Assignment workshop: research, planning and referencing

This week’s topics

Assignment workshop: research, planning and referencing

1. Unpacking the assignment brief and criteria
2. Finding and evaluating sources
3. Planning and referencing
4. Harvard Referencing
5. Craap Test for evaluating sources
6. Planning your Research Project 2025
7. The project brief

What you will be able to do

• 1.1 State the basic components of communication.
• 1.2 State barriers to communication in a business context.
• 1.3 Explain how to overcome barriers to effective communication.
• 2.1 State different aspects of verbal and non-verbal communication in a business context.
• 2.2 Explain why verbal and non-verbal communication is important in a business context.
• 2.3 Explain how to use effective verbal and non-verbal communication in different situations.
• 3.1 State different types of written communication used in a business.
• 3.2 Explain why written communication is important in a business context.
• 3.3 Demonstrate effective written communication for different requirements.
• 4.1 State different aspects of IT communication used in a business.
• 4.2 Explain why IT communication is important in a business context.
• 4.3 Demonstrate effective use of IT to communicate in different situations.

Activity

Start with this week’s 4 videos, then: Plan the unit assignment against every criterion; source and reference the evidence.

Study materials

Videos

• Harvard Referencing · YouTube · Galton College · 10 min · for registered students
• Craap Test for evaluating sources · YouTube · Talking Libraries and Books · 7 min · for registered students
• Planning your Research Project 2025 · YouTube · University of Staffordshire Student Life · 21 min · for registered students
• The project brief · Oak National Academy, Key Stage 4 (GCSE level) · for registered students

Further resources

• Writing for Success, ch. 8.1–8.3: Prewriting, outlining and drafting · PDF · Saylor Academy, textbook chapter; pp. 281–318 · for registered students
• Business Communication for Success, ch. 5.4: Ethics, plagiarism and reliable sources · PDF · Saylor Academy, textbook chapter; pp. 182–191 · for registered students
• Harvard Referencing quick guide 2025 (York St John University) · PDF · Other, report · for registered students