Academic Writing for FYP Students: Applied Languages

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Academic Writing for FYP Students Applied
Languages
The Writing Centre, UL www.ul.ie/rwc

• Seminar 3
• Íde OSullivan, Lawrence Cleary
• Regional Writing Centre

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Plan of Seminars

• Seminars Weeks 5, 6, 7
• Wednesdays 23 pm A1-052
• One-to-One Sessions
• visit our website (www.ul.ie/rwc) to check out
  our tutors and make an appointment

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Plan of seminars

• Seminar 1 (Week 5)
• Getting started
• Layout/presentation/structure
• Referencing
• Seminar 2 (Week 6)
• Writing an effective abstract, introduction and
  conclusion
• Developing and sustaining an argument
• Seminar 3 (Week 7)
• Academic writing style
• Editing and proof reading

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Academic Writing Style
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Academic writing style

• Academic writing is clear, concise and
  comprehensive
• Clarity of expression
• Clear writing is direct, orderly, and precise
  (Ebest et al., 1997).
• Logical method of development
• Effective transition signals
• Good signposting
• Coherent
• Consistent point of view
• Conciseness (careful word choice)

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Academic writing style

• Clarity of expression
• Avoid repetition of words
• Avoid repetition of ideas
• Delete redundant words
• Be direct avoid using too many words
• Avoid ambiguity
• Avoid unclear pronoun reference
• Choose strong active verbs
• Use parallel constructions

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Academic writing style

• What is wrong with the following?
• In Florida, where the threat of hurricanes is
  an annual event, we learned that it is important
  (1) to become aware of the warning signs. (2)
  There are precautions to take, and (3) deciding
  when to take shelter is important.
• (Purdue OWL 2006)
• http//owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/

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Academic writing style

• Formality/register
• Academic writing uses a formal style
• Avoid informal language especially colloquial
  expressions, idioms and slang.
• Do not use contractions (dont, cant).
• Avoid subjective language (I heard it said)
• Appropriate language
• Use bias-free language.
• Avoid language that privileges one race, colour,
  gender, persuasion, or religion over another.

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Academic writing style

• Voice
• Replace personal references, e.g. "I aim to" with
  passives, e.g "the aim of the project is". Use
  language that emphasises the subject, rather than
  the writer.
• Vocabulary
• Academic writing conventionally uses a more
  lexically dense, varied vocabulary.
• Academic writing uses more subordination and
  passives than other genres.

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Academic writing style

• Tense
• Do not mix verb tenses in compound predicates
• Be consistent
• Check for subject verb agreement
• Use verbs to emphasise the subject, not the
  writer
• Avoid
• Repetition
• Unfinished ideas

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Academic writing style

• Be sure that sentences express a complete idea.
• Arrange ideas logically in paragraphs, logically
  dividing your ideas and presenting them linearly.
• Grammar, spelling, capitalisation and punctuation
  should be according to conventions.
• Do not use contractions.
• Be explicit use signals.

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Academic writing style

• Hedge. Distinguish between absolutes and
  probabilities. Absolutes are 100 certain.
  Probabilities are less than 100 certain.
• Be responsible. Provide traceable evidence and
  justifications for any claims you make or any
  opinions you have formed as a result of your
  research.

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Editing and Proof Reading
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Editing and proofreading

• What is editing?
• Macro and micro edits
• Types of edit
• Becoming the editor
• Traps spelling, grammar, punctuation
• Common errors
• Tips for editing

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What is editing?

• Editing a document is revisiting it for
  publication
• It is sharpening a thought to a gemlike point
  and eliminating useless verbiage (Leedy, 2001
  54)

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Types of edit

• Policy edit
• Integrity edit
• Screening edit
• Format edit
• Mechanical style edit
• Language edit
• Substantive edit

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Macro and micro edits

• Macro Issues
• content and organisation
• logical sequence of ideas
• audience adaptation
• purpose
• Micro Issues
• grammar
• style
• format
• Only edit one thing at a time

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Revision

• Revising the structure
• Introduction
• A clear logical structure
• Your arguments / evidence
• Conclusion
• Revising the research methodology/design and
  methods
• Revising the content
• Accuracy
• Style
• Use of words

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Revising the structure

• Introduction
• Have you stared what you are doing and why?
• Have you outlined the structure?
• Have you mapped the plan?
• A clear logical structure
• Did you lead the reader clearly through the
  essay/FYP?
• Did you follow the map outlined in the
  introduction?
• Did you give directions to the reader? (check
  coherence, topic sentences and transition
  signals)
• Have you delivered on all your promises?

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Revising the structure

• Your arguments / evidence
• Is each argument developed sufficiently?
• Do you give enough evidence to support your
  argument?
• Do you use the appropriate language to reflect
  the evidence?
• Is the content of each paragraph relevant?
• Does irrelevant information get in the way?
• Conclusion

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Revising the research methodology

• Is the methodology appropriate?
• Are the following clear and appropriate?
• Sampling strategy
• Data collection
• Data analysis
• Are the findings presented clearly?
• Are the findings supported by sufficient data?
• How important are the findings?

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Revising the content

• Accuracy
• Facts Is the content accurate?
• Quotations Is it clear which ideas are mine /
  those of others?
• Are all sources and references acknowledged?
• Is everything in the bibliography?

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Revising the content

• Style / use of words
• Are there words, phrases, sentences or paragraphs
  that are unnecessary?
• Will the reader get lost in long sentences?
• Are there any obscure / ambiguous words?
• Is the appropriate voice used?
• Are there unnecessary modifiers?
• Final read
• Does it flow smoothly / read well?
• Is it interesting?
• Is the pace / rhythm appropriate?
• Does it look neat and professional?

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Copyediting / Proofreading

• This is the careful editing of each line and each
  graphic to ensure that the material is expressed
  in simple, clear correct English
• Checking errors in spelling, punctuation,
  grammar, format, sentence structure
• Proofreading is not editing in the broader sense
  it is an effort to achieve correctness in the
  elements mentioned above
• Correctness is the most important criterion of
  excellence

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Spelling

• Make sure to set the language to BrE or AmE but
  stick to one (-ise/-ize)
• Standard forms
• Double letters
• Dont rely on spell check it doesnt catch
  everything
• - for foe
• - form from
• - quiet quite
• - practice practise
• - affect effect

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Grammar

• Sentence structure
• Complete sentences
• Agreement
• Tense
• Grammar check is not always correct
• - passive sentences
• - defining and non-defining clauses
• The woman who lives in apartment No. 34 has
  been arrested. Mrs. Jackson, who is very
  intelligent, lives on the corner.

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Punctuation

• Commas, semi-colons, full stops
• Apostrophe
• its Vs its
• 1920s
• Possessives
• The dogs bone
• The dogs bone
• The horses mouths
• Seamus car
• Capitalisation

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Tips for editing

• Set it aside for a few days and come back with a
  fresh eye
• Get someone else to proofread it as well as you
• Use the print preview button to check layout
  before you print
• Always proofread on hardcopy
• Hold paper below the line you are proofreading
• Use the find button to make changes
• Be consistent!!
• Editing a reference list is separate

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Editing a reference list

• Check that in-text dates and page numbers match
  reference list
• Only enter names in reference list that you have
  mentioned in your text its not a bibliography
• Make sure that if a name is mentioned in the
  document that is in included in the reference
  list
• Do a separate edit of your reference list,
  checking everything matches, everything is
  included and it is consistent

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Common errors

• Consistency of layout
• Spelling, punctuation and grammar
• Syntax
• Correct font and spacing
• Word or letter substitution
• Transposition of letters
• Omission of a line or lines, which does not
  outwardly affect the meaning
• Check finished work with original
• Dates, proper names and place names, and figures
• Complete labelling of diagrams, tables, graphs,
  etc