Analysemeans looking for the relationship of parts to the whole.You need to examine cause and effect, look for underlyingassumptions and question their validity. How and why arequestions you should be asking in order to make an analysis.

Argue(or agree or disagree) asks you to take a stand based on solidevidence which can be explained by clear reasoning. You shouldbe able to defend your own point of view, as well as consideringthose of others.

Comparemeans finding the differences as well as the similarities. You willneed to identify the key areas for comparison to organise your essay.

Evaluatemeans that you must apply your judgement to the results of youranalysis. You must base your opinions on well-defined criteriaand clearly stated evidence.

A B C DE F G HI J K LM N O PQ R S TU W X YZ

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A

Abstract

A summary of the content of a document, particularly a journal article.

Acronym

A word formed from the initial letters of other words which usually become words in their own right e.g. laser, Aids.

Analogous

Comparable in certain respects; partially similar or parallel. Most often used in technical contexts, e.g. the transmission electron microscope is analogous to a conventional light microscope

Application

A particular role or task to which a computer system can be applied, or, more usually, the software used for such a purpose

B

Bibliography

A list of sources you have consulted in the process of researching your piece of work. It is usually arranged in alphabetical order of author

Boolean Logic

The use of the logical operators and, orand not in retrieving information from a computer database

Brainstorming

Thinking to invoke ideas and solve dilemmas. No idea is rejected, no matter how irrelevant it appears, until it has been thoroughly evaluated.

Brief

Instructions on what you are expected to produce in your assignment or dissertation.

C

Citation

The passage, or words, quoted in your text.

Citing

Acknowledging in the text.

Clause

A distinct part of a sentence, including a subject and predicate.

Clipart

Computer software which allows the inputting of illustrations into word documents

Colloquial / Colloquialism

Language used in ordinary or familiar conversation; not formal or literary.

Consonant

A speech sound distinct from a vowel (such as b and d in bad), and a letter of the alphabet that represents such a sound (such as b and d in bad). I.e. any letter other than A, E, I O, and U

Cursor

A symbol on a display screen that indicates the active position, e.g. the position at which the next character to be entered will be displayed.

D

Database

A structured set of data produced, stored and retrievable by computer.

Dewey Decimal Clasification

System of library classification that uses numbers from 000 to 999 to represent major branches of knowledge

Drive

Short for disk drive or tape drive, magnetic or optical.

E

E-books (electronic books)

Electronic versions of printed books that can be viewed online via any PC connected to the Internet

E-journals (electronic journals)

Electronic versions of printed journals that can be viewed online via any PC connected to the Internet.

Endnote

A note (in numerical list form), relating to numbers in the text, printed at the end of the piece of work.

Extension

see File Extension

F

File

A collection of data or information that has a name, called the filename.

File Extension

The letters following the full stop in a file name. The file extension usually identifies the type of data found in the file.

Folder

In graphical user interfaces such as Windows a folder is an object that can contain multiple documents. Folders are used to organize information .

Font

In computing, a set of letters, numbers, punctuation marks, and symbols of a given size and design that may be displayed or printed.(e.g. Arial, Times New Roman)

Footnote

A note, relating to a number in the text, printed at the foot of a page.

Full text database

A database providing access to articles from journals and newspapers. The full article can be read on screen, saved in computer files or printed out.

G

GeoWeb

The online library catalogue at University of Bolton, giving access to all items available in the Library.

Graphical User Interface

A term used to describe a collection of visual objects such as buttons, windows, text boxes, and menus which the operator uses to communicate with a computer program. It is usually abbreviated to GUI.

H

Hyperlink

A method of moving between one website page and another. The link is usually indicated to the user by text highlighted by underlining and/or a different colour, or by the ability to click on a graphic image.

I

Icon

A small picture used in place of another entity. Window managers often use icons to represent devices, wastebaskets, etc.

ILL (Inter Library Loan)

The ILL service can obtain books and journals for use by members of our library which are not held at University of Bolton.

Index(es)

An alphabetical list of names, subjects, etc., with references to the places in a book where they occur, usually located at the end of a book.

Internet

A communications network enabling the linking of computers worldwide for data interchange. (This global informal network now links a very substantial proportion of the world's computer networks.)

J

Jargon

Words or expressions used by a particular profession or group that are difficult for others to understand.

Justify/Justification

When using word processing software this means to adjust horizontal spacing so that text is aligned evenly along both the left and right margins. Justifying text creates a smooth edge on both sides.

K

Keywords

The main subject terms used to search a database (e.g.) to gather information to answer an essay question or assignment topic.

L

No entry to date

M

Mean

The average of a set of quantities

Median

Denoting or relating to a value or quantity lying at the midpoint of a frequency distribution of observed values or quantities, such that there is an equal probability of falling above or below it

Mind map

The main subject terms used to search a database (e.g.) to gather information to answer an essay question or assignment topic.

Mnemonic

A form of words or letters that assists the memory, (e.g. the rhyme beginning Thirty days hath September helps with the number of days in a month, and the initial letters of the mnemonic Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain give the order of the colours in a rainbow.

Modem

Short for modulator-demodulator. An electronic device which converts digital signals, used within a computer system, to signals which can be processed by a telephone system, and vice versa.

N

No entry to date

O

Object

The noun that follows the verb in a sentence e.g. Jeremy fed the dog (dog is the object), she went to the theatre (theatre is the object)

OHP

Overhead Projector.

Operating system

A collection of software which administers, maintains and provides access to the resources of a computer system.

P

PC

Abbreviation for personal computer; a general purpose single user microcomputer designed to be operated by one person at a time.

Peer review

The process used by publishers and editors of academic journals to provide a chance for scholars to examine and critique a paper or book before it is published, to help ensure its integrity and veracity.

Phonetic

Spelling a word in the way that it sounds.

Pilot Study

An aggregate of individuals from which a sample may be drawn and to which the results of the research investigation may be generalized

Plagiarism

The theft of ideas or of written passages or works, where these are passed off as ones own work without acknowledgement of their true origin.

Population

An aggregate of individuals from which a sample may be drawn and to which the results of the research investigation may be generalized

Prefix

A word, letter, or number placed before another or at the beginning of a word to adjust or qualify its meaning (e.g. ex-, non-, re-)

Predicate

The part of a sentence or clause containing a verb and stating something about the subject (e.g. went home in John went home).

Q

Quota Sample

A non-probability sample drawn from a population so that its composition in terms of sex, age, social class or other demographic characteristics matches the known proportions in the population

R

Random Sample

A probability sample drawn from a population in such a way that every member of the population is equally likely to be selected.

Relational database

A type of database that stores data in the form of related tables A single database can be spread across several tables.

RND (Resource Discovery Network)

RDN gathers resources which are carefully selected, indexed and described by specialists. These resources are relevant to learning, teaching and research.

Reference list

A detailed description of works quoted in an essay/assignment

S

Sample

A number of individuals selected from a population to test hypotheses about the population.

Sample Frame

A full list of the items or people forming a population from which a sample is taken.

Sans serif

A typeface without strokes at the tops and bottoms of letters (e.g. Arial and Helvetica)

Search engine

A service provided on the Internet that enables a user to search for items of interest.

Skew

A statistical distribution which is not symmetrical about the median or the mean.

Stand-alone

Adjective used to describe a computer that is not connected to a network.

Stratified Random Sample

A probability sample in which random sampling is applied piecewise to each stratum of the population to ensure that all subgroups are adequately represented

Spreadsheet

A program that manipulates tables consisting of rows and columns of cells, and displays them on a screen; the cells contain numerical information and formulas, or text.

Sub-heading

A heading given to a subsection of a piece of writing, underneath the main heading.

Subject

A traditional term for a major part of the sentence.

Subject headings

Terms which bring together different ways of defining topic.

Superscript

A number, written in the text, above the line, to denote a citation in a footnote, endnote or reference list.

Suffix

A verbal element added at the end of a word to form a derivative (e.g., -ation, -fy, -ing, -itis).

Syllable

A unit of pronunciation having one vowel sound, with or without surrounding consonants, and forming all or part of a word.

Synonym(s)

A word or phrase that means the same as another word or phrase in the same language (e.g. closed and shut)

Thesaurus

A list of words in groups of synonyms and related concepts.

Thesis Statement

Statement of a theory that is put forward as a premise to be mainteined or proved

Traingulation

A way of assuring the validity of research results through the use of different research methods and approaches the use of multiple methods in the analysis of the same set of data.Uniform (or universal) resource locator, the address of a World Wide Web page.

Variable

Anything that is subject to variation a stimulus, response of extraneous factors that is changeable, and that may influence the results of the research.

Vocabulary

The body of words used in a particular language or in a particular sphere of activity; the body of words known to an individual person; a list of difficult or foreign words with an explanation of their meanings.

Vowel

A term in general use and in phonetics for both a SPEECH sound that ids distinct from a CONSONANT, and the LETTER of the ALPHABET that represents such a speech sound (A, E, I, O, U)WWW (World Wide Web)

A communications network enabling the linking of computers worldwide for data interchange. (This global informal network now links a very substantial proportion of the world's computer networks.)

How to open a presentationAnecdoteSafer than a joke. Establishes a morepersonal contact between you and theaudience. Helps to relax both you andthe audience.Shock openingCan really make the audience sit and listen.You need to be confident about it however. Ifin doubt, try a safer option.HistoricalRelating the topic to what happened in the past,showing progress made, etcQuotationCan be a very neat way to open and close apresentation. Make sure it is not clichd.Current affairsReferring to some relevant news item can beeffective and the audience should be familiarwith it as well. It helps give relevance to thepresentation and its purpose.Statement or statisticsDont use too many. One or two well chosenones combine the shock element with brevity.ComparisonsWell chosen comparisons can be very dramatic.QuestionDirect a question to the audience to help themget involved.Ending the presentationThe end of the presentation is very much like the opening. You want their full attention._ Signpost the conclusion: in summary or in conclusion_ The last few words said by the speaker are what tend to stay with the audience so try and makethem memorable._ Use some of the suggested ways for opening your presentation when you close it._ Hold your position at the end of the presentation:Dont lose your energyDo not appear to be in a rush to leaveDo come to a definite close_ You might want to pose a question to the audience which they can consider after thepresentation or by calling the audience to action._ Think of the close of the presentation as being the take home message the thought that youraudience will take away with them.Ending the presentationDealing with nervesPrepare yourselfSpend plenty of time practising and preparingyour presentations. If possible practise in theroom that you will present in and get used tousing the equipment you will use on the day.The more time spent in rehearsing yourpresentation and getting familiar with itscontent the more comfortable you will feel onthe day. Take time to prepare visual aids orprompt cards in advance too. Also think aboutwhat questions you might be asked and prepareanswers in advance.Think positive!Think positively about your presentation and itcan improve your prospects, so tell yourself;I am good at thisI will enjoy thisI will do well!VisualisationVisualise yourself doing well. Go somewherequiet and close your eyes, take a few deepbreaths and visualise your whole presentationfrom start to finish. See yourself feeling happyin the situation, calm and in control. Hear thatyou have a loud, clear, slow paced voice andimagine that your audience are listening andinterested in what you are saying. Youunderstand that your audience want you to dowell. See yourself complete your presentationsuccessfully where you end by competentlydealing with any questions.Further resources on nervesThe University library holds a number of bookson presentation skills and many of these includesections on dealing with nerves.www.presentationmagazine.com has aninteresting section on public speaking includingnerves.