Many criminology students will be required to produce a dissertation or research report in their final year. This chapter distinguishes between these two pieces of work and offers practical advice on the requirements of each. It addresses skills such as selecting a workable research question and developing an effective relationship with supervisors, and also provides guidance on how to organize workload and create a suitable structure for a dissertation or report.
Chapter
16. Dissertations and research reports
Chapter
9. Essay writing
This chapter, which focuses on essay writing, explores the ways source material can be used in coursework. It offers practical advice on interpreting the question, together with guidance on planning, researching, and constructing an essay. It explains how to conduct effective research to find relevant information and to use that information to produce a focused and well-supported essay. It also gives practical advice on producing a well-structured response with a strong introduction and conclusion that demonstrates the required skills and knowledge.
Book
Emily Finch and Stefan Fafinski
Legal Skills is structured in three parts, covering a full range of legal skills. The first part deals with sources of law and includes information on finding and using legislation, case law, books, journals, and official publications, making sure you understand where the law comes from, and how to use it. The second part covers academic legal skills and provides advice on study and writing skills, legal reasoning, referencing and avoiding plagiarism, essay writing, dissertations, problem solving, and revision and examinations. The final part of the book covers the practical legal skills of oral presentation, mooting, negotiation, and drafting.
