Study Skills (Skl 001)
Sameh Saadeldin Ahmed
Associate Professor of Environmental Eng.
Civil Engineering Department
Engineering College
Almajma’ah University
smohamed1@ksu.edu.sa
http://faculty.ksu.edu.sa/SaMeH
2010/2011
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Writing Skills
4.0
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.6
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Introduction
Enjoy the process
Define the task
Plan the assignment tasks
Make an outline plan for your writing
Stages in the writing process
Grammar, spelling and punctuation
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4.0 Introduction
• Your writing skills develop significantly whilst at
university because there are usually writing
assignments to complete for every module or unit
or option.
• What else can be improve?
– Your spelling and
– Vocabulary
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4.1 Enjoy the process
Your writing is easier if:
1. You give yourself enough time to write up your work so
that you are not always rushing to meet deadlines.
2. You break writing tasks down into several stages with their
own deadlines. This is easier than trying to write the
perfect essay or report first time.
3. Consider you are writing as a craft. Write several drafts.
Aim to make each successive draft better than the previous
one.
4. Familiarize yourself with the style and conventions of your
subject. Take pride in producing a piece of writing that is
good by the standards of your own subject.
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4.2 Define the task
Spend time working out exactly what is required by the
assignment title. Think through:
•
•
•
•
Why was this particular title or assignment set?
What are your teachers expecting that you will research?
What issues do they intend you to cover?
What theories, research and evidence do they expect you to
refer to?
• What recent research or articles have been published on
this subject?
• What methodologies are your teachers expecting you to
use to demonstrate that you understand how to apply
these?
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4.3 Plan the assignment tasks
• Use the word limit and the assignment title to
guide you in how much you need to read of each
book and article recommended.
• Make a list of all the steps you need to take in
order to finish the writing task. Work out how
long each will take you. Each step will probably
take longer than you think so plan for this.
• Write each task into your diary so you know when
it will be done. (time management!!)
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4.4 Make an outline plan
• It takes time to rewrite each draft of your writing
– The more you have to change, the longer it
will take.
• To avoid this:
– develop a detailed outline of your writing
Example:
 Writing a report on the computer: have you noticed the
progress with building up until you complete your final
plan.
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4.5 Stages in the writing process
• Work out what your conclusion is and write it
down.
• Brainstorm initial ideas onto the computer.
• Organize these into headings with main points.
• Organize the headings- points into the best order.
• Write in other headings that will structure your
writing, depending on the nature of the assignment
(such
as:
introduction,
methodology, results, etc).
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conclusion,
references,
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4.5 Cont.
• Allocate a word limit for each point - check whether you
have enough or too many points for the word limit you
have allocated.
• Select the strongest points and save the rest elsewhere.
• Write up your points - you may find it easier to start with
the conclusion.
• Read through and fine tune - check it makes sense;
check one point seems to lead naturally to the next.
• Leave the writing for a day- read and fine tune again
• Print out and read aloud - look for typing errors and
other mistakes: (grammar, spelling,..etc.) and correct these.
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Thanks for your attention
Get ready…..
Quiz 3 will be Next Week in
Chapter 3
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