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Writing at University

Learn about different academic writing styles and strategies, including identifying your writing style, understanding assignment requirements, critical reading, paragraph structure, and effective conclusions. This guide provides valuable tips to improve your academic essay writing skills.

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Writing at University

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  1. Writing at University UCD Access & Lifelong Learning

  2. Learning Outcomes

  3. Academic Writing Styles

  4. What type of writer are you?

  5. The diver

  6. The patchworker

  7. The architect

  8. The grand planner

  9. Identifying your writing style

  10. Previous writing experiences …

  11. Academic Essays Should:

  12. Think About -

  13. Essay Writing - guidelines

  14. Starting the assignment • Requirements • Length • Referencing • Deadline? • Understand the question • Breakdown • Verbs

  15. Example of Topic Examine the general categories of stressors that can be experienced by an individual at work and describe the likely consequences of prolonged stress levels for that individual. Examine = Present in depth & investigate implications Describe = set out main aspects of topic or sequence of things

  16. Analyse the assignment • Write down in your own words what you think the assignment is asking you to do • What do you already know about the subject matter? • What background info do you need to help you complete the assignment? • How are you going to choose your reading material?

  17. Topic - question

  18. Reading as part of writing

  19. Critical reading (and how it benefits your writing) • Helps you determine what is and what is not a robust piece of research and writing in your field • Helps you identify where existing research has left a gap that your work could fill • Attention you pay to writing of others helps you become more self-aware of your own written work: • Sufficient evidence to back up claims; argumentation/reasoning; becoming alert to your assumptions and how they affect your claims

  20. Critical reading? Some possible approaches • How do you go about reading an academic text? • Use parts of the text: abstract, contents, index, sub-headings, graphs, tables, introduction and conclusion • Skim to get the gist of the argument • Read with questions in mind

  21. Critical reading? Some possible approaches • Make notes/mind map/ use highlighter • Write a summary in your own words • Write a brief critical response • Keep note of bibliographic details

  22. Plans

  23. Drafting the Essay

  24. Introduction

  25. Introduction Styles

  26. Simple Introduction

  27. Paragraphs

  28. Topic Sentence

  29. Paragraph Structure Each paragraph consists of three parts: • Topic sentence • Supporting evidence and/or analysis • Concluding observation, which provides a final idea that leads to the next paragraph. • Remember: Each paragraph engages a single idea (a piece of evidence). You should avoid engaging multiple ideas within the same paragraph.

  30. Paragraph structure Students require more recreational time in order to better focus on lessons in class. In fact, studies have shown that students who enjoy a recess of more than 45 minutes consistently score better on tests immediately following the recess period. Clinical analysis further suggests that physical exercise greatly improves the ability to focus on academic materials. Longer periods of recess are clearly required to allow students the best possible chances of success in their studies. Clearly, physical exercise is just one of the necessary ingredients for improving student scores on standardized tests.

  31. Paragraph structure Students require more recreational time in order to better focus on lessons in class. (TOPIC SENTENCE). Infact, studies have shown that students who enjoy a recess of more than 45 minutes consistently score better on tests immediately following the recess period (Simpson, 2015). (SUPPORTING SENTENCE/EVIDENCE) Clinical analysis further suggests that physical exercise greatly improves the ability to focus on academic materials (Smith, 2011; Barry, 2014). (SUPPORTING SENTENCE/EVIDENCE) Longer periods of recess are clearly required to allow students the best possible chances of success in their studies. (CONCLUDING SENTENCE) Clearly, physical exercise is just one of the necessary ingredients for improving student scores on standardized tests. (Transitional sentence)

  32. Transitions • Transitions show how two paragraphs are linked. • Some common transitional words and phrases: • To link complimentary ideas: again, in addition, at the same time, in the same way, likewise. • To link conflicting ideas: in reality, in truth, on the contrary, on the other hand. • To demonstrate cause and effect: therefore, thus, so, it follows, then, as a result, consequently.

  33. Conclusion

  34. Your conclusion could…

  35. Conclusion - Tips

  36. Simple Conclusion

  37. Making time for writing • Write throughout the course • Do free writing as frequently as possible • Snack and binge writing (Rowena Murray) • Writing groups • Don’t wait until you feel ‘ready’ to write…

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