Academic writing overview

Academic Writing Independent clauses: S+V +Complement - Student normally spend four years in college - I will declare my major now, but I may change it later.. Academic Writing Simple se

Academic Writing

…a life-long way to go…explore and

ponder…enjoy and action…

Academic Writing

What is Academic Writing?

- Writing in College

- Not literary, journalistic, business

- Audience, tone and purpose

- Scientific articles

Academic Writing

Writing and revising draft:

- First rough draft

- Revising content and structure

- Proofreading for grammar and mechanics

- Final version

What is a paragraph?

- Topic sentence: main idea, limit topic to one

or two areas: Topic and controlling idea

- Supporting sentence: explain topic sentence (facts, stats, reasons)

- Concluding sentence: signal end, leave readers points to remember

Academic Writing

Gold, a precious metal, is prized for two important

characteristics First of all, gold has a lustrous beauty that is resistant to corrosion Therefore, it is suitable for jewelery, coins and ornamental purposes Gold never needs to be

polished and will remain beautiful forever For example, a

Macedonian coin remains as untarnished today as the day it was minted twenty-three centuries ago Another important characteristic of gold is its usefulness to industry and science For many years, it has been used in hundreds of industrial

applications The most recent use of gold is in astronauts’

suits Astronauts wear gold-plated heat shields for protection outside the spaceship In conclusion, gold is treasured not

only for its beauty but also for its utility

Academic Writing

Unity: discuss only one main idea in a paragraph Coherence:

- Supporting sentence is logical

- Ideas connected by appropriate transition

signals

addition, in contrast…

Academic Writing

Independent clauses: S+V (+Complement)

- Student normally spend four years in college

- I will declare my major now, but I may change

it later

Dependent clauses: begins with subordinators

such as when, while, if, that, who followed by

subject, verb, and complement Not express a complete thought and cannot stand by itself

Academic Writing

Clause connectors:

- Subordinators (subordinating conjunctions)

After, although, as, as if, as soon as, because,

before, even though, how, if, since, so that, that, though, unless, until, what, when, whenever,

where, wherever, whether, which, while, who, whom

Academic Writing

Coordinators (coordinating conjunctions)

- for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so

Conjunctive adverbs:

Accordingly, besides, consequently,

furthermore, hence, however, indeed, instead, likewise, meanwhile, moreover, nevertheless, nonetheless, otherwise, therefore, thus, for

example, in addition, in contrast, on the other hand

Academic Writing

Simple sentences: one independent clause

- I enjoy playing tennis with my friends every weekend

- I enjoy playing tennis and look forward to it every weekend

- My friends and I play tennis and go bowling every weekend

Note: compound verb, compound subject

Academic Writing

Compound sentences: two or more independent clauses joined together like two adults joined in

a marriage…

- I enjoy playing tennis, but I hate playing golf

- I enjoy playing tennis; however, I hate playing golf

- I enjoy playing tennis; I hate playing golf

Academic Writing

Complex sentences: contains one independent clause and one or more independent clause Like a mother with one or more children

depending on her

- Although women could own property they

could not vote

- A student who does well in exams attends

class, reads the textbook, and he reviews the notes

Academic Writing

Noun Clauses:

Academic Writing

How to write an effective essay?

- Think about topic: correct interpretation!

- Research topic: any sources possible

- Plan your essay: what position or argument?

- Write your essay: Patience and put down

thoughts

- Revise your essay: have answered correct

questions

Academic writing

How to write an effective essay?

- Interpret the Topic:

(i) Command: tells you what to do

(ii) Topic: general area of discussion

(iii) Specific area of discussion

Universities should not be run like businesses

Discuss in 350 words

Academic writing

How to write an effective essay?

Universities should not be run like businesses? Discuss

- Make topic easier to get it!

Should universities be run like businesses?

Topic Focus Topic Command

Academic writing

How to write an effective essay?

Suggested key words: account for, analyze,

assess, comment on, compare, criticize, define, describe, evaluate, examine, explain, generate, hypothesize, illustrate, interpret, justify, outline, prove, relate, review, state, summarize…

First supporting statement (SS1)

Definition, explanation, evidence, illustration

Paragraph 2 SS2 plus explanation Paragraph 3 plus explanation

Summarize arguments leading to final broad statement on implication

or significance of your argument

Academic writing

Introduction and thesis statements:

- Begin with a broad opening statement

establishing context

- Ask yourself: who, what, when, where, how, why?

- Literature on topic?

- Tell reader what is coming up in your essay

- Narrow focus down to Thesis statement

Academic writing

Essay topic: Do the advertisements targeting speeding drivers work?

Sample intro:

Every teenager is thrilled at the prospect of sitting behind the driver’s wheel of a car

At some stage, though, the excitement turns into complacency and bad habits are often formed Many of these bad habits have little effect on safety A few, however, such as drunk driving and speeding, are dangerous and a great deal of time and effort

is put into getting people out of these habits Many campaigns, though, are not

successful because they are easily ignored This has not been the case with the

campaign against speeding drivers Although the number of speeding drivers will never be reduced to zero, the advertisements targeting them are having a positive effect because people are taking notice of the gruesome consequences of excessive speed

Thesis Statement

unfortunately, another perspective holds that…

- Adding points: In addition, secondly, further, thirdly, another point to consider is, also…similarly, likewise, again…

- Summarizing: finally, to conclude this, in sum, lastly, to summarize, overall, in conclusion, in summary, the three main points are…

Academic writing Transition signal examples:

Incorporation offers several advantages to businesses and their

owners For one thing, ownership is easy to transfer The business is

able to maintain a continuous existence even when the original owners

are no longer involved In addition, the stockholders of a corporation

are not held responsible for the business’s debts If the XYZ

corporation defaults on a $1 million loan, for example, its investors will

not be held responsible for paying that liability Incorporation also

enables a business to obtain professional managers with centralized

authority and responsibility; therefore the business can be run more efficiently Finally, incorporation gives a business certain legal rights For example, it can enter into contracts, own property and borrow

money

Academic writing

Conclusion: Round off your essay Remind readers of all main points and mark

significance of arguments

Include:

- A narrow statement relating to the conclusion to the preceding paragraph

- A restatement of the proposition or thesis statement

- A brief summary of main points

- A final, broad statement on the significance of argument and its implications, if any

Academic writing

By promoting a caring atmosphere in schools, teachers can reduce the likelihood of bullying Above all, teachers need to inform themselves and the rest of the school community so that together they can

develop a policy to discourage bullying By educating themselves about bullying, teachers and parents have the knowledge to set up effective programs and structures both within the classroom and for the whole school Furthermore, by removing the opportunity for children to bully, providing children with a stimulating environment, and giving them the tools to deal with conflict appropriately, teachers can reduce children’s

inclination to bully Although bullying will never be fully eradicated and must be dealt with as soon as it occurs, increasing awareness of the problem is making schools a safer and more enjoyable

environment in which children can learn

Broad Closing Statement

Academic writing

Sentence structure

- Independent clauses: S+V+ (C )

Ex Students normally spend four years in

college*I will declare my major now, but I may change it later*Foreign students suffer from

culture shock when they come to the United States*Because the cost of education has been rising, many students are having financial

problems

Academic writing

Dependent clause:

- Begin with subordinator: as, when, while, if,

that, who followed by a subject, verb, and

complement

- Subordinator+Subject+Verb +(Complement)

Ex When the semester was over…*who was

accepted by the university *if you leave your car unlocked…*because I had a job interview…*that the experiment was a success…

Academic writing

Dependent and independent clauses:

1 Jet lag affects most long-distance travelers

2 Which is simply the urge to sleep at inappropriate times

3 During long journeys through several time zones, the body’s inner clock is

disrupted

4 For some reason, travel from west to east causes greater jet lag than travel from

east to west

5 Also, changes in work schedules can cause jet lag

6 When hospital nurses change from a day shift to a night shift, for example

7 Although there is no sure way to prevent jet lag

8 There are some ways to minimize it

9 Because jet lag is caused at least partially by loss of sleep, not just a change in

the time of sleep

10 The traveler should plan to arrive at his destination as late as possible

11 Upon arriving, he or she should immediately go to bed

12 Then the traveler should start to live in the new time frame immedilately

addition* in contrast*on the other hand

Academic writing

Kinds of sentences:

1 Simple sentences: one independent clause:

Ex I enjoy playing tennis with my friends every weekend*I enjoy playing tennis and look

forward to it every weekend*My friends and I play tennis and go bowling every weekend*

Note: enjoy and look forward to What is that?

Academic writing

Compound sentences: Two or more

independent clauses joined in a marriage

Ex I enjoy playing tennis, but I hate playing

golf*I enjoy playing tennis; however, I hate

playing golf*I enjoy playing tennis; I hate playing golf

Note: structure: IC+Coord+Ind.C

Only seven coordinators: for, and, nor, but, or,

yet, and so (FAN BOYS)

Academic writing

Ex Japanese have the longest life expectancy of any other people, for their diet is extremely healthful (the second clause gives the reason for the first clause)*The Japanese consume a lot of rice, and they eat more fish than red

meat (both clauses express equal related ideas.)*Many Japanese men smoke, yet the Japanese have long life

expectancies*Many Americans, on the other hand, do not eat a healthy diet, nor do they get enough exercise (Nor mean “and not.”* In the last twenty years, Americans

have reduced their smoking, but Europeans seem to be smoking more than ever (The two clauses express

contrasting ideas.)

Academic writing

Ex Students can attend day classes and

………… *Students can live in dormitories

or………….*I have finished my math homework

but………*I have studied English for six years

yet…………*My advisor suggested a typing class

for………*Some students do not like to write term papers nor……….*The instructor gave us eight weeks to write our term papers

yet……….*Most students had not even chosen a topic nor………….*the instructor was very upset

for……… * My roommate scored very high on the English placement test so……

Academic writing

Finite, non-finite, and verbless clauses:

John has visited New York (finite)*Having seen the pictures, he….(non-finite)*Although always

helpful, he…(verbless)*John, then in New York,

was….(verbless)

Academic writing

Infinitive with to:

- Without subject: The best thing would be to tell everybody

- With subject: The best thing would be for you to tell everybody

Infinitive without to:

- w/o s: All I did was hit him on the head

- w/s: Rather than John do it, I’d prefer to give the job to Mary

w/o s: Covered with confusion, I left the room

w/s: We left the room and went home, the job finished

Academic writing

More on Verbless clause:

Dozens of people were stranded, many of them

children*whether right or wrong, he always

comes off worst in an argument*Too nervous to

reply, he started at the floor*With the tree now tall, we get more stable*When ripe, these

apples will be delicious*His gaze travelled

round, irresolute

(that)*considering (that)*seeing (that)*as far

as*so long as*as soon as*as long as*

Academic writing

Commas: introducers*coordinators (compound sentences*inserters*Linkers

Recently, the legislature banned smoking in

public places Introducer: Main Clause

Many people opposed to the new law, but it finally passed

Coordinating Conjunction Main Clause

Academic writing

Linker:

1 The word color is spelled color in British

English, for example

Main clause

Academic writing

Between connectors: before conjunctive adverbs: however, therefore, nevertheless, moreover,

furthermore…before transitional phrases: for

example, as a result, that is, in fact etc

Skiing is dangerous; nevertheless, hundreds of

Academic writing

Between Items in a Series:

I cannot decide which car I like best: the Ferrari, with its quick acceleration and ease of handling; the small, conventional Ford, with its reclining bucket seats; or the uncomfortable Volkswagen, with its economical fuel consumption

Academic writing

Colon (: ): Introduce a list* Long quotations (As

Albert C Baugh and Thomas Cable state in their

book, The History of the English Language: There is

no such thing as uniformity in language Not only does the speech of one community differ from that

of another, but the speech of different individuals

of a single community, even different members of the same family, is marked by individual

peculiarities.*Subtitles (A popular book on

nonverbal communication is Samovar and Porter’s Intercultural Communication: A Reader*Time Helen left the class at 12:30