HOSP2004

The Sustainable Hotel Environment

Preparing for Assessment Two Guidelines 1 MNG20006 The Sustainable Hotel Environment Preparing for Assessment Two: Academic Report Writing 1. The Report Writing Process Research topic via academic and industry sources  Pick a viewpoint from your research in response to this topic (one side only)  This viewpoint becomes your argument  State your argument to your chosen topic up front in your report (introduction section)  Argue towards your argument throughout your entire report, referring continually to industry and academic sources to construct an informed response. To achieve this, you will have a number of Key points that build your argument. TOPIC QUESTION --> ARGUMENT --> KEY POINTS 2. Structuring Your Academic Report Section Description Title page Professionally presented. No large fonts please. 1. Topic question 2. Title that expresses your argument. Executive Summary Gives an overview of the report at a glance. This is not the same as an introduction. The executive summary is a stand-alone document. The reader should be able to read this and know what the entire report is about. How to write an executive summary: • Generally, you include at least one sentence to summarise each main section of your report. • The summary appears on its own page. • The executive summary is written AFTER you write the report. Table of Contents A list of the major and minor sections of your report, correctly formatted and presented. Include the starting page number of each. The Table of Contents is placed on its own page. Preparing for Assessment Two Guidelines 2 Introduction Start a new page from the TOC. 1. State the purpose of the report 2. Identify your chosen topic (UIG) 3. Identify the viewpoint you will argue: your argument! 4. Define how you have interpreted key terms from the assignment topic (e.g. ‘Unsustainable’, ‘green’, or ‘greenwashing’. 5. Indicate the scope of the report (i.e. what the report will cover). Body SECTION Heading; sub- headings The body develops your argument. To do this, you will discuss a number of KEY POINTS that relate to your argument. To write this section: Choose an appropriate heading for the body section that indicates your argument. E.g. ‘The Unsustainability of Tourism in Developing Countries’. Use sub-headings to structure the argument’s development. These sub-headings identify the key points you will argue. Paragraph structure Proper paragraphs are very important to maintain the flow and direction of your report, and ensure readability. Paragraphs should introduce, develop and conclude an idea: do not leave ideas unfinished and re-commence their discussion in the next paragraph, uncles you have used appropriate linking sentences (see below). Use writing techniques such as TOPIC and LINKING sentences to structure paragraphs: Topic sentence: Identifies the key points that will be discussed in that paragraph in ONE sentence. Links to argument. Linking sentence: Concludes idea from current paragraph, and introduces the idea that will be explored in the next. Conclusions First, restate your argument. Secondly: sum up the main points of the report (plus how these points developed your argument). No surprises please! (That is, don’t include new information here). Preparing for Assessment Two Guidelines 3 Recommendations As a result of your understanding of relevant theory and literature, recommendations are suggestions for future action. They must be logically derived from the body of your report. List of References Matches in-text references. Meets UIG criteria. Appendices or Appendix (if relevant) An appendix contains material which is too detailed, technical, or complex to include in the body of the report (for example, specifications, a questionnaire, or a long complex table of figures), but which is referred to in the report. Put at the very end of the report, after everything else. Each appendix should contain different material. Number each appendix clearly. Presenting Your Academic Report The content and structure of your report is important; so is the presentation and style. First impressions count, so consider these simple tips to ensure your report is reader-friendly: • Ensure the separate parts of your report stand out clearly • Number key headings (e.g. 1. Introduction). • Use subheadings as required, following hierarchy numbering to number sub-headings (e.g. 2.1) • Use tables and figures if needed (graphs, illustrations, maps etc.) for clarification. Label them clearly and cite the source. These graphics should relate to the text of your report; for example, Figure 1 shows that the population of Bandung has increased dramatically since 1890, or The population of Bandung has increased dramatically since 1890 (see Figure 1). • Number each page (a neat header and/or footer makes your work look more professional) • Use consistent and appropriate formatting (you may like to follow the report format supplied with your word processing package) • Use formal language. Do not refer to the first person (e.g. ‘I’). Preparing for Assessment Two Guidelines 4 3. Common Problems and Mistakes with this Assessment • Absence of key report sections • Executive summary reading like an introduction rather than an overview of the entire report • Student did not adequately clarify the definition and their interpretation of topic terms- either absent or incorrect • • Not picking a viewpoint arguing both ways • Not identifying or developing an argument that responds to a topic question • Referencing errors: LOR doesn’t match in-text; in-text errors (e.g. use of comma, initials); missing information in LOR • Presentation of report messy and/or unstructured • Introduction missing key components: e.g. scope. • New information in conclusion • Not adhering to the word count. Assessment 2 Assessment 2 Tutorial Assignment 2: Academic Report • Due: Week 10 • Length: 2000 • Weighting:40% • Task • Choose one of the topics from the list below and argue a viewpoint in the format of an academic report. • It is expected that this viewpoint will emerge from your research, and will form the foundation of your argument. • Your argument should be supported by a minimum of 4 academic references and industry examples should be used to illustrate your discussion. It is expected that you come to a conclusion supported by the research material used and make recommendations to management. Argue a viewpoint • In this report you either agree or disagree with the statement and develop your argument based on the viewpoint taken • You don’t argue both ways ! Assessment Criteria • Content (20 ) • Clear understanding of the topic and concepts • Clear definitions of terms used and scope of response • Clear argument of a viewpoint to a chosen topic • Appropriate recommendations made • Research (10 ) • Evidence of adequate depth and breadth of research. Minimum of 6 Academic and industry examples • Report format and Structure (5) • Report format , Grammar Written expression Word Count • Referencing (5) • Correct use of Harvard referencing (in-text and in reference list) Lets have a look at the topics • Given environmental concerns, tourism in the developing world is unsustainable. • 2. Luxury and green are incompatible goals for the hotel industry. • 3. 'Sustainable food' increasingly promoted on restaurant menus is largely greenwashing. Topic 1 • 1. Given environmental concerns, tourism in the developing world is unsustainable. Over to You …… • In groups decide to agree or disagree with the statement and come up with 6 points to argue your viewpoint • Present your findings to the whole class Topic 1 ❑Developing countries usually have issues with water quality, infrastructure and there is already pressure on scarce resources such as energy, food etc. ❑Tourism will put increased pressure on already struggling communities. Locals compete for critical resources ❑ Consider for example the amount of waste created with no proper means to treat it resulting in untreated sewerage ending up in water ways ❑Consider the vast quantity of food consumed by tourists reducing an already scarce supply for local communities ❑ Lack of regulation to protect local environment Topic 1 • Given their inadequate physical infrastructure and limited capacity to absorb mass tourism, the fragile land and ocean ecosystems of many developing countries can be literally overwhelmed by large numbers of tourists. It is increasingly recognized, therefore, that unsustainable ecotourism activities may threaten the very natural environment upon which they depend • Neto 2002 ‘Sustainable Tourism, Environmental Protection and Natural Resource Management: Paradise on Earth’ OR An alternative viewpoint ❑Tourism contributes much needed revenue in developing countries to create the infrastructure to protect the environment. ❑Tourism can contribute directly to the conservation of sensitive areas and habitat. e.g. Revenue from park-entrance fees ❑ Tourists can create awareness of environmental issues and become environmental watchdogs. Topic 1 Suggested Readings ❑ Buckley, R., 2012. Sustainable tourism: Research and reality. Annals of Tourism Research, 39(2), pp.528-546. ❑ Carbone, M 2005, ‘Sustainable Tourism in Developing Countries: Poverty Alleviation, Participatory Planning, and Ethical Issues’, The European Journal of Development Research ❑ Tosun, C. (2001). Challenges of sustainable tourism development in the developing world: the case of Turkey. Tourism Management, 22(3), 289-303. ❑ Liu, A., & Wall, G. (2006). Planning tourism employment: a developing country perspective. Tourism Management, 27(1), 159-170. ❑ Briedenhann, J., & Wickens, E. (2004). Tourism routes as a tool for the economic development of rural areas—vibrant hope or impossible dream?. Tourism management, 25(1), 71-79. ❑ Gössling, S. (2001). The consequences of tourism for sustainable water use on a tropical island: Zanzibar, Tanzania. Journal of environmental management, 61(2), 179-191. ❑