Presentation for Week 5 of the Developing Skills for Work Based Learning pre-entry course: Structure in writing

1. Developing Skills for Work Based Learning
Week 5: Structure in writing
• The role and importance of structure in writing
• Structural features of academic writing
• Signposting
• Planning and checking your structure

2. In this session…
• What is structure in academic writing?
• Introduction, main body and conclusion.
• Signposting in writing.
• Planning your structure.
• Checking your structure.

3. Structure in academic writing
• Most written assessments, like essays, have a similar overall structure
made up of an introduction, a main body, and a conclusion.
• These features have different length and functions and are a way of
leading your reader through your writing.
• It is important that you consider each of these structural features in
your planning stages as well as build in checks before submitting your
assessment.
• You will also need to be sure that you link between these sections to
make your writing flow.

4. It is imperative that your assignment has a clear and solid structure.
Introduction
State the purpose of your assignment and main topic (one or two paragraphs/ 10%).
Main body
Discusses the main points of your argument from large to more detailed (several
linked paragraphs/ 80%).
Conclusion
Summarises the main points of your assignment (one or two paragraphs/ 10%).
As a work based learner, you may also be required to have recommendations.
Introduction, main body, conclusion.

5. Introduction = tell them what you are going to tell them.
Make a general statement that introduces the overall topic. Explain why the topic is
important. Explain what you are going to write about specifically (purpose of your text).
Briefly summarise the structure of the rest of the text.
Main body = tell them.
Break down the answer to your question in logical steps, i.e. use subheadings and
make your points supported by the literature you have research and read.
Conclusion = tell them what you told them.
Re-state the purpose, summarise your main points and your evaluation of them. DO
NOT introduce new ideas.
Introduction, main body, conclusion.

6. Introduction – example sentences starts
This essay will…
This essay seeks to investigate/evaluate/discuss…
The aim of this study is to…
This essay critically examines…
Main body – top tips
• Do not use the heading Main Body!
• Ensure you write in well developed paragraphs (more than one sentence, but not too long).
• Use signposting (outlined on next slide) and linking between content to develop your discussion.
Conclusion – re-state your focus
You could refer to terms or vocabulary that you state in your introduction. Make sure, in your conclusion, you
specifically answer the assessment question.
Introduction, main body, conclusion.

7. Headings and subheadings
Gives YOU a chance to organise your thought process/ content and the READER a clear indication of
what’s coming next.
Signposting
Use explicit statements to further reinforce what topics will be discussed (but don’t overdo it!).
Links
Make links between subtopics/ subheadings to show cohesiveness in your assignment.
Formatting
Make your marker’s life easy by using a consistent or uniform font and font size throughout. Consider
paragraph spacing when presenting your assignment in a clear and easily readable format.
Signposting
• There are other ways that you can provide structure in your writing:

8. Linking words:
To add more ideas: again, furthermore, in addition, moreover
To compare or contrast ideas: alternatively, contrastingly, conversely, whereas
To prove something: evidently, for this reason, because, inevitably
To show exceptions: however, nevertheless, yet, in spite of
To repeat or refer back to something: as has been mentioned/noted…/As previously discussed
To show that you will include something later: this will be discussed in detail later
To emphasise something: definitely, obviously, inevitably, undeniably
To give an example: for instance, in this case, in particular, notably
To show the order of things: previously, following this, initially, subsequently, finally
Adapted from Queen’s University Belfast’s Learning Development Service Guide on Signposting: http://www.qub.ie/directorates/sgc/learning/FileStore/Filetoupload,628191,en.pdf
Signposting

9. Planning your structure
• Structure is something that you should consider in the very initial
stages of your assignment.
• There are several ways to approach this. You could draw a mind map,
develop an outline, collate your notes or divide the overall word
count into sections.
• The important thing is to remember the function and purpose of the
introduction, main body and conclusion.

10. Planning your structure
Title/ question The purpose of your essay is to address the question, so make sure you keep focussed on it.
Introduction Explain the purpose and focus of your essay:
- Which issues will the essay explore?
- How will discussion examine each issue and in which order?
- Length is approx 10% of the essay.
Develop your argument or
line of reasoning
Paragraph 1
- Covers the first thing you said you’d address in your introduction.
- The first sentence introduces the main idea of the paragraph. Following sentences develop the topic.
- Leads to the next paragraph.
Paragraph 2 and other paragraphs
- The first sentence links to the previous paragraph, then introduces the main idea of the paragraph.
- Other sentences then develop the paragraph topic.
Conclusion The conclusion contains no new material.
- Summarises your argument and the main themes.
- States your general conclusions and shows why these are significant.
- In your last sentence, sum up your argument very briefly, linking it back to the title of the question.
- Length is approx 10% of the essay.
Reference list List all the resources you have used and referred to within the essay.

11. Checking your structure
• As you finalise your draft assignment, it is worth spending time to
make sure that your structure is logical, linked and makes sense.
• As part of your proofreading checks, check your assignment against
your original plan. Does it make sense? Does your discussion flow?
• Look for balance. Are some paragraphs/ sections long r than others?
Is there a reason for this?
• Check for consistency and accuracy in use fo headings and
subheadings to organise your content.

12. Activity
Please now complete the activity in the Activities folder:
Week 5: Structure in writing.