Writing academically for your UG dissertation
Monica Fernandes, Academic Skills Advisor
ask@brunel.ac.uk
Objectives • Understand what is expected from your academic writing. • Learn how to be more concise, formal and objective. • Recognise the different structures needed in your work on a macro and micro level.
ACADEMIC WRITING Who here thinks of themselves as a ‘writer’?
Challenge yourself… Try different things – locations, times of day,
in silence, with music, etc. Do not convince yourself you need big blocks of time Do not wait for ‘inspiration’ And the number one thing you can do to become a better writer is…
FOUNDATIONS OF ACADEMIC WRITING
1. Be Concise What does this mean?
GET TO THE POINT!!
How can you make your work concise? • Paraphrase instead of using direct quotes • Sentence structure – Ensure your sentences are neither too long nor too complex – Use your active voice- subject and verb placement
• Don’t use ‘big’ words for the sake of it… – Not ‘Ambulation’ but walking
What makes writing confusing? A sentence, overly and perhaps overtly complexified, turgid with rarified language, gains the semblance of scholarship though it may indeed lack the capacity to communicate its import to any but a reader utterly dedicated in his attentions. Which means: A complex sentence may seem scholarly but will confuse casual readers. The road to hell is paved with adverbs. - Stephen King
2. Formality With the economy still in absolute chaos, restaurants are all in the same boat, and as you can imagine, the hospitality business has been hugely affected. The researcher believes that Gourmet restaurants will continue to be affected in the imminent future. • • • • • •
Avoid emotive language Avoid colloquial or informal language Avoid the second-person (‘you’) Avoid superfluous adverbs Create an academic option. Watch out for Random Capitalisations!
3. Be Objective Subjective Opinion Advertising in social media is more important than print advertising.
Balanced evidence-based
Academic argument While research by Singh (2005) suggests that print advertising remains the most popular form of advertising, Cook (2011) argues that advertising through social media is more effective because‌
4. Structure
Look at both levels‌ 1. Macro level 2. Micro level
1. Macro-level structure What is the big picture… Organisation of the essay as a whole
Introduction, body and conclusion
Macro-level structure Introduction
~ 10%
Body Paragraphs
~ 80%
Conclusion
~ 10%
Macro-level structure Context Preview Position
Introduction Remember: Don’t just tell them what you’re going to say – tell them why they should care.
Position
Review Implications
Remember: No new evidence, but do push beyond the bounds of the essay.
Conclusion
Remember the Micro-level‌
Paragraph Structure
S
Statement/Topic sentence
E
Explanation and Reasoning
E
Examples/Evidence
STATEMENT/ TOPIC SENTENCE should… • tell the reader what to expect in a paragraph • be a specific statement that will be supported with evidence • Help you in the editing process – Guide you with what needs to stay in your work or be cut out
• NOT opinion or general fact
Which is a better topic sentence? Andrew Jones (2009) has shown that in England, 15.4 million people are currently living with a chronic condition. Recent studies have demonstrated a strong link between physical inactivity and chronic disease. Andrew Jones’s (2009) research on the subject covers a great deal of ground, showing that in England...
Your EVIDENCE… (references)
What is it? • • • •
Support a claim or idea by an author Acknowledge sources Avoid plagiarism Create authority and reliability for your work
How to present references •
References are acknowledged in two places: • Within the text AND • At the end, in the list of references.
In Harvard… e.g. within the text: As Adams (2010: 27) states… List of references Adams, Andre (2010) Emerging Financial Markets, London: Verso.
Integrate your evidence within the text Indirect quotation (paraphrasing) • Demonstrates broad knowledge and understanding • Distils ideas and conserves word count • Allows for sophisticated synthesis of ideas
Direct quotation (in speech marks) • Brings ‘punch’ and interest to a point • Should only be used if you couldn’t have said it better yourself (or if it’s central to your argument)
Identify the ‘SEE’
S E E
Despite the widespread use of yoga exercise to alleviate back and neck complaints, its effectiveness has not been investigated adequately. The effectiveness of yoga for the treatment of back and neck complaints has been studied in a number of trials (Harbock 2005, Wringley 2008, Brooke 2010), however these trials often have methodological flaws relating to the small size of the study population or the selection criteria. These limitations have brought about the need to devise a large scale study with systematic and transparent criteria.
What’s signposting?
Redraft and revise! • Don’t hand in your first draft! • Give yourself time to rephrase, restructure and rethink your work.
Ideas Arguments Logic Style Clarity ‘Flow’
Spelling Grammar Repetition Typos Consistency (reference style, abbreviations, etc)
Remember to be
CRITICAL NOT Descriptive
Writing in a Critical Voice • Traditional academic writing only uses the 3rd person e.g. Not YOU think or I think, but SMITH thinks
• Interrogate your sources and main points you want to use in your work.
Summary • Academic writing follows certain conventions…
• But it does not have to be boring! Explain why we should be interested in the topic • Signpost your reader • Remember to get to the point and be clear • Clear structure empowers your essays
Contact us… Check out the ASK website, Blackboard section and interactive resources, including Skills4Study Visit ASK during appointment times: • Monday- Friday 1-3 pm • Tuesday and Thursday evenings 5-6 pm • Book online at: http://libcalendar.brunel.ac.uk/booking/ask Email: ask@brunel.ac.uk