We started today by thinking about reports in general.
Four groups designed posters that came up with ideas to my question, "what makes a report a report?"
We had some good ideas on this - some points focused on the various sections which we would expect to find in a report. Other ideas mentioned the style of a report - how it was written and how it looked (the layout). Some points were also made about the purpose and readership of reports. Great work on that - well done!
I then asked the groups to come up with headings for the report that forms part of the assessment for this unit. Between you all, you came up with a good structure. While you had a break, I tweaked it a bit, so that we ended up with this as the structure for the report:
Title page
Contents page
1 Introduction (the purpose of your report will be made clear here)
2 Research methods (what did you do to research the report - ie internet research, consultation of course text, research meeting)
3 Findings
3.1 Overview of event (this should come from what you had to do for Caroline's report)
3.2 Social impact (this should come from what you had to do for Caroline's report)
3.3 Economic impact (this should come from what you had to do for Caroline's report)
3.4 Political impact (this should come from what you had to do for Caroline's report)
4. Conclusion (In general terms, or in summary form, what are the social, economic and political impacts of your chosen event - write a sentence on each)
5. References (detail of specific sources you used to research the event - ie. website address and when you accessed it.)
6. Appendices (copy of agenda and minutes for research meeting)
Everyone typed this structure up and saved it as the starting point for the report for this class.
We finished with an exercise on formal writing style. The point of this exercise was to get you to practise more formal writing as is required for report writing.
Here are some links on report writing and formal writing that you may find useful:
http://www2.napier.ac.uk/gus/writing_presenting/reports.html#style
http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/words/writing/
Next week, it's just a matter of putting the information that you have into the report structure which we devised today.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Working on minutes - more meetings.
Today groups 1, 2 and 3 worked on producing their minutes for the research meeting. Remember that everyone has to submit their own minutes - I can't accept the same set of minutes for each member of the group. I know that this isn't the way minutes would be done in a work setting, however, as part of the assessment, each student is required to produce minutes (I asked people to submit their work at the end of the class - I got some, but not all, of the minutes. I presume the rest are on their way to jerryoneill@stevenson.ac.uk).
As the groups worked on that, Group 4 had their meeting (I'll give you feedback next week). And we set up a Group 5 for the three folk who still need to do their meeting.
One thing that came out of the meetings so far is that there is little use in going to the first sites that Google suggest. These sites are often more to do with the marketing and promotion of the event and you may find that there is little there on the political, economic or social impact of your event. You need to dig a bit deeper and, as one member of Group 4 said, "Go old school - use the library".
However, all of this is part of the reasons for having these research meetings in the first - you get to discuss some of the problems you are having with your research topics.
Next week, you will be putting all of your research together in your report.
As the groups worked on that, Group 4 had their meeting (I'll give you feedback next week). And we set up a Group 5 for the three folk who still need to do their meeting.
One thing that came out of the meetings so far is that there is little use in going to the first sites that Google suggest. These sites are often more to do with the marketing and promotion of the event and you may find that there is little there on the political, economic or social impact of your event. You need to dig a bit deeper and, as one member of Group 4 said, "Go old school - use the library".
However, all of this is part of the reasons for having these research meetings in the first - you get to discuss some of the problems you are having with your research topics.
Next week, you will be putting all of your research together in your report.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Continuing with meetings
We continued with the meetings today.
While the meeting was taking place, the rest of the class worked on completing the reading assessment.
Next week, most of you will complete the meeting assessment by writing up the minutes of your meeting.
While the meeting was taking place, the rest of the class worked on completing the reading assessment.
Next week, most of you will complete the meeting assessment by writing up the minutes of your meeting.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Starting the meeting assessments
Today we got started on the meeting assessments with groups 1 and 2. Thanks to everyone who came prepared.
We had two useful discussions on the research that you've done so far. One of the reasons for having these meetings is to talk about some of the problems you have had with researching the various impacts of your event. It is good to be able to identify gaps in your research at this stage, rather than a week before you need to submit your report.
Groups 3 and 4 worked on preparing themselves for next week and, for some at least, finishing off the reading assessment.
As always, if you have any questions, make a comment ...
We had two useful discussions on the research that you've done so far. One of the reasons for having these meetings is to talk about some of the problems you have had with researching the various impacts of your event. It is good to be able to identify gaps in your research at this stage, rather than a week before you need to submit your report.
Groups 3 and 4 worked on preparing themselves for next week and, for some at least, finishing off the reading assessment.
As always, if you have any questions, make a comment ...
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Preparation for meeting assessments
Today we prepared for the meeting assessments which will start next week.
Again, there are four groups. Groups 1 and 2 will be having their meeting next week (ie. 19 Nov). Groups 3 and 4 will be having their meetings the week after that (ie. 26 Nov).
Remember that these meetings are about discussing your research into your chosen event. More specifically each of you will be required to discuss two websites which you have looked at in your research into the political, social and economic impact of your event.
Although you will present your analysis of these sites orally, you should come prepared with some notes. I gave out a worksheet on evaluating websites which you should complete. This will help prepare you for the meeting.
So, make sure you come prepared with two worksheets completed: one for each website you are analysing.
Again, there are four groups. Groups 1 and 2 will be having their meeting next week (ie. 19 Nov). Groups 3 and 4 will be having their meetings the week after that (ie. 26 Nov).
Remember that these meetings are about discussing your research into your chosen event. More specifically each of you will be required to discuss two websites which you have looked at in your research into the political, social and economic impact of your event.
Although you will present your analysis of these sites orally, you should come prepared with some notes. I gave out a worksheet on evaluating websites which you should complete. This will help prepare you for the meeting.
So, make sure you come prepared with two worksheets completed: one for each website you are analysing.
Those of you not going the group meeting next week will be able to catch up on the reading assessment (summarising and analysing the report on the Olympics).
Any questions on this, get in touch (see my contact details along the right-hand-side).
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
BBC video on impact of Olympics
You may feel that you've had enough on the impact of the 2012 Olympics. Just in case you haven't, have a look at this story ...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/the_daily_politics/8350668.stm
It may give you some ideas about what you need to be looking at in terms of your own research.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/the_daily_politics/8350668.stm
It may give you some ideas about what you need to be looking at in terms of your own research.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Thinking about groups and focusing on events
Yesterday, we started thinking about formal meetings.
I split the class into the groups that you will be in for the meeting assessment.
There are four groups. If you missed the class make sure you know what group you are in.
In your groups you discussed and came up with some good ideas about:
- the purpose of meetings
- people's roles in meetings
- the paperwork associated with meetings
- what make a good meeting/bad meeting
After discussing your ideas on these, you broke up and worked individually on the ideas for a major event.
I've submitted your proposals to Caroline and she seems to think that most of them are appropriate.
However, remember that you need to research the positive and negative social, economic and political impacts of your chosen event. You need to make sure that there is information to find on these topics.
I split the class into the groups that you will be in for the meeting assessment.
There are four groups. If you missed the class make sure you know what group you are in.
In your groups you discussed and came up with some good ideas about:
- the purpose of meetings
- people's roles in meetings
- the paperwork associated with meetings
- what make a good meeting/bad meeting
After discussing your ideas on these, you broke up and worked individually on the ideas for a major event.
I've submitted your proposals to Caroline and she seems to think that most of them are appropriate.
However, remember that you need to research the positive and negative social, economic and political impacts of your chosen event. You need to make sure that there is information to find on these topics.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Ideas for major event
For the next part of the unit you will be researching, discussing and writing a report on the impact of a major event.
At this stage what you need to do is to start to come up with some ideas of major events.
Pick at least three events and which you would like to research and list them on the class blog.
At this stage what you need to do is to start to come up with some ideas of major events.
Pick at least three events and which you would like to research and list them on the class blog.
Clearly state which of these is your preference. Remember you will only be researching one of these events.
As this research will form part of your work for your HN Events unit, Caroline Paterson will need to confirm that your choice of event is appropriate.
As this research will form part of your work for your HN Events unit, Caroline Paterson will need to confirm that your choice of event is appropriate.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Reading Assessment
We continued with the reading assessment today. Again, this is quite a challenging assessment - the document which you are summarising and analysing is quite formal and quite complex. It is the kind of document that you may need to read if you pursue a career in events management.
When we come back, we'll finish this off. If you have any comments, queries or concerns, please use the comment function at the end of this post to share them.
In the meantime, have a good break.
When we come back, we'll finish this off. If you have any comments, queries or concerns, please use the comment function at the end of this post to share them.
In the meantime, have a good break.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Starting on the reading assessment
Today I introduced the first assessment. This assessment requires you to summarise and evaluate a complex document.
I gave out a copy of the Price Waterhouse Coopers report Olympic Games Impact Study (OCIS).
We looked at the introduction and I gave some backgound on the report.
I gave out the questions for the report and told people the section of the report which needed to be summarised (this is also on the question sheet - ie. pp 12-15).
You are allowed to take the report home over the week to work on the summary of this section(but not the questions).
I gave out a copy of the Price Waterhouse Coopers report Olympic Games Impact Study (OCIS).
We looked at the introduction and I gave some backgound on the report.
I gave out the questions for the report and told people the section of the report which needed to be summarised (this is also on the question sheet - ie. pp 12-15).
You are allowed to take the report home over the week to work on the summary of this section(but not the questions).
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Analysis of report - Tourism and Olympics
Today we started off by looking at the five summaries which the groups produced last week. Most people felt that Conor and Liam's was a strong one as it summarised by paragraph and was concise without losing the main points. Also, Harry commented that they managed to provide a good summary of the fairly complex point being made about funding in the last paragraph of that report.
We moved on, then, to look at another report (simply called "Olympic Report" click here to see a copy).
Having looked at summary skills last week, we were more interested in developing analysis skills - that is, looking and commenting on how a text is put together.
First we identified the purpose (the stated and the actual purpose are not always the same) and the intended reader (tourist trade and those involved with Olympics for this one). Bearing this information in mind, we looked at how the writers of the report used language, graphics, structure and layout to achieve their purpose.
At the end we discussed each group's analysis and I asked everyone to complete questions 3, 4 and 5 from the handout which I gave out today. That's due for next week.
Next week, we will make a start on the first assessment: summarising and analysing a complex document.
Please feel free to use the comment function at the end of the posts to ask questions or to make comments ....
We moved on, then, to look at another report (simply called "Olympic Report" click here to see a copy).
Having looked at summary skills last week, we were more interested in developing analysis skills - that is, looking and commenting on how a text is put together.
First we identified the purpose (the stated and the actual purpose are not always the same) and the intended reader (tourist trade and those involved with Olympics for this one). Bearing this information in mind, we looked at how the writers of the report used language, graphics, structure and layout to achieve their purpose.
At the end we discussed each group's analysis and I asked everyone to complete questions 3, 4 and 5 from the handout which I gave out today. That's due for next week.
Next week, we will make a start on the first assessment: summarising and analysing a complex document.
Please feel free to use the comment function at the end of the posts to ask questions or to make comments ....
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Having a go at summarising
Today I went over the general purposes of the unit and what you will be doing over the next couple of months.
This unit will be largely project-based: ie you will work on researching the impact of a major event. You will be required to discuss elements of your research in a formal meeting and, finally, produce the findings of your research in the form of a formal report. The meetings will take place in November and the final drafts of reports will be due in December.
Before that, however, you will be working on the first assessment which requires you to summarise and evaluate a complex document.
We have started developing these skills already (see last week). Today, we looked at a formal government report on the legacy of the Olympics (click here to see a copy).
After taking a look at the format, structure and layout of the document, we had a go at summarising section 4 (the original text was 608 words long).
The summarising was done in groups of two and three and everyone submitted a copy of their summary at the end. We’ll take it up from there next week.
This unit will be largely project-based: ie you will work on researching the impact of a major event. You will be required to discuss elements of your research in a formal meeting and, finally, produce the findings of your research in the form of a formal report. The meetings will take place in November and the final drafts of reports will be due in December.
Before that, however, you will be working on the first assessment which requires you to summarise and evaluate a complex document.
We have started developing these skills already (see last week). Today, we looked at a formal government report on the legacy of the Olympics (click here to see a copy).
After taking a look at the format, structure and layout of the document, we had a go at summarising section 4 (the original text was 608 words long).
The summarising was done in groups of two and three and everyone submitted a copy of their summary at the end. We’ll take it up from there next week.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Starting to analyse texts: the legacy of the olympics
Today we started to get into the work for the course by summarising and analysing two texts.
The first text came from the official Olympic 2012 site and it is about the legacy of the event. Click here to see a copy of the "legacy" text.
The second text was an article from The Guardian newspaper and it focussed on the language used in the promotion of the event. Click here to see a copy of that article.
In groups we attempted to come up with a summary of each of the text's main points. This was easier for the official Olympic 2012 text.
After discussing this and identifying the purpose of each text, we then broke up from the groups and started to answer some questions which required you to analyse the "legacy" text in more depth. I asked everyone to complete that for next week.
The first text came from the official Olympic 2012 site and it is about the legacy of the event. Click here to see a copy of the "legacy" text.
The second text was an article from The Guardian newspaper and it focussed on the language used in the promotion of the event. Click here to see a copy of that article.
In groups we attempted to come up with a summary of each of the text's main points. This was easier for the official Olympic 2012 text.
After discussing this and identifying the purpose of each text, we then broke up from the groups and started to answer some questions which required you to analyse the "legacy" text in more depth. I asked everyone to complete that for next week.
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