1 - Introduction ~5 mins
Build {{code:08_sector_profile}} in {{code:Digital_Documents}} beside {{code:01_pack_plan}}. No pack target yet? Use veterinary clinic for demo and portfolio; create the folder if needed.
By the end you will:
- Research day-to-day work, routes, and skills with evidence
- Add footnotes, a reference list, and descriptive links
- Judge whether a source is trustworthy
Warm-up
What would make you trust a bold claim about a job online?
2 - Key Concepts ~5 mins
| Concept | Why it matters | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Footnote: short pointer after a fact | Readers can check the claim fast | Qualifax, Further education listings |
| Reference list: full line once, same order | Teachers can follow your trail | Organisation, title, website, date accessed |
| Descriptive link: words name the destination | Skimmers know where a link goes | CAO overview of applying to higher education |
| Trustworthy source: named, recent, clear purpose | One weak source shakes the whole page | A college course page, not an undated forum |
Miniature model
Body: Veterinary nurses work closely with vets to treat animals.1
Footnote pointer: ATU, Veterinary Nursing course page
References (house format = organisation, page title, website, date accessed): ATU, Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Nursing, atu.ie, accessed [today's date]
3 - Step-by-step Task: Footnotes, Links and References ~15 mins
Build a short sample sector profile for a veterinary clinic. Formatting practice only: your real sector comes next. Paste body sentences only, add short footnote pointers, two descriptive links under Routes, and a matching reference list. If a footnote lands mid-sentence, delete it and place it after the full stop. That is a normal first attempt.
Sample title: Sector profile: veterinary clinic
Body sentences (paste these only into the page, never paste a source pointer into the body):
- Day-to-day work: Veterinary nurses work closely with vets to diagnose and treat animals, in private practices, animal welfare groups and veterinary hospitals.
- Routes after the Leaving Certificate: After the Leaving Certificate, routes include PLC courses in veterinary nursing and CAO courses in animal-related fields.
- Skills employers ask for: The work needs practical nursing skills, careful animal care and clear communication with clients.
Footnote pointers (type these in the footnote area only):
- ATU, Veterinary Nursing course page
- Qualifax, Further education course listings
- ATU, Veterinary Nursing course page
Descriptive links under Routes (after fact 2): Qualifax listings for further education courses → {{code:https://www.qualifax.ie}}; CAO overview of applying to higher education → {{code:https://www.cao.ie}}.
House format for References: organisation, page title, website, date accessed (use today's date).
Sample full lines:
- ATU, Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Nursing, atu.ie, accessed [today's date]
- Qualifax, Further education course listings, qualifax.ie, accessed [today's date]
- CAO, Applying to higher education, cao.ie, accessed [today's date]
Source check (model): ATU: named college, current page, informs.
4 - Common Issues ~2 mins
Common Issues
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Footnote sits mid-sentence | Delete it; insert again after the full stop |
| Full bibliography only in footnotes | Note = short pointer; full line once under References |
| Messy reference list | Same order every time: organisation, title, website, date accessed |
| Link says click here | Rewrite words so they name the destination |
| Pointer text pasted into the body | Keep only the body sentence; type the pointer in the footnote |
5 - Worked Example: Research One Fact ~4 mins
Before your own build, walk this pattern once.
- Open ATU's Veterinary Nursing course page ({{code:https://www.atu.ie}}, then search for Veterinary Nursing) and find what it says vet nurses do.
- Trust check: named organisation? recent enough? written to inform?
- Keep one clear day-to-day sentence; reject an undated forum post with no author.
- Short footnote pointer: ATU, Veterinary Nursing course page.
- Full References line: ATU, Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Nursing, atu.ie, accessed [today's date].
Repeat that pattern for routes and skills on your own sector next.
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