writing for academic success

Developing Business Practice – 302LON

Writing for academic success

Week 2

Overview of sessions

Week

1 Reading for academic success

2 Writing for academic success3 Finding and using information

4 Plagiarism and how to avoid it

5 Putting it all together

• Have an understanding of what is expected in writing at postgraduate level

• Know about the different writing styles you may be asked to use throughout your course

• Know how to plan and structure your writing• Understand the concept of citing and

referencing sources in your writing

By the end of this session...

Different types of writing

EmailWikis

BlogsExecutive Briefing

PowerPoint presentations

Management reports

Essays

DissertationsLetter

Reflective writing

Whatever you’re writing...

You Content Tutor

What do you want to communicate?Who is your audience?Are there any considerations to take into account?

What are you trying to communicate?Are you using the best form to communicate your message?

Writing basics: spelling

Use a dictionary or your spell checker...

...but don’t always trust your spell checker!

Writing basics: spelling

Make sure you use UK English...

...avoid ‘txt spk’

Get the right tone

Use appropriate vocabulary

Avoid slang and colloquialisms

– But also avoid colloquialisms and slang– Read it out aloud

Writing style: keeping it simple

One point per sentence

Avoid over-use long, multi-syllabic words

Structure

Introduction

Body

Conclusion

References

• Introduce your topic and expand upon the question.

• Outline any assumptions, the scope and outline of your argument, including the main gist of your essay.

Introduction

Structure

Introduction

Body

Conclusion

References

Background information

• Include the main points that answer the question

• Remember to think about your writing style

• Include any evidence to back up your arguments

Main body

Main body

Paragraph 1: Idea 1

Paragraph 2: Idea 2

Paragraph 3: Idea 3

• Paragraphs– Paragraphs should have one topic or idea– The first sentence should introduce the idea,

the final sentence conclude it.– Use paragraphs to focus and strengthen your

argument

Writing style

Example paragraph

The root of the problem is the failure to distinguish between operational effectiveness and strategy. The quest for productivity, quality, and speed has spawned a remarkable number of management tools and techniques: total quality management, `benchmarking, time-based competition, outsourcing, partnering, reengineering, change management. Although the resulting operational improvements have often been dramatic, many companies have been frustrated by their inability to translate those gains into sustainable profitability. And bit by bit, almost imperceptibly, management tools have taken the place of strategy. As managers push to improve on all fronts, they move farther away from viable competitive positions.

Example paragraph

The root of the problem is the failure to distinguish between operational effectiveness and strategy. The quest for productivity, quality, and speed has spawned a remarkable number of management tools and techniques: total quality management, `benchmarking, time-based competition, outsourcing, partnering, reengineering, change management. Although the resulting operational improvements have often been dramatic, many companies have been frustrated by their inability to translate those gains into sustainable profitability. And bit by bit, almost imperceptibly, management tools have taken the place of strategy. As managers push to improve on all fronts, they move farther away from viable competitive positions.

Example paragraph

The root of the problem is the failure to distinguish between operational effectiveness and strategy. The quest for productivity, quality, and speed has spawned a remarkable number of management tools and techniques: total quality management, `benchmarking, time-based competition, outsourcing, partnering, reengineering, change management. Although the resulting operational improvements have often been dramatic, many companies have been frustrated by their inability to translate those gains into sustainable profitability. And bit by bit, almost imperceptibly, management tools have taken the place of strategy. As managers push to improve on all fronts, they move farther away from viable competitive positions.

Main bodyOpening sentence introducing idea that is going to cover in the paragraph

Introduce the evidence that supports your argument or that you are using to demonstrate your point

Concluding sentence that summarises your argument for this paragraph and introduces the next paragraph

Opening sentence links to the previous paragraph and introduces the idea for this section

Introduce the evidence that supports your argument or that you are using to demonstrate your point

Concluding sentence that summarises your argument for this paragraph and introduces the next paragraph

Para

grap

h 1

Para

grap

h 2

When writing...

Point Evidence Evaluate

• Make your point or argument

When writing...

Point Evidence Evaluate

• What evidence or sources back up your point or argument?

When writing...

Point Evidence Evaluate

• Evaluate how the evidence strengthens or demonstrates your point

Example

The economic impact of the ‘credit crunch’ will be felt for the next three decades.

Point

Example

Studies conducted on behalf of the UK’s national banks have investigated the impact on consumer confidence (Bank of England 2010, Humler 2010). Consumer confidence has been demonstrated to be a major factor in economic growth (Johnson 2008:15) and Jupitus highlighted that the typical recovery can take a generation (2009:27-29)

Evidence

Example

Studies conducted on behalf of the UK’s national banks have investigated the impact on consumer confidence (Bank of England 2010, Humler 2010). Consumer confidence has been demonstrated to be a major factor in economic growth (Johnson 2008:15) and Jupitus highlighted that the typical recovery can take a generation (2009:27-29)

Evidence

Example

Evaluate

The effects of this phenomenon will be felt in many aspects of daily life for years to come. Future policy, both social and economic will be shaped by the consequences of the credit crunch.

• Citation within your writing to demonstrate the use of other sources

• Always the same format– In text citation: (Author Year of publication)– Reference at the end with full details

Citing and referencing

• Review the key points that you have made• Demonstrate how these points answer the

question set out at the start• The conclusion mirrors your introduction

where you answer what you set out to address

Conclusions

• List of references at the end• List of all the sources that you have cited

in the essay• Set format laid out in the CULC Harvard

citing and referencing guide

References

• Think about your presentation– Clear and simple font– Double spacing– No silly pictures or cartoons

Writing tips for success

Personal Development PlanBy A. Student

Where I am now

Where I want to go

How am I going to get there

As I student at CULC, I am studying for my MBA.

I want to work in an investment bank, because I want to make lots of money.

I want to work in an investment bank, because I want to make lots of money.What do I need to work on?

There’s lots of stuff I need to practise like 1) presentation skills 2)writing 3) I need to get an internship

• Think about your presentation– Clear and simple font– Double spacing– No silly pictures or cartoons

• Follow the guidelines set out• Have a plan before you start

Writing tips for success

• Do you understand the question?• Plan out your research• Have a structure and plan in mind before

you start to write• Ensure you have evidence to back up

your arguments• Leave enough time for a draft

Planning your time

In this Knowledgecast, we have:• Looked at what is expected in terms of academic writing at postgraduate

level• Looked at examples at different types of writing that will be expected

during your course• Looked at ideas on how to structure a piece of academic writing, including

how to use evidence and other sources of information in your work• Introduced the concept of citing and referencing in academic writing

Knowledgecast Summary

• ‘DSC_0202’ by incurable_hippie http://www.flickr.com/photos/hippie/3315011136/sizes/o/in/photostream/

• ‘Simple’ by R_rose http://www.flickr.com/photos/r_rose/102766969/sizes/l/in/photostream/

Image credits