Apostolic Vicariate of Tabuk Catholic Schools Network

ST. THERESITA’S SCHOOL OF TABUK, INC.

Senior High School Department
School Year 2023 – 2024

CONCEPT NOTES
IN ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL PURPOSES 12

WHAT IS A POSITION PAPER?

 POSITION PAPER
 It is an essay that expresses a position about an issue. It gives arguments that support the
opinion of the writer based on the facts collected. Its goal is to convince an audience that the
opinion raised underwent thorough investigation and data collection and that it is therefore
valid.
Elements of a Position Paper
 Introduction
 This part of the paper identifies an issue that is being discussed by the author emphasizing his
position about the issue. Here, the topic is introduced; background and history of the issue shall also
be discussed.
 Body of the paper
 This part illustrates the central argument which can be presented through a brief description of the
argument. Details, point of view, evidences are used to support the claim. It can be divided into
these sections namely: background information, evidence supporting the author’s position, and a
discussion which addresses and refutes arguments that present both sides of the issue.
 Conclusion
 This part restates the main points, then summarizes the arguments made in the paper and then
provides a call of action.

Position papers are utilized to present an issue and to generate a support on the issue. Therefore, gathering
factual information to support your argument would be very essential.

WRITING A POSITION PAPER AND DEFENDING A STANCE ON AN ISSUE

You have learned that a position paper presents an arguable opinion about an issue. Your goal as the writer
is to convince the audience that your opinion or stand or claim is valid and worth listening to. It is important to
support your argument or reason with evidence to ensure the validity of your claims. The best way to defend
your stand is to provide supporting evidence which includes the following:
 Factual Knowledge
 information that is verifiable and agreed upon by almost everyone
 Statistical Inferences
 interpretation and examples of an accumulation of facts
 Informed Opinion
 opinion developed through research and/or expertise of the claim

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  Personal Testimony
 personal experience related by a knowledgeable party.
In every claim, there is always a counterclaim. A counterclaim is just the opposite of a claim. When
your claim says, “I want a new cellphone.” But then your mother said, “'No, you don't.” This is your mom's
counterclaim. Counterclaims are also provable and supportable by reasons and evidence. Just when your mother
proves by saying, ‘Your current situation does not require a new cell phone.’
All of these essential parts play an important role in writing a position paper. The outline below will
help you organized your ideas in one coherent composition.

Position Paper Outline

I. Introduction
A. Introduce the issue.
B. Provide background on the issue.
C. Provide thesis statement on your stand of the issue.
II. Body (the arguments/reasons)
A. Argument #1 of your claims
1. Give your opinion
2. Provide supporting evidence
B. Argument #2 of your claims
1. Give your opinion.
2. Provide support evidence.
C. Argument #3 of your claims
1. Give your opinion.
2. Provide support evidence.
D. Provide counterarguments against possible weaknesses of your arguments.
IV. Conclusion
A. Restate your argument.
B. Provide a plan of action.

There are two basic of writing which specialized at convincing. These are:
1. Persuasion – appeals to readers’ emotions to make them believe something or take specific action. Persuasion
can also use logic and evidence.
Note: Refer to the underline coding
Steps in Persuasive Writing
 State your opinion and introduce your argument.
 Give your reasons for your opinion.
 Illustrate with examples to support your opinion.
 Restate your opinion and your suggested solution.

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 Example:
Parents’ love which is illustrated with their sacrifices is worth recognition. They send
their children to school even if they have not gone to school themselves, even if their own
wants are sacrificed just to fund students’ needs. You, dear students must recognize this
immeasurable love of your parents by being good in your studies.

2. Argumentation – relies on logic and evidence to build a case for a specific claim. Argumentation de-
emphasizes appeals to emotion.
Steps in Argumentative Writing
 Make a claim
 Support your claim with reasons/evidence
 Acknowledge the counterclaim
 Refute the counterclaim
 Conclude with strong statement
Example:
Many students ignore the significance of doing well in their studies. They often neglect
their parents’ sacrifices by getting low grades or worst yet getting a failing marks. On the
other hand, psychologists say performance in school is influenced by many factors which include
peers. However, to fare well in school is not only about influence but also about being exposed
to social realities such as difficulties of getting decent job. Thus, funding students to school
becomes a big sacrifice among parents.

Persuasive versus Argumentative

This table below will help you differentiate Persuasive writing from Argumentative writing.

A few reminders before writing a position paper!

 Choose an issue that is debatable, current and relevant.
 Conduct in-depth research on the issue.
 Explain the issue and analyze it objectively.
 Reflect on your position and identify its weaknesses.
 Cite valid and reliable source.
 Limit your position paper to 2 pages.
 Analyze your target audience and align your arguments to their beliefs, needs, interest and
motivation.
 Use active voice as much as possible to achieve a dynamic and firm tone.

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3 Parts of Argument (ARE)
 Assertion – is usually a simple statement (claim or proposition) such as
 “Television news is boring.”
 “Tomato soup is better than grilled cheese sandwiches.”
An assertion is the thesis statement or the main point of an argument.
 Reasoning – is the “because” part of an argument or the premise. It supports the assertion/proposition. It
answers the question, “Why did you say that?”, as in the following examples:
 “Television news is boring because it doesn’t talk about issues that are relevant to me.”
 “Tomato soup is better than a grilled cheese sandwich because it is more nutritious.”
 Evidence – supports reasoning. There are many different kinds of evidence, ranging from expert
testimony or statistics to historical or contemporary examples. Evidence must relate to the reason and
must be enough or sufficient to support the reason.
 “Television news is boring because it doesn’t talk about issues that are relevant to me. For
example, I never see stories about the issues that kids deal with every day.”
 “Tomato soup is better than a grilled cheese sandwich because it is more nutritious. For example,
tomato soup contains important vitamins such as lycopene, while grilled cheese sandwiches really
don’t have that much nutritional value at all.”

Guide Questions in Analyzing an Argument

 What issue is presented?
 What is the author’s argument?
 What type of support (facts, experts’ opinions, research, observations, personal experiences, etc.) do the
author/s present?
 How relevant (directly related to the issue) is the support?
 Is the argument objective and complete?
 Is the argument valid (logical) and credible (believable)?

 Essential Things to Remember

An ARGUMENT…
 …is logical if it is made up of premises (assumptions, laws, rules, widely held ideas, or observations)
and a conclusion.
 …is valid if the fact that all the premises are true forces the conclusion to be true.
 …that is not valid is invalid. It is called a fallacy.

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Remember!
The activities that are important to make a convincing stand.
 Identify the issue
 Make a stand
 Formulate your thesis statement about your stand on the issue you have identified.
 Do research and readings to gather information that will be used as evidences.
 Present an effective argument

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Sample Position Paper:

Should Homework be Mandatory?

I can almost see many students nodding along with me as I ask this question. Younger
generations overloaded with home tasks and numerous assignments have already raised this issue
many times.
Yet, homework remains mandatory.
Is it fair or should it be cancelled?
I believe that homework should not be viewed as a mandatory part of education for several
reasons.
First, children spend seven hours every single work day at school. That is a huge chunk of
life, and with homework added on top of these hours, a child is left with no time to live his life to
the fullest, socialize, or grow in other areas.
Second, sitting at your desk solving problems does no good to your health. Kids need time
to get outside and have some fun, join a football league, or ride their bikes with friends around the
block. Otherwise, children will be very smart but surprisingly weak physically.
Another argument against this position is that homework is not always the best way to obtain
knowledge quality-wise. Students tend to ask their parents or siblings for help whenever facing
difficulties. Busy parents not always willing to spend extra time explaining school material to their
little one solves the problems themselves aiming to have more time for family, not lessons. As a
result, the child will have the homework done. But that’s really not his work. So, the whole idea of
dedicating time to self-education is lost here.
Finally, knowing that after classes you would still have to work at home makes a kid less
concentrated at school. This results in short attention spans and difficulty to concentrate on
something for too long.
All in all, homework should rather be an option. Students understanding that they are left
behind at some subjects will take their time to go over the material at home. However, in other
cases, they should have time after school for other activities.
Accessed from: (https://chiefessays.net/position-essay-examples-to-help-you-grasp-the-idea/)

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 MANIFESTO AS A FORM OF WRITING
 Manifesto
 It is a document publicly declaring the position or program of its issuer. A manifesto advances a set
of ideas, opinions, or views, but it can also lay out a plan of action. While it can address any topic,
it most often concerns art, literature, or politics. Manifestos are generally written in the name of a
group sharing a common perspective, ideology, or purpose rather than in the name of a single
individual.
 It combines a sometimes-violent societal critique with an inaugural and inspirational declaration of
change. Although manifestos can claim to speak for the majority, they are often authored by social
activists and usually linked to new ideas (https://www.britannica.com/topic/manifesto).

Gathering Manifestos and

Analyzing Arguments
A MANIFESTO is a published declaration of principles, intentions, motives, or views often political in
nature, but it may also be life stance related. It usually promotes a new idea with prescriptive notions for carrying
out changes the issuer believes should be made. It may be written by a group or an individual.
Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” is a very compelling example of a manifesto, designed to foster
faith among a people, who are victims of gross prejudice. Martin’s extensive use of varied rhetorical devices such
as imagery, repetition, and metaphor, as well as an appeal to the reader’s sense of ethos, logos, and pathos,
persuade the audience to have faith and optimism in the face of despair and prejudice.

TYPES OF MANIFESTOS
Election or Electoral Manifesto
 List of promises to citizens which is issued by a political party. The list shows the ideology of the
party and its commitment to the citizens. It is in the form of a pamphlet or booklet issued to tell
people about the party's programs and policies.
Manifestos Relating to Religious Belief which are referred to as Creeds
 A creed is a set of fundamental beliefs; a guiding principle. Other synonyms are credo, doctrine,
dogma, gospel, ideology, philosophy, and testament.
 Perhaps the most famous manifestos of all time is also the most popular book ever written. It was also
the first book ever mass produced. It’s The Bible. It’s the sacred document for the Christian faith. In
particular, the Ten Commandments are a crucial element. They define the rules for living.
Educational Manifestos
 As the name implies, these are manifestos involving issues concerning education and are written by
educators and professionals in the field of education.
Scientific and Technological Manifestos
 These cover topics normally dealing with policies on the areas of science and technology, by
scientists and technology experts.
Professional Manifestos (pertaining to an individual or organization)
 Manifestos can also be categorized as artistic, philosophical, corporate, personal, religious (creed)
and political.

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 Examples of Short Manifestos:

From what you’ve seen above, personal manifestos are personal guidelines to live your life. It’s your life’s own
call to action. The way you live your life and what you strive for.

YOUR OWN MANIFESTO IS….

 …a blueprint for your life.
 …outlines your core values and intentions.
 …inspiration to never give up and to aim high.
 …motivation to reach your goals and be your best self.
 …sums up your life. It explains the reasons why you live.
 …is a constant reminder of how strong, courageous, and unique you are.
 …definition of you as a person, your mantras, personal affirmations, your beliefs.

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 WRITING A SURVEY REPORT / FIELD REPORT / LABORATORY /
SCIENTIFIC TECHNICAL REPORT

A. THE REPORTS, SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE AND METHODS OF ADMINISTERING IT

THE VARIOUS KINDS OF REPORTS

Reports are more likely needed for business, scientific and technical subjects, and in the workplace. They
are of different types and they differ in their aims and structures.

TYPES DEFINITION/ DESCRIPTION OBJECTIVES

It is written after getting data from To collect people’s responses or
a. Survey Report
a survey. answers about a particular issue or topic
b. Laboratory or It is commonly called lab report. It
To present results or findings from
Scientific Technical is written in a formal and
experiments.
Report organized manner.
To describe and analyze a systematic
c. Field Report It is sometimes called trip report.
observation.
Among these types of reports, survey is the most popularly and widely used as it is the easiest way to
gather information about any topic or issue from a big number of people or groups.

 Survey Questionnaire
 It is a data gathering tool having set of questions used in a survey and is utilized in various fields such
as politics, research, marketing, media and so on. It is intended to gather data, views, opinions and
others from individuals or a particular group of people.
 It is an important method used in order to collect the necessary information that will benefit the people
and the community.

METHODS OF ADMINISTERING A SURVEY

Administering a survey calls for a more systematic way in order to achieve the aims of a certain survey
conducted. The following methods are introduced by Sarah Mae Sincero.
 Personal Approach – This involves the person himself/ herself conducting the survey.
 Face-to-face Structured Interview
 The interview is set personally and the people involved face each other in order to gather the
necessary information. Questions on the survey are asked directly to the respondent by the
researcher.
 Telephone Survey
 The survey is done using telephone or cellular phones. The calls are made to ask individuals on
particular questions. This method can be used for asking consequential questions.

 Self- administered Approach – In this type, the survey is administered by the researcher himself/herself.
 Paper-and-pencil Survey
 This is a traditional method wherein the respondents who usually preferred the manual method
must be present in the administration of the survey.

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  Online Survey
 Also called internet survey, is one of the most famous sources of data collection, where a set
of survey questions is sent out to respondents and the members of this sample can respond to the
questions over the internet. Respondents receive online surveys in various ways such as email,
embedded over website, social media or forms.
 Mail Survey
 This popular tool requires an easy- administering of the survey where survey questionnaires are
mailed to individuals who are given enough time to read and ponder on the information asked.

Should and Not Should of a Survey Questionnaire

Concise and easy to understand questions lead to a successful survey. Thus, a well -designed survey
questionnaire will ensure an effective data and information gathering.
A survey questionnaire should be well – constructed so that the respondents could read carefully and
understand thoroughly and be motivated to complete it. Therefore, a questionnaire…
 Should use words that have clear meaning. The questions should not be vague and difficult to comprehend so
that the questionnaire will not be left unanswered.
 Should cover all possible options. The respondents should just be given at most five ranking options and should
cover all so that they will not be tired of choosing a lot of options which do not give the choices they look for.
If this will not be observed, this will lead to an abandoned questionnaire.
 Should not ask two or more questions in one sentence. The question should focus on one topic or item at a time
so that the respondents will not be confused which to answer and what to choose.
 Should provide an out- option. The survey should give the respondents the option to choose “Does not apply”
or “None” for questions they do not feel answering.
 Should consider appropriate time reference. Respondents could not easily recall past long experiences and be
doubtful as to the exact measurement or time they spent.
 Should have a clear question structure. Survey questionnaire should follow the three parts: the question stem,
additional instructions and response options so that the respondents will not be confused what to answer or
choose. This will result to unreliable gathered data.
 Should have open specific response options. The respondents should be guided on what to choose. So, the
survey should provide specific options to choose from so that respondents will not be confused in answering.
 Should not have any bias or prejudice. Questions should be objective and lead to an honest answer. The
respondents should not be led to a biased option that they may fail to give their truthful response.
 Should not include too personal or too embarrassing questions. Questions should be gender and culture
sensitive so that the respondents may not feel awkward or embarrassed in giving their responses.
 Should avoid double negative questions. Double negatives may occur when respondents are asked of their
agreement on a certain issue. This should be avoided so that the respondents ‘response will be clear and precise.
 Should outline instructions or directions clearly and understandably. Clear instructions will lead to positive,
appropriate and clear answers. If respondents are clearly asked and told what to do, they will also foster positive
attitude towards answering the questionnaire.

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 B. CONDUCTING A SURVEY

A Survey is one of the best ways we will know and understand the people’s choices, attitudes, or feelings
on certain issues. We will be able to determine the reactions of the respondents and based on the survey results,
we could design some possible actions to be best done, or a solution to a problem, or a remedy to a disease or an
answer to a question.
Three Steps in Conducting a Survey
Step 1. Decide on a four or five option survey question. Then make a tally chart having its heading and appropriate
title.
The question should follow the guidelines of making an effective survey question. Formulate
questions that address to the aim and need of the research. The question should be clear, concise
and efficient. The heading and the title should reflect the focus of the survey.
Step 2. Conduct a survey then tally all the answers.
In conducting a survey, ethics should be observed. You should be polite and show respect to
the respondents. You should maintain a friendly atmosphere so that respondents may not feel so
intimidated. Make sure all answers are noted. Plan for a more systematic way of tallying.
Step 3. Count the answers marking the item having the least to the greatest tallies. Then make a graphic
representation of the results.
Be careful in tallying so you should observe accuracy and honesty. Results can be presented
using any graphics. Most commonly used are charts and organizers. Choose the most appropriate
graphics that best represent the result of the survey.

NOTE: When you will conduct a survey, you should write a letter of consent. In the letter you should also
emphasize that the information given by the respondents/ participants will be held with utmost confidentiality. If
the respondent is a minor, prepare an assent

“Informed consent” is the voluntary agreement of a person, or the representative, who has the capacity to
give consent, and who practices free power of choice to involve in research. "Assent" is a term used to show
willingness to participate in survey by persons who are too young to give informed consent but who are old
enough to understand the proposed survey in general. Assent by itself is not enough, however. If assent is given,
informed consent must still be acquired from the parents or guardian.

C. GATHERING INFORMATION FROM SURVEYS

The task of gathering or collecting information or data from surveys requires a high level of knowledge and
skill. You need to be familiar with the different types of survey questions and learn the art of formulating them
before you can conduct the survey and actually gather primary data. Primary data is data you as a researcher
collect from first-hand sources using methods like surveys, interviews, or experiments.

TYPES OF SURVEY QUESTIONS

1. Open-ended Questions
 These types of questions do not have predetermined options or answers. The respondents are allowed to
answer the questions freely. Responses must be recorded verbatim-especially because coding and analysis
will rely on the subject’s exact responses. Open-ended questions often need probing or follow-up
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 questions to clarify certain items in the subject’s response. These questions typically ask the “how” and
“why” of something.
 Example: Why did you choose to vote for candidate X? Kindly explain.

2. Dichotomous Questions
 Dichotomous questions have two possible answers, often either yes/no, true/false, or agree/ disagree.
These questions are used when the researcher wants to clearly distinguish the respondent’s opinion,
preference, experience or behavior.
 Example: HIV/AIDS is transmitted through saliva:
True False
3. Multiple–response Questions
 There are certain questions that necessitate the respondents to provide more than one answer. For example,
a typical advertising survey would ask the question, “How did you find about the particular service or
item”? A respondent may have encountered more than one of the probable ways.
 Example: How were you able to know about the graduate program of Development Policy offered in De
La Salle University? Check all that applies.
Print Advertisement By word of mouth (friends, families, etc.)
DSLU Website Telephone inquiry
DSLU Social Networking Physical appearance/ inquiry page
Others, please specify:
4. Matrix Questions
 There are instances where a number of questions you intend to ask have the same set of possible answers.
Thus, it is possible to construct a matrix of items and answers for the sake of streamlining the survey.
 Example: Qualities of a Good Leader
Beside each of the qualities of a good leader, kindly indicate how well the person in inquiry
manifests the said quality with 1 being the lowest and 5 as the highest.
Sample Matrix Question Set
Qualities/Rating 1 2 3 4 5
Integrity
Inclusiveness
Information-Driven
Innovative

 Shown above is a numerical scale (matrix). The respondents are required to choose from a number of
categories that determine their preferences.
 Another common scale is the Likert Scale which tries to assess the subject’s agreement/disagreement or
approval/ disapproval on a five-point scale-with one end being the most positive answer, and the other
end being the most negative answer. The categories correspond to the numerical values 5,4,3,2,1, and are
encoded as their numerical equivalent (Singh 2007,75). The total score per item is determined. From here,
you formulate your inference.
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  Example: Performance-Based Incentive System
The new performance-based incentive system encouraged me to work over-time.

(5) (4) (3) (2) (1)

Strongly Agree Agree Undecided Disagree Strongly Disagree
5. Contingency Questions
 Contingency questions are intended for certain respondents only, depending on the provided answers. A
familiar example would be a follow-up question provided after a respondent agrees to a certain item. A
respondent is asked whether they used any illegal drugs or substances. Only those who answered yes are
required to answer the succeeding items.
 Example:
4. Have you ever tried any illegal drugs and/or substances?
Yes No
4.1 If yes, what illegal drugs and/or substances have you used? Check all that apply.
Crystal Meth
Cocaine
Heroine
Marijuana
Ecstasy
Others, please specify: __________________
0

Points to remember in crafting survey questions

1. Keep the questionnaire as short as possible.
2. Ask short, simple, and clearly worded questions.
3. Start with demographic questions to help respondents get started comfortably.
4. Use dichotomous (yes/no) and multiple-choice questions.
5. Use open-ended questions cautiously.
6. Avoid using leading-questions. Make your question ask for the other person’s opinion.
Do not make it clear what your own opinion is. (This would be called a biased question or a leading question).
A bad example would be: Fishing is a very cruel pastime. Do you agree?
A better question might be: Do you think that fishing is a cruel pastime?
A) strongly agree B) agree C) neutral D) disagree E) strongly disagree
7. Pre-test a questionnaire on a small number of people.
8. Think about the way you intend to use the collected data when preparing the questionnaire.

D. DISSEMINATING INFORMATION FROM SURVEYS

What do you do with the data or information you have collected after conducting your survey? Information
or data gathered from surveys should be properly organized before it could be disseminated.
According to Cambridge International Organization, data can be organized in several ways. Which method
is chosen depends largely on the type of data being collected? A simple way of recording the results is by
constructing a tally and frequency table.

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 For example, a survey is carried out to test the manufacturer’s claim that there are ‘about 36 chocolate
buttons in each packet.’ The number of buttons in each of 25 packets is counted, giving the figures below.

35 36 34 37 36 36 38 37 36 35 38
34 35 36 36 34 37 38 37 36 35 36
36 37 36

Displayed as a list, the numbers are not clear, however, they are easier to analyze if they are recorded in a
tally and frequency chart like this.

Number Tally Frequency

The tally column is filled in as the
34 III 3 survey is being carried out. The
35 IIII 4 frequency column is completed by
36 IIII IIII 10 counting up the tally marks at the end
of the survey.
37 IIII 5
38 III 3

Sometimes if there is a big range in the data, it is more useful to group the data in a grouped frequency
table. The groups are chosen so that no data item can appear in two groups.
For example, the ages of 30 residents in a Home for the Aged are shown below:
98 71 76 77 72 78 77 73 76 86
75 79 81 105 100 74 82 88 91 96
85 90 97 102 83 101 83 84 80 95

Constructing a tally and frequency table with a list of individual ages will not be very useful as most ages
in the range will only have one or two results. Grouping the data into the age ranges 71-80, 81-90, etc. produces
this more useful table.
Age Tally Frequency
71-80 IIII IIII II 12
81-90 IIII IIII 9
91-100 IIII I 6
100-110 III 3

The ages could have been grouped 71-75, 76-80, 81-85, etc. The group size is the decision of the person
collecting the data, but it is important that the groups are all the same size and do not overlap.

DISPLAYING DATA
Once the data has been collected, it can be displayed in several ways. Which method is chosen depends
on the type of data collected and the audience it is intended for. One of the simplest and most effective is to use
a pictogram.
Pictogram is a method that uses pictures to represent the frequency. The chocolate button data can be
displayed on a pictogram like this, using one circle to represent one chocolate button.

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 Number of chocolate buttons Frequency
34 
35 
36 
37 
38 
Sometimes one symbol represents more than one item. In the pictogram below, each circle represents four
chocolates and fractions of a circle represents smaller amounts.

Number of
Frequency
chocolate buttons Key
= 4 chocolates Look at the key to
34
see what each
35
symbol represents.
36
37
38

Probably the most common way of displaying data is the bar graph or frequency diagram. It is quick and
easy to draw, and straightforward to understand.
Worked example: SUBJECT FREQUENCY
Sport 40
Science 20
Math 30
Art 15
Languages 15
Total 120

A school of 120 students carry out a survey to see which subjects are most popular. Their results are shown
in the frequency table.
Show this information on a frequency diagram

The graph is fully

labelled
Frequency

The bars are all the same width

and do not touch. The height of
each bar represents the
frequency.

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 Frequency diagrams can also be used to display grouped data, such as the ages of the residents in the care
home.

As before, the bars are all the same

Frequency

width and do not touch.

An alternative to a frequency diagram is a bar-line. Instead of bars, lines are drawn to represent the
frequencies. The height of each line indicates the frequency.

The data about students’ favorite subjects can be shown on a bar-line graph like this.
Favorite Subject

In frequency diagrams and bar line graphs, each frequency is represented by the height of a bar or line.
Another way of displaying data is on a pie chart. On these, each frequency is represented by a fraction of a circle.

Worked Example
Look again at the data about students’ favorite subjects. Show this information on a pie chart.
● First you need to express the frequency of each subject as a fraction of the total number of students
Sports is 40 = 1 of the total
120 3
Science is 20 = 1
120 6
Maths is 30 = 1 of the total
120 4
And Art and Languages are 15= 1 each.
120 8

Concept Notes English for Academic and Professional Purposes 12 Prepared by Sir Ruel Page 16 of 23
 To draw the pie chart without a protractor, an understanding of fractions helps. For example, Sport and
Science together represent half of the total, and Math, Art and Languages represent the other half of the total.
Favorite Subject
The pie chart has a heading and a
Languages
13%
key, and each slice is clearly
Sport
Art 33% labeled.
12%

The pie chart is divided into slices, which are

Maths fractions of the circle. The size of each slice
25% Science
17% represents the frequency, as a fraction of the
total number of students.

E. SUMMARIZING FINDINGS AND EXECUTING THE REPORT THROUGH SURVEY

A component of summary of the findings is to provide a discussion for each of the findings, using anchor
verbiage that justifies rather than distorts the intent of the findings. Tells us how the findings are important or
relevant based on the aim and scope of your study.
A summary is a synthesis of the key ideas of a piece of writing, restated in your own words – i.e.,
paraphrased. You may write a summary as a stand-alone assignment or as part of a longer paper. Whenever
you summarize, you must be careful not to copy the exact wording of the original source.
Summarizing teaches students how to discern the most important ideas in a text, how to ignore irrelevant
information, and how to integrate the central ideas in a meaningful way. Teaching students
to summarize improves their memory for what is read. Summarization strategies can be used in almost every
content area.
Due to clarity demand, summary of findings must contain each specific question under the statement of the
problem and must be written first to be followed by the findings that would answer it.
The findings should be textual generalizations, that is, a summary of the important data consisting of text
and numbers.

HOW TO WRITE A SUMMARY

Preparing to Write: To write a good summary it is important to thoroughly understand the material you are
working with. Here are some preliminary steps in writing a summary.
1. Skim the text, noting in your mind the subheadings. If there are no subheadings, try to divide the
text into sections. Consider why you have been assigned the text. Try to determine what type of
text you are reading with. This can help you identify important information
2. Read the text, highlighting important information and taking notes.
3. In your own words, write down the main points of each section.
4. Write down the key support points for the main topic, but do not include minor detail.
5. Go through the process again, making changes as appropriate.

Concept Notes English for Academic and Professional Purposes 12 Prepared by Sir Ruel Page 17 of 23
Sample Survey Report 1:

Global Implications of Patent Law Variation

http//depts..washington.edu/owwwwrc
A patent is an exclusive right to use an invention for a certain This first sentence is a general
period of time which is given to an inventor as compensation for definition. It may be safe to assume
disclose of an invention. that your audience is already familiar
patents: thus, you do not have include
it in summary.
Although it would be beneficial for the world economy to have
uniform patent laws, each country has its own laws designed to This the main idea
protect domestic inventions and safeguard technology. Despite
widespread variation patent laws generally fall under one to two This classification of two principles is
principles; the first-to-file and the first-to-invent. important.

The first to file principle awards a patent to the person or

institution that applies for a patent first, while the first to invent Ignore specific details about the
principle grants the patent to the person or institution that was first different principles. The terms are
to invent and can prove it. Most countries have adopted the first- self-explanatory.
to-file system. However, the United States maintains a first-to-
invent system, despite obvious shortcomings. A result of countries It is important to point out that most
employing different patent law principles is inconsistency of of the world follows system, the United
patent ownership. Include a description of the problem States as well.
surrounding variation in patent laws.

Patent ownership is not recognized globally. On the contrary,

ownership may change depending on the contrary. It is not
uncommon for an invention to have two patent owners – one in
the United States and one in the rest of the world. This unclear problem, but not all details.
ownership often has economic consequences. If a company is
interested in using a patented invention, it may be unable to
receive permission from both patent owners, which in turn may
prevent manufacture of a particular product. Even if permission is
received from both owners, pay royalties to both may be quite
costly. In this case, if the invention is useful enough, a company
may proceed and pass on the added cost to consumers.

International economic tension has also been increasing as a result

of differing policies. Many foreign individuals and companies
believe that they are at a serious disadvantage in the United States Describe this other problem
with regard to patent ownership because of the logistical associated with different patent
difficulties in establishing first-to-invent status. Further, failure of principles.
the United States to recognize patent ownership in other countries
is in violation of the Paris Conventions on Industrial Properties,
which requires all member nations to treat all patent equally. The
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 conflict surrounding patent has prompted the World Intellectual
Properties Organization (WIPO) to lobby for universality in patent Provide some explanation, but not all
which requires all member nations to treat all patent equally. The the details
conflict surrounding patent has prompted the World Intellectual
Properties Organization (WIPO) to lobby for universality in patent
Laws. WIPO maintains that the first necessary step involves
compelling the United States to reexamine its patent principle,
taking into account the reality of a global economy. This push may Describe the action taken to solve the
indeed, result in more global economic cooperation. problem

Writing the summary:

When writing the summary there are three main requirements:
1. The summary should cover the original as a whole.
2. The material should be presented in a neutral fashion.
3. The summary should be condensed version of the material, presented in your words.
- also do not include anything that does not appear in the original. (Do not include your own comments or
evaluation.)
- be sure to identify your source

Sample Summary:

In his paper “Global Implications of Patent Law Variation,” Koji Suzuki (1991) states that
lack of consistency in the world’s patent law is a serious problem. In most of the world, patent
ownership is given to the inventor that is first to file for a patent. However, the United States
maintains a first-to-invent policy. In view of this, patent ownership can change depending on the
country. Multiple patent ownership can result in economic problems; however, most striking is
the international tension it causes. That fact that United States does not recognize patent ownership
in other countries, in violation of the Paris Convention on Industrial Properties, has prompted the
World Intellectual Properties Organization (WIPO) to push the United States to review its existing
patent law principles.

F. WRITING A SURVEY REPORT

Survey Report
 The term refers to a formal piece of writing based on research. When reporting the results of a survey,
the figures gathered should be given in the form of percentages and proportions.
Survey
 It is a method of collecting information or data in which people self-report their own opinion/behaviors in
response to the questions
The purpose(s) of writing a survey report is to study a research topic thoroughly, and to summarize the
existing studies in an organized manner. It is an important step in any research project

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STEPS IN WRITING A SURVEY REPORT
1. Break the report into separate sections with heading. Survey reports usually use headings for each section.
2. Write a 1–2-page executive summary paraphrasing the report.
3. State the objectives of the survey in the background section.
4. Provide background information by explaining research and studies.
TIPS IN CONDUCTING A SUCCESSFUL SURVEY
 Make sure that every question is necessary.
 Keep it short and simple.
 Ask direct questions.
 Ask one question at a time.
 Avoid leading and biased questions.
 Speak your respondent’s language.
 Use response scales whenever possible
 Avoid guiding grids or matrices for responses.
A Survey Method is the technique of gathering data by asking questions to people who are thought to have
desired information. A formal questionnaire is prepared. Generally, a non-disguised approach is used. The
respondents are asked questions on their demographic interest or opinion.

Guidelines for Writing the Survey Report

1. Value Communicated
Objective, accurate and honest presentation of facts and results
2. Basic Content
a. May consist of eyewitness accounts of first – hand information.
b. May contain facts, data, figures or statistics on or from people, events, phenomena, structures,
experiments, questionnaires, interviews and library research.
c. May include materials and procedures or methods.
3. Modes of Ordering
a. Chronological or time order.
b. Geographical or space / spatial order.
c. Logical – Inductive and Deductive
d. Problem – Solution
e. Cause and Effect
f. Formal
g. Abstract – Introduction – Background – Statement of the problem
h. Materials – Method or Procedure – Results – Discussion – Summary
i. Conclusion and Recommendation
4. Basic Qualities of a Good Report
a. Objective, not subjective point of view.
b. Accurate, not sloppy presentation of facts, numbers, statistics and data
c. Honest, not false or incomplete details and results.
d. Brief and direct

Concept Notes English for Academic and Professional Purposes 12 Prepared by Sir Ruel Page 20 of 23
HOW TO WRITE A SURVEY REPORT
A survey report is a formal piece of writing based on research.
I. Structure
Introduction
State the purpose/aim of the report, when and how the information was gathered.
Main Body
All the information collected and analyzed is presented clearly and in detail (break down the respondents into
groups according to sex, age and place of residence, state the main differences between groups). Subheadings,
numbers or letters can be used to separate each piece of information.
Conclusion
Sum up the points mentioned above. If necessary, a recommendation can be included as well (one way of
summing up is making some general comments).

II. Useful hints and phrases:

Present Tenses, Reported Speech and an impersonal style should be used in survey reports. Use a variety
of reporting verbs such as claim, state, report, agree, complain, suggest, etc.
When reporting the results of a survey, the figures gathered should be given in the form of percentages
and proportions. Expressions such as “one in four” or “six out of ten” can be used, or exact percentages e.g.,
25% of the people questioned, 68% of those who filled in the questionnaire, etc. Less exact expressions such
as: the majority of those questioned, a large proportion of, a significant number of, etc. can also be used.

III.Useful language for reports:

The purpose/aim of this report…
As requested, …
To introduce: This survey was carried out/conducted by means of…
The questionnaire consisted of…
etc.
In general, …
Generally, …
To generalize:
On the whole…
etc.
The fact is that…
In fact, …
To refer to a fact:
In practice…
etc.
In conclusion…
All things considered…
To sum up…
All in all, …
To conclude/summarize: It is not easy to reach any definite conclusions…
If any conclusions may be drawn from the data…
It is clear that…
The survey shows/indicates/demonstrates…
etc.
Concept Notes English for Academic and Professional Purposes 12 Prepared by Sir Ruel Page 21 of 23
 SAMPLE SURVEY REPORT

Fast-food Addiction
It is no secret that the US is leading the world in its swelling obesity. The nation is subsisting
on a diet of high-calorie convenience food. In fact, Americans have increased their spending on fast-
food items from Ṩ 6 billion to Ṩ 160 billion
Annually over the past four decades. What may Come as a shock, however, is the accumulation
of evidence suggesting that the main ingredients in the typical “hamburger, fries and a cola” are
addictive compounds that keep customers lining up for their next fix.
The key culprits are sugar and fat. Empirical studies reveal that the heavy dosage of these
substances in today’s super-sized standard of a fast-food meal can trigger brain activity similar to that
endured when a person is on hard drugs. A representative individual serving McDonald’s or Burger
King can dish out up to 2000 calories, including more than a cup of sugar and 84 grams of fats.
Single-handedly, this meal sized portion meets the full daily caloric requirement for the average
woman. Moreover, it exceeds the recommended daily allowances of both sugar and fat for any adult,
regardless of gender.
Whereas herein is an opiate, both sugar and fat stimulate endogenous opioids such as beta-
endorphins in the hypothalamus, just above the brain stem. These naturally occurring painkillers
activate the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter, into a small cluster of cells located in the
midbrain called the nucleus acumens. Here, dopamine functions to elicit feelings of pleasure or
euphoria. What’s more, it motivates an individual to proactively repeat any action that originally
fueled its production. In the case of sugar and fat, purported addiction is a consequence of the body
craving the release of dopamine inherent in their consumption.
To validate reports that fat and sugar behave in a drug-like fashion, researchers have conducted
laboratory studies demonstrating that they induce classic addictive symptoms. For example,
eliminating sugar from the nutritional regime of rats that are used to a primarily sweet diet produced
anxiety asymptomatic of heroin and nicotine withdrawal. Moreover, increased tolerance to addictive
food substance was noted. In one experiment, rats were fed a chocolate drink containing a high ratio
of both fat and sugar. Although the animals were found to ingest increasing amounts of the potent
liquid, their total production of resulting brain opiates was, in fact, diminished. This would suggest
that the rodents had become progressively more tolerant to the effects of fat and sugar. Furthermore,
it is likely they would subsequently require a greater quantity in order to achieve the same high.
Likewise in humans, brain-imaging scans of obese and non-obese persons illustrate that the
heftier the individual, the fewer dopamine receptors are present. Researchers are uncertain whether
this is the basis or the outcome of obesity. However, it is clear that as weight rises, individuals need
to consume increasingly larger portions to experience a comparable euphoric effect.

Concept Notes English for Academic and Professional Purposes 12 Prepared by Sir Ruel Page 22 of 23
Vocabulary (From Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
1. obesity (noun)
- a condition characterized by excessive accumulation and storage of fat in the body
2. obese (adjective)
- very fat: fat in a way that is unhealthy
3. calorie (noun)
- a unit of heat used to indicate the amount of energy that foods will produce in the human body
4. hefty (adjective)
- large and heavy: big and strong
5. dopamine (noun)
- a monoamine that is decarboxylated to dopamine and that occurs especially as a
neurotransmitter in the brain
6. euphoric (noun)
- a feeling of great happiness and excitement

Parts of the report on fast-food addiction

1. Statement of the problem : Fast-food addiction leading to obesity
2. Cause and effect : Sugar and fat in fast-food causing addiction
3. Analysis of the cause : Step by step description of how sugar and fat affect the brain and lead to
: addiction
4. Proof (of the cause-and-effect relationship) : Laboratory experiments on rats given a sugar and fat diet of chocolate
: drink
5. Application of the research : Sugar and fat addiction in rats being similar to fast-food addiction in
: humans, leading to weight gain.

Concept Notes English for Academic and Professional Purposes 12 Prepared by Sir Ruel Page 23 of 23