GET AHEAD
POSTGRADUATE SUMMER PROGRAMME 2014
Writing at postgraduate level
‘In my experience the most important thing is to write the way they
want. You can write all kinds of stuff you know about, but you don’t
get good marks unless you write it the proper way.’
Northedge, A. The Good Study Guide 2007: 245
Sara Steinke
s.steinke@bbk.ac.uk
Aims of the session
• To consider what makes English academic
• To identify the style and conventions of
academic writing
• To recognise the importance of academic
writing skills for postgraduate study
• To think about the writing process
• To reflect on how to develop your academic
writing skills to express and present your
critical thinking for postgraduate study
Why do you think writing gives students
the most anxiety?
A. They have not written an essay in a long
time.
B. They do not know what an academic essay
looks like.
C. They miss deadlines as a result of poor time
management.
D. They have no idea why they are writing an
essay.
Answer: A, B, C and D
• What makes English academic
• Importance of academic English for postgraduate
study
• Check your academic English
What is academic English?
Definitions
‘academy’ = place of
study, university
‘academic’ = doing
things they way they
are done in the
Academy
‘academic writing’ =
writing in the way
that is expected of
people at university
What makes spoken or written
English ‘academic’ is not the
ideas, but the way the
ideas are
presented - in a logical order,
with evidence to support them,
objectively and
expressed - using formal
language, using specialist
vocabulary, using words and
phrases that are expected in
writing at university
‘in a logical order’
• start with a plan
• jot down any ideas that you have as you think of them
• group your ideas about the same point together and
present them in the same paragraph
• start each paragraph with a sentence that shows what
you are going to write about in that paragraph - the
topic sentence
• put your points in order so that they follow on from
each other
• develop the main idea in the topic sentence with your
other points
‘with evidence’
• read and make notes from different sources
• use sources that are reliable and/or
recommended to you
• make notes of where different writers agree
or disagree so that you can compare different
views
• remember that critical thinking sees things as
grey, rather than black and white
‘objectively’
• make suggestions, not strongly emotional
comments
• avoid stating your personal opinion
• do not involve the reader directly by asking
questions
‘use formal language’
• write in full sentences
• do not use abbreviations or contractions
• use impersonal forms (not the first person ‘I’)
• no slang or colloquial expressions
‘use specialist vocabulary’
• check the meaning of specialist terms in your
subject
• note examples of how these terms are used in
the books and articles that you read
• do not use terms that you do not understand
‘use words and phrases that are expected’
• academic writers are expected to be cautious - use ‘this suggests ...’, ‘this might explain ...’
• readers expect phrases that act as signposts to
guide them through the text
-
additional information (‘furthermore ...’,
‘moreover ...’, ‘in addition ...’)
to move to specific examples (‘for instance ...’,
‘as an illustration ...’
Why write the way ‘they’ want?
(Northedge 2007: 246)
1. Deepens your learning
2. Develops your writing skills
3. Doing yourself justice
4. Enables the reader to understand your point
of view
5. Strengthens your powers of self-expression
6. Major medium through which your progress
is assessed
How to annoy your lecturers
A group of lecturers
from different
subjects were asked
what really annoyed
them about
students’ grammar
and language . . .
1. Using apostrophes wrongly
2. Confusing common words, for
example there/their
3. Making spelling errors
4. Using informal language
5. Writing sentences without
verbs
6. Making every sentence a
paragraph
7. Not using paragraphs
8. Writing long convoluted
sentences
9. Trying to write too pompously
10. Using run-on
sentences/comma splices
Check your academic English skills at
http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/services/orientation
CheckyouracademicEnglishskills.pptx/view
http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/services/orientation/
get-ready-to-study-at-birkbeck
1. Grammar
2. Vocabulary
3. Punctuation
4. Spelling
5. Academic style
• Key academic writing conventions
• Importance of academic writing to express your
critical thinking at postgraduate level
• How to develop your academic writing
Academic writing: key conventions
•
•
•
•
•
Do not use contractions or slang
Use the terminology of your field
Avoid the first (‘I’) and second person (‘you’)
Define key terms you use in a particular way
Include only ideas that are relevant to your
argument and subject
• Limit ideas to one per sentence/single point for
each paragraph
• Be kind to your reader - give reader clues
(transition words, summaries) to let them know
where they are in your argument
• Use subheadings and sections
Academic style
• Use formal style
• Writing style does not have to be complicated
/elaborate
• Be well organised and present ideas in logical order
• Present objective analysis that is critical without
being too positive or negative, be cautious
• Use clear, precise language
• Avoid emotive language
• Establish clear connections between ideas
• Cite relevant sources
• Explain, not just describe
• Use quotes, examples
Quick quiz
What is wrong with this piece of critical
writing? (Cottrell 2008: 209)
Mount Pepe is going up - it’s going to take
everything with it when it goes. And I mean
everything - villages, farms, trees, the lot. It’s
frightening to think of how powerful a volcano
can be. Think of the damage they cause!
Remember Pompeii and Mount Etna!
What is right with this piece of critical
writing? (Cottrell 2008: 209)
In order to assess whether it is necessary to
evacuate the villages on Mount Pepe, three main
factors need to be taken into consideration. The
first, and most important, of these is the element
Of safety. According to seismic experts currently
working on the volcano, there is likely to be a
major eruption within the next ten years (Achebe
2007). According to Achebe, the eruption is likely
to destroy villages over a radius of 120 miles
(Achebe 2008, p.7).
Importance of academic writing skills for
postgraduate study
• Postgraduate students are
- required to be independent, critical thinkers
- expected to contribute to the field of study
• This influences postgraduate writing in 4 ways:
1. critical thinking
2. research
3. academic integrity
4. academic style
Critical thinking
• See ‘Critical thinking at Postgraduate level’
13 August
• Think independently
• Provide original perspective on previous
research
• Make connections between ideas/between
your work and other research
Research
• Become aware of the current knowledge in
your field
- deep and breadth
- synthesise information
- literature review
• Expected to contribute personally to the
knowledge in your field
- creative thinking
- presenting information in a new way, applying
previous research to new problems, proving a
thesis
Academic integrity
• Give credit for intellectual property that you
borrow
- paraphrasing, quotes, referencing
• Be familiar with intellectual property rights
- opportunities to produce original work
• Be aware of research ethics
Importance of feedback to improve your
writing skills
1.
2.
3.
4.
Read through work and lecturer’s comment
Check you understand lecturer’s comments
Make list of major issues and minor errors
Compare with comments/lists from previous essays
- Which comments appear more than once?
- Which issues have you improved?
5. Number issues in order of priority
6. Act on them!
Self evaluation: S.W.O.T.
• What are the strengths of your writing? Are you able to
express complex ideas clearly? Do you know how to
structure your essay well?
• What are the weaknesses of your writing? Do you
struggle with spelling and grammar? Are you simply not
used to writing in a formal/academic way?
• What opportunities do you have to improve on your
writing? Have you attended one of the essay writing
workshops?
• What threats do you face in your writing? Do you
understand the essay question? Are you struggling to
find enough time for proof reading? Do you lack
confidence in your ability to write?
• Stages of the writing process
• Analysing the question
• Writing introductory, main body and concluding
paragraphs
• Essay v. Dissertation
Stages of essay writing
Northedge 2005: 297
1. Thinking about the essay title
2. Planning the writing
process
8. Reviewing and polishing
3. Studying the course
content
7. Drafting an answer
4. Taking stock before you
start writing
6. Organising your material
5. Getting ideas written down
Analysing the question
Essay questions can be
broken down into:
• Its topic
• Any restriction/
expansion to the topic
• The aspect/angle you
are asked to consider
• Instructions you need
to follow
An analysis of the
changes in US policy
towards China
during the 1970s.
An analysis of the
changes in US policy
towards China
during the 1970s.
Writing introductory paragraphs
• State title of essay in first line/link to question
• Explain the title/why the question is
important/establish the field/give background
information/state aim of the essay
• Outline approach to the essay/thesis statement
• Narrow the field/particular focus/outline issues
• Outline structure of essay
• 10% of word count
Writing main body paragraphs
Topic (first)sentence: main idea of the paragraph
Supporting sentence: gives details about/
explains topic sentence
Concluding (last) sentence: repeats the main
idea/gives final comment about topic
Writing concluding paragraphs
• Summarise main arguments/themes
• State general conclusions
• Make it clear why conclusions are significant
• Refer back to question/directly answer it
• Make recommendations or suggest way
forward/further research
• Do not present new material/ideas in your
conclusion
• 10% of word count
Think about the following
1. Follows basic procedure
What are the
similarities
between writing a
dissertation and
writing an essay?
2. Adheres to academic
conventions - academic
English, referencing, style
3. Involves research skills
4. Requires writing in prose
5. Uses analytical reading
/writing skills
Think about the following
What are the
differences
between writing a
dissertation and
writing an essay?
1. Individually designed
piece of work
2. Personal involvement
3. Time management
4. Self-management and
motivation
5. Literature search
6. Presentation/structure
7. Methodology
8. Managing your
supervisor
9. Viva
Dissertation structure
• Overcoming writer’s
block
• Suggestions for
generating ideas
• Sources for academic
writing
Overcoming writer’s block
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Scribble - what ever comes to mind
‘Its only a draft’ - something you are working on
Write in pencil - reminds you that the draft is rough
Write on loose paper - can throw it away
Ignore mistakes in early drafts - can sort out later
‘For you eyes only’ - handwriting/mistakes do not
matter
7. Start anywhere - in order to suit you
8. Write by talking - if you find it hard to express
yourself in writing
9. Take one step at a time - break task into manageable
steps
10. Rest and relax - avoid stress
Generating ideas: brainstorming
• use a large piece of paper - A3 or flipchart
• identify and write down as many different
possible answers (rather than ‘one solution’) to
the question that you can think of
• asking ‘what if’ or ‘supposing’ questions will
help you
• allow yourself to think of crazy or wild
suggestions - do not think of an idea as ‘stupid'
• it is fine to make mistakes - they may turn out to
be productive
Generating ideas: free writing
• use A4 lined paper
• write nonstop for a set period of time (about
3-5 minutes)
• do not make any corrections
• do not write in sentences
• use the writing tool you are most comfortable
with (pen/computer)
• write/type as fast as you can
• do not cross anything out
• do not punctuate
Generating ideas: map mapping
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
turn the paper sideways, A3 landscape is best
write the topic in the centre of the page
write related ideas around this centre
add secondary ideas to the main ideas
link up these ideas to show relationships
use colours, different line thickness, symbols, pictures
add details to points as you go along
What can I do to make my writing more
academic?
• attend free Academic Development Workshops offered by
Centre for Learning and Professional Development (CLPD):
http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/global/workshop_timetable?orgunit=SSK
• enrol for an one-term Academic Writing module:
http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/services/facilities/support/academic-writingmodules
• note how the ideas in the books and articles that you read
on your course are presented and expressed - use active
reading and note making strategies
Useful reading for academic writing
Cottrell, S. (2008) The Study Skills Handbook (3rd edition) (Palgrave
Macmillan, London) chapter 8 ‘Writing for university’ and chapter 9
‘Developing your writing’
Crème, P. (1997) Writing at University (Open University Press, Milton Keynes)
Greetham, B. (2008) How to write better essays (2nd edition) (Palgrave
Macmillan, London)
Northedge, A. (2007) The Good Study Guide (Open University Press, Milton
Keynes) chapter 10 ‘Writing the way ‘they’ want’ and chapter 11 ‘Managing
the writing process’
Peck, J. & Coyle, M. (2005) Write it Right: A Handbook for Students (Palgrave
Macmillan, London)
Redman P (2001) Good Essay Writing (Sage, London)
Rose, J. (2007) The Mature Students Guide to Writing (2nd edition)
(Basingstoke, Palgrave)
Useful websites for academic writing
Get ahead Stay ahead interactive tutorials
http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/get-ahead-stay-ahead/writing
website supporting the Palgrave MacMillan
study skills books
http://www.palgrave.com/skills4study/studyskills/reading/essay.asp
http://www.palgrave.com/skills4study/studyskills/reading/writing.asp
Useful listening
http://www.palgrave.com/skills4study/mp3s.asp#tricks
Useful sources for PG writing
http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/services/facilities/support/phd-support
http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/services/facilities/support/dissertations/pg_dissertations
http://www.palgrave.com/skills4study/studentlife/postgraduate/index.asp
http://www.palgrave.com/skills4study/studentlife/postgraduate/writing.asp
Wisker, G. (2007) The Postgraduate Research
Handbook (London, Palgrave)
Wallace, M. & Wray, A. (2011) Critical Reading
and Writing for Postgraduates, 2nd ed., (London,
Sage)
Presentations can be found at
http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/services/orientation
/getaheadpostgraduate
Writing - recap
Can you:
express your ideas clearly in written form?
make an outline of what you are going to write?
write in clear sentences and paragraphs?
link your ideas in a logical order?
use correct grammar?
develop your own argument?
identify your audience and write in an
appropriate register?
Next session
• Tuesday 4 September, 6pm-7.30pm, room
421
• Organising yourself at postgraduate level,
including time management
- time management techniques
-
how to prioritise tasks
-
importance of organisational skills and
time management for postgraduate study