Writing Writing Workshop 2Workshop 2

Writing Writing Workshop 2Workshop 2

Leah BurnsLeah Burns

Leah.Burns@griffith.edu.auLeah.Burns@griffith.edu.au

Phone: 37353649Phone: 37353649

What we are What we are going to do todaygoing to do today

What we are What we are going to do todaygoing to do today

•Last workshop: focus on minor Last workshop: focus on minor assignmentassignment

•Focus more on the major assignmentFocus more on the major assignment•Develop strategies for editing the Develop strategies for editing the

assignmentsassignments•Discuss the sample minor assignmentDiscuss the sample minor assignment

Writing and Writing and Editing the Editing the

AssignmentsAssignments

Writing and Writing and Editing the Editing the

AssignmentsAssignments

Editing Editing the Minor the Minor

AssignmentAssignment

Editing Editing the Minor the Minor

AssignmentAssignment

Writing the Assignment

• Introduction• Body (made up of paragraphs, and

may include a map or figures)• Conclusion or summary• A list of references• Appendix?

Does the Introduction:

• Clearly indicate the topic?• State the aim of the assignment?• Identify limits or scope?• Outline the structure of the essay?• Explicitly state your thesis,

argument or position?

Does each paragraph:

• Contain one main idea? Is it clearly stated in the sentence topic?

• Contain a concluding sentence? Does it link the point of the paragraph to the argument?

Does the conclusion only:

• Restate the argument?• Reiterate all the main points used

in developing the argument?

In addition to the above:

• Is the argument developed clearly throughout the assignment?

• Does the evidence used clearly support the argument?

• Have I acknowledged all sources of information?

• Does the reference list include all in-text references?

• Have I checked expression, spelling and punctuation?

• Is the essay the required length (word count)?

• Have I checked the assignment guidelines, including assessment criteria?

And

Your Major Your Major Assignment TopicAssignment Topic

Your Major Your Major Assignment TopicAssignment Topic

Selecting a topic• This should be discussed and agreed to with

your supervisors at Volda• It should be neither too big (common

mistake) or too small• It is your own choice, but you may find it

easier if it relates to your main area of study• It should be appropriate to your travel and

experiences here• Resource material should be readily available

The Major Assignment

• Should be about 8000 words in length

• Research Proposal submitted September 22

• Progress Report is due October 20• Draft (4000 words) due November 17• Essay due December 10

Turn the Major Turn the Major Assignment topic Assignment topic

into questions into questions

Turn the Major Turn the Major Assignment topic Assignment topic

into questions into questions

Primary question

First turn your topic into a main (primary) question

Secondary Questions

• In order to answer the primary question, you will also need to consider other questions

• Descriptive questions– where? when? who? what?

• Analytical questions– how? why? and to what extent?

Example of anAssignment Topic

‘Discuss how indigenous Australians are displayed through the Australian media’

Primary Question

How are indigenous Australians portrayed in the Australian media?

Secondary Questions• Descriptive

– What are the media sources?– Who are the indigenous people?– How are they portrayed?

• Analytical– Why are they portrayed like this?– To what extent are these portrays

uniform across media sources? If there are differences, why are there differences?

Brainstorming• Think about the answers you already

have to your questions• As you reflect on the topic, you

might find more questions that need to be asked

• It may help to use a concept map or another form of graphic organiser to organise your thoughts

• These questions can now be used as the basis for your research

Structure is important

• Title/Cover Page• Index (Table of Contents)• Introduction• Body (Paragraphs organised under

subheadings)• Conclusion or summary• A list of references (minimum of

10-12 sources)• Appendix

Submission• Expect to prepare several drafts,

but the main one is due to your supervisor in Volda on 17 November

• Proof read final drafts carefully• Take advantage of offers by others

(supervisors, friends, parents) to read your drafts

• Final due date is 10 December

Assessment• All assignments are to be submitted

electronically to your supervisors in Volda and copies will be forwarded to the assessor from Griffith

• The Griffith person will then assess each assignment before they leave Brisbane for Volda in early January 2011

• The Griffith person will then prepare notes for discussion with your Volda supervisor and the viva voce with each student

• In researching your work, make use of the fact that you are in Australia

• Enjoy the process :-)