developing business practice – 302lon writing for academic success week 2
TRANSCRIPT
Developing Business Practice – 302LON
Writing for academic success
Week 2
Overview of sessions
Week
1 Reading for academic success
2 Writing for academic success
3 Finding and using information
4 Plagiarism and how to avoid it
5 Putting it all together
• Have an understanding of what is expected in writing at postgraduate level
• Know about the different writing styles you may be asked to use throughout your course
• Know how to plan and structure your writing• Understand the concept of citing and
referencing sources in your writing
By the end of this session...
Different types of writing
EmailWikis
Blogs
Executive Briefing
PowerPoint presentations
Management reports
Essays
DissertationsLetter
Reflective writing
Whatever you’re writing...
You Content Tutor
What do you want to communicate?Who is your audience?Are there any considerations to take into account?
What are you trying to communicate?Are you using the best form to communicate your message?
Writing basics: spelling
Use a dictionary or your spell checker...
...but don’t always trust your spell checker!
Writing basics: spelling
Make sure you use UK English...
...avoid ‘txt spk’
Get the right tone
Use appropriate vocabulary
Avoid slang and colloquialisms
– But also avoid colloquialisms and slang– Read it out aloud
Writing style: keeping it simple
One point per sentence
Avoid over-use long, multi-syllabic words
Structure
Introduction
Body
Conclusion
References
• Introduce your topic and expand upon the question.
• Outline any assumptions, the scope and outline of your argument, including the main gist of your essay.
Introduction
Structure
Introduction
Body
Conclusion
References
Background information
• Include the main points that answer the question
• Remember to think about your writing style
• Include any evidence to back up your arguments
Main body
Main body
Paragraph 1: Idea 1
Paragraph 2: Idea 2
Paragraph 3: Idea 3
• Paragraphs– Paragraphs should have one topic or idea– The first sentence should introduce the idea,
the final sentence conclude it.– Use paragraphs to focus and strengthen your
argument
Writing style
Example paragraph
The root of the problem is the failure to distinguish between operational effectiveness and strategy. The quest for productivity, quality, and speed has spawned a remarkable number of management tools and techniques: total quality management, `benchmarking, time-based competition, outsourcing, partnering, reengineering, change management. Although the resulting operational improvements have often been dramatic, many companies have been frustrated by their inability to translate those gains into sustainable profitability. And bit by bit, almost imperceptibly, management tools have taken the place of strategy. As managers push to improve on all fronts, they move farther away from viable competitive positions.
Example paragraph
The root of the problem is the failure to distinguish between operational effectiveness and strategy. The quest for productivity, quality, and speed has spawned a remarkable number of management tools and techniques: total quality management, `benchmarking, time-based competition, outsourcing, partnering, reengineering, change management. Although the resulting operational improvements have often been dramatic, many companies have been frustrated by their inability to translate those gains into sustainable profitability. And bit by bit, almost imperceptibly, management tools have taken the place of strategy. As managers push to improve on all fronts, they move farther away from viable competitive positions.
Example paragraph
The root of the problem is the failure to distinguish between operational effectiveness and strategy. The quest for productivity, quality, and speed has spawned a remarkable number of management tools and techniques: total quality management, `benchmarking, time-based competition, outsourcing, partnering, reengineering, change management. Although the resulting operational improvements have often been dramatic, many companies have been frustrated by their inability to translate those gains into sustainable profitability. And bit by bit, almost imperceptibly, management tools have taken the place of strategy. As managers push to improve on all fronts, they move farther away from viable competitive positions.
Main bodyOpening sentence introducing idea that is going to cover in the paragraph
Introduce the evidence that supports your argument or that you are using to demonstrate your point
Concluding sentence that summarises your argument for this paragraph and introduces the next paragraph
Opening sentence links to the previous paragraph and introduces the idea for this section
Introduce the evidence that supports your argument or that you are using to demonstrate your point
Concluding sentence that summarises your argument for this paragraph and introduces the next paragraph
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When writing...
Point Evidence Evaluate
• Make your point or argument
When writing...
Point Evidence Evaluate
• What evidence or sources back up your point or argument?
When writing...
Point Evidence Evaluate
• Evaluate how the evidence strengthens or demonstrates your point
Example
The economic impact of the ‘credit crunch’ will be felt for the next three decades.
Point
Example
Studies conducted on behalf of the UK’s national banks have investigated the impact on consumer confidence (Bank of England 2010, Humler 2010). Consumer confidence has been demonstrated to be a major factor in economic growth (Johnson 2008:15) and Jupitus highlighted that the typical recovery can take a generation (2009:27-29)
Evidence
Example
Studies conducted on behalf of the UK’s national banks have investigated the impact on consumer confidence (Bank of England 2010, Humler 2010). Consumer confidence has been demonstrated to be a major factor in economic growth (Johnson 2008:15) and Jupitus highlighted that the typical recovery can take a generation (2009:27-29)
Evidence
Example
Evaluate
The effects of this phenomenon will be felt in many aspects of daily life for years to come. Future policy, both social and economic will be shaped by the consequences of the credit crunch.
• Citation within your writing to demonstrate the use of other sources
• Always the same format– In text citation: (Author Year of publication)– Reference at the end with full details
Citing and referencing
• Review the key points that you have made• Demonstrate how these points answer the
question set out at the start• The conclusion mirrors your introduction
where you answer what you set out to address
Conclusions
• List of references at the end• List of all the sources that you have cited
in the essay• Set format laid out in the CULC Harvard
citing and referencing guide
References
• Think about your presentation– Clear and simple font– Double spacing– No silly pictures or cartoons
Writing tips for success
Personal Development PlanBy A. Student
Where I am now
Where I want to go
How am I going to get there
As I student at CULC, I am studying for my MBA.
I want to work in an investment bank, because I want to make lots of money.
I want to work in an investment bank, because I want to make lots of money.
What do I need to work on?
There’s lots of stuff I need to practise like 1) presentation skills 2)writing 3) I need to get an internship
• Think about your presentation– Clear and simple font– Double spacing– No silly pictures or cartoons
• Follow the guidelines set out• Have a plan before you start
Writing tips for success
• Do you understand the question?• Plan out your research• Have a structure and plan in mind before
you start to write• Ensure you have evidence to back up
your arguments• Leave enough time for a draft
Planning your time
In this Knowledgecast, we have:• Looked at what is expected in terms of academic writing at postgraduate
level• Looked at examples at different types of writing that will be expected
during your course• Looked at ideas on how to structure a piece of academic writing, including
how to use evidence and other sources of information in your work• Introduced the concept of citing and referencing in academic writing
Knowledgecast Summary
• ‘DSC_0202’ by incurable_hippie http://www.flickr.com/photos/hippie/3315011136/sizes/o/in/photostream/
• ‘Simple’ by R_rose http://www.flickr.com/photos/r_rose/102766969/sizes/l/in/photostream/
Image credits