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www.library.qut.edu.auQUT Library
7 Step Plan forWriting
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Having to write an assignment is a stressful process for many people. Here is a seven step guide to help you through it.
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Early in semester
and get going!
Note the due date in your diary
Organise your assignment files
Set a start date 3 weeks before the due date
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1 • Collect task information
2 • Analyse the task
3 • Collect and organise information
4 • Plan the overall structure
5 • Draft effective paragraphs
6 • Integrate the evidence
7 • Edit and proofread
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Unit BlackBoard
site
Task Sheet
Criteria Sheet
Additional tips
sheets
Notes on what was
said in lectures
1 Collect Task Information
Write a checklist of everything that is specified about what you have to include or do in the assignment.
Collect all the relevant materials
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2 Analyse the task
Read your task sheet and look for certain key words
Topic words – these are the words and concepts you have to research
Task words – these words tell you how to structure the information you find in your research (eg. discuss, outline, analyse)
(see a list of task words in cite|write)
Limiting words – these words limit the scope of the subject to be research and written about
For more details see Studywell >Researching > Working Out How to
Start
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Discuss the public health strategies that you are proposing that will effectively address the problem.
Describe the process you use to choose the IT applications
Apply the key concepts addressed in the lectures to your research about this practitioner
2 Analyse the task Example:
Task word - analyse is to address each factor separately
Analyse the geographical factors that both contribute to and hinder the success of tourism in Australia.
Topic words – the topic you need to research – tourism in Australia
Limiting words – geographic factors only in relation to tourism in Australia
Further Examples:
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Brainstorm what you already know
Think about what you need to read and/or research
Consider other similar terms that you could research
Thesaurusgeography (n.)- topography- natural features- landforms
2 Analyse the task Start thinking
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Stop and think about your material at different points of researching and writing:
Is this relevant? Does it specifically help to answer the question / complete the task?
How does it connect to other evidence?
How can I put this evidence together to create a single argument?
What are my main points? How do they fit together?
2 Analyse the task
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3 Collect and organise information
Start with the unit
resources from the
BlackBoard site and QUT Readings
Use Quick Find on the
Library website to
look for resources in the library
Consider a variety of resources including books, journal articles, websites
Sources must be current, authorit-ative and
relevant to your topic
Start with QUT Library to find resources
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When taking notes:
Just read at first to get a idea of the topic and work out a general thesis. Then take notes on information that is specifically relevant to the task.
Start with the more general sources – encyclopaedias (if necessary), then general books, specialised books, websites and finally journal articles
Make sure you write down all the bibliographical details of all the resources you use
3 Collect and organise information
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Look for patterns and themes in your notes. Think about how these themes relate to each other.
Proctor, T. & Thomas, R. (2004). Australian Tourism and the “Tyranny of Distance”. Australian Economic Quarterly, 17(1), 35-47. Retrieved 12 February, 2009 from InformitSearch Database. p. 34 Long way from tourist feeder countries in Northern hemisphere p. 36 competition - wildlife in Tanzania and Kenya, volcanoes& biodiversity in Costa Rica
Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism. (2009). Australia’s natural attractions. Retrieved 10 February, 2009 from http://www.ret.gov.au/pubs/2008_09/natural_heritage.html Survey - Natural attractions most like to go to: Uluru, Great Barrier Reef, Kakadu Great Ocean Road, Tasmanian Wilderness. 30,000kms of coastline in Australia, much of it beach. Over 10,000 miles of white beaches, GBR - 1,500 unique species of tropical fish, 400 species of coral and species of whales, birds, sharks, and invertebrates
Colour code key themes: Distance, Landforms, Animals,
3 Collect and organise information
Essay Question:. Analyse the geographical factors that both contribute to and hinder the success of tourism in Australia.
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Theme 1 Source 1 notes
Source 2 notes
Theme 2 Source 1 notes
Source 3 notes
Theme 3Source 1 notes
Source 2 notes
Source 3 notes
Use a matrix to gather all your sources together for each theme
Source 2 notes Assign-
mentThesis
Theme 1
Theme 3
Theme 2
Source 1 notes
Source 2 notes
Source 1 notes
Source 3 notes
Another way is to draw a concept map
These themes become the main points of your body paragraphs
Source 1 notes
Source 3 notes
3 Collect and organise information
For more detail see Studywell > Researching > Organising Your Notes
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4 Plan the Overall structure
Using your notes:
1. Each grouping of evidence in a theme can become the information in a paragraph / section.
2. The theme for a group of evidence can be converted to the main point of the paragraph /section.
3. The overall summary of the main points can be made into your thesis.
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1st Point 2nd Point 2nd Point cont. 3rd Point
4 Plan the Overall structure
Think about:
How your paragraphs can be logically structured
The relationships between the main points (eg. agree/disagree) and how you can use transition words / phrases to signpost this to your reader
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Academic writing generally follows a diamond structure:
4 Plan the Overall structure
Conclusion
Diamond shape of
each body paragraph
Diamond shape of
whole essay
Introduction
Body Paragraphs
Introduces the topic
Outlines the essay structure
Topic Sentence: Introduces paragraph topic
Evidence Sentences: Provide reasons and evidence that support the topic sentence
Concluding Sentence: Summarises paragraph
Repeats the topic
Restates the thesis
States the thesis
Summarises the essay structure
Look at the example in
Studywell > Writing > Writing Structure
Overview
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4 Plan the Overall structure
Body paragraphs are ordered to suit the type of task you have been asked to do. For example:
Theory 1
Theory 3 Theory 2
COMPARISON (egcompare the three theories of …)
ANALYSIS (eg analyse the causes of …)
Factor 1
Factor 2
Factor 3
DISCUSSION (egdiscuss the effect of …)
Cause 1
Cause 2
Cause 3
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4 Plan the Overall structure
Plan out how many words you are able to write for each section
Work out the overall word allowance for the assignment (1500 words)
Introduction and conclusion are each about 10% of the total number. (150 words each, 1200 words remaining)
Divide the remainder of the words equally (more or less) among the body paragraphs / sections (About 400 words each)
Introduction• 150 words
1st body para / section • 400 words
2nd body para / section • 400 words
3rd body para / section • 400 words
Conclusion• 150 words
Overall Assignment• 1500 words
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5 Draft Effective Paragraphs
Body paragraphs are like mini-essays: topic and concluding sentences introduce and sum up the point; supporting and evidence sentences back up the point.
Topic Sentence
This states he main point of the paragraph and links it with the thesis.
Concluding Sentence
This restates the point. It may also provide a link to the next paragraph.
Evidence Sentences
Examples, data, statistics, quotes which back up the point. These must be cited and referenced.
Supporting Sentences
These may add information to the main point. For example, define terms or explain concepts
See Studywell > Writing > Writing Structure Overview
for more detail and examples
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Introductory and concluding paragraphs have a slightly different structure to body paragraphs. They are like the bookends of academic writing and tend to mirror each other
5 Draft Effective Paragraphs
Introductory Paragraph
Introduces the topic States the thesis (main point of the assignment) Outlines the structure of the assignment (main point of each body paragraph / sectionDefines the scope (limits) of the assignment
Concluding Paragraph
Paraphrases the thesis Sums up the main points of the body paragraphs Does not include any new material Concludes strongly
Go to Studywell > Writing > Writing Structure Overview for detailed examples
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The wording of your evidence often needs to be adapted to smoothly fit into your assignment. This can be done in three ways:
6 Integrate Your Evidence
QUOTING – Using the authors’ own words to express their ideas.
You must use quotation marks
PARAPHRASING - Using the authors’ information but expressing it in your own words SUMMARISING – Briefly
mentioning authors’ ideas without explaining further
For more detail see Studywell >
Citing & Referencing >
Integrating Evidence
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Editing looks at the essay as a whole
Proofreading looks at the details
7 Integrate Your Evidence
For more details see Studywell > Writing > Editing and
Proofreading
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Reference List (in order of appearance)PAGES 1-11etrusia_uk, 'Busch Gardens Weird Bird', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/e_phots/2335343283/, ed, 2008, head of a bird with bristled crest.
Adam Smith, 'Summer Planner', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gingerblokey/2183461901/, ed, 2008.
Esther Simpson, 'files', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/estherase/52172823/, ed, 2005, pile of coloured manila folders.
Evan Moss, 'Vegas Neo Signs - Go', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mightymoss/2890664490/, ed, 2008, Neon Sign saying Go
Ali Nassiri, 'To-do list', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/alinassiri/3874169787/, ed, 2009, girl with post-it notes on hand.
Justin See, 'To-do list book', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/koalazymonkey/3596829214/, ed, 2009, open notebook with pencil
'So that is what is inside my head!' In: http://baldgeek.wordpress.com/2007/12/18/so-that-is-what-is-inside-my-head/, ed, 2007.
Jacob Botter, 'Brainstorms at INDEX: Views', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jakecaptive/49915119/, ed, 2005, wall of postit notes
Ardonik, 'Ring-of-14-cubes.5', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ardonik/3274122364/, ed, 2009.
Auntie P, 'Magnifying Glass ', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/auntiep/17135231/, ed, 2005, magnifying glass
Laszlo Ilyes, 'Variety~', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/laszlo-photo/3943097052/, ed, 2009, piles of spices
Johnson Cameraface, 'S104 text books', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/54459164@N00/2812340882/, ed, 2008.
'304x400_student6', In: 304x400_student6.jpg, ed, student in library with laptop.
'student1', In: http://www.registry.ed.ac.uk/Fees/images/student1.JPG, ed, student using a computer.
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Reference List (in order of appearance)PAGES 12-
Patrick Medved, 'Structure ', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ppix/2305078608/, ed, 2008, steel frame
Rachel Cobcroft, 'John Wilbanks', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/felix42/2278259037/, ed, 2008, A lecturer giving a lecture in MELT classroom.
Exothermic, 'Flaming Orange Red Autumn Tree', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/exothermic/2041438046, ed, 2007, completely orange red autumn tree
Grant MacDonald, 'fall leaf ', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/grantmac/246785658/, ed, 2006, autumn leaf lying on the ground