Library

How to do classwork

Parts of a job

A research paper should have the following structure:

  • Cover page: must contain the title of the work, the name of the author(s) and group, the name of the teacher, and the delivery date.
  • Table of Contents: This should contain all parts of the work. A preliminary table of contents can be created and updated as the work progresses. The final table of contents will be paginated.
  • Introduction: This section will outline the objectives, specifying the scope, reach, and limitations of the research; it will provide a brief description of the chapters, including the methodology used, and will present the main conclusion reached. Acknowledgments may also be included.
  • Topic development: organized into chapters or sections.
  • Conclusions: These will be presented in clear language. Positive and negative results, pending issues, etc., can be highlighted.
  • References consulted: always include all sources consulted; this will demonstrate your honesty, generosity, and intellectual sensitivity, as well as strengthen the arguments presented. “Plagiarism occurs when the author passes off ideas, words, or information from another source as their own, expressly omitting reference to the true author” [1]. For more information, see the section “How to cite information“.
  • Appendices: These contain information that is not essential to the main body of the work, but complements it. For example: tables, photos, etc.

[1] HARVEY, Gordon. How to cite sources. Madrid: Nuer, 2001.

A step-by-step process

1. FORMULATE THE TOPIC.

It is necessary to be clear about what type of work they are asking you to do: a commentary, a summary, a research paper…

2. CONTEXTUALIZE THE TOPIC.

You must define the topic, establish the scope of the work, and the level of depth you need. Select the terms that best define the topic. Look for synonyms to obtain related words; you can then use them in your information search.

3. FIND BOOKS, MAGAZINES, MAGAZINE ARTICLES, INTERNET RESOURCES.

To obtain information, it is recommended to start with a bibliographic search in the Library catalog. It is advisable to first consult the most general and recent bibliography and then narrow down the search as needed. A common practice for finding bibliography on a topic is to use the "following the thread" technique, consulting the authors and works that are cited by the authors you are finding.

Afterward, you can broaden your search in databases or electronic journals. You can also search the internet using specialized search engines and use Boolean operators to specify or limit the number of results.

4. EVALUATE THE RESOURCES FOUND.

You must objectively and critically analyze the information you find in order to choose quality academic information. Consult the guidelines we offer for evaluating information found online. .

5. WRITE THE PAPER AND CITE THE SELECTED RESOURCES.

To begin writing your paper, you need to know approximately how many pages, chapters, and chapters it will have, as well as define the text format. This way, you can visualize the final version from the start, avoid surprises, and save time. Creating a work plan, estimating the time each section will take, is very helpful. Once you've thoroughly read all the information you've gathered, you can begin organizing the material for each chapter and creating a first draft.

The final draft is the most complex stage, as you'll begin transforming your research into written information. Writing isn't easy; it requires time, so don't leave it until the end.

Some practical tips:

  • Build short sentences respecting the natural order of the sentence: subject, verb, complements.
  • Use computer spell checkers, but don't forget to read the text.
  • Make a backup to avoid any potential surprises.

As you progress in writing your paper, it's advisable to compile a list of references. If you cite sources as you consult them, you'll always be able to identify where you got your information. For more information on this topic, see the section “How to cite information”"of this website.

Once these steps are completed, you must do a final review:

  • Read the text carefully, remembering to check the spelling and syntax.
  • Complete the index, introduction, source citations, and bibliography.
  • Check that the chapter titles and their sections match the index.
  • Check the pagination and make sure it matches the index.
  • Check that the full text fits the chosen format.

How to evaluate information found on the Internet

The information we find on the internet varies greatly in quality. Alongside excellent academic work and accurate, up-to-date data, there are countless pages filled with speculation, inaccuracies, or outright errors. Evaluating information is an essential step in the search process and requires critical thinking to determine whether the resources found are reliable and appropriate for each person's information needs.

In this presentation You can see some examples of information evaluation that appears on different web pages.

To help you easily assess the quality of information provided by the websites you visit, we suggest this template with five basic criteria:

-If he/she has responded YEAH To answer all questions, the information on the website can be considered valid in terms of quality.

-If he/she has responded NO to one or two questions, the information It could be valid, But it would be better to look for another source.

-If he/she has responded NO to three or more questions, the information It is not valid.

The template we present has been adapted from the following documents:

LIBRARY OF THE PUBLIC UNIVERSITY OF NAVARRA. Evaluating information on the Internet [Online]. [Accessed: July 7, 2021]. Available online: https://www.unavarra.es/digitalAssets/186/186550_100000Evaluaci–n-de-la-informaci–n-en-Internet.pdf

EDUTEKA. List of criteria for evaluating information sources from the Internet. Gavilán Model [Online]. [Accessed: July 7, 2021]. Available online:  http://eduteka.icesi.edu.co/pdfdir/CMIListaCriteriosEvaluarFuentes.pdf

How to make a presentation

It's becoming increasingly common to have to give presentations. Therefore, in this section, we offer some general guidelines for creating them.

A presentation aims to communicate ideas and information in an engaging way. You should begin by defining the presentation's objective: what you will explain, what you will focus on, and what your purpose is. Then, establish the presentation's structure following this outline:

  • Introduction, with objectives and key points.
  • Development of each of the points.
  • Closing remarks.

In This video You can see the steps to take to create a presentation using the Microsoft PowerPoint application:

Although many factors influence the outcome of a good presentation, keep the following points in mind:

  • The presentation should be simple, without superfluous information, and without overloading the slides with too much information; the slides should have blank spaces.
  • Limit your ideas to one central idea per slide. If this is too difficult, you can put the ideas on separate slides. But don't forget that the information should be logically arranged, following a clear line of reasoning.
  • Don't read each slide aloud: this will demonstrate your understanding and knowledge of the content you're presenting. Use the slides as a guide for your presentation.
  • Limit the number of slides. The 10-20-30 rule for presentations proposed by Guy Kawasaki It says that a presentation should not have more than 10 slides, nor last more than 20 minutes, and should not have any text with a font size of less than 30 points.
  • Ensure the text is legible, using an appropriate font size. The text should be short and concise. It's advisable to use the same font throughout and avoid using too many colors in the text or backgrounds. This will help maintain a consistent overall appearance for the presentation.
  • Don't overuse PowerPoint's "special effects." Think about how to make the best use of transitions and animations; if they don't improve your presentation, don't use them.
  • It's not advisable to use PowerPoint's pre-designed templates or clipart. Tailor your presentation to your specific needs for a more personal and original result.
  • You can add images, photographs, videos, or sound. This way, the presentation will be both informative and engaging.
  • Some communication techniques: remember that the audience doesn't expect everything to be perfect, and although you may be demanding, you are generally quite understanding; control the speed of your speech, don't go too fast; make eye contact with all the attendees; address them with a strong and clear voice, without hesitation or beating around the bush.