How create academic assignment

1. Academic
Assignments
By Nicola Nakashima
DBA – Reading | MA Ed. UK | BA
Hons LM UK | PDip CIM UK

2. What are we doing
today
• Introduction
• Understanding the assignment
• Researching and gathering information
• Writing the assignment
• Editing and revising
• Formatting and citations
• Conclusion

3. Introduction
• Purpose and importance of academic
writing.
• Overview of the lecture content.

4. Understanding
the Assignment
• How to interpret and analyse the
assignment prompt: Read the assignment
prompt carefully and identify the key
requirements, such as the topic, format,
length, and deadline. If there are any
unclear terms or concepts, clarify them with
your instructor.
• Types of assignments and their
requirements: There are various types of
assignments, including essays, research
papers, lab reports, case studies, and more.
Each assignment has its own requirements,
such as the structure, tone, and citation
style. Make sure to understand the
requirements of the specific assignment you
are working on.

6. Understanding
the Assignment
• Understanding the expectations of the
instructor: Pay attention to any specific
instructions or grading criteria provided
by your instructor. This will help you
understand their expectations and tailor
your writing to meet them.
• Strategies for brainstorming and
organizing ideas: Brainstorming can
help generate ideas for your writing. Try
techniques such as freewriting, mind
mapping, or listing to generate ideas.
Once you have your ideas, organize
them into a logical structure using an
outline or other planning tool.

7. Researching
and
Gathering
Information
• Identifying credible sources of
information: Look for reputable sources,
such as peer-reviewed journal articles,
academic books, or government
publications.
• Use library databases, scholarly search
engines, and other credible sources to
find information.
• Evaluate sources for credibility,
relevance, and accuracy. Make sure to
select sources that support your
argument or thesis statement.

11. SOURCE: https://www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk

13. Peer Reviewed Journal Articles

14. Useful Resources

15. Open Access
15

16. Researching
and
Gathering
Information
• Tips for conducting effective
research: Keep a record of your
sources, take detailed notes, and
organize your research effectively.
• Note-taking techniques and citation
management tools: There are various
note-taking techniques you can use,
such as summarizing, paraphrasing, or
quoting.
• Use citation management tools such
as Zotero, Mendeley, or EndNote to keep
track of your sources and avoid
plagiarism.

17. Writing the
Assignment
• Tips for writing a clear and concise
thesis statement:
• Your thesis statement should be clear,
concise, and specific.
• It should state your argument or main
point in a single sentence.
• Developing an outline and organizing
the paper:
• Use an outline to organize your ideas
and structure your paper.
• Your outline should include an
introduction, body paragraphs, and a
conclusion.

18. Writing the
Assignment
• Tips for writing a clear and concise
thesis statement:
• Your thesis statement should be clear,
concise, and specific.
• It should state your argument or main
point in a single sentence.
• Developing an outline and organizing
the paper:
• Use an outline to organize your ideas
and structure your paper.
• Your outline should include an
introduction, body paragraphs, and a
conclusion.

19. Writing the
Assignment
• Writing an introduction, body, and
conclusion:
• Your introduction should grab the
reader's attention, provide background
information, and present your thesis
statement.
• Your body paragraphs should provide
evidence and support for your thesis
statement, and your conclusion should
summarize your argument and restate
your thesis statement.

20. Writing the
Assignment
• Strategies for writing effective
paragraphs and sentences: Use topic
sentences to introduce the main idea of
each paragraph, and use transitions to
connect paragraphs and ideas. Keep
your sentences clear, concise, and easy
to read.
• Common mistakes to avoid in
academic writing: Common mistakes
include using informal language, writing
in the passive voice, using unsupported
opinions, and not following formatting
and citation guidelines.

21. Editing and
Revising
• Importance of editing and revising: Editing
and revising help to improve the clarity,
coherence, and effectiveness of your writing. It
can also help you catch errors and mistakes.
• How to revise for content, structure, and
style: Read your paper for clarity, coherence,
and relevance. Check that your ideas are well-
organized and supported by evidence. Consider
the tone and style of your writing and make
adjustments as necessary.
• Proofreading techniques and tools: Use
proofreading techniques such as reading aloud,
printing out your paper, and taking breaks
between revisions. Use spelling and grammar
checkers and other proofreading tools to catch
errors.

22. Formatting
and
Citations
• Understanding citation styles (APA,
MLA, Chicago, etc.): Different disciplines
and journals use different citation styles.
Make sure to use the correct citation
style for your assignment and follow the
guidelines closely.
• Formatting requirements (margins,
spacing, font, etc.): Your paper should
meet formatting requirements, such as
margins, spacing, font size, and line
spacing. Check the requirements of your
assignment or the citation style guide for
specific formatting guidelines.

23. Formatting
and
Citations
• How to properly cite sources within
the text and in a bibliography or
reference list: Use in-text citations to
indicate the source of your information or
ideas. Use a bibliography or reference
list to list all the sources used in your
paper.
• Avoiding plagiarism: Plagiarism is
using someone else's work or ideas
without giving them credit. Avoid
plagiarism by properly citing sources,
paraphrasing, and summarizing.

24. APA 7th Edition
Style: In-Text
Citations
• In-text citations are used to acknowledge the
source of your information within your paper.
• They are placed immediately after the cited
information within parentheses.
• In-text citations include the author's name(s)
and the date of publication.

25. One Author
In-Text
Citations
• For one author, include the author's last
name and the publication year in
parentheses.
• Example: (Smith, 2020)

26. Two
Authors In-
Text
Citations
• For two authors, include both authors'
last names and the publication year,
separated by an ampersand (&) in
parentheses.
• Example: (Smith & Johnson, 2020)

27. Three or
more
authors
• For three or more authors, use the first
author's last name followed by "et al."
and the publication year in all citations.
• Example: (Smith et al., 2020)

28. APA 7th
Edition
Style: End-
Text
Citations
• End-text citations are used to provide a
complete reference list at the end of your
paper.
• They provide full details about the
sources cited within your paper.

29. Books End-
Text
Citations
• For books, include the author's last
name and initials, publication year, book
title, and publisher.
• Example: Smith, J. D. (2020). The art of
writing. Penguin

30. Journal
Articles
End-Text
Citations
• For journal articles, include the author's
last name and initials, publication year,
article title, journal name, volume
number, issue number, page range, and
DOI or URL (if applicable).
• Example: Smith, J. D., Johnson, R. A., &
Williams, L. K. (2020). The effect of
writing on the brain. Journal of Writing
Research, 12(3), 45-60.
https://doi.org/10.5678/jwr.2020.12.3.45

31. Websites
End-Text
Citations
• For websites, include the author's last
name and initials (if available),
publication date (if available), website
title, URL, and access date.
• Example: Smith, J. D. (2020, July 1).
How to write a good paper. Writing Tips
Website.
https://www.writingtips.com/how-to-write-
a-good-paper.

32. Individual Activity
• Read the following text carefully, identify the key points in the
argument and paraphrase the text in your own words, while still
retaining the original meaning and conveying the same key
points and arguments.
“The rising temperatures caused by climate change are having a
major impact on our planet. Sea levels are rising, extreme
weather events are becoming more common, and ecosystems
are being disrupted. It is essential that we take action now to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit the damage to our
environment”.

33. How to create the reference list using Google
Scholar

34. Sample Assignment

35. Questions?