advice on academic writing

1. «ADVICE ON ACADEMIC
WRITING»
(UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO)
SUBJECT:LANGUAGE AND WRITTEN EXPRESSION 4.
INSTRUCTOR’ S NAME:SAUBIDET, STELLA.
STUDENT’ S NAME: VILLALBA, VERONICA.
DATE:APRIL,20TH.

2. ≫ GENERAL:
*Advice on academic writing:
-add an argument.(clear and persuasively).
-develop a thesis(reasoning,evidence and citation from a text).
-revise (but not extensively).
*focus on essay topic.
- avoid: anxiety,stress,lack of research.
- know the genre and understand the topic.
*thesis statement:school vs. University(differences)
-at school:include thesis statements,opening paragraph and end in a
thesis statement;thesis statement must be one sentence in length.
-at university:donot always include a thesis statement, thesis statement
can be two or three sentence long or longer if argument is complex.
≫PLANNING AND ORGANIZING: (in academic essays)
*Pre-writing stage.
*Take notes.
*Circle method.
*topic outline.
*Avoid repetitions.
*Introduction and conclusion.
*Genre.
*Quotation.
*Contex.

3. *use thesis statement:
-make clear statements.
-include:summary statement(the first paragraph needs an
explanation and support).
-add assertions.
-emphasize argument and indicate methodology.
-(not all paper need a thesis statement).
*follow progression of ideas.
*include:examples, details and relevant quotation.
*use linking words ( to suppor ideas)
*develop central ideas(topics):
-to state the main point.
-take into account audience.
-topic: protects from confusing ;connects the paragraph and the
thesis statement.
*topic sentences vs. Thesis statement:(both provide coherence)
-topic sentence:(main point of the paragraph).
-thesis statement:(main point of the essay).

4. ≫READING AND RESEARCHING: (reading to write)
*Pre-view the text.
*Read the title (definitions and exmples).
*take into account :Topic, author and audience.
*use :scanning technique.
*Reflection(thinking, research).
*Judge contex, audience and argument.
*focus on the Purpose.
*Examine the evidence(for argument)
*use Skimming technique(preliminary reading)
*use Opening sentences.
*Take notes and highlight.
*Deal with new words:guess words from context(headings, titles).
*Summarize:(read to write)
-to identify essential concepts.
-use specific language.
-include: title, author, central concept,key ideas,omit details and
examples,avoid opinions, donot plagiarize the author’ s words.
.

5. *Skimming and scanning:(for academic writing)
-overview the text before reading
-skimming:
-use previewing techniques
-read introductory paragraph and predict arguments.
-read the firs sentence of each paragraph.
-avoid unfamiliar words and terminology.
-pick up concepts.
-read concluding paragraph.
-scanning:(skimming with focused purpose)
-usefull for researching papers.
-usefull for finding material.
≫ USING SOURCES:
*using quotations:
-Donot quote too much(crowd ideas)
-include the support of an author.
-paraphrase to convey the point.
-summarize relevavnt topics.
-argument(as desirable).
-quotate to show you have done the preview research.
-use proper punctuation.

6. *use footnotes.
*MLAsystem: author, page, reference,name of database(work
cited).
*APAsystem:author ,date,title and volume (in italics.)
*restate someone else’s idea( in your own words)
-reduce the essential points(in short form).
*donot plagiarize:
-donot represent someone else’ idea as yours.
-donot copy friends’ works.
-when borrowing passages, identify the book or website.
-use your own thinking.
-name the author, page and date.
-use quotation mark.
-summarize or paraphrase,i(dentifying the source).
-donot paste passages(summarize them).

7. ≫ SPECIFIC TYPE OF WORDS:
*The abstract:
-add quantitive and qualitive information in the document.
-summarize conclusions, purpose and methods.
-be clear.
-avoid abbreviations or symbols.
*Academic proposal:
-show theoretical position.
-support the work with studies.
-make outline of the approach or methodology.
-use visual aids, heading and lists.
-give clear details.
*Annotated bibliography:(alphabetical list of research
sources)
-account of the research.
-provide a summary(source and assessment).
-define the scope and limits of the research(what and what
not to include).

8. *Effective admission letters:
-be focused (write about yourself).
-be coherent.
-be interpretative(explicit answers, and exact words)
-be specific(provide examples)
-be personal(mention details and facts;avois repetitions).
*Expository patterns:narrative (chronological order),analytic(deal with
questions),technical(involment with an issue-study the project)
-avoid grammar and punctuation mistakes.
*Book review:(is not a summary)
-analyse comments and evaluate the work.
-recognize arguments.
-engage in crititcal thinking.
-focus on the purpose.
-make notes.

9. *introduction and conclusion:(in academic writing)
-identify topic.
-provide context.
-get to the point.
-quote experts (not dictionary definitions).
-provide a closure.
-include genre (beginning and ending).
*The lab report:(show comprenhension behind the data-how, why
of the experiment)
-analyse, interprete, explain results and conclusion.
-process in chronological order..
-add objectives.
*The literature review:(account about a published topic by scholars
and researchers)(.it has a discourse purpose, it isnot a summary)
-Include knowledge and ideas (stablished on topic).
-help to scan the literature.
-focus on: strengths and weaknesses.
-synthesize results.

10. *Use of active voice:(in the science)
-To focus on the object.
-active voice (is desirable)
- not loose the point:to avoid -it- and dangling modifiers.
*Letters and resumes:
-write formally.
-do it short and specific.
-end strongly.
-use chronological and functional organization.
-keep the reader ‘s attention.
-balance facts and claims.
≫ STYLE AND EDITING:
*Fixing dangling modifiers:(words that donot connect properly to
the rest of the sentence-bringing confusion-).
-avoid the expletive-it-(words that have no meaning in a sentence).
*Hit parade errors:(in grammar, punctuation and style)
-check faulty agreement.
-express ideas and connect them.
-choose active voice to passive voice.
-choose pronous over abstract ideas.

11. -avoid vague pronous-it/this-.
-use clear modifiers.
-avoid cliches.
-use metaphores.
-check words with the dictionary.
-take in account :wordiness.
-use period or semicolom to separate independent clauses or
coordinating conjunctions.
-use comma to list, to join independent clauses + coordinating
conjunction.
-use semicolon to independent clauses.
-use colon to introduce a list and formal quotations( in a complete
sentence)

12. *Faulty parallelism:(when adjectives and nouns phrase are mixed
in a sentence , they should be repaired-all adjectives or all noun
phrase-).
*Fixing comma splices:(when a comma joins two complete
sentences without a joining word between them).
-avoid comma in essays.
-use punctuation marks.
-use coordinating conjunctions, semi-colon and dot.
*take into account subject agreement.
*take into account spelling:
-use a good dictionary and computer spelling checker.
-check suffixing.
*Unbiased language:
-use inclusive words.
-avoid adjestives as collective nouns.
-avoid racial terms.
-avoid label people on the basis of their sex.
-avoid honorifics and titles.(use full name)

13. *Wordiness:(doubling of words -avid it ,mutual agreement-)-.
-avoid intensifiers.
-avoid formulaic phrases.
-Use one word form.
-avoid tobe, use -is-.
-use active voice.
-avoid overuse of relative clauses.
*Punctuation:(learning to punctuate involves learning the
rules).
-use commas:
- to recognize beginning of main clauses.
-after introductory clauses.
-before a conjunction.
-to list.
-to interrupting phrases.
-before relative clauses.
*use semicolon:
-to combine indepedent clauses into a sentence.
-to separate long lists.
*use colons:
-preceeded by independent clauses,followed by independent
clauses.

14. *use dashes:
-with commas and colons.
-to interrupt clauses.
-to call attention.
-for irony or surprise.
*use parentheses:
-to introductions.
-to interrupt material.
-to enclose full sentences.
*Passive voice:
- to avoid the person.
-for general truth.
-is preferred in lab reports and science researchs.
-in academis writing( not desirable)- create confusion-.
-to sound indirect.
*Revision and editing:(for assigments)
_give the chance to preview.
-more than proofreading.
-pay attention to checking and details.
-transform drafts in excellent final drafts.

15. *Revision:(reshaping sentences.)
-take into account:genre, concepts.
-include clear introductions.
-include research questions.
-check missing points.
-take out irrelevant material.
-put ideas together.
-check paraphrasing.
-make use of polish and editing:word choice,sentence
structure,grammar, punctuation and spelling.
-include cover page:title, name of the course, name of the
student,date , instructor´ s name;number of pages ,( leave space for
quotation).
-include bibliography.
*computers:
-to improve writing.
- to revise.
- in final draft.
- for brainstorming and outlines.
- to check.
-

16. ≫ ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE:
*Expression of quantity:(rules for academic writing)
-verb agreement.
-colective nouns.
-mayority/minority: unspecific/specific number+singular/plural
verbs.
-expressions of time, money and distance.
*Special cases in the use of definite article:(the).
-for means of transport.
-for system of communication:the newspaper.
-for unique objects:the sun.
-for name of periods: the 1960s.
-for superlative:the most.
-for plural nationality nouns: the chinese.
*Using articles:( modifiers before nouns or noun phrase).
-to clarify the meaning.
-place in fron of other modifiers, preceding a noun( urban
university).
-depend on countable and uncountable nouns.

17. *Teaching multilingual students tas:
-provide visual aids.
-encourage reading strategies ( focus on heading, definitions,etc.)
-give examples.
-communication cafes-
-correct errors with obscure meaning.
-take into account educational background.
-work in samll group, to develop speaking skill..
*take into account:Gerund and infinitives.
*take into account: verbs for sources.
≫ FURTHER RESOURCES:
*Online word advice from other institution.
-resources:
-comprenhension:specific genre(letters, resumes), style and grammar.
-words in the diciplines:function and method of word in the humanities.
-literary words:hypertext,writer’s guide (word about literature).
-scientific words: good lab reports, abstracts, memos, web documents.
-style notes and grammar.
-english as a second language:use games and exercises.
-punctuation.

18. *Online word reference tools:
-dictionary.
-hypertext merrian-webster dictionary.
-the chicago manual of style( notes, bibliography).
*Online resources for students of english as a second languege:
-sites to explain language matters.
-listening, word skills, activities, etc.
*Online resources on pursuing a career.
-provide contact with other writers.
-a site to develop skills.

19. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Procter,M.(1999).Advice on Academic Writing
.Toronto,Ontario,Canada.website:http://www.writing.utoron
to.ca/ab