1. Academic writing skills Sara Steinke
GET AHEAD
POSTGADUATE SUMMER PROGRAMME 2012
Academic writing skills Sara Steinke

2. Aims of the session
Undertake study skills audit of your academic writing skills
Identify the key features of postgraduate academic writing skills
Look at the dissertation writing process
Consider how you can develop your writing skills in preparation for your course

3. The importance of academic writing skills for postgraduate study
Postgraduate studies require you to be a more active and engaged critical thinker
As a postgraduate student you are expected to contribute to your field of study
Influence postgraduate writing in 4 ways:
1. Critical thinking
2. Research
3. Academic integrity
4. Academic style

4. Critical thinking Think independently
Provide original perspective on previous research
Make connections between ideas/between your work and other research
Writing skills:
Organise your discussion into logical points
Establish clear connections between ideas
Cite relevant sources
Explain, not just describe, quotes, examples

5. Research Become aware of the current knowledge in your field
– deep and breadth
– synthesise information
– literature review
You will be expected to contribute personally to the knowledge in your field
– creative thinking
– presenting information in a new way, applying previous research to new problem, proving a thesis

6. Academic integrity
Give credit for intellectual property that you borrow
– paraphrasing, quotes, referencing
Be familiar with intellectual property rights
– opportunities to produce original work

7. Academic writing style
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
Use clear precise language
Avoid emotive language

8. Academic writing: key conventions
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
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

9. Think about the following
What are the
similarities between
writing a dissertation
and writing an essay?
Follows basic procedure
Adheres to academic conventions
Involves research skills
Requires writing in prose
Uses analytical reading /writing skills

10. Think about the following
Individually designed piece of work
Personal involvement
Time management
Self-management and motivation
Literature search
Presentation/ structure
Methodology
Managing your supervisor
Viva
What are the differences between writing a dissertation and writing an essay?

11. Structuring your dissertation
Title page
Abstract
Acknowledgments
Table of contents
Introduction
Literature review
Theoretical framework/methodology
Finding analysis
Analysis
Conclusions
Footnotes/endnotes
References
Appendices

12. Write down the three most important
things about academic writing that you have learnt/thought about in this session?
Why were they important to you?
What are your areas for improvement in your academic writing?
What are you doing to do to improve this
aspect of your learning?

13. Recap of the session
Undertaken study skills audit of your academic writing skills
– What are you doing well?
– What are the areas for improvement in your academic writing skills?
Identified the key features of postgraduate academic writing skills
– similarities and differences between writing a dissertation and writing an essay
Looked at the dissertation writing process
– structuring your thesis
– managing your supervisor
– preparing for your viva

14. Wisker, G. (2007) The Postgraduate Research Handbook (Palgrave)
support/phd-support
support/dissertations/pg_dissertations
postgraduate/index.asp
postgraduate/writing.asp
Wisker, G. (2007) The Postgraduate Research Handbook (Palgrave)