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SBUS4000

Approaches to Effective Study

Week 3:Written Communication 1:

Academic writing

Study Skills - Lecture 3

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Study Skills Lecture 3

Academic writing

Writing

Essays

Examinations Reports

Portfolios Dossiers

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Study Skills Lecture 3

Academic writing

Essays

Structured writing

Traditional academic approach

Integrated presentation of a discursiveanswer to the question

Examinations

Learned knowledge Application of learned knowledge

Interpretation

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Study Skills Lecture 3

Academic writing

Reports

Formally structured analysis of atopic/question

Portfolios

Collection of information

Organising, filing and cataloguing

Structuring and signposting

Critical reflection

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Study Skills Lecture 3

Academic writing

Departmental practices:

Management & Information Technology

http://www.lamp.ac.uk/mit/current/reports_essays.htm

Handouts

http://www.lamp.ac.uk/mit/current/reports_essays.htmhttp://www.lamp.ac.uk/mit/current/reports_essays.htmhttp://www.lamp.ac.uk/mit/current/reports_essays.htmhttp://www.lamp.ac.uk/mit/current/reports_essays.htm

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Study Skills Lecture 3

Academic writing

Areas to remember:

Punctuation

Problem areas

Sentence & paragraph technique

Structure

Style

Summarising

Use of evidenceKennedy, J (2005)

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Study Skills Lecture 3

Academic writing

Problem areas:

Active & passive voice

ClichesFlowery language

Mixed metaphors

TautologySpecific words to watch

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Study Skills Lecture 3

Academic writing

Check-list for academic writing Consider the reader Provide a logical structure Use evidence & quotations appropriately Good command grammar, sentence structure,

paragraphing Conduct appropriate research / information

gathering Provide a strong argument Use an appropriate style Consider outcomes & consequences of any points

raised

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Study Skills Lecture 3

Academic writing

Writing Style (Mahone, 2000)

Clear

Concise Complete

Concrete

Correct Coherent

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Study Skills Lecture 3

Academic writing

Writing style

Words: Write clearly

Write precisely

Use positive language

Sentences Use a variety of sentence types

Use active and passive appropriately

Paragraphs Keep paragraphs unified & coherent

Use parallel structure

Control paragraph length

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Study Skills Lecture 3

Academic writing

Barriers to Effective Writing

Ambiguity

JargonStyle

Structure

Punctuation

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Study Skills Lecture 3

Academic writing

Avoid: Vagueness Being personal Conjunctions at beginning of sentences Apologies

Certainty Personal pronouns Abbreviations & contractions

Ensure:

Objectivity Meeting the needs of the reader Use of formal English Differentiation between facts, opinions and arguments

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Study Skills Lecture 3

Academic writing

Write in your own words

Use appropriately referencedmaterial

Develop a logical discussion/argument

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Study Skills Lecture 3

Academic writing

Getting Started

Scribble

Write one single word

Write in pencil / or head page draft

Ignore mistakes in early versions

Start anywhere, you can order later

Break the task into stages

Brainstorm headings and ideas

Experiment

Ask yourself questions to follow up ideas

(see Cottrell, 2003, page 149)

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Study Skills Lecture 3

Academic writing

The craft of redrafting:

4 drafts Quick draft to cover main ideas

Confirm & fine-tune structure & contentis everything relevant, is everything in rightplace and logical, have you backed uparguments with appropriate evidence?

Fine-tune style

is the style consistent, have you chosen thecorrect style and layout for the brief?

Add finishing touchesis referencing complete, is print layoutcorrect?