Communication Skills Guidebook

1. Finding Out: ResearchingBecoming familiar with the libraryFinding resources listed on a reading listUsing the library’s searching toolsLocating material in the library buildingUsing electronic collectionsFinding information for your assignment2. Writing Up: Essay WritingGeneral advice for writing a good essayWhat are essay markers looking for?3. Arguing Through: Written ArgumentEffective academic argumentDeductive and inductive argumentsAcceptable reasoning and evidenceUnacceptable reasoning and evidenceA word of warningStructuring a strong argumentative essay4. Stating Facts: Presenting Research FindingsWhat are report readers looking for?General layout of a reportWritten expression and presentationWriting a laboratory report5. Writing Well: Language, Sentences and ParagraphsDeveloping your vocabularyChoosing the right wordUsing inclusive languageStructuring clear sentencesParagraphing effectively6. Dotting ‘I’s: Using Punctuation CorrectlyUsing abbreviations and other shortened forms of words or phrasesUsing apostrophesUsing capital lettersUsing colonsUsing semicolonsUsing commasUsing ellipsesUsing the full stopUsing numbersUsing quotation marksMore about punctuation7. Owning Up: ReferencingThe author–date (Harvard) systemThe note systemThe Vancouver systemNotes and note identifiersAcknowledging electronic sourcesFurther information8. Speaking Out: Public SpeakingPreparing for a talkDelivering your talkCoping with questions9. Teaming Up: Working in GroupsWhat makes a team effective?How can you make your team effective?Maintaining an effective teamSupportive behaviour within the teamProblems with working in teamsCollaborative writing of a team projectMaking a team presentation10. Facing Up: Succeeding in ExamsPreparing for an examAdvice for sitting written examsAdvice for other types of examsGlossaryReferences and Useful ResourcesIndex