Http://www.Monash.Edu.Au/lls/llonline/writing/informationtechnology/report/1.3.3.Xml

START WRITING YOUR REPORT

(see MY WORK ON THE TOPIC)

Identifying unknown words and compiling a topic-based glossary (100 words)

You should make sure you know the precise meaning of every word in an assignment topic. You can check unknown words in a general dictionary and use a subject dictionary to check meanings of words which have a specific meaning in IT.

Use computing dictionaries:

http://www.webopedia.com/

http://whatis.techtarget.com/

http://foldoc.org/

http://www.onelook.com/?d=all_com

Developing a plan

After you define the terms and analyse the assignment question, you should be familiar with the requirements of the assignment.

Now, think about the topic and make a preliminary plan before you visit the library or surf the internet for information.

Making a preliminary plan will help you to search for information that covers the specific areas required to answer the question. You can then be more focused in your reading instead of reading a mass of material which may be of limited relevance.

Thinking about the assignment topic

The sample assignment topic asks you to discuss the current and future development of an area of computer technology. Can you think of some ideas a discussion on this topic could include? To do this you will need to select an area of computer technology.

Take a blank sheet of paper and write down as many ideas as possible either in single words or short phrases.

The main purpose at this stage is to think of many ideas rather than only 'good' ideas; you can then edit your ideas later.

You may wish to write your ideas as a list or you may prefer to use a concept map whereby the topic is written in the middle of the page and your ideas are written around the topic.

When you have completed this task, look at your ideas - try to group similar ideas together, and also identify relationships between your ideas: for example, a main idea and supporting detail. You may also wish to re-arrange your ideas: for example, in order of importance or chronologically.

Compare the approaches of Student 1 and Student 2 below.

Here are some ideas from two students on the current and future developments of scanners. One student has used a concept map to record ideas and divided it into two sections: current and future. The other student has used a list approach. Which approach do you prefer?

Student 1 concept map

Student 2 list approach

• Definition

• Popularity

• Specifications

• Future use

• How work

• History of scanners

• Use and users

• Types of scanners

• Changes to hardware and software

• New types of scanners

Now do this for your own assignment topic.

Refining the plan

After thinking about the topic, you can use your ideas to draft a rough plan. This will provide you with a more focused approach to searching for information. You will probably find that as you read and think further about the topic you will need to alter this rough plan. Student 1 has expanded ideas from her concept map into the following rough plan. Compare Student 1's original concept map with the plan below.

Body of the report:

History of scanners
How scanners work
Use of scanners
Types of scanners	- flatbed - sheet-fed - slide - hand held - drum
Specifications
Future developments	- use - new types /changes to hardware or software - accessibility

The next step in preparing the assignment is to search for information in the library and on the internet using your rough plan as a guide. Remember that this assignment asks you to use information that is:

• reliable

• published over the last two years

• from a range of sources

• by a range of authors