Writing at University

Part 1 – General introduction to the academic writing process

Cristina Felea, Ph.D.

Course objectives

GeneralStudents will learn basic aspects of

academic writing SpecificStudents will be able to plan and

manage the key steps needed to accomplish a written assignment

Content

Writing assignments at university What makes a good piece of

academic writing? Planning academic writing The academic writing process (key

steps) Academic writing tips References and further resources

Writing assignments at university

What makes a good piece of academic writing?

It answers the question set. It demonstrates understanding and clarity of

thought. It provides evidence of reading and research. It supports any assertions by evidence. It is well structured. It is written in an appropriate style. It flows logically from one section to another,

and from one paragraph to another. It is appropriately referenced. It is interesting to read!

Planning academic writing

A good piece of academic writing needs

time effort

thought

Common negative experiences

Heading off to do the reading without being clear enough about what exactly was required.

Too much information collected and not enough time to sort it out properly.

No time to edit or revise their writing. Not allowing time away from the writing

to think. (Thinking is really important!)

The academic writing process (key steps)

What are the key steps in academic writing?

Exercise 1Put the following steps in their

right/logical order:Timetable, Write up, Review and edit,

Brainstorm, Analyse the task, Read and Research

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. (Check with the key at the end of the

presentation.

The academic writing process

Key step 1 - Analysing the task

Read carefully all the information and guidelines you have been given for the task.

Do you understand all the words in the title? If not, check them out.

What about the 'task' words? Are you being asked to 'describe' something, or 'outline' something or 'critically evaluate'?

What exactly do these words mean? Make sure you know what's required.

Sometimes the task includes several different questions or issues. Are you dealing with one question or more? What are they?

Sometimes the information given may imply a structure for your writing. Look carefully for this.

The academic writing processVocabulary of instructions

The academic writing process

Vocabulary of instructions

Additional activities

Go to the following resources to see examples of essay questions and to practice analysis of essay

questions.Using English for Academic Purposes –

Understanding the questionUnilearning – Analysis of questionsSkills@Library – Getting started

The academic writing process

Key step 2 – Stop and think – Pre-writing

strategiesBrainstorming techniques Journal Writing Listing Freewriting Clustering

Pre-writing strategies Journal Writing

Listing

Pre-writing strategies Free writing

Clustering/ Mindmapping

Note: you can find here 6 top free resources for mindmapping in education!

The academic writing process

Key step 3 – Planning your time Be realistic. Estimate how much time you will

need for each of the stages. Give yourself a timescale for your

intermediate goals. Remember to work backwards from

your deadline.

Practice

Go to Assignment Survival Kit page of the University of Kent and practice with their assignment time calculator.

Watch this time management video from Leeds University to learn how to break assignments into manageable chunks.

The academic writing process

Key step 4 – Reading and researching Who is the author? Are they respected/experienced? Has the source been checked for quality? Books and journals are often checked Websites and magazines are usually not checked What is the purpose of this information? Are there adverts with the information? Is the information biased? Has the information been recommended to you?

The academic writing process

Key step 4 – Reading and researching – How do you know what to read?

Your reading list should be a good starting point.

You should also read any relevant lecture notes.

If you search for additional material, be selective.

Use electronic databases specific to your subject area.

The academic writing process

Key step 4 – Reading and researching

High quality information is likely to have a clear layout,written using specialist vocabulary, discussing the topic in a fair way, from several viewpoints,referring to known theories,giving details of any sources which it refers to.

  Low quality information

may be poorly organised, written using common vocabulary, from a single viewpoint,often as an overview of a topic, giving little information to support the ideas discussed.

(Source: Intute Using Information in Your Work Tutorial)

The academic writing process

Key step 4 – Reading and researching Learn how to do electronic searches.

Finding and evaluating information at Skills@LibraryFinding and evaluating information on the Internet

Intute Internet Detective (see also Intute Tutorials)Intelligent Web search Workbook from Leeds University

The academic writing process

Key step 4 – Reading and researchingNote-taking: 1.What are the notes for?For revision? For an assignment? For others to use (eg in group work)? To help you concentrate? As a record (eg records of research

findings/lab work, of published work)?

The academic writing process

Key step 4 – Reading and researchingNote-taking: 2. Note features

Their accuracy is very important. They must be very detailed. They should summarise (rather than being detailed). I need to understand them after a time lapse (eg in

a month/a year). I only need to understand them now, not in the

future. Others need to understand them.

The academic writing processTaking notes: 3. Note types

Linear

Mindmaps

Tables

The academic writing process

Taking notes: 4. useful tips Take notes in your own words. Make sure you can read your notes later. Don't cram too

much on the page. Use different note making methods for different purposes, for

example flowcharts for process planning, tables for comparison.

Organise your notes so that you can easily find what you are looking for.

Title your notes and date them. If you have several pages on one topic, include page numbers.

Always record the source of your notes. You will need these for your references.

Avoid cutting and pasting, or copying huge chunks from books or articles - you risk committing plagiarism by accident.

Practice note taking

Learn and practice note-taking with

UniLearning guiding tutorials LearnHigher Notemaker

Plagiarism

write about someone’s ideas without acknowledging it with an in-text citation and listing the full bibliographic details on the reference list. This includes ideas which are quoted directly or expressed in your own words.

use an author’s exact words without indicating you are making a direct quote and/or without giving a reference.

present your own version of other people's ideas which you have collected from a number of sources you have no record of.

try to put ideas in your own words but change only a few words from the original. A lecturer may decide that as the words are almost the same as the original that this is plagiarism, even if a reference is given.

copy another student’s work and submit it as your own. If a student lends an assignment to another student and their assignment is copied and handed in by that student, both students can be penalised as the lecturer may not be able to find out who originally wrote the assignment.

submit work written for you by someone else.

(Source: University of South Australia Learning and Teaching Unit)

Practice

Access the Course on plagiarism comprising

videos and interactive materials from LearnHigher site

Using English for Academic Purposesand learn more about it and the ways

you can avoid plagiarism.

The academic writing process

Key step 5 – WritingPlanningWrite first draftReview and discuss Write second draftProofread (Edit) for errorsWrite final draft

Academic writing tips

Analyse the task carefully. What exactly do you need to do?

Brainstorm ideas. What do you already know, and what do you need to find out?

Make a realistic time table, working back from your deadline.

Plan your reading and research. How long will it take to gather and organise the information you need?

Develop a writing plan, perhaps using headings or mindmaps.

When you start to write, think of it as a draft which you'll improve as you go along.

Allow time to review and edit your work. Always reference the work and ideas of others clearly in

your writing.

References

Guidance for Internet search Intute Internet Anthropologist Intute Internet Sociologist Intute Internet Social WorkerUnderstanding the questionUsing English for Academic Purposes Analysis of questions Unilearning Getting started Skills@Library

Key to activities

Activity 11. Analyse the task, 2. Brainstorm, 3.

Timetable, 4. Read and research, 5. Write up, 6. Review and edit