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The Academic Writing

Process: From Notes toPapers

Single, P. (2010).Demystifying Dissertation Writing: A Streamlined

Process from Choice of Topic to Final Text.U.S: Stylus.

PPT prepared by K.Walper

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1.The Single System

2.Choosing a Topic & Adviser

3.Interactive Reading & Note-Taking

4.Citeable Notes

5.Focusing on Focus Statements

6.Transforming FocusStatements into a One-PageOutline

7.Long Outline with References

8.Developing a Regular WritingRoutine

9.Overcoming Writers Block

10.The Role of Revision

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1. The Single System for AcademicWriting

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A general overview of The Single System (2010)

Carry out Interactive reading and alwaystake interactive

notes (ch. 3)

Condenseyour interactive notes into citeablenotes(ch.

4)

Develop a focus statement (ch. 5)

Work on a one-page outline (ch. 6), then on a longoutline with references (ch. 7)

Make a habit: work in regular moderate sessions (ch. 8)

Edit your work (ch. 10)

Enter and contribute to conversation in your own voice.

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3. Interactive Reading Note-Taking

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Always take notes when reading a paper; if not, dont

bother. (Inter)active reading allows you to take efficientnotes.

The goal of reading in academe is not only to learnfrom

it, but to be able to use it as building blocks in your

own work.

Through your notes you will be able to think critically

about the material you are reading.

Collect notes, not articles or books!

*Skim & Scan titles, subtitle headings, table of contents,

etc. so that your reading is more focused.

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Use a pencil to underlinethe important parts of the

articles or books and to write notes in the margins.

Read through the tableof contentsor the titlesand

subtitles.

Skim through the prologueor introductionto get an

overviewof the reasons for this piece of work

While reading, ask yourself questions about the reading to

engage actively.

**Notice reporting verbs used in your field. You will use

them later!

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4. Citeable Notes

Steps

Create a unique identifierthat represents each interactive

note (author, year, title). The complete reference.

Write a succinct statement of the conclusions or

findings as the second part of the citeable note to help

you remember what the piece of work was about without

having to read the whole thing again.

Copy useful quotations word for word. Do notforget the

page or paragraph number!

Write comments for the quotationsthat you may end up

using in your dissertation.

Organiseyour Citeable Notes

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5. Focusing on Focus Statements

Focus Statements are 1-4 sentences that summariseandforeshadow the essence of that section.

They include the thesis statement, clear and compellinginformation about the content.

You can include:

RQ Thesis St.

Methodology Variables

Sample, Subjects Constructs

Theory

You can use the first person for this section and use activevoice.

They must grab the attention of the reader and, of course,yourself since these are the essence of your dissertation.

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IN PAIRS:

What is your dissertation/this chapter about?

Why are you conducting this research?

Why should anyone care about this subject? (ask this in a verysupportive tone!) Can you tell me the big point?

What is the big picture, the context or the conditions that make it

important for you to pursue the topic?

When you are finished with the project, what is the one point that you

want to leave with your readers? Which three subpoints do you want toconvey to your audience?

(If appropriate) Which theories or methodologies will you use to

research this topic?

What data, sources, texts or objects are most appropriate for you to work

with? Do you have access to them? Do you need to collect them?

What will be the contribution or implications of your dissertation?

How does this topic align with your professional mission and career

goals?

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From a consumer of knowledge, you

become a contributor of knowledge.

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6. Transforming Focus Statementsinto a One-Page Outline

One page outline = one page overview of the entire

dissertation.

Its dynamic and facilitates the writing process.

It begins with a

working title (it will help you visualise your work ready),

your name,

date (very important to keep diff. versions in order!) focus statement,

chapter headings

bulleted list of topics to be discussed

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STEPS TO TRANSFORM THE FOCUS STATEMENTINTO A ONE-PAGE OUTLINE . 101

(1) Gather info:- Pose a series of questions.- Be creative

- Dontcare about organisation- Brainstorm

(2) Bring order:

- Identify the three most salient themes of the dissertation, these

will become the chapters.- Write the theme of each chapter as a main heading and the

information included in that chapter as a bulleted list below themain heading.

- Identify the big picture and the big point. The list of chapters

may not be the final one, but it will help you get organised.

- Then, under each theme, address what you already know aboutit and what you dont know.

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STEPS TO TRANSFORM THE FOCUS STATEMENTINTO A ONE-PAGE OUTLINE . 101

(3) Set goals:

- Think how many pages should be written for each chapter.

- Write it down. This will make the goals doable.

(4) Revise and Organise:

- Identify three sections under each chapter, revise focusstatements and write one for each new heading.

- Review your citeable notes and insertthem in the appropriate

sections or chapters.- Diagnose the organisation again and make sure that it makes

sense to you.

- Then, and only then, can you start writing prose.

*Use the table of contents to organise and update your table atthe end of each working session.

*Mark each chapter as you progress (motivation + clearoverview)

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(1) Read your one-page outline

(2) Write a focus statement for each chapter (Heading 1)

(3) Write a list of topics that support your Focus Statement. These

become Heading 2(4) Write a title and a focus statement for each section

(5) Write a list of topics, organise and write titles for subsections

(decide whether some things need to be moved around) (Heading

3) *From the long outline onwards, you continuously diagnose,

revise and rewrite.

(6) Transfer estimated page-length umbers from the one-page to the

long outline and estimate the page numbers for each section

(7) Decide how to introduce your topic

(8) Add your citeable notes. Read through your notes (which had been

grouped in themes) *Those that seem to not fit, pit them in a

miscellaneous section. You will notice that a lot of them overlap.Transfer all of them and then organise.

(9) Then, revise your focus statements. You might want to improve or

reorganise things.

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In Summary