Learning Development Service 02890 972611 ldsqubacuk What will this session cover Prewriting and Planning Analyse the question Initial thoughts Gather material Read make notes formulate your argument ID: 929470
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Grammar & Academic Style
Learning Development Service02890 972611lds@qub.ac.uk
Slide2What will this session cover?Pre-writing and Planning
Analyse the questionInitial thoughtsGather materialRead, make notes, formulate your argumentPlan
II. The Writing Process
6. Write! Continue developing your argument
III. Proofreading and ReviewingEdit – both as you go along and once you’ve finished
Slide3Slide4Slide5Slide6Slide7“My aunt’s hairy knuckles are magnificent indeed, but I have no desire to stroke them.”
Slide8“I gnaw on old car tyres; it strengthens my jaw so I’ll be better conditioned for bear combat.”
“I fought the bear and won. Also, I never kiss plague rats on the mouth.”
Slide9Slide10I’ve got
Slide11Slide121. Analyse the questionTo write a good essay you have to know what question you are answering.This will help focus readingWill make clear how to structure the essay
Will make it easier to write efficientlyPut the question into your own wordsHighlight or underline main parts of the questionSeek clarification if needed.
Slide13Slide14Slide15Always write with a dictionary and thesaurus to hand!
Slide16Slide17Constructing Paragraphs…
Every sentence must perform a particular role:Introduce, refine
,
focus, develop, conclude
Hand-shaking is a greeting convention in many cultures.
People routinely shake hands at a first meeting.
In some cultures, the practice is to shake hands on parting also.
This can be symbolic of drawing business to a close.
However, in other cultures the greeting and farewell are supplemented by a kissing gesture where two people touch cheek to cheek.
In France, there appears to be some protocol to this behaviour, which is rarely understood by those from other cultures.
Salutations vary across the globe and traditions often differ even within one country.
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Signposting
Difference between your arguments and examples given
Links between sentences to do with same point
Links between paragraphs in same section of essay
How sections lead to a conclusion or answer
Conclusion
EXAMPLES
This clearly demonstrates that …
It has been argued that …
On the other hand …
However, this conflicts with …
Slide19Linking sentences and paragraphs…
To add more ideas – again, furthermore, in addition, moreover To compare or contrast ideas – alternatively, contrastingly, conversely, whereas
To prove something
– evidently, for this reason, because, inevitably
To show exceptions
– however, nevertheless, yet, in spite of
To repeat or refer back to something
– as has been mentioned/noted…/As previously discussed
To show that you will include something later
– this will be discussed in detail later
To emphasise something
– definitely, obviously, inevitably, undeniably
To give an example
– for instance, in this case, in particular, notably
To show the order of things
– previously, following this, initially, subsequently, finally
To conclude
– to summarise, in conclusion, consequently, as has been shown
Slide20Slide21Writing tips andConventions of Academic Writing
Keep the tenses consistent – do not wander from the present to the pastUse cautious language such as: … may/might/would indicate that… … could appear/suggest that…Avoid sweeping generalisationsWrite short small numbers out full in text, but longer numbers in figures
Do not
directly address the reader with a question. Example: ‘Do social workers reinforce institutionalised racism?’ – ‘
The question arises whether social workers reinforce institutionalised racism.’Keep your writing formal
. Avoid emotive language and slang.
Do not copy large chunks of text: either use them as appropriate in quotation form or paraphrase,
crediting the author
by providing
a reference
. Don’t over-use quotations. They should be used in support of your argument – not instead of writing.
Slide227. EditingRemember to edit as you go along – often you don’t even realise you are doing it.Make sure you follow the style and layout specified by your school.Give yourself a break between writing and editing – why it’s always good to set yourself a deadline of at least 1 day early!
Slide23What is Proofreading?Careful reading – finetooth comb method
Checking BOTH for things Microsoft Word may or may not catch!Finally, ALWAYS read aloud once or twice to catch errors you may have missed
Slide24What are you looking for?Spelling and grammarSubject-verb agreementMissing words?
Slide25What is Reviewing?Reviewing is different from proof-readingRather than checking for spelling and grammar, you’re reading through your essay to ensure that the content is relevant, correct and properly referenced
Slide26What are you looking for?Have you answered the question? Have you done it as clearly as possible?Have you clearly introduced the topic and the main points you will cover?
Have you covered everything you said you would in the introduction?Is it clear how your points are linked and have you used transition sentences between main points?Have you evidenced your argument sufficiently?Have you ‘signposted’?Have you presented a clear and concise conclusion?
Slide27If the answer is ‘yes’ to all of these questions, time to print, hand in and celebrate
Slide28Stuck?Learning Development Service:
www.qub.ac.uk/ldslds@qub.ac.uk028 9097 2611Web resources: http://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/sgc/learning/