Advice on Academic Writing

1. Academic
Essay- Writing

2. UNIVERSITY WRITING
 Essay Structure: There is no predetermined number of points that your
essay must include.
 Paragraphs; Provide a transition only when it helps the reader follow
your train of thought. But your paragraphs will be more coherent if you
place the transition at the start of the next paragraph.
 Thesis Statement: The opening paragraph often ends in a thesis
statement, but a thesis can also occur elsewhere. A thesis statement
can be two or three sentences long, or even longer if the argument is
complex.
 Introduction and Conclusion: The introduction should raise the essay
topic or question as soon as possible in specific and concrete terms
 The conclusion should do more than merely summarize what you have
already done in the paper.
 Argument: You may incorporate narrative or plot elements into your
argument as long as you analyze them in sufficient depth. An essay that
addresses counter-arguments becomes stronger and more persuasive
by acknowledging the complexity of the material

3. ESSAY-TOPICS
 Develop and display your powers of reasoning
 Note the key terms Look especially for words that define the kind of
reasoning you should be using: why, how, analyse, compare, evaluate,
argue, etc.
 Analyse means look behind the surface structure of your source material
 Compare means find differences as well as similarities
 Argue likewise asks you to take a stand based on analysis of solid
evidence and explained by clear reasoning.
 Note which concepts or methods the topic asks you to use. An essay
assignment expects you to use course concepts and ways of thinking; it
encourages you to break new ground for yourself in applying course
methodology.
 Ask yourself questions about the specific topic
 For an essay of argument, formulate a tentative thesis statement at a
fairly early stage

4. Stages
 Pre-writing stage
 Writing stage
 Revising stage.

5. PRE-WRITING STAGE
Ask the following questions:
1. What type of essay am I going to be writing?
2. Does it belong to a specific genre?
( a book review, a lab report, a document
study, or a compare-and-contrast essay.)

6.  Organizing an Essay
 Using Thesis Statements
 Introductions and Conclusions
 Paragraphs
 Using Topic Sentences

7.  Helps you to produce a logical and orderly
argument that your readers can follow
 Helps you to produce an economical paper by
allowing you to spot repetition
 Helps you to produce a thorough paper by
making it easier for you to notice whether you
have left anything out
 Makes drafting the paper easier by allowing you
to concentrate on writing issues such as
grammar, word choice, and clarity

8. THESIS STATEMENTS
 1. It makes a definite and limited assertion
that needs to be explained and supported by
further discussion
 2. It shows the emphasis and indicates the
methodology of your argument
 3. It shows awareness of difficulties and
disagreements

9. INTRODUCTION
 A good introduction …
 Should identify your topic
 Should provide essential context
 Should indicate your particular focus in the
essay.
 Should engage your readers’ interest

10. PARAGRAPHS
 A paragraph is a series of related sentences developing a
central idea, called the topic sentence.
 Paragraphs add one idea at a time to your broader
argument.
 The best overall strategy to enhance flow within a paragraph
is to show connections. (Deliberate repetition of key words ,
Strategic use of pronouns, Specialized linking words.)
 Usually, paragraphs are between one-third and two-thirds of
a page double spaced.

11. TOPIC SENTENCES
 A topic sentence states the main point of a paragraph: it serves as a
mini-thesis for the paragraph
 Topic sentences usually appear at the very beginning of paragraphs
 Sometimes a transitional sentence or two will come before a topic
sentence:
 Ask yourself what’s going on in your paragraph? Why have you chosen
to include the information you have? Why is the paragraph important in
the context of your argument? What point are you trying to make?
 Relating your topic sentences to your thesis can help strengthen the
coherence of your essay.

12. CONCLUSION
 the conclusion should do more than merely
summarize what you have already done in
the paper.

13. SUCCESSFUL METHODS OF COMPOSING
 Start writing early
 Try to write what seems readiest to be written
 Keep the essay’s overall purpose and organization in mind, amending
them as drafting proceeds. Something like an “outline”
 Revise sentences, with special attention to diction (exactness and
aptness of words) and economy (the fewest words without loss of clear
expression and full thought).
 Proofread the final copy.

14. READING AND RESEARCHING
 Critical Reading. To read critically is to make judgements
about how a text is argued. Don’t read looking only or primarily
for information, do read looking for ways of thinking about the
subject matter. Critical reading occurs after some preliminary
processes of reading. Begin by skimming research materials,
especially introductions and conclusions, in order to
strategically choose where to focus your critical efforts.
 Skimming and Scanning By first skimming a text, you can get
a sense of its overall logical progression. (previewing, read
carefully the introductory paragraph, predict, read the first one
or two sentences of each paragraph, and the concluding
sentence. keep your eyes moving, Read carefully the
concluding paragraph. Finally, return to the beginning and read
through the text carefully, and adjust your focus,
 Scanning is basically skimming with a more tightly focused
purpose

15. RESEARCH USING THE INTERNET
 Don’t rely exclusively on Net resources. Cross-checking information
from the Net against information from the Library
 Narrow your research topic before logging on. formulate some very
specific questions to direct and limit your search.
 Know your subject directories and search engines INFOMINE and
Academic Info are good examples. These are excellent places to start
your academic research on the Internet
 Keep a detailed record of sites you visit and the sites you use
 Double-check all URLs that you put in your paper.

16. USING SOURCES
• Standard Documentation Formats
MLA System: Parenthetical Author-Page References (humanities)
Author, Title of Source. Title of Container, Other Contributors, Version, Number,
Publisher, Publication Date, Location
e.g. Brown, Joan. The Renaissance Stage. Toronto: University of Toronto
P.2008.
APA System: Parenthetical Author-Date References (social sciences) This
system uses only initials for authors’ given names, no quotation marks or angle
brackets, minimal capitalization for titles of books and articles, and italics for
volume numbers as well as journal titles.
e.g Pinker, S. (1994). The language instinct: How the mind creates language.
New York: Morrow.
Electronic Sources To refer to sources such as films, DVDs, or Internet
documents, follow your chosen system as far as possible in giving author, title,
and date, though you may not be able to give the equivalent of publisher or
page numbers.
e.g. Alfred Hitchcock, dir. Suspicion. Perf. Cary Grant and Joan Fontaine.
1941. Laser disc. Turner, 1995.

17. USING QUOTATIONS
 When you introduce a quotation with a full sentence, you should
always place a colon at the end of the introductory sentence. When
you introduce a quotation with an incomplete sentence, you usually
place a comma after the introductory phrase. However, it has
become grammatically acceptable to use a colon rather than a
comma.
 If you are blending the quotation into your own sentence using the
conjuction that, do not use any punctuation at all
 If you are not sure whether to punctuate your introduction to a
quotation, mentally remove the quotation marks, and ask yourself
whether any punctuation is still required

18. PARAPHRASE AND SUMMARY
 To paraphrase means to restate someone else’s ideas in your own
language at roughly the same level of detail.
 Paraphrase and summary are indispensable in argumentative
papers because they allow you to include other people’s ideas
without cluttering up your paragraphs with quotations.
 You must provide a reference.
 The paraphrase must be in your own words. You must do more than
merely substitute phrases here and there. You must also create your
own sentence structures.
 Refer explicitly to the author in your paraphrase.
 Don’t just paraphrase. Analyze
 You don’t need to change every word
 When you summarize a passage, you need first to absorb the
meaning and then to capture in your own words the most important
elements from the original passage

19. SPECIFIC TYPES OF WRITING
The Book Review or Article Critique comments on and evaluates the
work in the light of specific issues and theoretical concerns in a course.
(To help sharpen your analytical reading skills, see our file on Critical
Reading.)
• What is the specific topic of the book or article?
• Does the author state an explicit thesis?
• What exactly does the work contribute to the overall topic of your
course?
• How is this material used to demonstrate and argue the thesis?
• What theoretical issues and topics for further discussion does the
work raise?
• What are your own reactions and considered opinions regarding the
work?

20. SPECIFIC TYPES OF WRITING
The Comparative Essay A comparative essay asks that you compare at
least two (possibly more) items. These items will differ depending on the
assignment. Although the assignment may say “compare,” the assumption
is that you will consider both the similarities and differences; in other words,
you will compare and contrast.
Develop a thesis based on the relative weight of similarities and
differences Once you have listed similarities and differences, decide
whether the similarities on the whole outweigh the differences or vice versa.
Create a thesis statement that reflects their relative weights

21. OTHER TYPES OF WRITING :
• The Abstract
• Writing about History
• Writing about Literature
• Writing a Philosophy Essay
• Writing in the Sciences
• How to Use Active Voice in the Sciences
• Effective Admission Letters
• Application Letters and Résumés
• The Academic Proposal
• Academic Proposals in Graduate School
• The Lab Report
• Oral Presentations

22. STYLE AND EDITING
• Revising And Editing Revising gives you the chance
to preview your work on behalf of the eventual
reader. it involves some checking of details.
• First check whether you have fulfilled the intention of
the assignment.
• Then look at overall organization
• Now polish and edit your style by moving to smaller
matters such as word choice, sentence structure,
grammar, punctuation, and spelling

23. BIBLIOGRAPHY
 Brock, W . MacDonald, (n.d.). “Research Using the Internet “
 Freedman, L. (n.d.).. “Skimming and Scanning” English Language Learning, Arts & Science
 Freedman, L. and Plotnick, J (n.d.). “Introductions and Conclusions.” University College Writing
Centre
 Hall, J. and Plotnick,, (n.d.). “Using Topic Sentences” J. University College Writing Centre
 Plotnick, J. (n.d.). “Paraphrase and Summary” University College Writing Centre.
 Plotnick, J. (n.d.). “Using Quotations” University College Writing Centre.
 Procter, M. (n.d.). “ Revising And Editing” Writing Support
 Procter, M. (n.d.). “Standard Documentation Formats” Writing Support
 Procter, M. (n.d.). “The Book Review or Article Critique” Writing Support
 Procter, M. (n.d.). “Understanding Essay Topics:: A Checklist.” Writing Support
 Procter, M., and Visvis,V. (n.d.). “Paragraphs” Writing Support. University College Writing Centre
 Seel, J and Knott, D. (n.d.). ”Critical Reading Towards Critical Writing “.Academic Skills Centre,
UTM Library.New College Writing Centre
 Silber, C. A. (n.d.). “Some General Advice on Academic Essay-Writing.”Department of English
 Visvis, V and Plotnick, J (n.d.). . “The Comparative Essay”
 Vogan, B. and Plotnick, J. (n.d.). “The Transition from High School to University Writing
“University College Writing Centre