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Identify why academic writing is important
Recognise a report format
Discuss narration perspective
Demonstrate writing in third person
“If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of
Giants.” (Newton)
-It adds to the scientific body of knowledge
-It helps to communicate to the public what scientists do
-It helps secure funding for future projects
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Need for specific information
Which enables a course of action to be taken;
e.g. a problem needs investigating: a decision
needs to be taken
The report is written for a purpose and a
specific audience
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Reports are not constructed as continuous
prose
They are arranged so that any item of
information can be spotted quickly and read
separately
They are designed to convey specific
information fast and accurately
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Evidence which substantiates your facts should
be presented and the sources identified as
references to texts. These are always listed in
the reference list/bibliography at the end to
enable your evidence to be checked or followed
up.
Opinion- professional that is. Your considered
opinions are placed as conclusions and
recommendations at the end of the report.
Summary
Introduction
Main body
Conclusion
Appendix
( Windust, 1983)
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The information is given in the way that the
reader wants it
Ensure that you are aware of the purpose of the
report
Tell them what you are going to tell them
(summary)
Tell them ( body)
Then tell them what you already told them
(conclusion and recommendation)
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The layout of most reports tend to follow a standard pattern:
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- Title
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page
- Summary
- List of contents
- List of figures ( if applicable)
- Introduction
- Main body of report
- Conclusions and recommendations
- Appendices
- Bibliography
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Aim for readability, clarity and succinctness
Be objective and analytical
Think about meaning and effect in choosing
words, e.g. ‘crowd’ or ‘mob’, ‘unfounded’ or
‘stupid’, ‘shows’ or ‘suggests’
Use verbs appropriately
‘What is easy to read has been difficult to write’
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Different kinds of writing require different
kinds of language. You have to write in a way
that is appropriate to your audience and
circumstances
• Keep your sentences short
• Try to express everything as simply as you can
• Do not forget the reader. Remember there is
someone out there who has to read and
understand what you have written
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When you start a new argument, start a new
paragraph
When you introduce a new piece of evidence, a
detailed analysis, or an opposing argument,
start a new paragraph unless it follows directly
from a brief statement of a new argument
When you think the reader could pause for a
moment without losing the thread of what you
are saying , start a new paragraph
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A sentence begins and ends a clear idea,
thought or action
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Remember to use the spelling & grammar
feature on your computer
By omitting to do this the whole meaning of
your essay can change
Punctuation is also important to achieve the
correct meaning of your work. Common
mistakes include: ‘of’ instead of ‘have’;
confusion over the use of ‘its’ and ‘it’s’ and the
use of the comma
Do not abbreviate in academic essays, e.g. do
not don’t etc.
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Who is telling this story? To whom?
Exactly what is going on?
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First Person Narrators
Second Person Narrators
Third Person Narrators
TAXI by Jesus Garcia
I look at her in the rearview mirror. Her face, slack with middle age, is grimly set. I
return my gaze to the road. "Lourdes?" I ask. "Are you a religious woman?"
"Yes," she says. She smoothes down her beige skirt, as if any of us were interested
in her legs. "Yes, I am."
"Good," I counter. "Then not only will God protect you, he will pay you back
threefold anything we take from you." Handsome goes through her husband's
wallet. "And your name is Adolfo," he says. Adolfo is lying in a fetal position on
the floor of the cab beside me where the passenger seat should be. He chokes,
gasping, yet again. The Monkey places his big foot in the crack of Adolfo's ass, just
to make sure he doesn't get carried away. "Please," says Adolfo in a strained voice.
"Please, let us go, for the love of God." I can't stand it when they beg. I am by no
means a violent person, but the whining makes me want to move my foot from
the accelerator and stomp their faces.
If On A Winter's Night A Traveler by Italo Calvino
You are about to begin reading Italo Calvino's new novel, If on a winter's
night a traveler. Relax. Concentrate. Dispel every other thought. Let the
world around you fade. Best to close the door; the TV is always on in the
next room. Tell the others right away, "No, I don't want to watch TV!"
Raise your voice - they won't hear you otherwise - "I'm reading! I don't
want to be disturbed!" Maybe they haven't heard you, with all that
racket; speak louder, yell: "I'm beginning to read Italo Calvino's new
novel!" Or if you prefer, don't say anything; just hope they'll leave you
alone. Find the most comfortable position: seated, stretched out, curled
up, or lying flat. Flat on your back, on your side, on your stomach.
Second person narration is very seldom used as it means that
the author/performer can only address one person
Unlike first person narrators, third person
narrators do not take part in the story. The
narrator is outside the story and refers to others
either by name or in the third person
Third person narration can have four points of
view
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Re-Write the following into third person…
‘when the muscle contracts, your arm moves in an
upward direction towards your head’
 ‘We think that the lateral ligaments of the ankle are
somewhat weak in comparison to the medial’
 ‘In this assignment, I will firstly discuss the pros and
cons of prison brothels before telling you my
conclusion’
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Write objectively (in the third person)
Write clearly; avoid weirdness
Eschew obfuscation (“Don’t use big words
unnecessarily”)
Label and explain graphs and tables properly
Don’t mix conclusions with the results
Proofread
Ask others to proofread for you