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. Writing a Business Research Report
5. How to assess academic sources - CRAAP
6. The credibility of sources

What you will be able to do

• 1.1 Explain different types of business activity.
• 1.2 Explain different business sectors.
• 1.3 Compare different forms of business ownership.
• 2.1 State the functional areas of a business.
• 2.2 Describe the activities of a business’ functional areas.
• 2.3 Explain how different functional areas are interrelated.
• 3.1 Explain different organisation structures.
• 3.2 Compare the advantages of different organisation structures.
• 3.3 Compare the disadvantages of different organisation structures.
• 3.4 Show how an organisation is structured.
• 3.5 Conduct a SWOT analysis on a business.
• 4.1 State the factors which form a business’ external environment.
• 4.2 Explain how these factors impact a business.
• 4.3 Explain how a business can respond to changes in its external environment.
• 4.4 Conduct a PESTLE analysis on a business.
• 5.1 Outline how different microeconomic factors impact a business.
• 5.2 Outline how different macroeconomic factors impact a business.
• 5.3 Explain why a national government influences a business’ economic environment.
• 5.4 Explain how the international economy influences a business’ economic environment.

Activity

Start with this week’s 3 videos, then: Plan the unit assignment against every criterion; source and reference the evidence.

Study materials

Videos

• Writing a Business Research Report · YouTube · Galton College · 11 min · for registered students
• How to assess academic sources - CRAAP · YouTube · Oak Tree English · 9 min · for registered students
• The credibility of sources · Oak National Academy, Key Stage 3 (lower secondary 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
• Harvard Referencing quick guide 2025 (York St John University) · PDF · Other, report · for registered students
• Evaluating Information: Applying the CRAAP Test · PDF · Other, report · for registered students