Writing an Academic Paper

1. Writing an Academic Paper

3. Academic Writing Organizing your information and ideas Structure of the essay Paragraph structure The writing process Editing Format conventions

4. Making Your Point Cultural differences in organizing information to develop ideas English uses a straight line approach Be sure to stick to the point!

5. Structure of an Academic Paper Beginning Body Ending

6. Beginning Provides an opening thesis statement Indicates the topic/subject of the paper Introduces your angle, assertions, or point of view on the topic Indicates the organization of the paper Arouses the reader�s interest

7. Body Provides further details to develop the topic May consist of description, analysis, explanation, etc. Uses information and supporting evidence to prove your thesis Examines your assertions about the topic

8. Ending May summarize the main ideas May restate the thesis Gives your conclusion/s May give a message to the reader Must end the paper!

9. Paragraph Structure Presents one idea/point Topic sentence to introduce main idea which will be developed in the paragraph Body sentences support, prove, explain the main idea Concluding sentence (summary, climax, restate topic sentence, quotation, etc.)

10. You must be sure that � Topic sentence states your topic Topic sentence has controlling idea Paragraph has unity Paragraph has coherence Transitions are used correctly to move ideas through the paragraph

11. Topic Sentence Introduces the reader to the main idea of the paragraph States briefly the point you are going to develop more fully in the paragraph What are you going to tell me about? Topic sentence should have a controlling idea

12. Controlling Idea Narrows/limits the topic What exactly are you going to tell me about the topic? Keeps the writer from straying from the point

13. Unity Do all the sentences address the topic? Do they help develop/support/prove your point? Delete sentences which do not relate back to the topic sentence � � or put them in a new paragraph

14. Coherence Ideas follow straight line of development Ideas related to each other in an orderly sequence Sense of movement forward, building on what was said before Details arranged in systematic way

15. Supporting Detail can be Arranged � In order of importance (least to most) Chronologically (by time) Spatially (location to location) General to specific Specific to general

16. Transitions Alert readers to the direction the developing idea is taking Show the relationship/link between one sentence and another Move ideas through the paragraph Help create sense of cohesion But be careful not to overuse them!

17. Transitions can be used to � Number points (first) Additional point (additionally) Chronology (then) Compare (similarly) Contrast (whereas) Emphasize (above all) Qualify (however) Concede (although) Provide examples (for example) Reasons (in this way) Results (as a result) Conclusions (in conclusion)

22. The Writing Process Pre-writing Free-writing Outlining First Draft Revising

23. Pre-Writing Steps Choose your topic a topic you have something to say about a topic you are interested in a topic you can sustain Gather your information Get familiar with your topic Narrow your topic what do you think is important to say about it? what aspect of the topic can be explored in an essay?

24. Get your ideas down on paper! Brainstorming Free-writing (write everything you can!) Explore what you know/think List important points you want to make Mind-mapping, clustering Use the computer!

25. Create an Outline Organize the information Pull out the main points Arrange them in a logical sequence Easier to change order of ideas in an outline than in text Word-processing makes this easy!

26. Ready to Write -- The First Draft Draft a topic sentence to introduce your main idea Provide supporting details in the following sentences to illustrate/explain/prove your point Follow your outline as you express your ideas paragraph by paragraph Just get your thoughts about the topic down � it doesn�t have to be perfect!

27. Revising the First Draft Content and organization Beginning � (Is the thesis clearly stated? Is the organization indicated?) Body � (Are the paragraphs well-developed, unified, coherent, clearly linked? Is the thesis proved/convincing?) Ending � (Is the conclusion/summary clear? Is the paper really ended?)

28. The Editing Process Word processing makes this step easier! Mechanics � grammar, spelling, punctuation (run computer checks) Sentences � check they are clear, concise, connected, correct Proof-Reading � spelling, typos (read out loud slowly, from bottom to top)

29. Watch Out For � Homonyms (there, they�re, their) Subject/verb agreement (or use modals!) Word order (a small red car or a red small car?) Order of adverbials (M, P, F, T, R) Repetition (check a thesaurus for synonyms) Parallelism Fragments Run-Ons

31. Format Conventions Cover page title of paper, course name, your name, date Inside pages margins line spacing (1.5 or 2) paragraph spacing (indent or twice line spacing) font type and size (max 12 point) header with title and page numbering from page 2

32. Citations Always cite your sources! Books Periodicals On-line sources Author�s name, title of article, periodical name/volume, publisher, date, URLs for on-line sources Avoid plagarism!

34. Writing Resources for SIT Students See handout for information on : On-campus writing tutors Resources on the internet Off-campus editorial/tutorial services

35. On-Campus Writing Tutors Available to help you improve writing skills Not an editing/proof-reading service E-mail the tutors for an appointment Send your paper at least 24 or 48 hrs in advance of your appointment Plan ahead! Will take at least 3 days!

36. Thank You for Coming! And Good Luck with writing your academic papers!