Structuring Written Assignments This workshop will: Explain what ‘structure’ means Suggest the basic principles of providing a sound structure Introduce the ‘tools’ you need to manage structure within academic writing Louise Livesey Academic Skills Adviser 19/11/2018 Academic Skills Advice

Academic Skills Advice Today’s Plan What ‘structure’ means First steps to good structure Macrostructure: your assignment as a whole Microstructure: paragraphs Improving the ‘flow’ of written assignments 19/11/2018 Academic Skills Advice

Academic Skills Advice 1.What structure means Structure is how ideas and material are organised in writing. It could mean… the assignment as a whole individual sections (the introduction/main body/conclusion or different report elements) a logical order from one point to another the internal structure of paragraphs 19/11/2018 Academic Skills Advice

Academic Skills Advice 1.What structure means Scientific = laboratory report Technical = design specification Medical = case studies Social work = critically reflective workbooks Managerial/ Business/ Financial = feasibility studies General = dissertations and final year reports Click for answers 19/11/2018 Academic Skills Advice

2.First steps to good structure Analysis ...of the question, brief or problem Look for key words and conceptes Read through your notes ...to refresh your memory Look for gaps in your knowledge or understanding Research ...to fill gaps Look for ideas and evidence to support your argument Organise ...which theory/concept goes with what aspect and what evidence Key points ...from your notes telling you which are the important points Structure map/plan ...is a first outline of main sections and order First draft ...gets your initial ideas down and then... Revise , edit and proof ...until you are happy with your final version Submit Submit following the guidelines stipulated in your handbook or brief 19/11/2018 Academic Skills Advice

The Rule of 3 percentages 3.Macrostructure: your assignment as a whole The Rule of 3 percentages Introduction: 5-8% Main body: 82-87% Conclusion: 8-10% Click to get answers 19/11/2018 Academic Skills Advice

Structure formats: The Switch 3.Macrostructure: your assignment as a whole Structure formats: The Switch Firstly, you argue from one point of view for approximately half of the text and then ‘switch’ to another viewpoint until your conclusion 19/11/2018 Academic Skills Advice

Structure formats: The Zig-zag 3.Macrostructure: your assignment as a whole Structure formats: The Zig-zag Your first paragraph makes one point of an argument, then you ‘zig to the next different (possibly opposing) point and argument, then you ‘zag’ back to your original argument with another point, and so on to the conclusion 19/11/2018 Academic Skills Advice

Structure formats: The Snowball 3.Macrostructure: your assignment as a whole Structure formats: The Snowball You come to a crescendo of one point building on another and another and so on until your conclusion 19/11/2018 Academic Skills Advice

Academic Skills Advice 3.Macrostructure: your assignment as a whole Activity 2: The Zig-zag Zig-zag Against: Graduates start their working life in debt For: Individuals do not have to pay any money back until earning a certain amount Against: Free education for all at all levels For: Having a loan teaches financial discipline Against: May put off some people from attending university For: Reduces the number of people going to university because they ‘didn’t know what else to do’ Click for answer table 19/11/2018 Academic Skills Advice

Academic Skills Advice 3.Macrostructure: your assignment as a whole Activity 2: The Switch Switch Against: Graduates start their working life in debt Against: Free education for all at all levels Against: May put off some people from attending university For: Individuals do not have to pay any money back until earning a certain amount For: Having a loan teaches financial discipline For: Reduces the number of people going to university because they ‘didn’t know what else to do’ Click for answer table 19/11/2018 Academic Skills Advice

Academic Skills Advice 4.Microstructure: paragraphs substantive paragraph: make points that build argument. Assignment Paragraph Different elements Essay or report One point Introduce topic Explain and clarify Point to make Evidence Conclusion/link 19/11/2018 Academic Skills Advice

Academic Skills Advice 4.Microstructure: paragraphs Bridging paragraphs… Offer a link when there is no easy-to-establish signpost to what is coming up next Can be shorter than regular paragraphs May be descriptive rather than substantive May still contain citations to reference any material used to establish a new ‘direction’. 19/11/2018 Academic Skills Advice

Academic Skills Advice 4.Microstructure: paragraphs A.On the other hand, justice can be defined from a cultural point of view. Some see crime as an action against the law of god regardless of whether it is against the statutory law or not. For instance in some world religions, abortion is a crime as it is against theological doctrine to have an abortion so someone may be seen as a criminal, as they are going against the law of god and justice must be done. Whereas, people who do not see crime as a cultural thing would not see abortion as a crime if legally it is the mother’s decision whether or not to have an abortion, so no justice is needed. Crime can, therefore, be seen from a different perspective: known as a ‘sin’. As such, sinning may not be seen as a crime but still may be seen as a wrongful act. For example, lying can be seen as only a sin but lying in court before a jury comprised of peers goes beyond merely being ‘sinful’ and instead, will be seen as a crime and justice must be done (Smith, 2012). Answer: Substansive. The clue is the introductory phrase, ‘on the other hand’ which suggests an opposing point was being made in the previous paragraph and this will be a response. This paragraph deals with one point: that ‘justice can be defined from a cultural point of view’. Click for answer 19/11/2018 Academic Skills Advice

Academic Skills Advice 4.Microstructure: paragraphs B.In the western world, there have been shifts in the definition of justice over time. These shifts are often due to a differential focus on either of two elements of justice, i.e. ‘justice as fairness’ or ‘justice as alterity’ (Hudson, 2001). The concept of ‘justice as fairness’ has its roots in classical theory from the Enlightenment period. The central theme here is that people should be treated equally no matter what their social status, and hence there should be similar punishments for similar kinds of crimes (Lanier, 2010). However, this perspective has limitations; critics argue that it is unjust to treat people from different backgrounds and in different circumstances equally and that this leads to unfair discrimination (Lanier and Henry, 2004). The idea of ‘justice as alterity’ holds that consideration should be given to the personal circumstances of the offenders and thus punishment and rehabilitation could differ even if offenders have committed similar crimes (Jefferson, 2011). The rehabilitation model, which was applied in the UK and USA in the 1960s, is an example of the application of this concept (Hudson, 2001). Answer: BridgingThis paragraph argues two opposing arguments relating to how offenders should be treated in relation to their background. It is being used to move the reader towards ‘(Hudson’s) rehabilitation model’. Click for answer 19/11/2018 Academic Skills Advice

Academic Skills Advice 5.Improving the flow of written assignments Transitional words and phrases are used… for establishing cohesion. for enhancing understandability for improving connection to your points and argument 19/11/2018 Academic Skills Advice

Academic Skills Advice References Cottrell, S. (2013) The study skills handbook. 4th ed. Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan. Inspiration Software (2013) Thinking and planning graphic organizer and outline examples. Portland, Inspiration Software, Inc. http://www.inspiration.com/webspirationclassroom-thinking-and-planning-examples Accessed 11 March 2014. Massey University. (no date) Signpost Words and Phrases. Palmerston North, New Zealand, Massey University. http://owll.massey.ac.nz/pdf/studyup-essays-2-handout.pdf Accessed 5 March 2014. Neville, C. (2009) How to improve your assignment results. Maidenhead, OUP. Potter, C. (2013) Week one: straight back into the fray. Dundee, ‘Calum Potter’ Wordpress. http://interaction.dundee.ac.uk/~cpotter/wordpress/?author=1 Accessed 11 March 2014. 19/11/2018 Academic Skills Advice

Academic Skills Advice References Student Learning Centre (2008) Essay terms explained. Leicester, University of Leicester. http://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/ld/resources/writing/writing-resources/essay-terms Accessed 5 February 2014. University of North Carolina. (no date) Transitions. Chapel Hill, North Carolina, University of North. https://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/transitions/ Accessed 5 March 2014. University of Roehampton (2013) Unit 5 – essay planning. Roehampton, Studentzone. http://studentzone.roehampton.ac.uk/howtostudy/academicwriting/unit5/ Accessed 5 March 2014. University of Sussex (2013) Study success at Sussex. Brighton, University of Sussex. http://www.sussex.ac.uk/s3/?id=150 5 March 2014. Write.com. (2013) Transitional phrases. Swansea, Illinoi,: Write.com. http://www.write.com/writing-resources-articles/general-writing/mechanics/transitional-phrases/ 5 March 2014. 19/11/2018 Academic Skills Advice

Academic Skills Advice Service Where are we? Chesham Building B0.23. Give us a call or come speak to us Monday-Thursday 10am-12pm and 1pm-4pm Who am I? Louise, the dedicated workshop adviser. Who can help me with study and writing skills? Lucy and Russell run Instant Study Skills Advice sessions Monday-Thursday and Writing Skills Clinics twice a week. You can also access self-help resources on our webpage. Who can give me maths advice? Helen and Michael specialise in Maths support for students though clinics and pre-booked appointments. How do I get in touch? Email: academic-skills@brad.ac.uk Telephone: 01274 236849 http://www.brad.ac.uk/academic-skills/induction/ 19/11/2018 Academic Skills Advice

Academic Skills Advice Any questions? Produced by Louise Livesey May 2014 19/11/2018 Academic Skills Advice

International Student Barometer (ISB) Launches Monday 26 October 2015 Eligible students have been sent an email with a survey link from International-office@bradford.ac.uk ISB helps the University to: understand the international student experience; make improvements for you as students and; understand what we are doing well. But! We need students to fill out the survey: more students = better data = better experience You could win an iPad Mini 2 or a year’s gym membership with Unique Fitness for filling it out.