Retno Lestari

Writing:
an essential part of much academic
work
product of other study activities like
research, note-making, reflection, goal
setting.
different purposes and types of writing
but all academic writing shares some
features and writing processes.

How do you typically

organize your writing? Do
you use some methods?
Describe it now

Write in sentences to:

Express reflections on things you
learn and how you could apply them
Practice paragraphs you can
improve later
Build a sense of yourself as a writer.

The writing process: a model

based on Coffin

1. Prewriting

To find something to write about

Understand, generate ideas
Research, read, discuss

Methods:
1. Brainstorming
2. Freewriting
3. Personal journal writing

Research the topic

Read the right
Books
Periodicals/journals
Internet

Freewriting now

2. Planning
To clarify, focus, organize
Methods include:
1. List
2. Graphic organizers: mind map,
clustering
3. Outline view (essay plan).

Cluster diagram4

Mind maps

3. and 4. Drafting and

revision

Whatever your process, good writing

takes
Time
Work
Revisions.
Revisions can be made on the word
processor screen or on paper.
Leave time for revisions.

Revision example

Summarize
Paraphrase
Synthesize
Analyze
Evaluate

Summarize

Paraphrase

Synthesize

Analyze

Evaluate

Paraphrase

To express the meaning in

other words

Summary or
Abstract

Containing the chief points or sum

or substance of a matter with
implication of brevity
(Shorter Oxford English Dictionary)

5. Peer review
Peer review is an essential part
of professional academic life.
Anonymous peer reviews are
necessary for journal publication
and some books.
Review by critical friends is
common.

Support the revision

Swap pieces of writing in pairs.
Write on the review form to give
helpful advice to the author on their
summary.
Hand back the writing with the
review form.

Revise your summary

Read the review form.
Take note of its comments and
address each one.
Rewrite your summary on a new
sheet
Add your name at the top and hand
it in at the end of the session.

6. Editing
Editing, proofreading & polishing are to
correct the surface features of the text.
1. Appearance

Formatting, fonts, footnotes, footers

2. Linguistic accuracy

Spelling, punctuation
3. Sources, references, acknowledgements

Citations correct, references complete

The paragraph is a series of

sentences developing one topic.

The topic of a paragraph is stated in one

sentence. This is called the topic sentence. It
should be specific and detailed.
The topic sentence is often found at the
beginning of the paragraph, but it can be in
other places, too.
The sentence in which the main idea is stated
is the topic sentence of that paragraph

The rest of the paragraph consists of

sentences that develop or explain the
main idea.

concluding
sentence

main
idea

Through the centuries rats have

managed to survive all our
efforts to destroy them. We have
poisoned them and trapped them.
We have fumigated, flooded, and
burned them. We have tried germ
warfare. Some rats even survived
atomic bomb tests conducted on
Entwetok atoll in the Pacific after
World War II. In spite of all our
efforts, these enemies of ours
continue to prove that they are the
most indestructible of pests.

Read the following paragraph and underline

the stated main idea. Write down in your own
words what you are able to conclude from the
information.

The rules of conduct during an examination are

clear. No books, calculators or papers are allowed in
the test room. Proctors will not allow anyone with
such items to take the test. Anyone caught cheating
will be asked to leave the room. His or her test sheet
will be taken. The incident will be reported to the
proper authority. At the end of the test period, all
materials will be returned to the proctor. Failure to
abide by these rules will result in a failing grade for
this test.

Answer:

You should have underlined the first

sentence in the paragraph - this is
the stated main idea. What can be
concluded from the information is: If
you do not follow the rules, you will
automatically fail the test. This
concluding information is found in the
last sentence.

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Every sentence in a paragraph should support

the main idea expressed in the topic sentence.

main idea
se

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Restate the topic sentence in

different words.

A concluding sentence clinches the

point made in the paragraph.

It summarizes the paragraph.

Paragraphs: A Bad Example

I live in a house in west Provo. I like the
view from our house. We have lived there
since November. We also have a car that I
like very much. We were in an accident a
few months ago. We hit a deer that was
crossing the street at night. I felt sorry for
the deer, but it cost a lot of money to repair
the car.

Paragraphs: A Good Example

My husband and I bought our first house last
November, and we love it. It is located in west Provo
near Utah Lake. Although we cannot see the lake from
our house, we do have a beautiful view of Mount
Timpanogos. Our house has three bedrooms, two
bathrooms, a living room and a family room, and a large
kitchen and dining area. We also have a large backyard
and a small garden. We are very happy to own our own
home, and I hope that we will live there for several years.

 Stick

to the point: The ideas have a

clear and logical relation to each other.
Put details or examples or incidents in
logical order.
chronological
in relation to each other
in order of importance

4
3
2
1

Transition words
chronological
order

objects in relation to
one another

in order of
importance

first

next to

however

meanwhile

in front of

furthermore

later

beside

as a result

afterwards

between

in fact

finally

behind

yet

The narrative paragraph

The persuasive paragraph.

tries to convince the audience

The descriptive paragraph

tells a story

describes something

The expository or explanatory

paragraph

gives information or explains something

To avoid plagiarism
To acknowledge direct quotes
To provide evidence to support arguments
So that readers can check how much
preparation has gone into your work and
can find extra information

 These

appear in the main body of the text

to indicate the source of your information
Use in-text references whenever you
mention facts written by someone else,
or when you include someone elses ideas
Write the surname of the author and the
date of publication, in brackets e.g.
(Greaves, 2004)
Use letters after the date to distinguish
between books by the same author
published in the same year (Greaves,
2004a)

 Include

a reference at the end of a

sentence. (Greaves, 2004)
Greaves (2004) says that references can
be written in the middle of a sentence.
For direct quotes, use speech marks
and state the page number of the source
in the reference. (Greaves, 2004, p.72)
Remember that what you put in the intext reference must direct the reader to
the correct reference in the end list.

 The

end list is a list of sources that you

have either quoted directly or used
arguments from, listed in alphabetical order
by author (or editor) surname
Be consistent with formats capitals &
italics should be used in the same way
throughout
You should also include a bibliography of
items consulted but not cited in your work

Meggs, P.B. (ed.) (1998) A history of Graphic

Design, 3rd ed., Chichester: John Wiley
In-text (Meggs, 1998)
1st & 2nd author / editor surnames (include (ed.)
if editors)
Publication year in brackets
Title in italics
Edition number (where relevant)
Place of publication
Publisher
Also note the punctuation between each piece
of information about your sources.

Gera, T. (2002) Keep your hair on, New

Scientist, 23 (12), 13 October, p. 28-35
In-text (Gera, 2002)
Article author
Publication year in brackets
Article title in speech marks
Journal title in italics
Volume & issue / part number, and
publication date
Page numbers

Jazz review. Your complete resource for jazz

music reviews. Online. Available from:
[Link] [Accessed 18
October 2003]
In-text (Jazz review, accessed 2003)

Title of web site in italics

Web site address underlined
The date you accessed the site in square
brackets (this is important as web pages can
change frequently)

Using the book details that you found

on the library catalogue, produce an intext and an end-list reference.
In-text:
(Author surname, date of publication)
End-list:
AUTHOR. (ed.) (Publication year) Title,
ed., Place of publication: Publisher.

1 way citing--author

Direct quote example

Cowie (1996, p. 91) argues that
socialism rejected the liberal ideals of
individualism and competition.

Paraphrase example
Cowie (1996) suggests that unlike
capitalism, socialism promotes the
good of the whole before the good of
the individual.

2 way citing--information

Direct quote example

It has been argued that socialism
rejected the liberal ideals of
individualism and competition (Cowie,
1996, p. 91).

Paraphrase example
Unlike capitalism, socialism promotes
the good of the whole before the good
of the individual (Cowie, 1996).

Any questions???