Essay Writing Dr. Hatem Elaydi Islamic University of Gaza, ENGG 1305 Spring 2016, April 9

Today’s Goals  Steps to write essays.  Learn what APA/MLA styles are and why they are important  Learn basic documentation for books, journals, and websites  Learn the differences between methods of source integration: summarizing, paraphrasing, and quoting  Learn how to use signal phrases and in-text citation to avoid plagiarism DR. HATEM ELAYDI, IUG, ENGG 1305, SPRING

Writing a scientific essay Finding, Selecting, and Reading Sources Grouping, Sequencing, and Documenting Information Writing an Outline and a Prospectus for Yourself Writing the Introduction Writing the Body Writing the Conclusion Revising the Final Draft DR. HATEM ELAYDI, IUG, ENGG 1305, SPRING

Finding, Selecting, and Reading Sources You will need to look at the following types of sources: library catalog, periodical indexes, bibliographies, suggestions from your instructor, primary vs. secondary sources, journals, books, other documents. DR. HATEM ELAYDI, IUG, ENGG 1305, SPRING

Grouping, Sequencing, and Documenting Information The following systems will help keep you organized: a system for noting sources on bibliography cards, a system for organizing material according to its relative importance, a system for taking notes. DR. HATEM ELAYDI, IUG, ENGG 1305, SPRING

Writing an Outline and a Prospectus for Yourself Consider the following questions: What is the topic? Why is it significant? What background material is relevant? What is my thesis or purpose statement? What organizational plan will best support my purpose? DR. HATEM ELAYDI, IUG, ENGG 1305, SPRING

Writing the Introduction In the introduction you will need to do the following things: present relevant background or contextual material define terms or concepts when necessary explain the focus of the essay and your specific purpose reveal your plan of organization DR. HATEM ELAYDI, IUG, ENGG 1305, SPRING

Writing the Body Use your outline and prospectus as flexible guides Build your essay around points you want to make (i.e., don't let your sources organize your paper) Integrate your sources into your discussion Summarize, analyze, explain, and evaluate published work rather than merely reporting it Move up and down the "ladder of abstraction" from generalization to varying levels of detail back to generalization DR. HATEM ELAYDI, IUG, ENGG 1305, SPRING

Writing the Conclusion If the argument or point of your essay is complex, you may need to summarize the argument for your reader. If prior to your conclusion you have not yet explained the significance of your findings or if you are proceeding inductively, use the end of your essay to add your points up, to explain their significance. Move from a detailed to a general level of consideration that returns the topic to the context provided by the introduction. Perhaps suggest what about this topic needs further research. DR. HATEM ELAYDI, IUG, ENGG 1305, SPRING

Revising the Final Draft Check overall organization: logical flow of introduction, coherence and depth of discussion in body, effectiveness of conclusion. Paragraph level concerns: topic sentences, sequence of ideas within paragraphs, use of details to support generalizations, summary sentences where necessary, use of transitions within and between paragraphs. Sentence level concerns: sentence structure, word choices, punctuation, spelling. Documentation: consistent use of one system, citation of all material not considered common knowledge, appropriate use of endnotes or footnotes, accuracy of list of works cited. Documentation DR. HATEM ELAYDI, IUG, ENGG 1305, SPRING

Documentation ENGG 1305 Islamic University of Gaza April 11,2016

DOCUMENTATION You must acknowledge your sources using internal documentation. Mark the exact place in your paper where you have “used” a source & provide a parenthetical citation. Provide bibliographical information for your reader to locate this same source on a works cited page. DR. HATEM ELAYDI, IUG, ENGG 1305, SPRING

Why Should I Cite? Citing identifies and credits sources used in a research paper or project, acknowledging their role in shaping your research. This also allows others to follow-up on or retrieve this material. When you borrow from other sources to support your argument or research you must give proper credit. By crediting your sources, you avoid plagiarism. If you do not cite a source, you are guilty of plagiarism. DR. HATEM ELAYDI, IUG, ENGG 1305, SPRING

What do I need to document? In general, you must document information that originates in someone else's work. All of the following should be accompanied by a reference to the original: Direct quotations Paraphrases and summaries Information and ideas that are not common knowledge or are not available in a standard reference work Any borrowed material that might appear to be your own if there were no citation Giving credit where it's due is a founding principle of academic inquiry, one that fosters the free exchange of ideas. DR. HATEM ELAYDI, IUG, ENGG 1305, SPRING

WHAT IS PLAGIARISM? Presenting another person’s ideas or words as if they were your own. Submitting as your work a paper that you did not write. Deliberately incorporating the work of other people into your own writing without using documentation to credit those sources. Being unaware of what information to document and how to do so correctly. DR. HATEM ELAYDI, IUG, ENGG 1305, SPRING

When Should I Cite? Many students plagiarize unintentionally. Remember, whenever you summarize, paraphrase or quote another author's material you must properly credit your source. If you are using another person’s idea, you must also cite your source! My mother always said, “Make your bed” (Mom 12). When in doubt, give credit to your source! DR. HATEM ELAYDI, IUG, ENGG 1305, SPRING

Summary, Paraphrase, Quote A summary (aka ‘abstract’) briefly captures the main ideas of your source A paraphrase is a restatement of the text of your source in your own words Quotations can be direct (using quotation marks) or indirect (no quotation marks and often introduced by ‘that’) A noted scientist states, “A hundred years ago, the average temperature of the earth was about 13.7°C (56.5°F); today, it is closer to 14.4°C (57.9°F)” (Silver 11). A noted scientist observes that the earth’s current average temperature is 57.9°F compared to 56.5°F a hundred years ago (Silver 11). In any of these cases, you must credit your source DR. HATEM ELAYDI, IUG, ENGG 1305, SPRING

How Do I Cite? There are two parts to citing according to MLA style: 1. Brief In-text citations (in parentheses) within the body of your essay or paper 2. List of full citations in the Works Cited page at the end of your paper Note: References cited in the text must appear in the Works Cited. Conversely, each entry in the Works Cited must be cited in the text. DR. HATEM ELAYDI, IUG, ENGG 1305, SPRING

What do you not need to document? Common knowledge: information that most high school educated people know. Your own ideas. DR. HATEM ELAYDI, IUG, ENGG 1305, SPRING

How should I gather information for documenting sources? To make the process documentation easier, keep good notes while you perform research. Write down the most complete bibliographic information available for each source that you consult; If you write out quotations or data from a source, be sure to note the number of the page(s) on which the information appears in the original. Double check the quotation for accuracy. Put citations into your paper as you draft it. When you quote, put the source and page number directly after, perhaps marked with asterisks. When you refer, do the same. When it comes time to put the finishing touches on your paper, the information you need will be available right in your text, and may be easily put into the proper format. DR. HATEM ELAYDI, IUG, ENGG 1305, SPRING

Documentation styles A documentation style: a standard approach to the citation of sources that the author of a paper has consulted, abstracted, or quoted from. It prescribes methods for citing references within the text, providing a list of works cited at the end of the paper, and even formatting headings and margins. Different academic disciplines use different documentation styles. Documentation styles allow you to give credit for secondary sources you have used. Citing sources not only gives credit where it's due, but also allows your reader to locate the sources you have consulted. DR. HATEM ELAYDI, IUG, ENGG 1305, SPRING

Which style should I use? Choosing the appropriate documentation style for your paper may depend on three factors: The requirements of the particular course; The standard for your studying discipline; or Your individual preference. American Psychological Association Documentation American Psychological Association Documentation Chicago/Turabian Documentation Modern Language Association Documentation American Political Science Association Documentation American Political Science Association Documentation Council of Science Editors Documentation Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Numbered References Quoting and Paraphrasing Sources DR. HATEM ELAYDI, IUG, ENGG 1305, SPRING

Use relevant & reliable sources for support A relevant source Contains information that directly relates to and supports your argument. Contains the most recent, updated information. A reliable source Contains information from a scholarly, reputable, expert, or objective (unbiased) source. DR. HATEM ELAYDI, IUG, ENGG 1305, SPRING