Academic Writing and your Academic Writing and your first assignment…….. first assignment……..

OutcomesOutcomes

To know….To know…. What is expected in the first What is expected in the first

assignment.assignment. How to use an appropriate academic How to use an appropriate academic

writing style.writing style.

ActivityActivity

Discuss in pairs…Discuss in pairs…

What do you think are the key What do you think are the key characteristics of academic writing?characteristics of academic writing?

How is it different for other types of How is it different for other types of writing?writing?

Course RequirementsCourse Requirements

In your writing for these courses you are In your writing for these courses you are expected to be able to :expected to be able to :

Demonstrate knowledge of practiceDemonstrate knowledge of practice Apply theory to practiceApply theory to practice Analyse (critically) relevant materialAnalyse (critically) relevant material Evaluate (critically) theory and evidence Evaluate (critically) theory and evidence

within the context of studywithin the context of study Reflect – critiquing and critically reflecting Reflect – critiquing and critically reflecting

on your learning and using this to improve on your learning and using this to improve practice.practice.

What is academic writing?What is academic writing?

Academic writing is usually formal (but Academic writing is usually formal (but can be personal) and follows some can be personal) and follows some standard conventions standard conventions

The language should to be clear and The language should to be clear and concise.concise.

Appropriate theories should be used.Appropriate theories should be used. All literature should be correctly All literature should be correctly

acknowledged.acknowledged.

How is it done?How is it done?

Aim for precision. Don’t use unnecessary Aim for precision. Don’t use unnecessary words or waffle. Get straight to the point. words or waffle. Get straight to the point. Make every word count. Make every word count.

If there is any uncertainty about a particular If there is any uncertainty about a particular point, use cautious language (such as point, use cautious language (such as ‘may’, ‘might’, ‘could’, ‘potentially’).‘may’, ‘might’, ‘could’, ‘potentially’).

Unless you are a confident writer, it is best Unless you are a confident writer, it is best to avoid over-long sentences and to aim for to avoid over-long sentences and to aim for a mixture of long and short sentences for a mixture of long and short sentences for variation and rhythm. variation and rhythm.

Avoid repeating the same wordsAvoid repeating the same words

Avoid overly elaborate Avoid overly elaborate languagelanguage

When using words that are not When using words that are not technical or subject related, use technical or subject related, use simple words in place of obscure simple words in place of obscure words that have the same meaning. words that have the same meaning.

Using overly elaborate language can Using overly elaborate language can make your writing seem pretentious.make your writing seem pretentious.

Avoid abbreviations and Avoid abbreviations and contractionscontractions

Abbreviations and contractions are Abbreviations and contractions are informal, and are best avoided in informal, and are best avoided in academic writing. For example:academic writing. For example:

‘‘Department’ should be used instead Department’ should be used instead of the abbreviation ‘dept’.of the abbreviation ‘dept’.

‘‘Is not’ should be used in place of the Is not’ should be used in place of the contraction ‘isn’t’.contraction ‘isn’t’.

Activity: What is wrong with the Activity: What is wrong with the follow. Can you rewrite in an follow. Can you rewrite in an appropriate academic style.appropriate academic style.

Today being fat is totally bad for your Today being fat is totally bad for your health. About 30,000 fat people die health. About 30,000 fat people die every year in the UK and loads more every year in the UK and loads more fat people die in the USA. By 2005 fat people die in the USA. By 2005 more people will die of being fat than more people will die of being fat than smoking and it doesn’t have to be smoking and it doesn’t have to be this way, this could easily be this way, this could easily be prevented, couldn't it?prevented, couldn't it?

Consider….Consider….

The number of deaths per year The number of deaths per year attributable to obesity is roughly attributable to obesity is roughly 30,000 in the UK and ten times that 30,000 in the UK and ten times that in the USA, where obesity is set to in the USA, where obesity is set to overtake smoking in 2005 as the overtake smoking in 2005 as the main preventable cause of illness main preventable cause of illness and premature death.and premature death.

Avoid slang words and Avoid slang words and phrasesphrases

Rephrase the following:Rephrase the following: ‘‘The individual was was excluded for The individual was was excluded for

nickingnicking a computer.’ a computer.’ ‘‘The student looked The student looked kind ofkind of worried when worried when

he received his results.’he received his results.’

‘‘The individual was excluded for The individual was excluded for stealingstealing a computer’a computer’

‘‘The student looked The student looked slightly slightly worried when worried when he received his results.’he received his results.’

Avoid conversational Avoid conversational termsterms

This totally changed people’s lives’This totally changed people’s lives’ Why is ‘totally’ there?Why is ‘totally’ there? If it’s a ‘filler’ it can be omitted. If it’s a ‘filler’ it can be omitted. If it’s used for emphasis, a more If it’s used for emphasis, a more

appropriate word could be used, for appropriate word could be used, for example ‘significantly’ or example ‘significantly’ or ‘fundamentally’‘fundamentally’

Avoid vague termsAvoid vague terms

Consider the following:Consider the following: ‘‘The right thing’ would be better The right thing’ would be better

expressed as ‘the right action’ or ‘the expressed as ‘the right action’ or ‘the right procedure’right procedure’

When to be personal and When to be personal and impersonal in your writing.impersonal in your writing.

What is writing in the first person?What is writing in the first person? What is impersonal writing?What is impersonal writing? Can you give an example of Can you give an example of

impersonal writing?impersonal writing?

Writing in the first personWriting in the first person

When you are reflecting on your own When you are reflecting on your own teaching you SHOULD write in the teaching you SHOULD write in the first person.first person.

I consider….I consider….

I suggest…I suggest…

I observed that….I observed that….

Impersonal writingImpersonal writing

When you are analysing or evaluating When you are analysing or evaluating theories, ideas or methodologies. You theories, ideas or methodologies. You should adopt an impersonal and should adopt an impersonal and more formal tonemore formal tone

Consideration has been given to...Consideration has been given to...The suggestion is made that...The suggestion is made that...It has been observed that...It has been observed that...

References, appendicesReferences, appendices

References (Harvard), You have the References (Harvard), You have the handbook. handbook.

Only a reference list is needed NO Only a reference list is needed NO bibliography. bibliography.

Appendices - An appendix contains Appendices - An appendix contains material which is too detailed to material which is too detailed to include in the report.include in the report.

Harvard StyleHarvard Style

Author. (date). Title. Edition. Author. (date). Title. Edition. Place:PublisherPlace:Publisher

FormatFormat

Header and Footer (name\page numbers)Header and Footer (name\page numbers) Arial, size 12 (no bold\italics unless Arial, size 12 (no bold\italics unless et alet al)) Double SpaceDouble Space Left alignedLeft aligned Word CountWord Count

Submitted to Moodle (Turnitin)Submitted to Moodle (Turnitin)

TaskTask

What are the role, responsibilities What are the role, responsibilities and boundaries of a teacher?and boundaries of a teacher? 500 words of Academic writing500 words of Academic writing At least 3 referencesAt least 3 references

Hand in tomorrow: 9.30amHand in tomorrow: 9.30am