Business communication study skills

1. WRITING
 Writing is a system of graphic symbols that can be used to
convey meaning. It is the act of composing a text that
uses and is affected by Alphabet, Graphemics,
Handwriting, Ideogram, Language, etc. Richard
Nordquist, 2019. Therefore, it is the process of using
symbols (letters of the alphabet, punctuation and spaces)
to communicate thoughts and ideas in a readable form.
 Writing is the fourth of the four language skills, which
are: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing.
 Good writing reveals a structure or organization that is
logical and effective. The order of ideas and the way the
writer moves from one idea to the next is felt natural.
The sentence fluency of good writing feels natural,
smooth and expressive.

2. Academic Writing
 Academic writing is clear, concise, focussed,
structured and backed up by evidence. Its purpose is
to aid the reader’s understanding. It has a formal
tone and style, but it is not complex and does not
require the use of long sentences and complicated
vocabulary.
 Academic writing is a formal style of writing used in
universities and scholarly publications. You’ll
encounter it in journal articles and books on
academic topics, and you’ll be expected to write
your essays, research papers, and dissertation in
academic style.
 Academic writing follows the same writing process as
other types of texts, but it has specific conventions
in terms of content, structure and style.

3. Academic writing is… Academic writing is not…
•Formal and unbiased
•Clear and precise
•Focused and well
structured
•Well sourced
•Correct and consistent
•Personal
•Long-winded
•Emotive and grandiose
Types of Academic Writing
Academics mostly write texts intended for publication,
such as journal articles, reports, books, and chapters in
edited collections. For students, the most common
types of academic writing assignments are listed below.

4. Type of Academic
Text
Definition
Essay A fairly short, self-contained
argument, often using sources from a
class in response to a question
provided by an instructor.
Research paper A more in-depth investigation based
on independent research, often in
response to a question chosen by the
student.
Thesis/dissertation The large final research project
undertaken at the end of a degree,
usually on a topic of the student’s
choice.
Research proposal An outline of a potential topic and
plan for a future dissertation or

5. Type of
Academic Text
Definition
Literature
review
A critical synthesis of existing research
on a topic, usually written in order to
inform the approach of a new piece of
research.
Lab report A write-up of the aims, methods,
results and conclusions of a lab
experiment.
Annotated
bibliography
A list of source references with a short
description or evaluation of each
source.

6. Characteristics of Academic Writing
Planned and focused: answers the question and
demonstrates an understanding of the subject.
Structured: is coherent, written in a logical order,
and brings together related points and material.
Evidenced: demonstrates knowledge of the subject
area, supports opinions and arguments with evidence,
and is referenced accurately.
Formal in tone and style: uses appropriate language
and tenses, and is clear, concise and balanced.

7. To write clearly it is essential to understand the basic system of a
language. In English this includes knowledge of grammar, punctuation and
sentence structure. Vocabulary is also necessary, as is correct spelling and
formatting.
The 7 Cs of Professional Writing
1) Clear: involves knowing what you want to say, matches vocabulary to
the audience, avoiding jargon and unnecessary technical or obscure
language while at the same time being precise.
2) Coherent: ensures the reader can easily follow your ideas and your
train of thought. Uses transitional words and phrases, structural
markers, planned repetition, sentences with clear subjects, headings
that are clear, and effective and parallel lists.
3) Concise: uses the least words possible to convey the most meaning
while still maintaining clarity. Avoid unnecessary padding, awkward
phrasing, overuse of “to be” forms (is, are, was, were, am, be, being),
long preposition strings, vagueness, unnecessary repetition and
redundancy.

8. 4) Concrete: involves using specific, precise language to paint a
picture for your readers so that they can more easily understand
your ideas. Use measurable descriptors whenever possible; avoid
vague terms like “big” or “good.” Try to get your readers to
“see” your ideas by using specific terms and descriptions.
5) Correct: uses standard English punctuation, sentence structure,
usage, and grammar. Being correct also means providing
accurate information, as well as using the right document type
and form for the task.
6) Complete: includes all requested information and answers all
relevant questions. The more concrete and specific you are, the
more likely your document will be complete as well. Review your
checklist of specifications before submitting your document to
its intended reader.
7) Courteous: entails designing a reader-friendly, easy-to-read
document; using tactful language and appropriate modes of
addressing the audience; and avoiding potentially offensive
terminology, usage, and tone.
Suggest Site: https://mosroncommunications.wordpress.com/2015/03/05/10-
techniques-for-more-precise-writing/

9. Essay Writing
Developing the skill of essay writing takes practice, time
and patience, your essay writing skills will improve and
develop the more you write.
The Purpose of an Essay
 Essays, and other academic writing, focus the mind and
encourage you to come to conclusions about what you
are studying.
 Writing is often the best possible way to assimilate and
organise information. Writing helps to highlight any areas
that you have not fully understood and enables you to
make further clarifications. It develops your powers of
criticism, analysis and expression, and gives you a chance
to try out your and other writers' ideas on the subject.
 The feedback you receive from the marker of your essay
should help to advance your study skills, writing,
research and critical thinking skills.

10. What is the Marker Looking For?
When marking an assignment, a marker will look for
some of the following elements, which will
demonstrate you are able to:
 Find relevant information and use the knowledge to
focus on the essay question or subject.
 Structure knowledge and information logically,
clearly and concisely.
 Read purposefully and critically.
 Relate theory to practical examples.
 Analyse processes and problems.
 Be persuasive and argue a case.
 Find links and combine information from a number
of different sources.

11. Planning Your Essay
A well-planned and organised essay indicates that you have
your ideas in order; it makes points clearly and logically. In
this way, a well-planned and structured essay enables the
reader, or marker, to follow the points being made easily.
Essay assignments are usually formulated in one of the
following ways:
 As a question
 A statement is given and you are asked to comment on it
 An invitation to ‘outline’, ‘discuss’ or ‘critically assess’ a
particular argument or point of view
Remember always write your essay based on the question
that is set and not on another aspect of the
subject. Although this may sound obvious, many students do
not fully answer the essay question and include irrelevant
information. The primary aim of an academic essay is to
answer the task set, in some detail.

12. Sources of Information
Being able to research and use materials which back up
your study or offer different interpretations of your study
area is an essential aspect of studying and learning.
Sources of information include: the internet, newspapers,
journals, transcripts from radio or TV programmes,
leaflets, photographs and other artefacts (man-made
objects). These sources are divided into:
1. Primary Documents - A primary document is a
document that was written at the time of an event or
period of research.
2. Secondary Documents - A secondary document is
written after an event - usually the authors will not
have witnessed the event themselves.

13. 3. Secondary Documents - A secondary document is
written after an event - usually the authors will
not have witnessed the event themselves.
4. Tertiary Documents - Tertiary documents usually
act as pointers to primary and secondary
documents. They are indexes, directories,
bibliographies and other categorised collections of
information.
5. Other NOTEABLE sources of information include
Library, Internet, Bibliographies, Colleagues,
MENTORS, ETC.

14. Structuring Your Essay
An essay should be written in a flowing manner with each
sentence following on logically from the previous one and with
appropriate signposts to guide the reader.
An essay usually takes the following structured format:
1. The introduction - introduce the subject, to explain how
you understand the question, and describe briefly how you
intend to deal with it.
2. The main body: a development of the issues - back up the
points you wish to make from your experience with the
findings of other published researchers and writers.
3. A conclusion - sum up or draw a conclusion from your
argument or comparison of viewpoints.
4. A list of references of the sources of information you have
used - include a reference list or bibliography at the end of
your work to avoid being accused of plagiarism.

15. Constructing Paragraphs
Paragraphs show when you have come to the end of
one main point and the beginning of the next. A
paragraph is a group of sentences related to aspects
of the same point. Within each individual paragraph
an idea is introduced and developed through the
subsequent sentences within that paragraph.
 Make the first sentence, your topic sentence.
 Provide support via the middle sentences.
 Make your last sentence a conclusion or transition.
 Know when to start a new paragraph.
 Use transition words.

16. Report Writing
In academia there is some overlap between reports and
essays, and the two words are sometimes used
interchangeably, but reports are more likely to be
needed for business, scientific and technical subjects,
and in the workplace.
Whereas an essay presents arguments and reasoning, a
report concentrates on facts. Essentially, a report is a
short, sharp, concise document which is written for a
particular purpose and audience.
Reports may contain some or all of the following
elements:
 A description of a sequence of events or a situation;

17.  Some interpretation of the significance of these
events or situation, whether solely your own
analysis or informed by the views of others, always
carefully referenced of course (see our page on
academic referencing for more information);
 An evaluation of the facts or the results of your
research;
 Discussion of the likely outcomes of future courses
of action;
 Your recommendations as to a course of action; and
 Conclusions.

18. MORE INFO…
https://aso-resources.une.edu.au/academic-
writing-course/information-basics/tables-
figures/