Assignment Writing

Must be able to communicate well in writing. Communication skills are especially important when employers look for recent graduates. Introduction

Writing to communicate ideas in a presentation. Academic writing.. Structure

1.Make the thesis (main point) – one sentence that sums up your idea and its benefits. e.g. A brand extension of our software into intelligent toothpaste will help our sales. 2. List ideas which support your thesis – e.g. consumers would love a talking tube of toothpaste, everybody uses toothpaste. Writing to communicate ideas by presentation

3. Choose the best structure for your argument A. Problem/solution – identify problems to which your ideas will provide solutions. This is easy to follow. e.g. remembering to buy toothpaste before it runs out Writing to communicate ideas by presentation

B. Cause/Effect – Look at the ideas. Divide them into causes and effects. E.g Cause: We have an information database of all our users. They all use toothpaste. Effect: They will have positive association with our company by buy the toothpaste and will want to buy more products. Choose the best structure for your argument

C. Compare/contrast – Highlight the advantages of one model and the disadvantages of another. e.g. Helping sales: marketing intelligent toothpaste Vs launching an campaign. Contrast the benefits of your ideas against the weaknesses of the other plan. e.g. Reaching people in new ways Vs Spam In contrast, However, On the other hand. Choose the best structure for your argument

D. Chronology – Highlight the time and data in the project. Various steps of the process and the results. Choose the best structure for your argument

4. Find details to strengthen your argument – use the main thesis as a check, delete things that don’t support the thesis. 5. Thesis should be topic sentence of first paragraph and your ideas should be topic sentences of the next paragraphs. 6. Conclude reinforcing the big ideas and seeking the commitment of your reader/audience. Writing to communicate ideas by presentation

1.Clear, concise, logical, unambiguous – A path of connected points clearly explained and justified. 2.Introduction – contains the reason for writing, the structure and the answer. 3.Conclusion – highlights the connections of the points made in the main part and confirm the answer. Academic writing

3. Paragraph structure, Topic sentence and supporting sentences. e.g. Online learning has some advantages over traditional learning. The most immediate advantage is that online learning helps to deliver the course easily when employees are geographically dispersed. The concluding sentence closes the paragraph with a concluding remark. Linking words However, therefore, additionally, in addition, moreover, furthermore, subsequently, consequently., Nevertheless. Academic writing

4. Formal and objective language style – don’t use contractions e.g. don’t do not. Write as the 3 rd person, like an observer of what is happening. The purpose of this paper is… Academic writing

1. Communicate openly – don’t expect people to read your mind. Make sure people understand your position clearly. Express yourself logically, clearly and persuasively. General Business Writing tips

2. Pyramid principle – McKinsey A.Situation – what is the issue? B.Complication – why are you writing about this issue C.Question – what are you trying to figure out D.Answer – What is the solution. General Business Writing