2. 1 Computer Systems 2009-2010 Week 2: Academic Writing Alma Whitfield

3. 2 Academic Writing Define your target audience (Do they have any prior knowledge of the subject?) Define the purpose of your report Collect your information Don ’ t rely on just one source

4. Wikipedia Is this useful? What do you think about Wikipedia? Have you used this in any way? 3

5. 4 Plan Generate Ideas Sketch them out Write freely - don ’ t think about the structure of the document at this time Talk about your ideas Brainstorm with fellow students and anyone else who will listen

6. 5 Plan Spend as much time planning as writing Planning prevents wondering what to do next Revise plans as necessary Select the information to be presented from your research Make an outline to organise the order of your report

7. 6 Write the Report Make a list of the most important points Ensure you have evidence to support these points. Make sure the jargon is not too technical for your reader. Who are you writing for? Use your outline to prepare a rough draft. At this stage just get it on paper, don ’ t bother with grammar. Walk away from it. Take time out and then return to your assignment.

8. 7 Revise This will take 50% of your total time if done correctly Read aloud Read to someone else Look for problems

9. 8 Problems Coherence Comprehensible (Does it make sense?) Accuracy of content Organisation (Does information link?) Emphasis Spelling Grammar Consistency in layout ALL CAN BE COVERED IN COHERENCE

10. 9 Improve the coherence of writing Coherence refers to the way the writing hangs together, the ease with which the reader understands the transition from one idea to the next Tell the reader where you will be leading him before you start

11. 10 Structural elements critical to coherence Titles Headings Sub headings Lists Introductions Conclusions

12. 11 Coherence of Writing Write informative titles and headings Does your title identify your research? Is it easy to understand? Is it structured appropriately for the subject Is it structured appropriately for the reader

13. 12 Coherence of writing Use lists or tables to communicate parallel information Use numbers when priority of items is important Ensure they are in the correct order

14. 13 Coherence of writing Use introductions appropriately What is the subject? What is the purpose of the discussion? What is the background of the subject? What is the scope of the discussion? What is the organisation of the discussion? What are the key terms that will be used in the discussion?

15. 14 Coherence of writing Use conclusions to complete discussion What are the main points established in the document? What do we know from these points? What should be done next? How can the reader find out more information if required?

16. 15 Revise First revision Check for accuracy of statements. Are they valid? Can you support them? Check for accuracy of charts Check for accuracy of equations Delete any misleading or confusing statements, charts, diagrams etc. Always annotate diagrams

17. 16 Referencing What is a reference What information is needed How to cite How to create a list of references

18. 17 According to Webster ’ s Dictionary (2002), a reference is “ a short note acknowledging a source of information or quoting a passage ” References (2002). Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, [online] www.dictionary.com [accessed] 17-Sept-02 What is a reference

19. 18 What is a reference A reference is a standardised method of acknowledging another individual’s or group’s work. References avoid plagiarism ie: knowingly copying another person’s work. References allow readers to explore an avenue of interest.

20. What information is needed An appropriate label in the body of the text where you want to indicate you are referring to the work of others A list of references at the end of the text that the labels refer to

21. Harvard System of referencing There are several different styles for referencing The Department of Computer Science at Hope has adopted the Harvard System

22. Harvard System of referencing Harvard system has rules for the different types of publications: books chapters in books e-books journal articles conference papers etc See the Anglia Ruskin University Guide at: http://libweb.anglia.ac.uk/referencing/harvard.htm?harvard_id=27#27

23. 22 References Bennet, S., McRobb, S. and Farmer, R. (1999) Object-Oriented Systems Analysis and Design Using UML. Berkshire, England: McGraw Hill,. Butler J & Walbert D (1986) Medicine and the Law, New York: Facts on File Publications,. Example Reference list in Harvard style

24. 23 References Bennet, S., McRobb, S. and Farmer, R. (1999) Object-Oriented Systems Analysis and Design Using UML. Berkshire, England: McGraw Hill,. Butler J & Walbert D (1986) Medicine and the Law, New York: Facts on File Publications,. Example Reference list in Harvard style Author, Initials/first name., Year. Title of book. Edition. (only include this if not the first edition) Place: Publisher.

25. 24 References Bennet, S., McRobb, S. and Farmer, R. (1999) Object-Oriented Systems Analysis and Design Using UML. Berkshire, England: McGraw Hill,. Butler J & Walbert D (1986) Medicine and the Law, New York: Facts on File Publications,. Example Reference list in Harvard style Leave a blank line between each entry

26. 25 References Bennet, S., McRobb, S. and Farmer, R. (1999) Object-Oriented Systems Analysis and Design Using UML. Berkshire, England: McGraw Hill,. Butler J & Walbert D (1986) Medicine and the Law, New York: Facts on File Publications,. Example Reference list in Harvard style Listed in alphabetical order of first author surname

27. 26 Labels within the text in Harvard System Using the Harvard system, the author's name and year of publication are inserted within the text for reference: eg "in a recent study (Picard, 1997) it is described as..." If the author's name occurs naturally in the sentence, the year is given in parentheses; if not both name and date are given: eg "Laurel (1992) argues that...."

28. 27 When the same author has published more than one cited document in the same year, these are distinguished by adding lower-case letters (a, b, c, etc.) after the year and within parentheses. "In a further article (Laurel 1992b) greater attention is given to..." Labels within the text in Harvard System

29. 28 If there are two authors, the surname of both should be given before the date: eg "Menzel and D ’ Aluisio (1984) take a different view". If more than two authors, the surname of the first author only should be given, followed by "et al ”. e.g. "This work (Bennett et al, 1999) quotes..." Harvard referencing system

30. Referencing rules The Harvard System has lots of rules You do not need to remember them; you only need to remember where to find the rules. Keep a note of the Anglia Ruskin University web site mentioned earlier Next slide has a quick guide for referencing books

31. 30 1. For all references start with the author information. (author surname, followed by initials,first) 2. Then add the publish date of the reference. (1990) 3. Next add the title of the reference. (The Definitive Guide to Referencing) 4. Next add the publishing details of the reference. Web address OR Publisher name and place 5. Last add specific details of the reference. page numbers. Referencing in 5 easy steps

32. 31 Adding references to the text “ A computer is a devices that allows data … to be stored, manipulated, retrieved and communicated electronically. ” Whitfield A (2002). Page 3 According to Whitfield (2002), data is information without meaning. Data has two aspects - information and instructions. Whitfield A (2002). Reference: Whitfield A (2002). IM&C Booklet. Liverpool Hope

33. 32 Adam-Smith P (1978) The ANZACS, Thomas Nelson, Melbourne 'Anorexia nervosa' (1969) British Medical Journal, 1, 529-530. Beckleheimer J (1994) How do you cite URL's in a bibliography? [Online] www.nrlssc.navy.mil/meta/ bibliography.html [Accessed 13-Dec-95] Butler J & Walbert D (1986) Medicine and the Law, Facts on File Publications, New York. Dewhirst C (1986) 'Hot air over the Himalayas', World Geographic, vol. 1, no. 4, pp. 44-45. Educating America for the 21st century (1994) [Online] www.ilt.columbia.edu/CONF/ EdPlan.html [Accessed 2001, May 16]. Example of a reference list

34. 33 Warning: You must cite your references. If you use anyone ’ s work, for any reason, whether a friend ’ s work, the internet, or a book, it is plagiarism, and reason for expulsion from the course if not cited.

35. Follow up activities Seminar sessions will have follow up activities on writing and referencing. 34