Academic Writing (English Language Focus)

Caroline MalthusTe Puna Ako Learning Centre

Objectives

• To clarify academic writing expectations at Unitec

• To explore the academic writing process

Session Plan• Introductions• Your questions, lecturer

expectations• Exploring question and marking

criteria• The writing process• Assignment structure• Key aspects of written academic

language

Introductions

• your name?

• What programme are you studying?

• Your comments on the text or image?

Your questions about academic writing?

e.g.• What are lecturers looking for?

How will I be marked?

Lecturer’s expectations• Put yourself in the shoes of the

lecturer

• Which do you think are the most important aspects of an assignment from the lecturer’s point of view?

• Rank from 1 = most important to 9 = least important

How will the assignment be marked?

• Content – Theory / Practice split?

• Research / Reading• Analysis • Presentation• Referencing

Steps in the assignment writing process

• Do research to get more ideas for your answer

• Brainstorm ideas• Make a plan to guide research• Proofread and edit• Analyse the question• Sort ideas by planning the essay

structure• Prepare references• Write drafts

Suggested process1. Analyse the question or task2. Brainstorm ideas3. Make a plan to guide research4. Do research to get more ideas for your

answer5. Sort ideas by planning the essay

structure6. Write drafts7. Proofread and edit• Prepare references from Stage 4

onwards

Assignment questionWith reference to the relevant literature, critically discuss the following statement: ‘Managers are not leaders’.

Briefly discuss the question….

Analysing the Question• Break it down – how many parts?• Consider task words, content

words, limiting words• Work out the balance between

description and analysis• Consider different perspectives on

the question

Analysing an assignment:• Task words

• Content words

• Condition / Limit words

14

Making Plans

• Make a one-page plan - show all key ideas and start to prioritise

• Includes completion dates for different stages

• A handy planning tool

Assignment questionWith reference to the relevant literature, critically discuss the following statement: ‘Managers are not leaders’.

What are the task, content and limiting words?

With reference to the relevant literature, critically discuss the following statement: ‘Managers are not leaders’.

Introduction

Aspect 1:

Aspect 2:

Aspect 3:(etc.)

Final summary and conclusion

Background, definitions of key terms and concepts

Exercise: from analysing a text….

what are the key features of academic writing?

Structure: Introduction– Preamble: explain general context and themes– Then outline your plan for the assignment

“This essay examines the statement that ‘Managers are not leaders’ by firstly defining the two concepts and then identifying some of the key differences between them in terms of their respective tasks, skills and functions. This is followed by a discussion of current theory on leadership and management. It is argued that the best approach involves a combination of management and leadership that is both timely and appropriate to the organisational context.

Body• Paragraph = key structure of

academic writing• Central idea• Explanations• Evidence• Links to previous paragraphs• Section / Paragraph Headings: to

use, or not to use?

The paragraph• The key structure in academic

writing

• Topic sentenceExplanationEvidenceExamples

Conclusion• Briefly summarises the main points• Restates the central argument• Refers back to the topic• May highlight implications• May make suggestions /

recommendations

Aspects of academic language• Use signposts to indicate where

you’re going• Give opinions in impersonal ways• Indicate degrees of certainty• Refer to authors in present,

regardless of dateALWAYS check specific guidelines to

see what’s appropriate for each assignment, lecturer and course.

Presentation• Follows all presentation guidelines• Clear and easy to follow• Cover page included• In text references and reference

list• Checked for spelling, grammar and

punctuation

Referencing• What’s referencing?• Why do we need to reference?• How do we do it?

• Check programme handbook for guidelines on referencing system to follow

APA (6th ed.)referencing style

In-text

Direct quotations

Paraphrases

Reference list

Referencing – in textA manager is often portrayed as a procedural administrator/supervisor – an individual in an organisation with recognised formal authority who plans, coordinates and implements the existing directions of the organisation (Koontz, O’Donnell & Weihrich, 1986). A leader, on the other hand, is defined as someone who occupies a position of influence within a group that “extends beyond supervisory responsibility and formal authority” (Vecchio, Hearn & Southey, 1994, p.504). These definitions make it clear that…

Reference ListColvard, J. (2003). Managers vs

leaders. Government Executive. Retrieved from: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0703/070703ff.htm

Koontz, H., O’Donnell, C. and H. Weihrich (1994). Essentials of Management. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Reports• Title page• Abstract / Executive Summary• Table of Contents• Introduction• Procedure / Methods• Body (Findings / Discussion / Results)• Conclusions• Recommendations• References• Appendices

Reports• Introduction,

body, conclusion structure

• Paragraphs – may use headings

• Respond to a set topic or question

• In-text references and reference list

• Often analyse a current situation

• Report structure depends on subject

• Numbered sections under headings

• May use bullet points

• In-text references and reference list

Essays

What should you do if…• You don’t understand some of the concepts

in the question • The question requires use of difficult (or

uninteresting!) reading material• You are required to complete the task in a

word length / time span that you think is unreasonable

• The assignment task is in the form of a question and you are not sure of the exact answer

• The format of the assignment is new to you

To help you work on writing• Lecturers for course-specific questions• Classmates for clarification• Te Puna Ako Learning Centre / Maia /

Pacific centre workshops and appointments

• Te Puna Ako Moodle site• Library staff for information search• Read examples of assignments

Objectives

• To clarify academic writing expectations at Unitec

• To explore the academic writing process