Advice on Academic Writing

1. ADVICEONACADEMICWRITING
INSTITUTO SUPERIOR DE FORMACION
DOCENTE N°41
LANGUAGE AND WRITTEN EXPRESSION
TEACHER: SAUBIDET OYHAMBURU, STELLA
STUDENT: MORENO, GABRIELA
MAY, 2020

2. 1
ADVICEONACADEMICWRITING
INDEX
COMPOSING AN ESSAY ...................................2
WRITER´S BLOCK ..............................................3
ORGANIZATION .................................................4
TOPIC SENTENCE ..............................................5
CRITICAL WRITING ...........................................6
PLAGIARISM .......................................................7
TYPES OF WRITING ..........................................8
EDITING .............................................................17
GRADING ...........................................................18
ADVICE ..............................................................19
BIBLIOGRAPHY ...............................................20

3. AN ESSAY SHOULD:
HAVE AN ARGUMENT (ANSWER A QUESTION)
PROVE SOMETHING (DEVELOP A THESIS)
SUCCESSFUL METHODS OF COMPOSING
• Present the argument clearly and persuasively.
• Keep the essay´s overall purpose and organization in
mind.
• Pay attention to transitions, diction and economy.
• Avoid innecessary and redundant repetition.
• Begin the paragraphs with a topic sentence in order to
be clearer and more coherente.
• Revise, draft and redraft the whole essay first and then
sentences.
• Proofread the final copy.
• Submit your essay in a plain and appropriate format.
Successful
methods of
composing
2

4. Avoid Writer´s block
• Be sure you clearly understand the
assignment.
• Have an specific and clear topic.
• Make enough research but not too
much to focus on your writing.
• Research about the kind of essay you are
writing and its structure.
• Have in mind that you can rewrite your
ideas as many times as you need.
• Create a suitable and inspiring
atmosphere and take a break when
needed.
ADVICEONACADEMICWRITING
3

5. ADVICEONACADEMICWRITING
4
THESIS
STATEMENT
Usually comes at the
first paragraph.
It must indicate a
theoretical basis and
promise substantial
support.
INTRODUCTION
Identifies the topic,
provides essential
context and indicates
the focus in the essay.
It should encourage the
reader´s interest.
CONCLUSION
Provides a sense of
closure.
Involves critical thinking
Organizing an essay
Organise your writing
according to the type of essay
before you start. Outlines can
be really useful.
Planning can help you to produce a logical and orderly argument.

6. 5
Topic
Sentence
It is the main point of the
paragraph and has an
unifying function.
It guides the reader through
the argument
It shows how a paragraph
contributes to the
development of the
argument.

7. CRITICAL WRITING DEPENDS ON CRITICAL READING,
LOOKING FOR WAYS OF THINKING ABOUT THE SUBJECT
MATTER TO MAKE YOUR ARGUMENT
• IDENTIFY CENTRAL CAIMS OR PURPOSES.
• Make some judgement about context.
• Examine the evidence.
• Evaluate, asses the strengths and weaknesses of the
argument.
• Select your reading material carefully based on reliability
and accuracy.
• Focus your approach to the topic. Read with a purpose in
mind so that you will be able to sort out relevant ideas.
CRITICAL
WRITING
6

8. ADVICEONACADEMICWRITING
7
PARAPHRASE
Restate someone else´s
ideas in your own
language at roughly the
same level of detail.
SUMMARIZE
Reduce the most
essential points of
someones else´s work in
a shorter form.
QUOTE
Repeat exactly the same
words that someone else´s
has said or written.
Avoid Plagiarism
Avoid plagiarism by properly citing every source in the bibliograpry

9. Specific types of writing
• Analytic or critical book review.
• Comparative essay.
• Annotated bibliography.
• Historical research paper.
• Abstracts.
• Literary review.
• Admission letter.
• Writing about literature.
• Lab report.
• Oral presentations.
• Writing for the public.
• Application letter.
• Academic proposal.
ADVICEONACADEMICWRITING
8

10. 9
ANALYTIC OR CRITICAL
BOOK REVIEW
Comments on and evaluates
the work in the light of
specific issues and theoretical
concerns in a course
ANNOTATED
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Gives an account of the
research that has been done
on a given topic. Provides a
concise summary of each
source and some assessment
of its value or relevance
COMPARATIVE
ESSAY
Contrast and compares at
least two items such as
positions on an issue,
theories, figures, texts or
events

11. ADVICEONACADEMICWRITING
Primary source:
Document created at
the time of the event or
subject chosen; or by
people who were
observers or participants
in that event.
Secondary source:
What others scholars
have written about
the topic.
10
Historical research paper

12. ADVICEONACADEMICWRITING
11
Abstract
Gives a first impression of the
document that follows,
letting readers decide
whether to continue reading
and showing them what to
look for if they do. It should
represent as much as
possible of the quantitative
and qualitative information
in the document, and also
reflect its reasoning

13. ADVICEONACADEMICWRITING
Accounts of what has been
published on a topic by
acredited scholars and
researchers. It is a piece of
discursive prose which
synthesizes and evaluates the
material published according to
the guiding concept of the
thesis
12
Literary review

14. • Be focussed
(take your cue
first from the
prompts given in
the application
form)
• Be coherent
(organise your
letter clearly)
• Be interpretative (do not
repeat the facts set out in
other parts of the
application)
• Be specific (make claims
that you can back them
up)
• Be personal (mention
things you may not have
include in the rest of the
application)
• Proofread carefully for
missing details as
well as grammar and
punctuation errors
• Write readably (do
not overload your
sentences with
academic jargon or
pretentious words)
13
Admission letter

15. 14
WRITING ABOUT
LITERATURE
Requires critical
thought and strong
argumentation.
Avoid plot summary
(leave plenty space for
your own ideas)
Opt for analysis instead
of evaluative
judgements
LAB REPORT
Documents findings
and communicates
their significance
More than
presenting data, it
demonstrates the
writer´s
comprehension of
the concepts behind
the data

16. 15
ORAL
PRESENTATION
• Choose the topic
carefully and make an
appropriate research
• Make sure you
understand the
instructions correctly,
you know what is
expected for you
• Organise your talk and
rehearse
• Use supplementary
media to illustrate some
aspects of your talk
APPLICATION
LETTER
• Keep the readers´
interests in mind (know
enough about the
organization or company
to recognize what they
are looking for)
• Balance facts and claims
• Write concisely
• Start strong and clear and
end by requesting an
interview
WRITING FOR THE
PUBLIC
• Try to connect with the
audience knowing their
expectations
• Provide a context
• Be concrete
• Choose appropriate
language

17. 16
ACADEMIC PROPOSAL
Intended to convince a supervisor or
academic commettee that a topic and
approach are sound, in order to gain
approval to proceed with the research
It should also show your theoretical
positioning and your relationship to past
work in the area
It is expected to contain:
• A rationale for the coice of the topic,
showing importance and usefulness
• A review of existing published work
related to the topic
• An outline of your intended approach or
methodology

18. ADVICEONACADEMICWRITING
17
ADD OR
DELETE
SENTENCES
AND
PARAGRAPHS,
SHIFT THEM
AROUND AND
RESHAPE THEM
CHECK STYLE,
LANGUAGE AND
ORGANIZATION
MIND
APPEARANCE
CHECK YOU
HAVE
FULFILLED THE
INTENTION OF
THE
ASSIGNMENT
Editing
Revise and edit your writing to get an
excellent final paper

19. ADVICEONACADEMIXWRITING
• How the topic is
handled
• Quality of ideas
• Organization
• Quality of writing style
and grammar
18
Grading
Factors that determine the grade of
your written assignment
Item 1 Item 2 Item 3 Item 4
40
30
20
10
0

20. • Try to avoid wordiness, using more words
than necessary just to use up space
• Learn to punctuate effectively, learning
the rules first. This will provide you with
considerable control over meaning and
tone
• Use a dictionary to check spelling and be
consistent about using British or
American spellings
• Check plurals, possesives and subject-
verb argument
Some advice
to have in account
ADVICEONACADEMICWRITING
19

21. 20
ADVICEONACADEMICWRITING
BIBLIOGRAPHY
PROFESSOR SILBER, C. A."SOME GENERAL ADVICE ON ACADEMIC ESSAY -WRITING"
TORONTO CANADA. UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO. DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH. AVAILABLE AT :
HTTPS://ADVICE.WRITING.UTORONTO.CA/GENERAL/GENERAL -ADVICE/
LEBE, SABINE "WRITER’S BLOCK" TORONTO CANADA. UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO.
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE WRITING CENTRE. AVALIABLE AT:
HTTPS://ADVICE.WRITING.UTORONTO.CA/GENERAL/WRITERS -BLOCK/
PLOTNICK, JERRY "ORGANIZING AN ESSAY" TORONTO CANADA. INIVERSITY OF TORONTO.
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE WRITING CENTRE. AVAILABLE AT :
HTTPS://ADVICE.WRITING.UTORONTO.CA/PLANNING/ORGANIZING/
PROCTER, MARGARET "USING THESIS STATEMENTS" TORONTO CANADA. UNIVERSITY OF
TORONTO. WRITING SUPPORT. AVALIABLE AT:
HTTPS://ADVICE.WRITING.UTORONTO.CA/PLANNING/THESIS -STATEMENTS/
FREEDMAN, LEORA AND PLOTNICK, JERRY "INTRODUCTIONS AND CONCLUSIONS"
TORONTO CANADA. UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO. UNIVERSITY COLLEGE WRITING CENTRE.
AVAILABLE AT: HTTPS://ADVICE.WRITING.UTORONTO.CA/PLANNING/INTROS -AND-
CONCLUSIONS/

22. 21
ADVICEONACADEMICWRITING
HALL, JENNY AND PLOTNICK, JERRY "USING TOPIC SENTENCES" TORONTO CANADA.
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO. UNIVERSITY COLLEGE WRITING CENTRE. AVAILABLE AT:
HTTPS://ADVICE.WRITING.UTORONTO.CA/PLANNING/TOPIC -SENTENCES/
KNOTT, DEBORAH "CRITICAL READING TOWARDS CRITICAL WRITING" TORONTO CANADA.
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO. NEW COLLEGE WRITING CENTRE. AVAILABLE AT:
HTTPS://ADVICE.WRITING.UTORONTO.CA/RESEARCHING/CRITICAL -READING/
PROCTER, MARGARET "HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF READING" TORONTO CANADA.
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO. WRITING SUPPORT. AVAILABLE AT:
HTTPS://ADVICE.WRITING.UTORONTO.CA/RESEARCHING/GET -THE-MOST-FROM-READING/
PROCTER, MARGARET "TAKING NOTES FROM RESEARCH READING" TORONTO CANADA.
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO, WRITING SUPPORT. AVAILABLE AT:
HTTPS://ADVICE.WRITING.UTORONTO.CA/RESEARCHING/NOTES -FROM-RESEARCH/
PROCTER, MARGARET "HOW NOT TO PLAGIARIZE" TORONTO CANADA. UNIVERSITY OF
CANADA. WRITING SUPPORT. AVAILABLE AT: HTTPS://ADVICE.WRITING.UTORONTO.CA/USING -
SOURCES/HOW-NOT-TO-PLAGIARIZE/
PLOTNICK, JERRY "USING QUOTATIONS" TORONTO CANADA. UNIVERSITY OF CANADA.
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE WRITING CENTRE. AVAILABLE AT:
HTTPS://ADVICE.WRITING.UTORONTO.CA/USING -SOURCES/QUOTATIONS/

23. 22
ADVICEONACADEMICWRITING
PLOTNICK, JERRY "PARAPHRASE AND SUMMARY" TORONTO CANADA. UNIVERSITY OF
CANADA. UNIVERSITY COLLEGE WRITING CENTRE. AVAILABLE AT:
HTTPS://ADVICE.WRITING.UTORONTO.CA/USING-SOURCES/PARAPHRASE/
PROCTER, MARGARET "REVISING AND EDITING" TORONTO CANADA. UNIVERSITY OF
CANADA. WRITING SUPPORT. AVAILABLE AT:
HTTPS://ADVICE.WRITING.UTORONTO.CA/REVISING/REVISING-AND-EDITING/
FITZGERALD, HEATER "SOME TOOLS AND RULES TO IMPROVE YOUR SPELLING"
TORONTO CANADA. UNIVERSITY OF CANADA. UNIVERSITY COLLEGE WRITING CENTRE.
AVAILABLE AT:
HTTPS://ADVICE.WRITING.UTORONTO.CA/REVISING/SPELLING/