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. Mark Saunders on Academic Writing
5. Writing a business research report

What you will be able to do

• 1.1 Appraise research problems.
• 1.2 Develop appropriate research objectives and justify their choice.
• 2.1 Evaluate literature relevant to a research problem.
• 2.2 Critically analyse different theoretical approaches to a research problem.
• 3.1 Critically evaluate appropriate research methodologies in terms of research objectives.
• 3.2 Design an appropriate methodology in terms of research objectives.
• 3.3 Justify a selected methodology in terms of research objectives.
• 4.1 Propose techniques for use with quantitative and qualitative data.
• 4.2 Create a research question, literature review and methodology.

Activity

Start with this week’s 2 videos, then: Plan the unit assignment against every criterion; source and reference the evidence.

Study materials

Videos

• Mark Saunders on Academic Writing · YouTube · Mark Saunders on Research Methods · 56 min · for registered students
• Writing a business research report · YouTube · RMIT University Library Videos · 9 min · 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