Anh văn học thuật / Introductory Academic
English (210260)
WEEK 7:
Managing
Writing Process
WELCOME TO . GV: Nguyễn Mạnh Cường
The academic writing process
§ No best method for writing Apply the strategy of PEEL
§ Your own style will evolve over time
§ Use assignment guidelines and frameworks
§ Build a process
§ Different processes to consider
§ Genre writing (styles of assignments/academic writing)
§ Link specific strategies to specific genres
Overview
§ Academic writing at university = assignment writing
§ Some of you will also do research writing
§ Assignment writing process = academic writing process
§ Time management for writing
§ Planning and preparing for writing
§ Writing assignments
§ Editing assignments
Overview – Assignment writing
Preparation • Time management, goals & planning
Ten Steps • Steps for approaching assignments
Writing • Structure & writing efficiently
Editing • Evaluating & improving
Preparation
Assignment time management & planning
Preparation Ten Steps Writing Editing
How long should an assignment take?
§ At University: 3,000 – 15,000 words
§ Roughly 30 to 150 hours
§ Academic writing requires higher order thinking
§ Synthesis & evaluation
§ Good synthesis cannot be done at the last minute
§ Writing can be done at the last minute
§ But, thinking takes time
Setting goals
§ SMART Goals
§ Specific
§ Measurable
§ Attainable
§ Relevant
§ Time-bound
The ten steps
§ 1. Analyse the question § 6. Read and take notes
§ 2. Brainstorm and concept map § 7. Visualise (mind map)
§ 3. Develop focus questions § 8. Write and re-write
§ 4. Browse resources § 9. Reflect, edit and proofread
§ 5. Refine focus questions § 10. Submit and keep a copy
Ten Steps
Steps for breaking down an assignment
Preparation Ten Steps Writing Editing
1. Analyse the question
Topic analysis - 3 steps
§ Task words Circle them (verbs)
§ Topic words Identify key content
(nouns); underline key issues
§ Limiting words Scope
2. Brainstorm and mind map
§ Write down everything you know
§ And don’t know
§ This will clarify and organise your
ideas in preparation for reading
§ Organise into a mind map
§ Starts conceptualising information
§ Use 5W + 1H to get started
§ (Who? What? Why? Where? When? and
How?)
3. Develop focus questions
§ Refine and develop information from brainstorming
§ What questions should be asked to address the topic
§ Questions relating back to overall topic – assignment’s main question
§ These questions will eventually form the basis of future sections and paragraphs
§ This step usually done simultaneous with step 4
§ (browse the literature)
4. Browse the literature
§ Read based on your brainstorming
§ Use step 3 focus questions to generate keywords for searching
§ Expand on topic words with questions
§ Search broadly at first – learn the basics
§ Contextualise and conceptualise knowledge
§ Remember - good writing requires deep thinking
§ Use the library – search function or databases
5. Refine focus questions
§ Browsing literature will give you an idea of robustness of your
focus questions
§ Are they any good? Do you need to write new ones?
§ Further considerations for your focus questions
§ Are questions too broad?
§ Are there more questions to ask?
§ Are my questions on topic? Do they link back to main question?
§ Do I need to add questions?
§ Do I need to remove questions?
6. Read and take notes
§ Choose what you will read – avoid trying to read everything
§ Read with purpose and be selective
§ Use focus questions as a guide
§ Read with focus questions in mind
§ Take and sort notes by focus questions
§ Always take notes when you read
§ Keep record of references used and read
§ Consider learning bibliographic software such as Endnote or Mendeley
7. Visualise (mind map)
§ Synthesise themes & focus questions
§ Draw another mind map – link ideas together
§ Forms the outline of future structure for your assignment
§ You will think better when you can visualise written structure
§ This is your first detailed plan of the assignment
§ Gives order and structure to ideas
§ Uncovers themes or main ideas to explore further
§ Focuses thinking on the topic and helps refine topic sentences
Planning complete
§ Steps 1 through 7 were for planning
§ Helps to organise your thinking in preparation for writing
§ Steps might take several hours to complete
§ But saves time during final writing steps
§ Next steps 8 through 10
§ Writing – Editing – Submission
Example timetable
§ 1. Analyse 30 mins § 6. Read 120 mins
§ 2. Brainstorm 60 mins § 7. Visualise 30 mins
§ 3. Develop 30 mins § 8. Write 360 mins
§ 4. Browse 240 mins § 9. Reflect 60 mins
§ 5. Refine 30 mins § 10. Submit FIN
Writing
Efficient structure & writing
Preparation Ten Steps Writing Editing
Genre
§ Understand the genre of the assignment
§ Essay
§ Report
§ Reflection
§ Literature review
§ Case study
§ Thesis
§ Many others
Overall structure
§ Each genre has specific structural requirements
§ Look them up or attend our workshops
§ All academic writing incorporates overall narrative structure
§ Beginning, middle & end
§ Organise structured information so it has beginning, middle & end
§ Classic narrative structure – consider their purpose
§ Introduction
§ Body
§ Conclusion
Paragraph structure
PEEL:
§ Point (argument; related to thesis)
Applies across
paragraphs,
§ Explanation (explain point further) sections and
chapters
§ Evidence (support with research evidence, examples, references)
§ Linking (to topic, previous point, thesis, next point, question)
Practice in paragraph structure
§ Writing 2 paragraphs about the topic below by applying PEEL
strategy
§ “Discuss about the two specific terms: Browning rection and
Maillard reaction; then evaluate their contributions in the food
process.”
Ø Each paragrph: 5-7 sentences; around 100 words
§ Point (argument; related to thesis)
§ Explanation (explain point further)
§ Evidence (support with research evidence, examples, references)
§ Linking (to topic, previous point, thesis, next point, question)
Editing
Evaluating & improving your writing
Preparation Ten Steps Writing Editing
Editing hierarchy
1.Content or ideas
2.Organisation
3. Sentence structure
4. Grammar, spelling and punctuation
§ Why use an editing hierarchy?
§ Avoid multi-tasking while editing
§ The reason why small errors slip through during editing
Conclusion
Putting everything together
Preparation Ten Steps Writing Editing
Conclusion
§ When writing, follow a framework – a series of steps
§ Always break task into manageable chunks
§ Analyse task and assign time in advance
Time invested = time saved
§ Think early & have a schedule
Larger the assignment, more
time saved
§ Plan and write from the plan
§ Take editing and proof-reading seriously
QUESTIONS?
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