1. Louise Livesey Academic Skills Adviser
How to Improve Your Written Work Using Marker Feedback: Being Relevant, Answering the Question, and Presentation
This workshop will...
Explain how to provide answers to assignments that are relevant both to the topic and instructions 
Provide the basics of how to write and appropriate assignment structure down to sentence level 
Discuss how to be clear and concise in your writing with proof-reading tips
Louise Livesey
Academic Skills Adviser
16/01/2019
Academic Skills Advice

2. Academic Skills Advice
The Plan…
How to answer the question/task
Assignment structure
Paragraph structure
Sentence structure
Brevity
Proofreading
16/01/2019
Academic Skills Advice

3. Feedback: You have not answered or addressed the question
1.How to answer the question/task
Feedback: You have not answered or addressed the question
Be specific
command words: how to answer the question/task
topic words: the subject you are to write about
16/01/2019
Academic Skills Advice

4. Academic Skills Advice
1.How to answer the question/task
Descriptive
Critically analytic
Test your knowledge of a subject and your ability to present ideas in a clear and organised way. You are expected to identify the component parts, main elements and individual features of any topic under discussion.
Test your knowledge of a subject – but they are more concerned with your ability to get below the surface of a subject. You are expected to examine it from different perspectives, points of view and (if applicable) to propose alternative ideas, models, and practices.
16/01/2019
Academic Skills Advice

5. Academic Skills Advice
1.How to answer the question/task
Descriptive
Critically analytic
Account for
Classify
Define
Demonstrate
Describe
Explain
Illustrate
Identify
Outline
Show how
State
Summarise
Trace
Analyse
Comment on
Compare and contrast
Consider
Criticise
Discuss
Distinguish between
Evaluate
Examine
Explore
Interpret
Justify
16/01/2019
Academic Skills Advice

6. Academic Skills Advice
1.How to answer the question/task
TALKING POINT
Descriptive
Action expected
Define
Describe
State
Classify
Identify
You are expected to locate, identify, and present the main features, elements, or components of the topic under discussion and, if applicable, the underpinning theoretical knowledge of the subject.
Demonstrate
Illustrate
Show how
As above, plus you would be expected to present and explain examples to show that you understand how something works, e.g. how a theory, model, idea, or practice can be applied to a given situation.
Outline
Summarise
You are expected to identify and summarise the main points of the topic under discussion.
Trace
This means that you identify and outline the stages of development of the topic under discussion. 
Click for table
16/01/2019
Academic Skills Advice

7. Academic Skills Advice
1.How to answer the question/task
1.How to answer the question/task
TALKING POINT
Critically analytic
Action expected
Account for
Explain
You would clarify why something is as it is, or what happened in any given situation.
Discuss
Examine
Explore
Evaluate
Consider
Interpret
Comment on
If you see any of these command terms you are expected to identify and explain the main features of the subject under discussion, including the main theories, ideas, models, or practices underpinning the topic.
If applicable, you would be expected to know of and weigh up any counter-arguments and to make connections between different ideas, models, or practices.
Analyse
Criticise
This involves a detailed scrutiny of the topic in question. This could include explaining the origins, structure, organisation, or development of the topic in question, the positive and negative features of it, and the connections between theories, ideas, models, and practices. You would also demonstrate your awareness of any flaws in particular points of view, and your knowledge of alternative viewpoints.
Justify
This involves making out a case and giving reasons to support a particular viewpoint, position, judgement, or decision against other possibilities.
Compare and contrast
Distinguish between
This involves a close study of the differences between one idea, phenomena, or situation, and another. You would need to identify the structure or features of one and make comparisons with another. You may be required to make a judgement on which is more applicable or relevant for the situation in question.
Click for table
16/01/2019
Academic Skills Advice

8. Feedback: Your assignment was poorly structured
2.Assignment structure
Feedback: Your assignment was poorly structured
Rule of 3:
Introduction: tell them what you are going to tell them
Main body: tell them what you want to tell them
Conclusion: tell them what you have told them
Main body:
80-85%
Conclusion: 8-10%
Introduction:6-7%
16/01/2019
Academic Skills Advice

9. 2.Assignment structure Smooth ‘flow’ 1,500 word essay =
Intro
Para 1
Para 2
Para 3
Para 4
Conc
Smooth ‘flow’
1,500 word essay =
Introduction + 5/6 themes + conclusion
One theme: one paragraph
16/01/2019
Academic Skills Advice

10. Academic Skills Advice
3.Paragraph structure
Substantive paragraph format
Introduction Main body Conclusion/Linking
phrase or sentence
Intro
Sets up the theme
Main body
Theme, clarification, evidence, (example)
Link/Conc
To next paragraph OR rounds up theme
16/01/2019
Academic Skills Advice

11. Academic Skills Advice
3.Paragraph structure
Paragraph format
Mary Seacole, half-African half-Scot, was born on the beautiful island of Jamaica. Her mother taught her how to nurse her neighbours when they were ill. Mary’s mother also showed her how to run a hotel which involved washing the sheets, cleaning the rooms, ordering and cooking the food, serving customers, and dealing with the accounts. These skills helped her in her later life.
First - introductory; main – her background; Last - linking
Click for para and bottom sentence
16/01/2019
Academic Skills Advice

12. Academic Skills Advice
3.Paragraph structure
Bridging paragraphs
Offering 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’
But may still contain citations to reference any material used to establish a new ‘direction’
16/01/2019
Academic Skills Advice

13. Academic Skills Advice
4.Sentence structure
Feedback: Your English is weak making it difficult to follow your arguments
Sentences: words but variety adds interest
Avoid repetition
Grammar and punctuation correct
16/01/2019
Academic Skills Advice

14. Academic Skills Advice
5.Brevity
Clear and concise
A woman named Valerie Epson was the first female CEO of a large multi-national printer firm. Becomes… Valerie Epson was the first female CEO of a multi-national printer firm.
Write underneath what should be showing what to get rid of
16/01/2019
Academic Skills Advice

15. Academic Skills Advice
5.Brevity
Clear and concise
Before embarking on an approach to analyse the business model there is a need to explore the meaning of the business model. Paul Timmers (2000) has defined the business model as ‘an architecture for product, service and information flows, including a description of the various business actors and their roles’ (p.32). Although there are different kinds of business model they have got one thing in common and that is they are designed to make money for their owners in the long run. 82
Before analysing the business model, its meaning required exploration. Timmers (2000) defined the business model as ‘an architecture for product, service and information flows, including a description of the various business actors and their roles’ (p.32). Every business model has one thing in common: they are designed to make money. 48
Click for answer
16/01/2019
Academic Skills Advice

16. Activity 2: Reduce the word count
5.Brevity
Activity 2: Reduce the word count
A. In several of their published books, ‘Walking Made Easy ‘and ‘Hiking for Laughs’, Bill Hewson and Patrick Abernathy, the authors behind the series, made consistent reference to the famed monster of Loch Ness.
In ‘Walking Made Easy’ and ‘Hiking for Laughs’, Hewson and Abernathy made consistent reference to the famed monster of Loch Ness
B. Fiscal returns for this quarter do not show a greater upwards turn than the previous session that is why it could be said that there has been stability these three months.
There has been financial stability these last three months.
C. Whilst recent research has begun to look at further innovative infectious disease treatments, some current studies are also highlighting the need for more responsive treatments.
Recent research has looked at innovative infectious disease treatments with some studies highlighting the need for more responsive treatments.
Click for each question and answer
16/01/2019
Academic Skills Advice

17. Academic Skills Advice
6.Proofreading
Question:
Which member of university staff can you go to for proof-reading, assignment checking or assisted editing of your work?
Nobody
Click for answer
16/01/2019
Academic Skills Advice

18. Academic Skills Advice
References
Redman, P. (2001) Good essay writing. 2nd ed. London, Sage Publications Ltd.
16/01/2019
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:
16/01/2019
Academic Skills Advice

20. Academic Skills Advice
Any questions?
16/01/2019
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.