A little about a lot : on scientific reports and reference techniques

This little book about report writing and essay work gives a brief discussion of everything that the writers need to know. Its own authors have developed their presentation from questions they have received during many years of instruction in writing reports and working on essays. The book therefore answers, in simple terms, questions such as how an inquiry differs from research, what kinds of problems may be dealt with in reports and essays, and how these can be solved in diverse ways with the help of theories, how the  essay student decides what he or she will write about, and so on. The book also suggests how a report or essay can be organized. A special section is devoted to one of the world’s most commonly used and accepted ways of referring to other sources. The authors recommend that everyone in a class, course, or even school/university, use a single method of referring to sources and follow it consistently, so that the students at least learn one method properly – rather than mastering several different systems as is often attempted, even though those who choose to become researchers will encounter other techniques as well. All this is in accordance with what students through the years have asked Anders Örtenblad and Pia Ulvenblad. The book is academic in nature and the authors support an academic approach on all levels in the university, where the book can perhaps primarily be useful. At the same time, being based upon students’ questions, it is written in an easily understood and concrete style that should also be suitable for education in upper secondary schools.