How to Write Reports and Papers

We introduce library services useful for learning and research at university, such as how to find books effectively, tools useful for document management.

1. Learn how to write reports and papers

Kyoto University libraries have a lot of books for writing reports and papers. As a first step, learn how to write and structure academic reports and papers from these books.

Kyoto University libraries hold regular workshops on writing reports and papers. Please join us!

Search for books

To search for books, use Kyoto University library online catalogue KULINE. Following tags are attached to books and e-books that are recommended to read before writing reports and papers. Find books you need by searching these tags.

• Guide to Paper and Report
• Paper and Report(Writing)
• Paper and Report(Reading)
• Paper and Report(Searching)

Also, you can find books about academic writing by using subject search. Select advanced search on KULINE and enter "academic writing" in subject field.

• academic writing

Refining by holding library, you can easily find the books which are at your frequently-used library or meet your needs.

For more information on how to use KULINE, please click here.

Join workshop

Kyoto University libraries have a variety of workshops and events through the year. Check Workshops for the latest information and past materials.

Lectures about academic writing and information retrieval

• An Introduction to Academic Information Literacy - Library & Web Usage -  [Japanese] (-2021)
• University Students and the Use of Information: An Introduction to Information Search, edited by Yoshitaka Kawasaki. Kyoto Institute for Library and Information Science Study Group, 2001. [Japanese]
  https://m.kulib.kyoto-u.ac.jp/webopac/BB00685060

2. Search for the literature about your topic

It is important to collect previous studies which will give you an overview of the research field in order to write good reports and papers. The previous studies will show you what to do. After learning a basic structure of reports and papers, search for items which help you understand your topic.

Learn how to choose items

• Search for the literature to which your professor referred in your class.
• In addition, see the bibliography list in it.
• Search on the KULINE by your research topic and related keywords.

For a more advanced search, see The Basics of Collecting Documents.

Searching on databases

You can search on databases for electronic information and statistics as well as printed books.
For example, past articles in newspaper retrieved from a newspaper database may be useful for your research.

• Kyoto University Library Network > Databases
• Kyoto University Library Network > Databases > Dictionaries and Encyclopedias
• Kyoto University Library Network > Databases > News and Newspaper

3. Make a reference list

At the end of your reports and papers, you MUST give information about references on which you based your reports and papers. The aim at a reference list is the followings.

• To distinguish your own ideas and findings from those you have drawn from the work of others
• To pay tribute to previous researches
• To clarify citation
• To enable readers to find your sources

Learn how to write a reference

There are many different referencing conventions. You should follow the directions given by your professor, or the style specified according to your major or target journal. You can refer to the following style when a style guide is not specified.

Style for Japanese journals

• Standards for Information of Science and Technology (SIST)
  In Japan, the Standards for Information of Science and Technology (SIST) sets out the general rules for writing scientific papers.
  • Rules and methods of reference: applying the Standards for Information of Science and Technology (SIST) [Japanese]
    This is a guidebook explaining how to write a list of references.

Styles for overseas journals

• ACS Style (American Chemical Society)
  • The ACS Style Guide, 3rd ed. (2006)
    https://m.kulib.kyoto-u.ac.jp/webopac/BB02250265
  • ACS Style Guide [University of Wisconsin-Madison]
  • The ACS style guide: a manual for authors and editors. Janet S. Dodd (ed.), Washington, D.C.: American Chemical Society, c1997.
    https://m.kulib.kyoto-u.ac.jp/webopac/BB01132970

• IEEE Style (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)
  • Authoring Tools and Templates
    This includes templates for writing papers in Transaction, Word, LaTex, etc.
  • IEEE Editorial Style Manual for Authors

• AIP Style (American Institute of Physics)
  • Featured Resources for Researchers

• APS Style (American Physical Society)
  
  • Physical Review Style and Notation Guide

• APA Style (American Psychological Association)
  • APA Style
  • The Basics of Sixth Edition APA Style

• MLA Style (Modern Language Association of America)
  • Laurie Rozakis. Schaum's quick guide to writing great research papers. 2nd ed, McGraw-Hill, 2007
    https://m.kulib.kyoto-u.ac.jp/webopac/EB03065424
• Chicago Style
  
  • The Chicago manual of style Online
    
  • purdue Online Writing Lab [Purdue University]
    Style guide for APA, MLA, Chicago.
  • Citation Guide [Florida State University Libraries]
    Style guide for APA, MLA, Chicago, and citation tools.

Citation tools

Citation tools store a large number of style templates and can be used to easily standardize and change the reference style throughout your document.

• EndNote Online
  It is a citation tool provided by Clarivate Analytics company. Kyoto University members can use it.
  • Using citation tool (EndNote Online) [Japanese]
    This is an introduction to citation management.
  • Abha Agrawal. EndNote 1 - 2 - 3 Easy! : Reference Management for the Professional. Springer-Verlag US, 2009.
    https://m.kulib.kyoto-u.ac.jp/webopac/EB03620926
• EndNote (CD-ROM ver.) [Japanese]
  About EndNote (CD-ROM ver.) at Kyoto University Medical Library website. *It is not provided by the library.
• Mendeley
  It is a free multifunctional citation tool. *It is not provided by the library.

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