be supported with citations | (Smith, 2021) |
❗ Avoid:
- Contractions (e.g., don’t, can’t)
- Vague words (stuff, things, a lot)
- Repetition or filler
- Emotional or subjective bias (unless part of reflexive method)
🧩 12.4 Paragraph and Section-Level Structure
A. The PEEL Paragraph Model
A helpful model for coherent academic paragraphs:
- Point – State the main idea
- Evidence – Support with data/literature
- Explanation – Interpret what it means
- Link – Connect to the next idea or section
Example:
“AI tools have changed how students write. For example, research by Jones (2023) found that 72% of students used AI to generate essay outlines. This suggests that students increasingly rely on automation for planning. This trend has implications for academic integrity and educational policy.”
B. Signposting in Writing
Use transitional phrases to guide the reader:
- This chapter focuses on…
- In contrast to previous studies…
- These findings indicate that…
- It is important to note…
- The following section explores…
📊 12.5 Visual Presentation of Data
| Type | When to Use | Tool |
|---|---|---|
| Table | Exact numerical data | Word, Excel |
| Chart (bar, line, pie) | Trends or comparisons | Excel, Google Sheets |
| Thematic Map | Relationships among themes | NVivo, manual drawing |
| Diagram/Model | Theoretical or conceptual relationships | Canva, PowerPoint |
✅ Guidelines:
- Label all figures clearly (e.g., Figure 2: Motivational Themes)
- Refer to them in text: “As shown in Figure 2…”
- Use consistent font and style
- Include a title and legend where applicable
📚 12.6 Citing and Referencing
A. Why Cite?
- To acknowledge others’ work
- To show the basis of your argument
- To avoid plagiarism
B. Common Systems
| Style | Used In | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Harvard | Social sciences, education | (Brown, 2021) |
| APA | Psychology, business | Brown (2021) states… |
| Chicago | History, humanities | Footnotes or endnotes |
C. Reference Management Tools
- Zotero – Free, browser-integrated
- Mendeley – Great for PDFs and collaboration
- EndNote – Powerful, used in many institutions
🎤 12.7 Oral or Visual Presentation of Research
Whether for a viva, conference, or seminar, you must be able to articulate your research clearly.
✅ Structure of a 10–15 Minute Research Presentation:
- Title and Introduction
- Aim and Research Questions
- Methodology Summary
- Key Findings (visuals encouraged)
- Discussion and Implications
- Conclusion
- Q&A Preparedness
Tools: PowerPoint, Google Slides, Canva, Prezi
Tips for Clarity:
- Limit each slide to 1 idea
- Use visuals over text
- Practice out loud
- Time yourself (aim for 1 slide/minute)
🛠 12.8 Self-Learning Task Set (Independent Exercises)
✍️ TASK 1: Write an Abstract (200–300 words)
Summarise:
- Your topic and rationale
- Research question(s)
- Methodology
- Key findings (or expected findings)
- Conclusion
✅ Aim to be concise, clear, and free of jargon.
📄 TASK 2: Create a PEEL Paragraph
Choose one of your findings and write a paragraph using:
- P – State the finding
- E – Provide supporting evidence
- E – Explain significance
- L – Link to next idea
📊 TASK 3: Design a Visual Table or Figure
Choose data (qualitative or quantitative) and present it as a:
- Table of coded themes
- Summary of descriptive statistics
- Diagram of research design or framework
✅ Label everything clearly, and reference it in 1–2 sentences of explanatory text.
📚 TASK 4: Build a Reference List
Create a list of 5 references using the Harvard style. Include:
- 2 books
- 2 journal articles
- 1 online source
✅ Use a reference manager if possible.
🔍 12.9 Summary of Key Takeaways
- Academic writing requires structure, clarity, and evidence-based argument
- Present data visually and textually to increase accessibility
- Follow strict referencing conventions to maintain integrity
- Your voice as a researcher must be clear, formal, and reflective
- Presenting your work orally sharpens your clarity and confidence
✅ End-of-Module Self-Evaluation Checklist
| Concept | Yes / No |
|---|---|
| I understand the structure of a thesis or dissertation | ☐ |
| I practiced using the PEEL model for clear writing | ☐ |
| I created at least one visual to present data | ☐ |
| I formatted a short reference list correctly | ☐ |
| I planned or rehearsed a research presentation | ☐ |