1. NMCHstudySMART@gcal.ac.uk Writing at University

2. NMCHstudySMART@gcal.ac.uk Writing at University Today’s Session 1. Academic conventions of writing. 2. Different types of written assessments. 3. Plagiarism and how to avoid it. 4. Referencing correctly.

3. NMCHstudySMART@gcal.ac.uk Writing for University Different types of writing: -Essay -Report -Dissertation -Portfolio Basic conventions throughout

4. NMCHstudySMART@gcal.ac.uk Writing for University Conventions Be clear and concise Formal and impersonal Use ‘it’ instead of ‘I’ or ‘we’. Bibliography and referencing Avoid abbreviations such as ‘didn’t’ – use ‘did not’. Think carefully about grammar and punctuation. Use a spell checker.

5. NMCHstudySMART@gcal.ac.uk Writing for University Conventions (2) Spell out any acronyms that you use. Don’t start sentences with ‘linking words’ – ‘and’, ‘but’… Avoid colloquialisms or slang – ‘dead easy’. Useful resources produced by Effective Learning Service at GCU.

6. NMCHstudySMART@gcal.ac.uk Writing for University Top tips Always write a plan. Check your structure. Read through your work. Referencing.

7. NMCHstudySMART@gcal.ac.uk Writing for University Exercise In small groups, consider the writing that has been circulated on the handouts. What makes the examples good or bad? Are they formal or informal? How does the composition flow? Are there any grammatical problems?

8. NMCHstudySMART@gcal.ac.uk Writing for University Types of academic writing - Essay - Case study - Report - Dissertation - Portfolio

9. NMCHstudySMART@gcal.ac.uk Writing for University Reflection Links theory and practice. How and why do you do things? ERA cycle action reflective processes experience

10. NMCHstudySMART@gcal.ac.uk Writing for University Reflection Reflection-in-action vs or reflection-on-action Gibbs (1988), Johns (2000) and Rolfe et al (2001) SWOB (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Barriers) analysis. Who, what, where, when, why and how was something done?

11. NMCHstudySMART@gcal.ac.uk Writing at University What is plagiarism? ‘to use another person's idea or a part of their work and pretend that it is your own’ Cambridge Dictionaries Online ‘the deliberate and substantial unacknowledged incorporation in a student’s work of material derived from the work (published or unpublished) of another’ University Assessment Regulations

12. NMCHstudySMART@gcal.ac.uk Writing at University What is plagiarism? Much of plagiarism at university is not deliberate cheating. It tends to be a failure to reference and quote properly. You must show a reader where your ideas, information and quotations have come from.

13. NMCHstudySMART@gcal.ac.uk Writing at University Avoiding Plagiarism Understand the concept. Understand the assessment. Plan your time. ‘Direct referencing’ (McKendry 2008) McKendry’s indirect referencing (2008)

14. NMCHstudySMART@gcal.ac.uk Writing at University Referencing – Text Citations NMCH uses the Harvard referencing system i) A recent study (Baird 2002) showed that … ii) Baird (2002) states that … iii) “With an average cost of £3200 to £5000 per case this has major cost implications for the future care of this group of patients” (Baird 2002, p. 79).

15. NMCHstudySMART@gcal.ac.uk Writing at University Referencing – Listed References Hart, C. (2001) Doing a literature search, 3rd ed., Sage: London Verdu, J. (2003) “Can a decision tree help nurses to grade and treat pressure ulcers?”, Journal of Wound Care, Vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 45-50. Donovan, P. (2003) “Insights into maternal health” In: Grandis, S., Long, G., Glasper, E. A. & Donovan, P. (eds) Foundation studies for nursing using enquiry based learning, 2nd ed., Palgrave MacMillan: Hampshire, pp. 15-47 Scottish Executive (2003) Supporting people, supporting independent living, HMSO: Edinburgh

16. NMCHstudySMART@gcal.ac.uk Writing at University Referencing Activity Have a look at the various texts around the room. Write down how you would reference each of them – both as in text citations and reference lists. The School’s Referencing Guidelines are available to help you. Or ask us!

17. NMCHstudySMART@gcal.ac.uk Writing at University Plagiarism Activity In small groups, please have a look through the case studies we have given you. For each, decide: -Is this a case of plagiarism. - If so, what should the student have done differently

18. NMCHstudySMART@gcal.ac.uk Vic Boyd Stephanie McKendry Academic Development Tutors NMCH