The Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has organised a virtual seminar aimed at equipping final-year students with essential skills in academic and project writing.
The event, held recently via an online platform, featured lectures from distinguished faculty members who provided guidance on various aspects of research documentation.
The Head of the Department (HOD), Dr. Effiong Ibanga, in a lecture on academic writing, emphasised the importance of clarity, coherence and proper structuring in research papers.
He highlighted common challenges students face, such as lack of originality, weak argument development and improper citation, advising them to adopt a structured writing approach, beginning with a thorough research and careful planning before drafting their work.
Ibanga also stressed the need for students to write in a formal and concise manner, avoiding unnecessary complexity while ensuring their ideas are effectively communicated.
The HOD encouraged them to seek feedback from their supervisors and peers to refine their writing and improve the overall quality of their research papers.
Dr. Etido Patrick Inyang followed with a lecture on the fundamentals of project writing, outlining key steps in developing a well-organised and methodical research paper.
He explained the importance of choosing a suitable research topic, formulating clear research objectives, and structuring the project into well-defined sections such as the introduction, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion.
Inyang addressed common mistakes such as: vague research questions, lack of coherence between chapters, and failure to adhere to standard formatting guidelines even as he urged them to maintain consistency in their writing style and to present their findings in a logical and precise manner.
Another session was chaired by Dr. Simon John, who presented on managing references and avoiding plagiarism.
He explained the ethical implications of plagiarism and the importance of giving proper credit to original authors.
John demonstrated various referencing styles, including APA, IEEE, and Chicago, and showed students how to use reference management tools like Mendeley and Zotero to organise their citations efficiently.
He also provided a step-by-step guide on how to format references correctly within research papers, ensuring that citations align with academic standards.
The seminar was well attended and received by students, who actively participated in the discussions and expressed appreciation for the valuable insights shared.
The department reiterated its commitment to supporting students in their research endeavours and ensuring they meet high academic standards in their final year projects.
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