Learning resources

This is a collection of resources on subjects such as how to write, how to do a literature review, how to plan a report or dissertation, how to avoid plagiarism and how to do research.

For students who are new to Bristol

Getting started with your studies

The "How-to" lecture series

This is a list of the old (until 2011) lectures. From 2012 there are new ones with similar content.

Research, Reading & Synthesis (Peter Flach)
Planning, Risk & Reflection (Andrew Charlesworth)
Writing and Referencing (Andrew Charlesworth)
Written Communication, Critical Assessment, and Avoiding Plagiarism (Tim Kovacs)
Introduction to searching for computer science literature (Patricia Rogers)

General hints and tips

Where to get help in the department of computer science and the university by Tim Kovacs
Hints for written work by Peter Flach and Tim Kovacs
Hints for oral presentations by Peter Flach and Tim Kovacs
Links on how to do research and more by Sylvia Miksch [local copy 07/09]
An essay on Crafting papers on Machine Learning which has good general advice [local copy 07/09]
Tips on reading and writing from UCL's London Philosophy Study Guide [local copy 07/09]
Efficient Reading of Papers in Science and Technology [local copy 07/09]
Working with Norman Ramsey. A guide for students on working with a supervisor. [local copy 09/08]
Notes on presenting theses by Aaron Sloman [local copy 07/09]
Student syndrome
Writing and presenting your thesis or dissertation by S. Joseph Levine [local copy 07/09]
Examples of bad writing by Tim Kovacs
Mathematical Writing by Donald E. Knuth, Tracy Larrabee and Paul M. Roberts. Notes on "Issues of technical writing and the effective presentation of mathematics and computer science. Preparation of theses, papers, books, and "literate" computer programs".
Handout for the workshop "Software for Experiments" by Tim Kovacs and Rob Egginton.

Services outside the department

You can talk to the Student Counselling Service about any issue. They have a range of services including some online programs you can try at any time.
Bristol Nightline is available 8pm-8am.

Books on writing

The Elements of Style [wikipedia, HTML copy] is considered by some to be a classic, but has also been severely criticised.
You Can Write Better English is aimed at Chinese speakers

Plagiarism

Hints for avoiding plagiarism by Tim Kovacs
Plagiarism information and advice from the U. of Bristol library
The Computer Science Handbook section on plagiarism.
Avoiding plagiarism - a guide for students from the University of Oregon.

Philosophy of Science

Tools for literature searches

Citeseer
ISI Web of Science
Google Scholar
DBLP A bibliography of over 1 million CS publications

For PhDs and RAs

The Education Support Unit's research skills portal
Guidelines for Markers by Tim Kovacs
You and your research by Richard Hamming.
The PhD Experience by Mihir Bellare [local copy 07/09]
A short guide to PhD study by John Langford [local copy 09/08]
Junk conferences by Tim Kovacs
Junk Journals: Open Access Publisher Accepts Nonsense Manuscript for Dollars
Scientists credited on ghostwritten articles 'should be charged with fraud'
Sitting in on units. By Tim Kovacs
The Value of Group Projects for PhD Students by Tim Kovacs
Personal development
- The ~~Roberts fund~~ is for skills training for PhD students and RAs. (The fund is no longer available but you may want to browse the page for ideas on skills training.)
- Personal development courses for postgraduates in Bristol
- Faculty of Engineering Postgraduate Skills Training page
Royal Academy of Engineering / EPSRC Research Fellowships
Summary of the "Is there life after a PhD?" conference 2009
On the role of mathematical formalism in research: Two cheers for formalism by Paul Krugman. You may want to start with section 3, which is of general interest; the earlier parts deal with charges of excessive formalism in economics.
Aims, Objectives and Guidelines for PhD students by Tim Kovacs. For the impatient there's a much shorter slide presentation.
Postgraduate "What's on" bulletins. Updates on postgraduate education nationally and locally, news from UKCGE, Vitae, the International Unit and EUA and information on events and conferences.
The 5 stars of open linked data
Academic Productivity blog
Some articles from Matt Might's blog

Conferences

Researchers should, almost without explicit effort, pick up knowledge about which conferences and journals in their area are most highly regarded. Rankings and statistics such as those below can be useful but are not a replacement for first-hand knowledge. It's best to ask someone who knows the area.

Computer Science Conference Ranking
Acceptance rates for computational intelligence conferences

Public communication of science

Sense about science
Why all our kids should be taught to code. Article by John Naughton in the Guardian, March 2012.

Humour

Fifth-Grade Science Paper Doesn't Stand Up To Peer Review