SBUS4000

Approaches to Effective Study

Week 3:
Written Communication 1:
Academic writing
Study Skills - Lecture 3
Study Skills Lecture 3
Academic writing
Writing
Essays
Examinations
Reports

Portfolios
Dossiers
Study Skills Lecture 3
Academic writing
Essays
Structured writing
Traditional academic approach
Integrated presentation of a discursive
answer to the question
Examinations
Learned knowledge
Application of learned knowledge
Interpretation
Study Skills Lecture 3
Academic writing
Reports
Formally structured analysis of a
topic/question

Portfolios
Collection of information
Organising, filing and cataloguing
Structuring and signposting
Critical reflection
Study Skills Lecture 3
Academic writing
Departmental practices:

Management & Information Technology
http://www.lamp.ac.uk/mit/current/reports_essa
ys.htm
Handouts




Study Skills Lecture 3
Academic writing
Areas to remember:
Punctuation
Problem areas
Sentence & paragraph technique
Structure
Style
Summarising
Use of evidence
Kennedy, J (2005)
Study Skills Lecture 3
Academic writing
Problem areas:
Active & passive voice
Cliches
Flowery language
Mixed metaphors
Tautology
Specific words to watch
Study Skills Lecture 3
Academic writing
Check-list for academic writing
Consider the reader
Provide a logical structure
Use evidence & quotations appropriately
Good command grammar, sentence structure,
paragraphing
Conduct appropriate research / information
gathering
Provide a strong argument
Use an appropriate style
Consider outcomes & consequences of any points
raised
Study Skills Lecture 3
Academic writing
Writing Style (Mahone, 2000)
Clear
Concise
Complete
Concrete
Correct
Coherent
Study Skills Lecture 3
Academic writing
Writing style
Words: Write clearly
Write precisely
Use positive language
Sentences Use a variety of sentence types
Use active and passive appropriately
Paragraphs Keep paragraphs unified & coherent
Use parallel structure
Control paragraph length

Study Skills Lecture 3
Academic writing
Barriers to Effective Writing
Ambiguity
Jargon
Style
Structure
Punctuation
Study Skills Lecture 3
Academic writing
Avoid:
Vagueness
Being personal
Conjunctions at beginning of sentences
Apologies
Certainty
Personal pronouns
Abbreviations & contractions

Ensure:
Objectivity
Meeting the needs of the reader
Use of formal English
Differentiation between facts, opinions and arguments
Study Skills Lecture 3
Academic writing
Write in your own words
Use appropriately referenced
material
Develop a logical discussion
/argument
Study Skills Lecture 3
Academic writing
Getting Started
Scribble
Write one single word
Write in pencil / or head page draft
Ignore mistakes in early versions
Start anywhere, you can order later
Break the task into stages
Brainstorm headings and ideas
Experiment
Ask yourself questions to follow up ideas
(see Cottrell, 2003, page 149)
Study Skills Lecture 3
Academic writing
The craft of redrafting:

4 drafts
Quick draft to cover main ideas
Confirm & fine-tune structure & content
is everything relevant, is everything in right
place and logical, have you backed up
arguments with appropriate evidence?
Fine-tune style
is the style consistent, have you chosen the
correct style and layout for the brief?
Add finishing touches
is referencing complete, is print layout
correct?