1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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
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Academic Skills Advice

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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
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Academic Skills Advice

17. 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. Accessed 11 March Massey University. (no date) Signpost Words and Phrases. Palmerston North, New Zealand, Massey University. Accessed 5 March 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. Accessed 11 March 2014.
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Academic Skills Advice

18. Academic Skills Advice
References
Student Learning Centre (2008) Essay terms explained. Leicester, University of Leicester. Accessed 5 February University of North Carolina. (no date) Transitions. Chapel Hill, North Carolina, University of North. Accessed 5 March University of Roehampton (2013) Unit 5 – essay planning. Roehampton, Studentzone. Accessed 5 March University of Sussex (2013) Study success at Sussex. Brighton, University of Sussex. 5 March Write.com. (2013) Transitional phrases. Swansea, Illinoi,: Write.com. 5 March 2014.
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Academic Skills Advice

19. 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? Telephone:
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Academic Skills Advice

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

21. International Student Barometer (ISB)
Launches Monday 26 October 2015
Eligible students have been sent an with a survey link from
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.