This engaging guide will equip students who are non-native speakers of English with the tools and confidence to respond effectively and appropriately to written assignments at university. It supports students in the development of essential writing skills, such as structuring paragraphs and building an argument, and provides practical guidance on adhering to the conventions of academic writing. It guides students systematically through a series of text analyses which bring out key linguistic and rhetorical features, making complex textual issues manageable and understandable for learners of all abilities. This is an ideal self-study aid for non-native English speakers, both on pre-sessional language courses and on degree programmes, who need to get to grips with the conventions of academic writing.
Author(s): Siew Hean Read
Series: Macmillan Study Skills | 18
Edition: 1
Publisher: Red Globe Press | Macmillan Education
Year: 2019
Language: English
Commentary: TruePDF
Pages: 230
Tags: Academic Writing; English Language: Textbooks For Foreign Speakers; English Language; Study And Teaching
Cover
Half Title
Series Title
Title
Copyright
Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Who is the book for?
What can you learn from the book?
How is the book organised?
What are the unique features of the book?
Part I Essential features of academic writing
Unit 1 Appropriate writing style
What is style?
1.1 Comparison between written and spoken styles
1.2 Strategies for developing an academic writing style
Unit 2 Correct conventions for using sources
2.1 Referencing: commonly asked questions
2.2 Using quotations: some DOs and DON’Ts
2.3 Paraphrasing and summarising: some strategies
Unit 3 Clear structure and layout
3.1 Principles of structure, organisation and layout
3.2 Six steps to effective writing
Unit 4 Coherent flow of ideas
What is coherence?
How can you achieve coherence in writing?
4.1 Four cohesive devices
4.2 Coherence within a paragraph
4.3 Coherence between paragraphs
Unit 5 Accurate use of language
5.1 Common trouble spots
5.2 Grammar: problematic issues
5.3 Sentences: some key issues
5.4 Vocabulary: word use and spelling
Part II Types of university written assignments
Unit 1 Essays
1.1 Analytical essays
1.2 Visual analyses
1.3 Discursive essays
1.4 Reflective essays
1.5 Argumentative essays
Unit 2 Case studies
Unit 3 Reports
3.1 Laboratory reports
3.2 Research reports
3.3 Technical reports
Unit 4 Literature reviews
What is an annotated bibliography?
Unit 5 Research proposals
Part III Developing your writing
Unit 1 Aspects of development
How do these two aspects work together?
Selecting the organisational method: why does it matter?
Unit 2 Methods of organisation
2.1 Classification or division
2.2 Logical enquiry
2.3 Chronology
2.4 Separate and paired methods
Unit 3 Introductions and conclusions
3.1 Role of introductions and conclusions
3.2 Some common problems
3.3 A model for constructing introductions
3.4 A model for constructing conclusions
Unit 4 Paragraph structure and construction
4.1 Basic principles of paragraphing
4.2 The TEC model for paragraph construction
4.3 Effective topic sentences
Unit 5 Techniques for developing your writing
5.1 Using examples
5.2 Writing extended definitions
5.3 Analysing differences and similarities
5.4 Explaining cau ses and effects
5.5 Describing data presented in figures and tables
Part IV Presenting a point of view: argumentation
Unit 1 The elements of argumentation
1.1 The topic and issue
1.2 The elements of argumentation
Unit 2 The issue and thesis statement
2.1 Thesis-led and discussion-led arguments
2.2 Explaining the issue
2.3 Writing the thesis statement
Unit 3 Structuring the argument
3.1 Separate or ‘Block’ pattern
3.2 Paired or ‘point-by-point’
3.3 Separate and paired pattern combined
Unit 4 Building the argument
4.1 Process of logical reasoning
4.2 Appropriate argumentative style
4.3 Argumentation strategies
Unit 5 Argumentative essays for study
Guide to annotations
Part V Putting it all together
Essay 1 Analytical: comparison and contrast
Essay 2 Analytical response
Essay 3 Analytical and discursive
Essay 4 Analytical
Essay 5 Discursive
Essay 6 Case study
Essay 7 Discursive
Appendix A: Answers to practice activities
Part I Essential features of academic writing
Part II Types of university written assignments
Part III Developing your writing
Part IV Presenting a point of view: argumentation
Appendix B: Language charts
A classification of instruction verbs and their meaning
The language of description
The English Articles
The English prepositions
Appendix C: A glossary of some grammatical terms
Index
