1. Academic Writing Skills
09.30
Most people become a manager because they are good at what they do but being a manager is a completely different job. Your success depends on not only how well you do in your own job but on how well you get things done through other people.
Pick a card and a colour and say why.

2. Workshop Objectives By the end of this workshop, you will:
be able to explain how to structure a piece of academic writing
understand how to write in third person
be able to undertake literature searches to find the most relevant and up-to-date academic resources
be able to reference sources correctly both in text and in a reference list 2

3. What is academic writing?
It keeps to the point
There is no humour
It isn’t ‘flowery’
Description plays only a small part
It looks thoroughly at a subject
It accurately defines things
It analyses situations, looking at many sides of an argument
Group shout out first – what do you think makes academic writing different to business and creative writing (e.g. writing stories)?
Then go through points on the slide.

4. Common Features of Academic Writing
Use literature sources - don’t just state your personal opinion. Use studies, books, journal articles, seminal pieces, etc. to support your arguments
Follow a set structure – group similar points together rather than dotting them about throughout the whole assignment
Write in 3rd person – when referring to yourself, your views, thoughts and opinions you should write in 3rd person, e.g. the author feels that, it is the opinion of the author that …
Discuss the differences between first, second, third person and why academic writing requires us to use 3rd person.
Exercise – write a couple of paragraphs about a topic of your choice, e.g. holiday, tv programme, film, work scenario, using 3rd person.
Workshop facilitator to then check that this has been done correctly and offer feedback to the group on observations.

5. Common Features of Academic Writing
Follow a line of argument fully – tackle one line of reasoning at a time and fully, so that your assignment flows well from one point to the next
Compare and contrast – you may be asked to compare and contrast a number of theories or techniques and discuss the merits of each against the other (strengths and weaknesses)
Remain emotionally neutral – take care not use emotive words or phrases. You will be required to comment objectively and dispassionately on the topics in your assignments.

6. 6 step process Analyse the question Research and record information
Organise and plan
Write an outline plan and first draft
Work on your first draft
Final drafts

7. Analysing the Question
All assignments contain a central question which has to be answered. Your main task is to apply what you know to answer this central question.
It is NOT about showing how much you know.
Focus on the title before you start researching and writing
Read the question a few times to fully understand what you are being asked.
Keep it in front of you so that you can keep checking that you are truly focused on the title when writing.
It is important before you start writing to focus on the title to make sure that you are clear of what is expected of you. Show the marker what you know about the subject in question not how much you know about the topic as a whole. Think hard about what the question is asking you so that you can choose relevant reading materials – you need to show your ability to select material relevant to the subject.
If you don’t answer the question, you may not get any marks at all.
You should aim to use the title in your introduction and then throughout the assignment to keep you focused and make sure that you are not going off track. There should be a clear link from the title, to the introduction through to the conclusion.
Exercise – what do you think the titles you’ve been given are asking? What would you include an assignment based on these titles?

8. Analysing the Question
Analyse
Examine in close detail; identify important points and chief features.
Comment on
Identify key issues & give reactions based on what you have read. Avoid personal opinion.
Compare
Show how 2 or more things are similar. Indicate the relevance or consequences of these similarities.
Critically evaluate
Weigh arguments for an against something, assessing the strength of the evidence on both sides. Use criteria (methodological and/or conceptual) to guide your assessment of which theories, models or items are preferable.
Describe
Give the main characteristics or features of something.
Define
Give the exact meaning of. Where relevant show that you understand why the definition may be problematic.

9. Analysing the Question
Discuss
Write about the most important aspects of (inc. criticisms); give arguments for and against; consider the implications of.
Evaluate
Assess the worth, importance or usefulness of something using evidence. There will probably be cases to make both ‘for’ & ‘against’.
Examine
Put the subject ‘under the microscope’; focus in detail & critically evaluate.
Explain
Make clear why something happens or why it is the way it is.
Justify
Give evidence which supports and argument/idea; show why a decision or conclusions were made; consider possible objections.
Outline
Give only the main points, showing the main structure.
To what extent
Consider how far something is true or contributes to a final outcome. Also consider ways in which the proposition is not true (the answer is usually somewhere between ‘completely’ and ‘not at all’).

10. Step 2 – Research & record information
Use relevant sources from reading lists
Visit University Library
Undertake literature searches e.g. NWAS Library Information Service, university electronic journals/books

11. Literature Searches
Good research needs to be placed in the context of existing – usually articles published in peer reviewed journals
Literature searching requires that you find other relevant published research – this means searching databases such as CINAHL, EMBASE and MEDLINE
Access to databases is provided through NHS Evidence or your University. You will need an NHS Athens Account and a University provided User Name or Password if you are attending a University
Matt Holland to talk about this and LIS.

12. Literature Searches
You will find all the information you need either from your University Library or from Matt Holland, NWAS Librarian
For more information look at the NWAS Library guides located here

13. Step 3 – Organise and plan
What do you do when you ‘plan’ your assignments?
How much time do you spend planning?
5 minutes to discuss in small groups, then feedback.
People will sometimes say:
Make sure workspace is clean and clutter free.
Get all the materials that I need, e.g. pens, pencils, paper, cup of tea!
All of these points are just procrastination. Get on with it and stop stalling!

14. Percentage of Time Spent Writing

15. Assignment Structure Title Introduction Main argument Conclusion
References
Appendices
Title - Every title contains an actual or implied question. The whole of your assignment must focus on the title & address that question.
Intro - Explain clearly what the assignment is going to do i.e. ‘signpost the reader’, what do you plan to cover – think about the order in which you will cover the topics too.
Identify the issues that you are going to explore
Give a brief outline of how you will deal with each issue & in which order
Main argument - Paragraph 1: covers the first thing your intro said you would address:
the first sentence introduces the main idea of the paragraph
subsequent sections develop the topic including relevant examples, details, evidence, quotations, references.
Lead up to next paragraph.
Conclusion - The conclusion contains NO new material.
summarise your argument & main themes.
state general conclusions & make clear why important/significant.
last sentence: sum up your argument very briefly, linking it back to the title.
References - List all the books/journal articles. etc you have referred to in your writing. The format for referencing will differ dependent on the institution you are studying at, e.g. Harvard, APA.
Appendices – Include all of the appendices that you have referred to in your assignment (if relevant). Each one should be labelled separately (usually with a number or roman numerals) in the order that they appear in the text.

16. Initial Planning Create a spider diagram to identify key points
Place key points in separate circles
Add the detail using trigger words to create mind map
Highlight links and repetition – this will help you to group your content into relevant sections
Decide what key points you want to discuss in your introduction
Undertake additional literature research

17. Initial Planning 1 1 A 2 B 2 3
Academic Writing 1 1 C 2 D 3 2

18. Step 4 - Outline Plan and 1st Draft
Select a sequence and number the details in a logical order. Create an outline by converting your cluster into an ordered vertical list. This may even become your contents page at a later stage. 1 3
A – Introduction:
1 –
2 –
3 –
B – Section 1:
C – Section 2: 1 A 2 B 2
Academic Writing 2 3 D C 1 1 2

19. Write 1st Draft
Use your vertical list as your guide and start writing.
True drafting is where you start typing and carry on typing.
Don’t re-read the sentence you’ve just written.
Don’t check your spelling or grammar at this point.
Don’t cross anything out
Just type!
It would be beneficial to you if you sent your outline through to a tutor for comment and guidance. This will ensure that you are heading in the right direction.

20. Step 5 – Work on 1st draft
This is the stage where you will edit your work:
Correct spelling, punctuation and grammar errors
Change sentence/paragraph structure
Make sure that the whole assignment flows logically form one paragraph to the next. If not, change it.
Add/delete information as necessary
TIP: reading aloud will help you to spot places where your writing is not fluent

21. Step 6 – Final Draft
Again, check your spelling, punctuation and grammar
Ask someone to proof read your work for you
Make sure you have referenced all academic work and that you have done this correctly

22. How to reference
… using the Harvard Referencing System or the Name/Date system
There are two parts to referencing, citing in text and the bibliography at the end of your piece of work
Citing in text – use the name of the author of the piece of work you are referring to and the date of publication (Holland 2011)
At the end of a piece of work list your references in alphabetical order by author using your University Harvard Style or the NWAS Harvard style
Matt Holland to talk about referencing and give out examples – ask participants to complete a referencing exercise to check knowledge in this area.

23. How to reference Your reference will look something like this
Book - Holland, M Referencing is easier than it looks. Harvard Press: Liverpool.
Article - Holland, M Referencing in research – a look at the evidence. Journal of Very Advanced Referencing. 56 (1), 1-30.
For a guide to referencing and links to all the referencing styles used by Universities in the North West see Citing references – a guide for students

24. Plagiarism
Copying word-for-word from a published text without indicating it’s source.
Passing off the ideas/work of someone else as your own – this can include writing something in your own words without acknowledging the original source of the idea/work.
Remember, to reference every source that you take information from and use in your assignment.

25. How to get good marks DO:
Always make sure you have answered the question
Prepare
Use up-to-date sources (usually within the last years)
Develop a clear & logical structure
Ensure your introduction is focussed, concise & directional
Go beyond mere description, critique the work of others & back up points with evidence
Check spelling, punctuation & grammar
Do not rely on spell checker (give out spell checker handout), it will not pick up words that are spelled correctly but used in the wrong context, e.g. to, too, two; were, where; their, there, they’re; of, have. Get someone with a good – excellent command of English to proof read your work prior to submission.

26. How to get good marks DON’T:
Waffle - check sentence construction & don’t fill an essay with irrelevant information
Over-rely upon direct quotations: keep to a minimum, the majority should be written in your own words
Rush
Plagiarise - make sure you have perfect referencing!

27. Further Tips Distinguish fact from opinion
Be objective rather than emotional
Avoid sweeping claims or statements – you should be able to support everything you write with evidence
Avoid using colloquialisms
Remember to keep saving your work on your PC so that you don’t lose it
Set the language to UK English not US English

28. Formatting Times New Roman or Arial font Size 12 Double lined spacing
Always include a cover sheet detailing your name (or ID number), module number, assignment title, date of submission
Check if you have to declare the word count

29. Questions?