1. Problem formulation and focus Intro to Academic Writing

2. Phases in writing –thinking –planning –collecting materials –write drafts –structuring –revising –final writing (gennemskrivning) (Heltberg 1997 33) However, writing is not a linear process!

3. A good problem statement/really abstract –one clear main question plus possibly subquestions –is a question or statement or claim –is often open –uses why or how - not just what –is phrased clearly –is marked clearly with typography –is short – preferably less that 10 lines –relevant to the area in question –builds on something - something unfitting - relation between x and y - the tickling observation - wonder –is interesting for the author –specifies the central contents in the text –provides possibilities for arguments –enables conclusions (Rienecker 1999 133)

4. Paper quality criteria –focus – often narrow (!) –everything used in accordance with the purpose of the text (and not more) –can be seen as argumentation –connects the elements of the text –organized as an investigation/study of a problem in an area (Rienecker 2000 44)

5. Focus –You have a lot of material – focus is the focal point: where there is something interesting or important to say –To focus is to find out what you want to tell to whom and why –Purpose in a text: - state early and clearly - everything in the text supports this purpose –In a conversation ”Why is he telling me this?” –In a text: if not clear you stop reading (Heltberg 1997 144)

6. Focus (II) Use your problem formulation like a light-house guiding you through the fog: –It helps you finding your way –You notice detours –Detours are allowed, but you have to get back on track

7. Lets make one after checklist: http://www.ece.cmu.edu/~koopman/e ssays/abstract.html i.e. I think digital media play an important role in identity construction... (final text posted in blog)

8. Next steps Structuring your papers (8 April) On quotes and writing process (15 April) Status report to writing group (22 April) Present your draft to class and experts (6 Maj) Hand-in date (21 Maj)

9. Academic Writing Materials Compiled by Anker Helms Jørgensen, who teaches our phd students this topic All material comes from: –(Blåsjö 2000) Blåsjö, Mona (2000): Uppsatsens yta och djup - Studenters skrivutveckling mellan B- och C-uppsats [Surface and depth of the student essay. Writing development of university students.] TeFa report 33, Dept. of Nordic Languages, Stockholm University. –(Booth 1995) Booth, Wayne C., Colomb, Gregory G., and Williams, Joseph M. (1995): The Craft of Research. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. –(Heltberg 1997) Heltberg, Eva and Kock, Christian (red): Skrivehåndbogen [The Writer’s Handbook]. Gyldendal, 1997. –(Rienecker 1997) Rienecker, Lotte (1997): Den gode opgave – arbejdsprocesser og kvalitetskriterier i opgaver på humaniora [The Good Essay – work processes and quality criteria in essays in the Humanities]. Gyldendal. –(Rienecker 1999) Rienecker, Lotte and Jørgensen, Peter Stray (1999): Opgaveskrivning på videregående uddannelser - en læreRbog [Writing essays in higher education – a Teacher’s handbook]. Frederiksberg, Samfundslitteratur. –(Rienecker 2000) Rienecker, Lotte and Jørgensen, Peter Stray (2000): Den gode opgave - opgaveskrivning på videregående uddannelser [The good essay – writing essays in higher education]. 2. udg. Frederiksberg: Samfundslitteratur. –(Rieneceker 2005) Rienecker, Lotte and Jørgensen, Peter Stray (2005): Den gode opgave. Håndbog i opgaveskrivning på videregående uddannelser [The good essay. Handbook in writing essays in higher education]. Samfundslitteratur. –(Swales 2000) Swales, John. M and Feak, Christine (2000): English in today’s research world – a writing guide. University of Michigan Press. –(Swales 2004) Swales, John M and Feak, Christine B. (2004): Academic Writing for Graduate Students – essential tasks and skills. Univ. Michigan Press. 2nd ed.