Question:

1)    Show evidence of core components of academic/ literacy skills.

2)    Apply critical thought to a range of tasks and do so with minimal external guidance in particular situations.

3)    To reflect, analyse and discuss strengths, weaknesses and opportunities personally and academically.

4)    Use appropriate technologies to facilitate the completion of self-analysis/reflection

Answer:

Introduction- Personal SWOT

A personal SWOT analysis is one of the most challenging things to do. However, this is important as it plays a vital part in academic development (Turner, 2011). The SWOT analysis thus helps one identify academic strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats as is set out below:

2.0 Primary Research ( Quantitative) data analysis

My academic research has focused more on organisation behavior topics. My own projects were focused by the issue of employee retention and factors that affects retention. However I have also been involved in other related projects that included investigating the impact of technology in organisation development, culture related issues in running production firms. I knowledge in quantitative management methods have also introduced me to other research collaborations  outside the above mentioned areas (Campbell, 2011).  For example, I have successfully contributed to projects of my peers with who I have worked with very well to produce other quantitative research related fields that have been submitted and qualified for publication in our university library.

In reference to my research philosophy, I encourage the use of quantitative research methods as I appreciate a situation where I am able to within a multi-displinary environment. I have always worked with  a team that entails researchers and academicians who have a background in by discipline. There are several benefits that I have gained in this, one of them is the overall improvement in the quality of my own research work. This is because of the combined expertise that I gain from the different disciplines (Brandt, 2009).  It is also important to emphasize on the fact that my personal development as being competent in my field and gaining and understanding of the discipline has provide me with several viewpoints that are helpful. One example is my personal perspective which I believe is able to produce one of the major research funding application as an advance in my career. Before I joined the institution I was able to attract several local funding  for baseline quantitative research survey projects which proved to be very fruitful in different topics. This has enabled me gain a lot from a multidisplinary environment.

3.0 Evaluating sources and references

With regard to my academic development, most of my work has been supported by the major scholars in the field. I have always referred my work by looking at what other people have done in the field. References are very important when writing any academic paper. The references to my work include both the old and the most references. Most sources are from academic journals dating from the year 2000 (Neville, 2007). Academic journals provide some of the reliable sources for any research work since they combine the previous studies and current development in the area of research interests. Sources are also electronic while going through the institution library portal which is provided for each registered student. In addition, there have been useful and reliable website which have allowed an opportunity to thoroughly conduct research. Lastly other sources for my work and references have come from interviewing and collecting data from the field, which is the first hand reference point for any academic work and research.

4.0 Synthesizing and in-text citations

Synthesizing is a very important aspect of any academic work. In my case, I ensure that discussions are always drawn to one or more sources. This shows the student’s ability to write syntheses if they are able to infer relationships among the sources used in articles, essays, fiction and other no written sources. These include interviews, class lectures and personal observations.  The process has been well utilized in most of my research work as I always infer the relationship in all the academic work be it from something read in the newspaper or that which the lecturer spoke about in class. However, for the class synthesis it will depend on the attitude towards the most favorite and the one who is least favorite (Neville, 2007).

As much as I write research papers, the synthesis is very important to ensure that a strong relationship is established between the sources and the work written. When it comes to citation of the work, this has been done with regard to the topic at hand. Some of the most commonly used styles is Harvard and the APA or MLA style. These are the most recommended in academic writing skills and referencing. MLA is most used for the short essays while APA and Harvard  have been used well when it comes to long essay and research papers. (Neville, 2007)  This shows that in-text citations are very important for any form of academic assignment writing. Within text citations, it becomes easy for me to discuss my paper with the lecturer and also enables the lecturer to identify and verify my sources as he goes through marking the paper. Academic papers with no proper in-text citations will always render the information written as being unreliable.

Personal Development Plan

With regard to the above area, I can say that I am able to now continue with my academic career especially with it comes to academic and literacy skills. This is because I am able to prepare and present an academic paper on any topic as required. I am determined to complete my academic work by considering the above. Another area that will be of interest to be is that I need to learn to concentrate on focusing on the ideas first whenever an handling any academic assignment. This enables me to understand what is needed in the paper and ensures only factual information regarding the topic is incorporated throughout the paper.  Being able to highlight the most important structure  for a clear and effective understanding of the work will allow one to exhale in most of his or her academic work (Campbell, 2011). Writing structures will also depend on the rubric that is always provided by the supervisor after instruction. Structures of the paper will also depend on the scope or research and the objective or the laid subtopics (Brandt, 2009). When this is done when , the lectures is also able to go through the whole work without having to search for answers.

During assignment presentation, the first thing to do is to proofread the work and ensure that grammar, sentence structure, spelling, and referencing is done well. Other issues to consider will include the font used, the font type and paper spacing. After this is done, assignment presentation is always done online through the student portal. Some advanced portals usually have an automated turnitin software which are used in checking plagiarism (Neville, 2007). This is important as it will ensure that they work I have presented is originally done by me and cannot be shared anywhere without my permission.

Conclusion

I conclusion to the above portfolio I can confidently say that I have enough competence to continue working in a multidisplinary environment as regards my career. I will also be able to increase responsibility when it comes to handling academic work and research related projects in my field; this also includes becoming a principle investigator for academic work.

References

Brandt, C., 2009. Read, research and write: academic skills for ESL students in higher education. Los Angeles: SAGE, London.

Campbell, N., 2011. Business academic skills. 4 ed. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: Pearson Australia.

Neville, C., 2007. The complete guide to referencing and avoiding plagiarism. New York;Maidenhead: Open University Press.

Turner, K., 2011. Essential academic skills. 2 ed. South Melbourne, Vic.: Oxford University Press.