Essay和Report¶
How to write an essay and report in the UK?
The teacher taught us in class, and one of the most important aspects of writing an essay is paraphrasing.
Change some words for synonyms.
Change from active to passive voice.
Pay attention to the structure.
Convert word forms, such as nominalization (verb to noun).
Change the tense.
In British universities, whether it's language courses, foundation programs, undergraduate studies, or master's degrees, assignments such as essays and reports are commonly assigned. These two types of assignments are similar in format. The school usually specifies whether it should be an essay or a report, so it's important to read the instructions carefully. If it's not explicitly stated, it's usually an essay.
Structure of an essay in a British university:
Cover page:
Includes the full name of the school, full name of the program, student's name, student ID, teacher's name, date, title, and in some cases, the word count requirement. The formatting of the cover page may vary depending on the program, and the teacher will provide instructions.Table of contents:
Automatically generated using word processing software. The table of contents helps the teacher selectively focus on specific sections.Introduction:
The first section introduces the background and purpose of the topic. It also provides an overview of the essay's structure, explaining how it will be organized. The introduction should be approximately 10% of the total word count. It's crucial to clearly state the aim, objective, purpose, and goal of the essay. If you don't mention the purpose at the beginning, the teacher won't know what your essay is about. Typically, the teacher reads the introduction to understand the purpose of the essay.Main Body:
The main part of the essay consists of two types:
a) Standalone literature review: In this case, the literature review is presented as a separate section.
b) Literature review embedded within the essay: The literature review is incorporated into the relevant sections when supporting a particular point.
If you choose to write a standalone literature review, it is crucial because it carries a significant weightage, around 30% of the total grade, and should correspondingly have a substantial word count. Foreign teachers pay particular attention to the literature review and references.
Most essays with fewer words follow the second approach. However, for a thesis or dissertation with a word count of around 15,000, a separate literature review section is required. Additionally, the literature review needs to be referred to during the analysis section to provide evidence and support for your arguments.
It's important to write the essay in a critical manner, considering both sides of the argument. Don't only focus on the positive aspects or the negative aspects. When you present a viewpoint, make sure to mention that someone else has also expressed that viewpoint, and provide references. Your essay should be comprehensive. After presenting a point, provide examples to illustrate it vividly. Make sure to reference these examples as well.
British university teachers prefer essays that are logically structured, on-topic, and follow a straight-forward approach. You can follow the guidance provided by your teacher and ask them for more advice. Remember, as Confucius said, "He who asks is a fool for five minutes, but he who does not ask remains a fool forever."
Conclusion and Recommendation:
The conclusion summarizes the main points discussed in the essay and restates the thesis. It should be approximately 15% of the total word count. You can also provide recommendations based on the content of the essay. These recommendations should be related to the points discussed in the essay and should not introduce new ideas unrelated to the essay.References:
Arrange the references in alphabetical order, starting with authors whose surnames begin with A, then B, and so on. Book titles should be italicized, and each reference should be separated by a blank line from the next one. If you are referencing a website, include the URL and the date you accessed the website. It's important to note that different British universities may have different requirements for reference formatting. However, most British universities use the Harvard reference style. You can find specific guides on reference formatting and reference management software.
I hope this helps you understand how to write an essay and report in the UK!
The structure of a Report in British universities is similar to that of an essay. A report focuses on practical aspects, often combining with a case study to conduct analysis. In a report, the use of data and charts makes the analysis of the case more visual, compelling, and evidence-based. A report must have a title, a conclusion, and recommendations (recommendations should be based on the content of the report and not introduce unrelated ideas). Additionally, an Executive Summary is included at the beginning.
Cover Page:
Includes the full name of the school, full name of the program, student's name, student ID, teacher's name, date, title, and sometimes the word count requirement. The formatting of the cover page may vary depending on the program, and the teacher will provide instructions.Contents:
Automatically generated using word processing software.Executive Summary:
The executive summary provides an overview of the report's purpose. It summarizes the main content, research object, objectives, and significance of the report in 2 to 3 paragraphs.Introduction:
The introduction primarily provides the background and purpose of the report.Main Body:
Divide the main body into sections and use subheadings. If there are multiple objectives, assign a separate subheading to each objective.
For example: 3.1, 3.2, 3.3.
Conclusion and Recommendation:
The conclusion summarizes the main points discussed in the report and should be approximately 15% of the total word count. Provide recommendations based on the content of the report. These recommendations should be relevant to the points discussed in the report and not introduce unrelated ideas.References:
Arrange the references in alphabetical order, starting with authors whose surnames begin with A, then B, and so on. Book titles should be italicized, and each reference should be separated by a blank line from the next one. If referencing a website, include the URL and the date of access. It's important to note that different British universities may have different requirements for reference formatting. However, most British universities use the Harvard reference style. You can find specific guides on reference formatting and reference management software.
Other Reminders for UK Dissertations ⏰
Font
Most UK universities require the following fonts for essays and reports:
Arial
Times New Roman
Use only one font for your dissertation. Personally, I used the second one.
Font Size
The text content of the dissertation is typically in size 12 (small size), but titles and subtitles can be in different sizes.
Table of Contents
The table of contents should be generated automatically. Set the headings in your document to create a customized and convenient table of contents.
Formatting
The entire dissertation should follow a consistent format. Avoid switching between American English and British English. Choose one style and stick to it throughout the entire document.
Abbreviations
Avoid using subjective words like "I," "you," "we," and contractions like "can't" or "don't." Also, refrain from using abbreviations or using question marks and exclamation points. For example, "You don't like your father's pen?" is incorrect. It should be "Tom does not like the pen that is from his father."
Punctuation
Pay attention to punctuation marks in UK dissertations. Instead of using the Chinese-style comma "、," use the comma ",". Use semicolons ";" when there are many pauses. UK style does not use angle brackets ("《》") for book titles; instead, use italics.
Choice of Words
Avoid using overly simple or complex words, and make sure to use words correctly. Do not repeat the same word multiple times throughout the entire dissertation; try using synonyms. For example, try to avoid using words like "like," "make," or "good" and replace them with more sophisticated alternatives such as "enjoy," "favor," "enable," "create," "great," or "perfect."
Capitalization
The first letter of the first word in each paragraph must be capitalized. Additionally, capitalize the first letter of each word following a period.
Line Spacing
The line spacing should be 1.5 times the font size. Most dissertations follow a 1.5 line spacing unless specified otherwise in the requirements. For example, Coventry University typically requires double line spacing for final dissertations.
Layout
Between paragraphs, you can either use extra spacing or indent the first line to create a clean and organized appearance. In other words, the paragraphs should be well-structured, either with a blank line or an indentation.
Avoid making the paragraphs too long; start a new paragraph whenever necessary.
Just as this article says, if someone tells you, "You can't do it, it's impossible," remember to persist in pursuing your dreams, even if you have to endure hardships and never give up, until one day you see the light again. Only those who genuinely hope for and persevere in their dreams can make them come true. Whether it's learning English, writing a dissertation, or taking exams, as long as you are determined, you can make progress even in the face of challenges.
References
Follow the reference format specified by your university or instructor. For example, Coventry University requires the use of CU Harvard Reference style. However, some professors may have specific requirements for certain disciplines, like accounting. It's essential to listen to your professor's instructions because they are the ones who determine your final score.
If you find it cumbersome to manually copy, paste, and format references one by one, I recommend using refworks.com. This website is convenient for organizing and managing all your references, especially when you have many. If your institution provides an account, you can access it for free. Alternatively, you can also use Google, as it offers similar features. Please refer to the earlier section on reference formatting strategies for more details on using reference generation software.
For instance, at Coventry University, references can be automatically generated using the online library, as shown in the image below
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Generally, British universities choose the Harvard Reference Style.：
But you will find that it is slightly different from Harvard style used by the University of Coventry. Coventry's style should be as follows:
Seward, D. (2014) Race Car Design. [online] Palgrave Macmillan. Available from: <http://www.myilibrary.com?ID=823938 ↗> [3 November 2015]
Did you notice the difference? Apart from the parentheses, the surname of the author should be written in full and placed before the initials. Regardless of the author's given name, only the first capital letter is used, followed by a period. So, instead of "Seward, Derek (2014)," Coventry uses "Seward, D. (2014)."
The screenshot below shows the reference table of Coventry University, which has its own reference style. Another difference is in the in-text citation. In Harvard style, it would be "(Seward, 2014, p.30)," while in Coventry University, it is "(Seward 2014:30)."
Here is a screenshot of the official reference format of Coventry University
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Plagiarism Check
Plagiarism check is the process of detecting whether a research paper contains any plagiarized content. Before submitting a paper, it is necessary to perform a plagiarism check on your own. For recommendations on plagiarism check software, detailed strategies were provided earlier. In general, UK universities use Turnitin for plagiarism checks. So, how can you avoid being flagged for plagiarism by the Turnitin system?
Firstly, avoid copying and pasting content directly from online sources or books. Also, avoid simply rephrasing a few words. For specific strategies, please refer to the article that discussed referencing techniques. Here's a point to consider: even if you have diligently written your own content, it may still be flagged as similar to content from another university. This is quite normal because many people write on the same topic, and there are only a few sentences that can be used repeatedly. If others have already come up with and used those sentences, they will be considered the original authors. How can you overcome this? You need to rewrite. After repetitive use of your own ideas, even your own viewpoints and ideas need to be rewritten. Avoid directly quoting others' words verbatim because if you do, in a 3000-word article, you can only use one sentence at most. Moreover, the quotation must be used appropriately, which requires excellent writing skills, grammar, and logical understanding.
Incorporating Images
If your article requires images, each image should be accompanied by an explanation and a caption. For example: Table 1: XXXXXXX, Figure 1: XXXXXX. The purpose of the image should be explained, and it should serve as a clear visual element that contributes to your argument.
Word Count
Regarding the word count of an essay, it is essential to adhere to the specified requirements. Generally, the word count has a tolerance of plus or minus 10%. However, some papers may have specific restrictions on the maximum word count.
Critical Thinking
The content of your article should not be overly subjective but rather comprehensive and critical. It should include both positive and negative viewpoints, supporting evidence, and examples. In fact, a good article with strong content can often compensate for minor grammar or spelling errors, as the real substance is the key.
Page Numbers
Remember to include page numbers in your article. Page numbers are usually inserted at the bottom. I recall a classmate who wrote a thesis of several thousand words without including any page numbers. Additionally, the paper contained lengthy paragraphs with numerous grammar and spelling errors, as well as a chaotic reference section. Consequently, the teacher gave them a failing grade.
As an example, let's consider the Global Leaders Program at Coventry University, our school. The school's promotional brochure is specifically written in Chinese, using online translation tools and directly copying and pasting the translated text, as shown in the image below.
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It can be seen that the Chinese in the promotional brochure contains numerous grammar errors and such. So, when it comes to grammar, what stands out in my memory is the Chinese version of the Global Leaders Program (GLP) brochure. The Chinese text on it is so poorly written that it can make people burst into laughter. Our classmates, in response, started using their brains and engaged in an exciting exercise of fixing the Chinese grammar in that brochure.
While we laughed heartily, we should actually reflect on it. Is it true that a prestigious university like ours, currently ranked 15th in The Guardian in the UK, has such poor Chinese grammar? Don't all those Chinese teachers know better? No, this GLP brochure is intentionally designed to provide amusement for students while silently delivering a blow. It reflects how foreigners perceive our English academic papers, finding them equally amusing and nonsensical.
The GLP program at our university is indeed a source of concern for Chinese-speaking students who have come to the UK. So, the GLP enthusiastically extends its arms and invites the students, saying, "Come, children, we can help you progress, and in return, your money will happily flow into our embrace." The GLP has come up with such a clever idea, and it has succeeded in attracting many of our friends to join.
This reminds me of another example. Back when I was having a group discussion in class, our group consisted entirely of Chinese students, and everyone was speaking in Chinese. Why? Because whenever someone suggested that we should discuss in English, there were always a few members who would say, "We're all Chinese, why speak English?" Don't just take my word for it; take a quick look at your classmates and friends around you. There are definitely people like that. This reminds me of a joke I saw on Lengtu, which goes: "A guy who studied abroad for several years returned to his home country. His English wasn't that great, but he spoke fluent Northeastern dialect, Cantonese, and various other dialects like a pro.