This document provides advice on many aspects of academic writing. It discusses choosing a topic and developing a thesis statement. It also outlines effective writing strategies like planning, outlining, revising and proofreading. Different expectations for writing are described moving from high school to university. Key aspects of writing paragraphs like topic sentences and coherence are covered. The document also addresses challenges like writer's block and provides tips for tasks like critical reading, note-taking, integrating sources, and revising.

1. Advice On Academic Writing

2. An Academic Essay
Should have a topic
or ‘argument’ to be proved (Thesis)
or reformulated (Hypothesis)

3. For a well-organized Essay
(beginning, development, ending)
A successful method of composing consists of:
• Think
• Write
• Outline
• Revise
and
• Proofread

4. Essay Topic Checklist
• Key Terms (why, how, analize, compare,
evaluate, argue)
• Search concepts, methods
• Discuss the Topic, find controversies
• Find a tentative ‘thesis statement’

5. Expectations on Writing:
From High School to University
• Expectations on writing differ in
structure, paragraphs, thesis statement,
argument, presentation
• There are differences in
Philosophy and aproach

6. Grades in an Academic Essay
for the Subject Matter
• Excellent
• Good
• Adequate
• Marginal
• Inadequate

7. Writer’s Block
Caused by
• Lack of understanding the material
• Poor or no research
• Unable to find a topic
•Unfamiliar genre/discipline
• Stress or anxiety
• Unable to come up with the ideal intoduction

8. Organizing an Essay
• Plan, organize, discuss
strengths and weaknesses of your writing
• Understand genre, structure and assignment of the essay
• Avoid common ‘pitfalls’ while generating an outline
• Essay outlines: topic and sentence

9. Techniques for Integrating
Note-Taking and Planning
• Index cards
• The Computer
• The Circle Method
• Reverse Outline

10. Thesis Statement
•The thesis statement is a summary statement
in the first paragraph of an Essay.
•This thesis statement creates or generates
an argument.
•This argument could be irrelevant, vague, intriguing,
emotional, complex, etc.

11. A Well-Developed Paragraph
In an Essay
Introductions and Conclusions
play a special role in academic writing
• Introduction (topic, content, focus, interest)
• Conclusion (closure, context, concepts,
add further information)

12. Paragraphs
• A paragraph is a series of relating sentences
developing a central idea
expressed in the Topic Sentence
• There are different types of paragraphs (by definition,
comparisson, qualification, process)
• A paragraph flows/shows connections
with an intended logic through specialized
linking words or connectors

13. Critical Reading
It consists of a judgement about HOW a text is argued,
looking for ways of thinking
about the subject matter:
•Purpose
• Reasoning
• Supporting evidences
• Evaluating

14. Skill Reading
• It means reading for
Comprehension or Understanding
• It will depend on the different materials:
Textbooks
Primary Sources
Research reading

15. Research Reading
For research reading, it will be necessary to
- Know the ideas you need to record
- Do not write too much
- Label your notes intelligently

16. Previewing
Previewing a text through
skimming, scanning or summarizing
provides information about the title, author,
audience, significance, heading,
facts, ideas.

17. Dealing With New Words
Dealing with new vocabulary helps to
- Recognize sounds
- Examine structures
- Look at the context
- Check the dictionary
- Reinforce understanding by writing

18. Using Sources
Not for plagiarizing,
but for the use of quotations,
Paragraphs, Specific Facts,
Authoritative Ideas.

19. Specific Types Of Writings
Review (article critique)
Annotated Bibliography
Essay
History, Literature, Science
Application Letters
Report
Oral Presentation

20. Revising and Editing
• Revising (Proofreading)
• Editing ( Checking)
Checking the assignment (genre, method)
Looking at overall organization (introduction,
main body, conclusion, connectors)
Editing and polishing (sentence structures,
grammar, punctuation, spelling)

21. For Written Assignments
• A well-handled topic
and assignment are crucial
• The quality of ideas
• An organized paper
• The quality of writing style and grammar

22. English as a Second Language
• Using Articles (definite, indefinite, countable,
uncountable, singular, plural)
• Subject-Verb agreement (quantity cases)
• Using Gerunds and Infinitives
(after a verb/phrasal verb, replaces a noun)
• Verbs for Referring to Sources
(verbs + that / for / as )

23. Credits
• Cayley R., Golubev P., Knott D., Khoo E., Plotnick J., Procter M.,
(1999, 2017) University Of Toronto -Writing courses
, Advice on Academic Writing https://
advice.writing.utoronto.ca/