How to Write an Academic Essay

1. How to Write an Academic Essay With a focus on the Introduction, Discussion, Conclusion and of course, Writing Skills

2. Contents • Assignment Outline • Introduction • Discussion • Conclusion • Writing Skills • Further Information

3. Assignment Outline Final Essay (25%) • Your final essay will be a six to seven-page critical overview of one of the determinants of health (with the exception of biology and genetic endowment). Given the very general nature of the currently identified Health Determinants, you are encouraged to research a sub-theme or issue of interest within a key determinant framing. Your paper should be supported by at least five non-course readings references, which must come from a range of sources and no more than one may be from a website or textbook. Additional references especially from the course readings are encouraged especially for the introductory positioning and context setting. This assignment is due in lecture (Week 11). [Please see the evaluation rubric in the Bb Assignment Resources folder]

4. Introduction

5. Introduction • Suitably focused? This is your last chance to sharpen your paper’s focus. Is your thesis sharp? • Example: SDH: Biology and Genetic Endowment Topic/Thesis: Genes impact health What can be improved here?

6. Introduction • Example 2 SDH: Physical Environment Topic/Thesis: Higher cost of city living negatively effects health Key Points: 1)Stressful, overcrowded metropolitan living conditions 2) Exposure to pollutants and exhaust fumes in the city

7. Introduction Define or explain key terms: • Make a list of them; introduce the main 2-4of them in your introduction by explaining and defining them in a sentence or two (more complete discussions will follow in the paper itself) • What are some key terms that you will be using in your essay?

8. Discussion

9. Discussion • How can one be sure that their discussion is suitably questioning and critical? What are some critical analysis techniques that can be used?

10. Discussion • Ask questions • Make an argument (thesis) • Be focused and specific at every point • Use questioning and critical research • Conduct close readings of scholarly research and studies • Make recommendations • Transition frequently between associative and analytic thinking

11. Discussion Take care not to just ‘plug’ in proofs, quotes, and paraphrases. Here are some techniques for avoiding this: INEGRATE MATERIAL: • Comment on paraphrased ideas before and after including them. • Avoid ending paragraphs, and especially entire essays, with someone else’s words.

12. Discussion • MAINTAIN LIMITS • Do not let other people do the majority of the speaking in your paper. A few good rules are to have as many references as you have pages of writing, a maximum of 4 paraphrases per page, and a maximum of 1 short and 2 long quotes per 10 pages.

13. Discussion • Where to find peer-reviewed journal articles? • Ryerson Library—Advanced Search (limit your search by checking off the boxes that apply: limit to peer-reviewed journal articles)

14. Discussion • How can one be sure that their paper includes elements of creative and original thinking and ideas? • What are some ways to include these elements?

15. Discussion • Coining new phrases or ideas through synthesis • Building towards a strategy or recommendation through progressive arguments • Writing effectively and finding the perfect words to describe your ideas • What else?

16. Conclusion

17. Conclusion • How can the conclusion be structured? • If you have four key concepts/points, how many statements will you have regarding key points in the conclusion? • What are some ways to end the end?

18. Writing Skills

19. Writing Skills • Topic Sentence • Developing Sentences • Transitional Sentence Methods for developing ideas in a paragraph: • illustrate your idea with examples • give an authoritative quotation • anticipate and respond to counterarguments • back your ideas with more evidence • offer another perspective to the idea • brainstorm more insights about the idea • elaborate on causes/effects, definitions, comparison/contrasts (i.e. compare with an idea you presented earlier) • From http://www1.aucegypt.edu/academic/writers/language_clarity.htm

20. Writing Skills Order… • Order your paragraphs in such a way as to make a ‘progressive’ argument that builds upon previous paragraphs. What is each paragraph about? What could be the ‘title’ of each paragraph? What is the best order for the paragraphs? • Within each paragraph, order your quotes and discussions in a progressive manner. • Within each sentence, order thoughts and lists in a meaningful way.

21. Writing Skills Formatting reminders: • Use Topic Sentences at the beginning of each paragraph • Use Transitional Sentences at the end of each paragraph • Use sentence Variation

22. Writing Skills • Sentence Variation can be accomplished through establishing emphasis, creating rhythm, and changing sentence length: Variation

23. Writing Skills • Improve on your writing style and etiquette by avoiding personal references, sexist pronouns, and emotionalism: Style

24. Writing Skills Common Grammar mistakes… • Semi-colons (use when lists have commas within items); also, There needs to be complete phrases on both sides of the semi-colon; each phrase potentially could stand alone as a complete sentence, but the two are like one disconnected thought. • Colons The first phrase needs to be complete: followed by either a complete or incomplete phrase, typically a list or phrase illustrating the first phrase.

25. Writing Skills Most important comma rules: Rule 1: In a series of 3 or more (use serial comma before third) Rule 2:Use commas to set off expressions that interrupt sentence flow. (Writing skills development, you must agree, is so exciting.) Rule 3:Use comma between two strong clauses with a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, for, nor). (I have finished for the day, but the lecture has not.)

26. Writing Skills Rule 4: Comma Splice: I have finished for the day, the lecture has not. Needs a conjunction!-but, and… Rule 5:Use a comma before introducing short, direct quotes. He said, “give me that pie!” Rule 6:Surrounding interrupters (however and therefore).

27. Writing Skills • More information on common grammatical errors can be found at the following link: Grammar

28. Further Information • See Blackboard for TONS of information on writing the essay (and thus on writing the outline and introduction) Under ‘Assignment and Final Exam Resources’ click on: • Writing Supports, or • Marking Rubrics • Essay Outline • Top 10 recommendations for essays and introductions • Further thinking and writing suggestions that might be helpful for the term essay and final exam