1. The value of
Writing

2. Agenda Task analysis Structure Sources Essay Structure Intro
Body Paragraphs
Sources

3. Task analysis Identify the instruction words.
Identify the key content words.
Using what you have learnt about the task, formulate a single question. Your question should begin with:
What / When / Where / Why / How
This is the central question your essay needs to answer.
The answer to this question becomes the thesis statement (or central claim) for your essay.

4. Structure: Introduction
Purpose?
Is there a formula?
Context/ Background
Question
Thesis
Main points – Roadmap
Approach
AVOID Dictionary definitions Too much detail. Insufficient detail. In other words, writing a good introduction is part formula, part art.

5. Structure: Paragraphs
Topic Sentence
Summarises argument
Indicates approach
Elaboration
May provide additional information or restate the topic sentence in a more extended way.
Evidence
Maybe be quantitative or qualitative data, or analysis of data.
Link
This makes the connection to the next paragraph explicit.

6. Conclusions So what? Just a summary Think in a circle…bring
the reader back to the
beginning.
Revisit main points.
Where to from here?
AVOID
Just a summary
“In conclusion”
Apologising for your work.
Introducing new evidence.

8. SOURCES
INTEGRATING SOURCES INTO A TEXT
IN-TEXT REFERENCING
REFERENCE LIST

9. INTEGRATING SOURCES Acknowledge your sources.
Keep a careful record of sources.
Position yourself in relation to the source:
X states
X claims
X proposes

10. IN-TEXT REFERENCING The in-text referencing includes:
the author’s surname,
date of publication,
(sometimes) page number of a text.

11. TO QUOTE OR NOT TO QUOTE….
PARAPHRASE:
According to Beaglehole and Yach (2004), globalisation is marked by permeability of national borders and a greater degree connection between countries.
OR DIRECT QUOTE: OPTION 1
Beaglehole and Yach (2004: 903) define globalisation as “the increasing interconnectedness of countries and the openness of borders to ideas, people, commerce, and financial capital”.
OR DIRECT QUOTE: OPTION 2
Globalisation can be defined as “the increasing interconnectedness of countries and the openness of borders to ideas, people, commerce, and financial capital” (Beaglehole & Yach, 2004: 903)

12. PAGE NUMBERS IN IN-TEXT REFERENCING
Direct quotes require page numbers (as above); paraphrased ideas do not have to have a page number in the in-text reference.
However, some departments demand page numbers for all in text-referencing.
Familiarise yourself with your department’s requirements.

13. REFERENCE LIST Know the system you are working with.
Beware punctuation!
Alphabetise.
Be consistent.
The basic pattern is:
Surname, Initial. Date. Title. Publisher: Place.

14. However… There is considerable variation.
Beaglehole, R. & Yach, D “Globalisation and the prevention and control of non-communicable disease: the neglected chronic diseases of adults”. The Lancet. 362: 903 – 908. Available from [Accessed on 28 February].

16. Writing Centre Level 6, Steve Biko Building Upper Campus 021 650 5021 for appointments