Quiz for W6 (10 mins)
§ Determine Task words, Topic words, and Limitting words in the
sentence below:
§ “Discuss about the two specific terms: Browning rection and Maillard
reaction; then evaluate their contributions in the food process.”
§ Give a mind map of the topic below:
§ The advantage of attending class?
Anh văn học thuật / Introductory Academic
English (210260)
WEEK 6:
Managing
Writing Process
WELCOME TO . GV: Nguyễn Mạnh Cường
The academic writing process
§ No best method for writing
§ 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
Example structure of a Thesis Report
§ Abstract § Result
§ Each experiment / methodology must
include one result (at least).
§ Introduction
§ Hypothesis
§ Discussion
§ Results / Outcomes
§ Almost from result questions.
§ An important part
§ Body
§ Materials and Methods / § Conclusion + Recommendation
Methodology (include sub-
methods)
§ Reference + Appendix
Introduction
§ Provide orientation or background for the reader
§ Also add context or justification
§ Make the reader care
§ Outline or explain the purpose of assignment
§ Explain your thinking (thesis) – your response to the question
§ Overall argument plus a preview of the conclusion
§ Enough background to advance your overall thesis
Body
§ Body is constructed from themes
§ Themes built from your focus questions
§ Each section of the body should relate back to thesis
§ Usually one per paragraph
§ Support the body with evidence, examples, references
§ Combine together into academic arguments
§ Your ideas sticked together with other people’s ideas (citations)
§ Consider how to link sentences and paragraphs together
§ Academic signposting
§ Concluding points – links to first point
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)
Taking charge of learning has been shown to be the key to Point
effective study. Once students accept they are the most important The argument, position or claim
element in determining their success or failure, an effective
approach to study will become a priority (Butler, 2011 & Watts, Explanation of the point
2000). Butler (2011) argues this is an important change for
students who are moving from school to university, since at school,
the teacher is considered central to success, whereas this is not Evidence for point
necessarily the case in tertiary learning. While some researchers
agree that that the student is important in determining success or Evidence in contrast
failure at university (Smith, 2005; Pinjab 2003), they also highlight
the importance of the teacher. Nevertheless, it seems that while it Explain your point by weighing
is imperative to consider the dual role of teacher and learner, when evidence
evaluating the features of effective learners, it is more important for
tertiary learners to focus on the role they play in their own success.
By taking ownership in this way, students learn to take Link to thesis
responsibility for educational outcomes and thus become more
flexible in adapting their strategies, when necessary.
Write your conclusion
§ Answer the question posed by your assignment
§ Check criteria - make sure you explicitly/clearly address the question
§ Link back to thesis statement
§ Synthesise answers to individual focus questions
§ Link everything together
§ Avoid introducing new information
§ Leave the reader with a new thought
§ A novel idea that you developed by analysing and synthesising the evidence
§ Often involves recommendations or consequences
§ What is next? Future research? What can the reader do with this information?
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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