GET AHEAD UNDERGRADUATE SUMMER PROGRAMME 2014 Reading and writing for academic purposes Sara Steinke s.steinke@bbk.ac.uk

Aims of the session Reading for academic purposes - coping with the large amount of reading expected of you - increasing your understanding of the reading - understanding your reading lists Writing for academic purposes - what makes English academic - the style and conventions of academic writing

Common problems students encounter when reading for academic purposes What is meant by reading for academic purposes - are you a smart reader Reading skills for academic purposes - SQ3R Understanding reading lists and the library catalogue Writers are not authorities. They are participants in a public exchange of views. Be critical of their work.

Common difficulties with reading These are some common difficulties mentioned by undergraduate students. Which of them apply to you? I read the words on the page but am not taking them in. I spend too much or too little time on the reading. I have difficulty expressing what I have read in my own words. I simply do not understand the material. I find the language used too complicated. I can not remember everything I read. I find the amount of reading overwhelming.

Academic reading Non academic reading Reader is: active selective and interacts with the reading material has a particular question in mind re-reads with a purpose Reader is: passive reads from page one till the end does not ask questions expects the author to guide them through the narrative

Survey - before you read, survey the entire text, including the table of contents. Read titles, subtitles, introductions and conclusions and review any graphics. Question - write questions for the key points you have identified. Turn heading and subheadings into questions. Ask who, what, where, when and why. Read - read through the text from beginning to end, pausing at the end of each section to answer the questions you have created. Highlight key points in the text as you read, or make brief notes. Recite - answer the questions out loud to reinforce your learning. Make a list of key facts you need to know. Try to stop after each section in the text. Review - reviewing the concepts in the text after you are finished reading and reciting each section, and come back to it periodically over a few days. Summarise difficult passages and rewrite the major points in your own words.

Scanning Skimming To get a general idea of the text See what is in the news or on a website Browse through a book to see if you what to read it Look through a television guide to see what is on one evening Flick through a catalogue to see what is on offer Look through the options on a Google search to see what sites it suggests To get particular information from a text Look up a word in an index or dictionary Find a phone number or address in a directory Check what time a television programmes is on Look up details and prices in a catalogue Pick out a website you want from a Google search

Reading Can you: select and use different reading strategies (e.g. skim, scan, in-depth)? think about what you need to find out before you start reading (are you reading to verify facts, to understand a subject in general or to analyse a particular argument)? critically evaluate reading? deal with new vocabulary?

Useful sources (for reading) Cottrell, S. (2008) The Study Skills Handbook, 3rd ed., (London, Macmillan) Chapter 6 ‘Research skills’ pp.111-136 Northedge, A. (2005) The Good Study Guide (Milton Keynes, Open University Press) chapter 5 ‘Reading’ pp.101-128 http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/get-ahead-stay-ahead/skills/reading http://www.palgrave.com/skills4study/studyskills/learning/reading.asp

Reading lists Lecturers give out lists of recommended resources to help you gain a greater understanding of your subject Use the reading list as your first ‘port of call’ for a topic These lists include references to: - books - sections of books/chapters - journal articles - web sites

Understanding book references Author’s name (surname first) Date of publication Title of book, edition if appropriate Place of publication Publisher

Understanding journal article references Author’s name (surname first) Date of publication Title of the article Name of the journal Volume Issue Page numbers

Understanding web sources references Author’s name or company/organization name Date document was produced or updated Title of the document URL (web site address) Date you accessed the web site Birkbeck Library (2012) Birkbeck eLibrary. http://www.bbk.ac.uk/lib/elib/ (Accessed: 25 June 2012)

Citing references: why? To acknowledge the use of other people’s work To avoid plagiarism So those that read your essays can see how widely you have read So those that read your work can see what influenced you to draw the conclusions you did

Citing references: how? List all the resources that you have read or consulted at the end of your essay in a bibliography List the resources in alphabetical order of surname There are different ‘styles’ of citing references - be consistent Check your course handbook for your department’s preferred style

The Library catalogue This information includes: Use the catalogue to Publication details Shelf mark (location) Number of copies Loan length Availability OR Link to access ebook Use the catalogue to find information about: books ebooks DVDs print journals ejournals - access via eLibrary

Library and IT skills Can you: use the library catalogue and online database efficiently and effectively? undertake research, both primary and secondary? produce documents (essays, dissertations, reports) using Word and Excel?

Useful sources (for library) Pears, R. and Shields, G. (2013) Cite them right: the essential referencing guide. 9th ed. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/get-ahead-stay-ahead/skills/your-reading- list http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/get-ahead-stay-ahead/skills/referencing

Why do you think writing gives students the most anxiety? They have not written an essay in a long time. They do not know what an academic essay looks like. They miss deadlines as a result of poor time management. They have no idea why they are writing an essay. Answer: A, B, C and D

Importance of academic English for undergraduate study What makes English academic Check your academic English

“In my experience the most important thing is to write the way they want. You can write all kinds of stuff you know about, but you don’t get good marks unless you write it the proper way.” Deepens your learning Develops your writing skills Doing yourself justice Enables the reader to understand your point of view Strengthens your powers of self-expression Major medium through which your progress is assessed Northedge, A. The Good Study Guide

What is academic English? What makes spoken or written English ‘academic’ is not the ideas, but the way the ideas are presented - in a logical order, with evidence to support them, objectively and expressed - using formal language, using specialist vocabulary, using words and phrases that are expected in writing at university Definitions ‘academy’ = place of study, university ‘academic’ = doing things they way they are done in the Academy ‘academic writing’ = writing in the way that is expected of people at university

In a logical order start with a plan jot down any ideas that you have as you think of them group your ideas about the same point together and present them in the same paragraph start each paragraph with a sentence that shows what you are going to write about in that paragraph - the topic sentence put your points in order so that they follow on from each other develop the main idea in the topic sentence with your other points

With evidence read and make notes from different sources use sources that are reliable and/or recommended to you make notes of where different writers agree or disagree so that you can compare different views remember that things are usually more grey than black and white

Objectively make suggestions, not strongly emotional comments avoid stating your personal opinion do not involve the reader directly by asking questions

Use formal language write in full sentences do not use abbreviations or contractions use impersonal forms (not the first person ‘I’) no slang or colloquial expressions

Use specialist vocabulary check the meaning of specialist terms in your subject note examples of how these terms are used in the books and articles that you read do not use terms that you do not understand

Use words and phrases that are expected academic writers are expected to be cautious e.g. ‘this suggests ...’, ‘this might explain ...’ readers expect phrases that act as signposts to guide them through the text – additional information e.g. ‘furthermore ...’, ‘moreover ...’, ‘in addition ...’ – to move to specific examples e.g. ‘for instance ...’, ‘as an illustration ...’

How to annoy your lecturers Using apostrophes wrongly Confusing common words, for example there/their Making spelling errors Using informal language Writing sentences without verbs Making every sentence a paragraph Not using paragraphs Writing long convoluted sentences Trying to write too pompously Using run-on sentences/comma splices A group of lecturers from different subjects were asked what really annoyed them about students’ grammar and language . . .

Check your academic English skills at http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/services/orientation CheckyouracademicEnglishskills.pptx/view http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/services/orientation/ get-ready-to-study-at-birkbeck Grammar Vocabulary Punctuation Spelling Academic style

Academic writing: conventions (1) Do not use contractions or slang Use the terminology of your field Avoid the first (‘I’) and second person (‘you’) Define key terms you use in a particular way Include only ideas that are relevant to your argument and subject Limit ideas to one per sentence/single point for each paragraph

Academic writing: conventions (2) Use formal style Writing style does not have to be complicated /elaborate Be well organised and present ideas in logical order Present objective analysis that is critical without being too positive or negative, be cautious Use clear, precise language Avoid emotive language

Academic writing: conventions (3) Be kind to your reader - give reader clues (transition words, summaries) to let them know where they are in your argument Use subheadings and sections, where appropriate Cite relevant sources Explain, not just describe Use quotes, examples Establish clear connections between ideas

Quick quiz What is wrong with this piece of critical writing Quick quiz What is wrong with this piece of critical writing? (Cottrell 2008: 209) Mount Pepe is going up - it’s going to take everything with it when it goes. And I mean everything - villages, farms, trees, the lot. It’s frightening to think of how powerful a volcano can be. Think of the damage they cause! Remember Pompeii and Mount Etna!

What is right with this piece of critical writing? (Cottrell 2008: 209) In order to assess whether it is necessary to evacuate the villages on Mount Pepe, three main factors need to be taken into consideration. The first, and most important, of these is the element of safety. According to seismic experts currently working on the volcano, there is likely to be a major eruption within the next ten years (Achebe 2007). According to Achebe, the eruption is likely to destroy villages over a radius of 120 miles (Achebe 2008, p.7).

Writing Can you: express your ideas clearly in written form? make an outline of what you are going to write? write in clear sentences and paragraphs? link your ideas in a logical order? use correct grammar? develop your own argument? identify your audience and write in an appropriate register?

Useful reading for academic writing Cottrell, S. (2008) The Study Skills Handbook (3rd edition) (Palgrave Macmillan, London) chapter 8 ‘Writing for university’ and chapter 9 ‘Developing your writing’ Crème, P. (1997) Writing at University (Open University Press, Milton Keynes) Greetham, B. (2008) How to write better essays (2nd edition) (Palgrave Macmillan, London) Northedge, A. (2007) The Good Study Guide (Open University Press, Milton Keynes) chapter 10 ‘Writing the way ‘they’ want’ and chapter 11 ‘Managing the writing process’ Peck, J. & Coyle, M. (2005) Write it Right: A Handbook for Students (Palgrave Redman P (2001) Good Essay Writing (Sage, London) Rose, J. (2007) The Mature Students Guide to Writing (2nd edition) (Basingstoke, Palgrave)

Useful websites for academic writing Get ahead Stay ahead interactive tutorials http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/get-ahead-stay-ahead/writing Website supporting the Palgrave MacMillan study skills books http://www.palgrave.com/skills4study/studyskills/reading/essay.asp http://www.palgrave.com/skills4study/studyskills/reading/writing.asp Useful listening http://www.palgrave.com/skills4study/mp3s.asp#tricks

Recap of the session Reading for academic purposes - coping with the large amount of reading expected of you - increasing your understanding of the reading - understanding your reading lists Writing for academic purposes - what makes English academic - the style and conventions of academic writing

Presentations can be found at http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/services/orie ntation/get-ready-to-study-at-birkbeck

and effective note making go hand-in-hand Common problems students encounter when note making for academic purposes Difference between note taking and note making Note making skills for undergraduate study -linear notes, mind mapping Active reading (SQ3R) and effective note making go hand-in-hand

Common difficulties with notes These are some common difficulties mentioned by students. Which of them apply to you? I try to take down everything that is said/on the PowerPoint presentation in lectures. 2. I am unsure what the purpose of note-taking is. 3. I am uncertain about how many notes to take. 4. I am unsure what to make notes on. 5. I do not take time to organise my notes so that I can retrieve them later on. 6. I only know one way for note-taking.

Note taking is when you are taking notes on material in class; on what a speaker is saying; on what is happening around you. Note making is when you make notes on your thoughts; things you think you should study for, or remember; your own individual thoughts or information that you recall, and want to write down to remember or study. What is the difference between note taking and note making?

Techniques for linear, sequential notes Make headings and subheadings List key words Number the points Underline, colour, use capital letters for emphasis Use abbreviations. Examples: = for equal, < less than, > more than, increase, decrease, re regarding, cf compared with Only use one side of a page in case you want to add more Note name of authors you want/need to read in margin

Techniques for radial, concept notes or mind maps Turn the paper sideways, A3 landscape Write the topic in the centre of the page Write related ideas around this centre Add secondary ideas to the main ideas Link up these ideas to show relationships Use colours, different line thickness, symbols, pictures Add details to points as you go along

Condensing notes ‘Boil’ notes down to essential information. This is often easier to do a few weeks later, because your understanding of the subject has increased. You can see more clearly what is important information and what is not. Note gaps knowledge, confusions and contradictions in the reading or your knowledge Move from linear notes to conceptual notes (linear notes to mind maps)

Organising and storing your notes By systematic from the beginning Make sure you can (re)read them before filing them away - but do not rewrite them ‘neatly’ Condensed notes can be copied and filed in at least two different ways: - chronological order (as you go along) - topic order (e.g. in anticipation of an assignment) - personal interest (for your own research later?) Write subject clearly in top right hand corner; number pages; colour code them; index cards

Note making Can you: make effective notes when reading? make effective notes when listening (e.g. during lectures)? use more than one note making technique? do you have a way of organising your notes?

Useful sources (for note making) Cottrell, S. (2008) The Study Skills Handbook, 3rd ed., (London, Macmillan) chapter 6 ‘Research skills’ pp.111-136 Northedge, A. (2005) The Good Study Guide (Milton Keynes, Open University Press) chapter 6 ‘Making notes’ pp.128-156 Buzan T. (rev. 2003) Use Your Head (London, BBC) Buzan, T. & B. (rev. 2006) The Mind Map Book (London, BBC ) Buzan T. (2007) The Buzan Study Skills Handbook (London, BBC) http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/get-ahead-stay ahead/skills/notetaking http://www.mind-mapping.co.uk/ http://www.thinkbuzan.com/ http://www.mindmapinspiration.co.uk/