Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Lesson 2
Lesson 2
writing – Lesson 2
Technical writing
Claire Taylor
c.taylor@un‐ihe.org
Yness March Slokar
y.slokar@un‐ihe.org
Urban Water & Sanitation
International Masters Programme
Claire Taylor, Yness M Slokar | Technical writing | c.taylor@un‐ihe.org 1
Lesson 2
Discourse markers, paraphrasing and plagiarism
Claire Taylor, Yness M Slokar | Technical writing | c.taylor@un‐ihe.org 2
Page | 1
Technical writing – Lesson 2
Objectives of lesson 2
After today’s class the participants will be able to:
use discourse markers;
avoid plagiarism by paraphrasing and understand Turnitin;
use pronouns;
apply hedging, grading and reporting verbs.
Claire Taylor, Yness M Slokar | Technical writing | c.taylor@un‐ihe.org 3
Objectives of lesson 2
After today’s class the participants will be able to:
use discourse markers;
avoid plagiarism by paraphrasing and understand Turnitin;
use pronouns;
apply hedging, grading and reporting verbs.
Claire Taylor, Yness M Slokar | Technical writing | c.taylor@un‐ihe.org 4
Page | 2
Technical writing – Lesson 2
Discourse markers
Clearly show connection between your ideas.
Help reader to understand:
o how different parts of sentences connect with each other;
o how different sentences connect with each other;
o therefore meaning of paragraph.
• Words such as Therefore, On the other hand, For example, Firstly,
Secondly, Finally, Consequently, …
Claire Taylor, Yness M Slokar | Technical writing | c.taylor@un‐ihe.org 5
Discourse markers
Different types for different functions
See Appendix C for Table 1 Discourse markers.
Connecting two different sentences ‐ column 1.
Within a sentence:
connecting clauses (contains a verb) ‐ column 2;
connecting noun phrases (no verb) ‐ column 3.
Claire Taylor, Yness M Slokar | Technical writing | c.taylor@un‐ihe.org 6
Page | 3
Technical writing – Lesson 2
Discourse markers
1. Addition, e.g.: In addition, ... | Also, ...
2. Contrast, e.g.: However, ... | On the contrary, ...
3. Summary, e.g.: In summary, ... | To summarize, ...
4. Reason, result, cause, e.g.: Consequently, ... | This is because ...
5. Example, e.g.: For example, ... | For instance, ...
Claire Taylor, Yness M Slokar | Technical writing | c.taylor@un‐ihe.org 7
Discourse markers
1. Addition, e.g.: ... not only but also, ... | and ...
2. Contrast, e.g.: ... but … | ... while …
3. Reason, result, cause, e.g.: … so ... | … because …
Claire Taylor, Yness M Slokar | Technical writing | c.taylor@un‐ihe.org 8
Page | 4
Technical writing – Lesson 2
Discourse markers
Claire Taylor, Yness M Slokar | Technical writing | c.taylor@un‐ihe.org 9
Objectives of lesson 2
After today’s class the participants will be able to:
use discourse markers;
avoid plagiarism by paraphrasing and understand Turnitin;
use pronouns;
apply hedging, grading and reporting verbs.
Claire Taylor, Yness M Slokar | Technical writing | c.taylor@un‐ihe.org 10
Page | 5
Technical writing – Lesson 2
Paraphrasing ‐ why?
The purpose of paraphrasing:
avoids plagiarism,
shows you have understood the text.
Claire Taylor, Yness M Slokar | Technical writing | c.taylor@un‐ihe.org 11
Paraphrasing
Three different types of change need to be made:
1. Vocabulary, e.g.: studies research
2. Grammar, e.g., word class: Egypt Egyptian
or verb tense: active to passive
3. Sentence structure, e.g., change word order:
Ancient Egypt collapsed The collapse of Egyptian society began
Use all three of these changes to paraphrase properly.
Claire Taylor, Yness M Slokar | Technical writing | c.taylor@un‐ihe.org 12
Page | 6
Technical writing – Lesson 2
Paraphrasing
1. Read idea carefully.
2. Close book and make notes of most important points you can
remember.
3. Using only your notes, write sentence which expresses same idea in
own words.
4. Open book to make sure you haven’t used same words.
Claire Taylor, Yness M Slokar | Technical writing | c.taylor@un‐ihe.org 13
Paraphrasing – Example
1. In order to avoid plagiarism, the original text should always be
paraphrased. Paraphrasing means describing information in your own
words, by either changing vocabulary, grammar, and/or sentence
structure.
2. Plagiarism . . . original text . . . vocab, grammar, structure.
3. Stealing other writers’ work should be avoided by paraphrasing, which
involves changing the primary text by using different words, structures
or word order.
Claire Taylor, Yness M Slokar | Technical writing | c.taylor@un‐ihe.org 14
Page | 7
Technical writing – Lesson 2
Plagiarism (1)
Plagiarism is theft!
Always reference any text that you use so you cannot be accused of
plagiarism.
Use quotation only for extreme cases, when the message of the quote
contributes (supports) the claim you are making. (Should not exceed 2
sentences.)
Claire Taylor, Yness M Slokar | Technical writing | c.taylor@un‐ihe.org 15
Plagiarism (2)
IHE uses Turnitin software for detection of plagiarism.
IHE allows maximum 20% of original text to be used. Remaining
minimum 80% must be paraphrased.
Note: the 20% still needs to be evaluated by lecturers.
E.g., established phrases increase % of plagiarism, but they are legitimate
(removal of nitrates in wastewater treatment, filtration with reverse
osmosis,...)
Claire Taylor, Yness M Slokar | Technical writing | c.taylor@un‐ihe.org 16
Page | 8
Technical writing – Lesson 2
Objectives of lesson 2
After today’s class the participants will be able to:
use discourse markers;
avoid plagiarism by paraphrasing and understand Turnitin;
use pronouns;
apply hedging, grading and reporting verbs.
Claire Taylor, Yness M Slokar | Technical writing | c.taylor@un‐ihe.org 17
Pronouns
Used to refer to nouns that have already been mentioned.
Connect sentences together.
Help to avoid repetition.
Make writing more fluent.
Words like it, they, this, these.
Claire Taylor, Yness M Slokar | Technical writing | c.taylor@un‐ihe.org 18
Page | 9
Technical writing – Lesson 2
Pronouns
Water conductivity is the ability of water to conduct electricity.
It increases with increased concentration of ions in water.
(It = water conductivity.)
Ions are able to carry electrical current. When they are added to water,
they increase water conductivity.
(They = ions.)
Claire Taylor, Yness M Slokar | Technical writing | c.taylor@un‐ihe.org 19
Pronouns
Examples ‐ this
Can use this to refer to whole ideas:
Ions are able to carry electrical current. Proof of this is increased water
conductivity when ions are dissolved in water.
(This = ions are able to carry electrical current.)
Claire Taylor, Yness M Slokar | Technical writing | c.taylor@un‐ihe.org 20
Page | 10
Technical writing – Lesson 2
Pronouns
Can use this/these + noun to refer to an idea/several ideas:
o Pure water has very low conductivity. This shortcoming can be overcome
by dissolving ions in water.
o Ions carry electrical charge, which is why these species are able to increase
water conductivity.
Make sure nouns, pronouns and verbs always agree in number with
nouns they refer back to!
Claire Taylor, Yness M Slokar | Technical writing | c.taylor@un‐ihe.org 21
Objectives of lesson 2
After today’s class the participants will be able to:
use discourse markers;
avoid plagiarism by paraphrasing and understand Turnitin;
use pronouns;
apply hedging, grading and reporting verbs.
Claire Taylor, Yness M Slokar | Technical writing | c.taylor@un‐ihe.org 22
Page | 11
Technical writing – Lesson 2
Evaluating ideas
Three different ways:
use caution (hedging),
use adjectives (grading),
use sources (reporting verbs).
Claire Taylor, Yness M Slokar | Technical writing | c.taylor@un‐ihe.org 23
Evaluating ideas
Hedging
Compare the following two sentences.
1. Water shortages trigger conflict between nations.
2. Water shortages may trigger conflict between nations.
First sentence indicates high level of certainty; presented as fact.
Second sentence more tentative, suggesting that conflict will occur in
certain circumstances, but not necessarily in every case.
Claire Taylor, Yness M Slokar | Technical writing | c.taylor@un‐ihe.org 24
Page | 12
Technical writing – Lesson 2
Evaluating ideas
Hedging – why?
Softens claim.
Makes calculated (not absolute) statements.
Protects your claim from criticism.
Makes claims that are proportionate to evidence.
Helps to make statements as accurate as possible.
Claire Taylor, Yness M Slokar | Technical writing | c.taylor@un‐ihe.org 25
Evaluating ideas
Hedging techniques
Modal verbs (can, may, might, etc.).
Probability adverbs and adjectives (likely, possible, etc.).
Qualifiers (some, many, in certain cases, etc.).
Generalisations (seems to, tends to, etc.).
Claire Taylor, Yness M Slokar | Technical writing | c.taylor@un‐ihe.org 26
Page | 13
Technical writing – Lesson 2
Evaluating ideas
Hedging – Example 1
Adverb and verb structure.
IUWM will certainly improve cities’ water systems.
probably
possibly
Claire Taylor, Yness M Slokar | Technical writing | c.taylor@un‐ihe.org 27
Evaluating ideas
Hedging – Example 2
It is + adjective structure.
It is certain that IUWM will improve cities’ water systems.
It is possible that . . .
It is unlikely that . . .
Claire Taylor, Yness M Slokar | Technical writing | c.taylor@un‐ihe.org 28
Page | 14
Technical writing – Lesson 2
Evaluating ideas
Hedging – Exercise
Can you hedge this sentence?
The intrusion of brackish water into the aquifer was caused by the
extremely high tide.
The intrusion of brackish water into the aquifer was probably caused by
the extremely high tide.
The intrusion of brackish water into the aquifer could have been caused
by the extremely high tide.
Claire Taylor, Yness M Slokar | Technical writing | c.taylor@un‐ihe.org 29
Evaluating ideas
Grading
Use adjectives to help make your opinion clear.
IHE offers a study on all topics related to water.
• a comprehensive study
• a versatile study
• an advanced study
• a demanding study
Claire Taylor, Yness M Slokar | Technical writing | c.taylor@un‐ihe.org 30
Page | 15
Technical writing – Lesson 2
Evaluating ideas
Grading – Exercise
The blue colour of water is a sign it is clean enough to drink.
The blue colour of water is possibly a sign it is clean enough to drink.
The blue colour of water is frequently a sign it is clean enough to drink.
The blue colour of water is not always a sign it is clean enough to drink.
The blue colour of water is sometimes a sign it is clean enough to drink.
The blue colour of water is likely a sign it is clean enough to drink.
Claire Taylor, Yness M Slokar | Technical writing | c.taylor@un‐ihe.org 31
Evaluating ideas
Reporting verbs
Citing authors that you agree/disagree with.
Neutral reporting verbs indicate agreement:
o state, write, point out.
Putting some distance between you and the author:
o argue, believe, claim, suggest.
Claire Taylor, Yness M Slokar | Technical writing | c.taylor@un‐ihe.org 32
Page | 16
Technical writing – Lesson 2
Evaluating ideas
1. Brown (2003) claims that a far more effective approach is . . .
2. Brown (2003) points out that a far more effective approach is . . .
3. A far more effective approach is . . . (Brown 2003).
First is Brown’s opinion – you distance yourself from it (claims).
Second is Brown’s opinion – you accept it (points out).
Third is your opinion, which is supported by Brown.
Claire Taylor, Yness M Slokar | Technical writing | c.taylor@un‐ihe.org 33
Assignment 2
(i) Paragraph 1 ‐ apply discourse markers to the text.
(ii) Paragraph 2 – rephrase paragraph 1.
Run a spell‐check for both paragraphs (UK English).
Submission: eCampus upload by 16 Nov @ 08:00.
Claire Taylor, Yness M Slokar | Technical writing | c.taylor@un‐ihe.org 34
Page | 17