Intro of Academic Writing

Course: ID Context 1

Week: 1-2

Title: Learning of Academic writing

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The definition of academic writing

• Academic writing is the process of presenting ideas in a rational, organized, systematic, reasonable, and logical way.

What is the point of writing?

• Assignments require you to read, research, investigate, and evaluate

• Writing focuses and clarifies your thinking and reinforces your learning

• Writing enables your tutors to assess how much you have learned and how well you can apply what you know

Type of Academic Writing

Descriptive

• It tells how something looks, feels, smells, tastes, and/or sounds. A good description is a word picture, the reader can imagine the object.

Narration

• To give an account to tell the story of something, someone, or an event. Use time order to organize sentences.

Argumentative or Persuasive

• To induce readers to believe in the writer's opinions or views through appealing reasons. To convince readers.

Instruction words

1. Analyze - Consider all the relevant factors & answer in a methodological and logical way.

2. Compare - Discuss similarities & differences ( has to be objective )

3. Criticize - Point out strengths & weaknesses ( balanced answer )

4. Discuss - Give both points of argument, with the implication

5. Explain - Give detailed reasons for a situation

6. Summarize - Give the main points in a concise manner ( leave out details )

Writing an Introduction

• Explain how you understand the question

• Identify main issues you will be exploring

• Give a brief outline of what you are going to do and in which order

• For 4000 words, Introduction = 400 500 word

Writing the main body

• Follow the structure you gave in your introduction

• Build up arguments in each paragraph should:

• State your position Sum up your argument in brief, clear sentence

• Support your argument Present relevant evidence to back up your ideas (reference, quotation)

• Consider your opposition How you convince the reader that disagrees with you

• Develop the argument to the next point links

Writing the conclusion

• Summarize the most important points in the main body

• Explain how these points answer the question in the title

• State clearly why, in your opinion, you agree (or disagree) with the main issues raised by your evidence

• For 4000 words, Conclusion = 400 - 500 words

*Remember*

• Don’t go over the maximum number of words

• Cut out unnecessary or weak ideas

• Use straight forward, concise language

• Reduce the words in each sentence write

• simple, short sentences aim for 20 max

• Keep paragraphs short develop one main idea per paragraph

• Check referencing and reference list

• be careful of plagiarising

Before submission

• Always back up a copy (file) online

• Attach a ‘header sheet’

• Word process finished draft

• Check word count (print at end of the last page)

• Read it through Use ‘Spell Check’Grammarly

• Use standard font size spacing

During submission

• Aim for at least one day before the deadline

• Computer breakdown is not an excuse

• Keep your receipts of submission

• Late submission loses marks daily

• If you are ill (with a medical cert) or in an emergency incident, inform the person in charge immediately!

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* Notes are given by lecture *