mastering academic writing

8/12/2019 Mastering Academic Writing

1/38

1

EFFECTIVEACADEMIC

WRITING: A LOOKATWORDS

Andrew Joseph Pegoda, A.B.D.

Department of History

University of Houston


2/38

Video Clip,

Every Presentation Ever

2


3/38

A VERY, VERY BRIEF AND SELECTIVEHISTORY OF

WRITING/COMMUNICATION

3


4/38


5/38

Writing Around the World

5


6/38

Writing Around the World

6


7/38

UNIVERSITY WRITING:A WORLD OF DIFFERENCES

7


8/38

Evidence

Revision

Freedom

Originality

Analysis

Five Characteristics

of College Writing:

8


9/38

9

College A paper


10/38

A VIEW OF ACADEMIC WRITING

10


11/38

The Academic Essay

Content

Mechanics

Academic Writing

11


12/38

Content

Thesis

Evidence

Organization

Originality

Clarity

Multiple Drafts

Research

Academic Writing

12


13/38

Mechanics

Capitalization

Usage

Punctuation

Spelling

Diction

Sentence Structure

Format

Academic Writing

13


14/38

Unlike math,

there are

countless correctanswers when it

comes to writing14


15/38

CLARITY:CLEAR, ACTIVE, & POWERFUL WRITING

15


16/38


17/38

17

Words and Clarity?


18/38

The book Carry Me Back: The Domestic Slave Trade inAmerican Life (2005) written by Steven Deyle discusses the

internal slave trade in the United States.

I need to call my grandmother at six p.m. in the evening on

the phone.

The restaurant McDonalds is taking applications at this point

in time.

I commute back and forth to the University of Houston.

The large meat packers were not seriously hindered by theresulting regulations, but many smaller packers were

bankrupted.

18

Words and Clarity


19/38

handicapped

Illiterate

slave

race

feminist

civilization

Native American

How is it used in society and by

individuals?

Strengths of this word/phrase?

Weaknesses?

Alternatives to this word/phrase?

19

Words and Loaded Language


20/38

Video Clip,

The Power of Words

20


21/38


22/38

Video Clip,

Where is Matt?

22


23/38

SEMANTICS:CONNOTATION VS. DENOTATION

23


24/38

24


25/38

Connotation vs. Denotation

Whats up, man?Whats up, man?

25


26/38

The World of Connotation

Body language and tone

Culture

Context Historical events

Popular usage

Other words

26


27/38

Connotation & Denotation Activity

1) Shared denotation of the words 2) Discuss the various

connotations of the words and appropriate/inappropriate uses

desegregation, integration

aggressive, assertive, domineering, dynamic, pushy, forceful

staggered, limped, waddled, crept, strolled

homeless, vagrant, without a permanent address

uprising, riot, demonstration, unlawful gathering, protest,

disturbance, civil war, revolution, civil disobedience

guerilla, freedom fighter, mercenary, soldier, terrorist, activist,

revolutionary 27


28/38

Quickly skim the article

Looking at the assigned paragraph and bolded

words

Discuss the connotation of each word

Consider why other words were not used OR consider

if a better word could have been used

Consider different ways to write the same sentences Reflect on how this will inform your academic writing

28

Connotation and Denotation

Group Activity


29/38

WRAPPING UP:EIGHT AJP WRITING HINTS

29


30/38

Write where you

are comfortable;write with your

comfort food

30


31/38

31


32/38

32


33/38

Do not

use theInternet

33


34/38

Before you

worry about

editing, just

write

34


35/38

Read grammar books

35


36/38

Papers are never finished,

but always due

36


37/38

Although clich,

practice makes perfect

37


38/38

38

What did you learn today about

writing?

How are you going to actively take thisinformation and apply it?

What did you enjoy most, least? What

suggestions do you have?

Thanks.

Andrew Joseph Pegoda (AJP)

mastering academic writing

Documents