Presenting your findings Postgraduate study skills

You could be asked to present your findings as a written assignment or dissertation, or as an oral presentation.

It is taken as given that you can write in clear, concise, grammatically correct and accurately spelt prose - the skills that you refined as an undergraduate. At postgraduate level you have more opportunity to engage with theories and academic discussion through, for example, including a literature review as part of a dissertation. In your assessed work you are expected to use academic argument and balanced debate to communicate effectively with your audience.

Writing a dissertation

Some taught Master's qualifications include a requirement for you to undertake an extended research project on a topic of your choice and then write up your findings as a dissertation. You should expect to work largely on your own initiative from original sources, but you will have a tutor or project supervisor to offer advice and monitor your progress as you confront the challenges associated with project planning. In some disciplines you submit assignments as drafts for sections of your dissertation.

The next three pages (Assessed writing, Referencing, Giving a presentation) are particularly relevant in presenting your findings.