Just Write: An Easy-to-Use Guide to Writing at University

by Kirton; Bill

• ISBN13: 9780415396776
• ISBN10: 0415396778
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-12-19
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

This is a basic, short guide that helps students make the transition to writing at college or university as simple as possible, providing them with the basic skills they need to write in an effective academic style. The authors draw on their own work to demystify the academic writing process that many students, in all disciplines, find daunting. By understanding exactly what obstacles students face when approaching writing at university they offer proven advice that is simple, uncomplicated and easily achievable. Clear and accessible, this book gives students step-by-step advice to overcome the main hurdles. It covers: overcoming apprehension '¬ ; then making sure you know exactly what you are supposed to do planning reading '¬ ; managing your time and keeping your focus, helping you get the material that needs to be in your work getting organised '¬ ; you are ready to write the first draft, take a break and finally come back and edit it. Jargon-free, the book helps students at all levels of higher education to write clearly and persuasively, expressing both opinions and findings.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. ix
Introduction	p. 1
Why do we need to write?	p. 1
No problem	p. 5
What am I doing here?	p. 5
Academic writing	p. 6
Getting started	p. 7
Breaking it down	p. 9
First steps	p. 10
What tools are available?	p. 11
Write clearly	p. 12
So, where are we now?	p. 14
One step at a time	p. 14
Evaluate your own writing skills	p. 16
What is academic writing?	p. 17
The nonsense generator	p. 18
Sample essay questions	p. 19
Spoken and written language	p. 20
Avoiding personalized language	p. 22
What's it all about?	p. 24
What next?	p. 24
First reference point - your tutor	p. 25
Departmental differences	p. 26
Cross-disciplinary concerns	p. 26
Word count	p. 28
Timescale	p. 29
Style and conventions	p. 32
Layout and presentation	p. 34
The tutor again	p. 35
Using sub-headings	p. 36
The naked sentence	p. 37
Assignment time management	p. 38
Read right, write right	p. 39
Reading is writing	p. 39
Strategic reading	p. 41
Where should you look?	p. 41
Read efficiently	p. 43
How to read	p. 44
Quoting and citing	p. 45
Modality	p. 46
Bibliographies and reference lists	p. 47
Remember the basics	p. 48
'Reporting' words	p. 50
Modality	p. 51
Creating a plan	p. 52
Structuring skills	p. 52
Getting organized	p. 54
Building a structure	p. 56
Planning the assignment	p. 60
Organizing an argument	p. 61
Linking groups	p. 62
Joined-up writing	p. 64
Writing is thinking	p. 64
The first draft	p. 65
Constructing paragraphs	p. 67
Write first, edit later	p. 68
Jargon	p. 69
Using the ideas of others	p. 70
Introducing and formatting quotations	p. 72
Plagiarism	p. 72
Summarizing someone else's arguments	p. 73
The introduction	p. 74
The conclusion	p. 76
Writer's block	p. 76
Word processing	p. 77
Structuring paragraphs	p. 80
Rewording quotations	p. 81
Style and impact	p. 82
What is writing style?	p. 82
What and who?	p. 83
Sentence structure	p. 85
Expand your word power	p. 90
Paragraph sequencing	p. 92
Structuring sentences	p. 92
Sentences that are too long	p. 93
Overcoming the metronome effect	p. 94
Avoiding repetitions	p. 95
Style and convention	p. 96
Nouns or verbs?	p. 96
Abstract or concrete?	p. 99
Formal or informal?	p. 99
Passive or active?	p. 101
Gender neutral language	p. 103
Abbreviations and acronyms	p. 104
Italics	p. 105
Footnotes and endnotes	p. 106
Appendices	p. 107
Nominalization	p. 108
Phrasal verbs	p. 109
Value judgements	p. 110
Making it better	p. 111
A professional approach	p. 111
Reading aloud	p. 112
Common mistakes	p. 114
Subject/verb agreement	p. 114
Sequence of tenses	p. 115
Pronouns and prepositions	p. 115
Comparisons	p. 117
Hanging participle	p. 117
Too many nouns	p. 118
Too many words	p. 118
Numbers and amounts	p. 119
Ne plus ultra	p. 119
Punctuation	p. 120
Subject/verb agreement	p. 121
Comparisons	p. 122
Too many words	p. 123
Numbers and amounts	p. 124
Conclusion	p. 125
Be true to yourself	p. 125
Quick reference	p. 128
Abbreviations for academic purposes	p. 128
Alternative sources of information	p. 129
Bibliographies and reference lists	p. 130
British and American English	p. 133
Difference between spoken and written language	p. 134
Different formats for academic writing - possible elements	p. 136
Exam essays	p. 137
Instruction words	p. 138
Note-making and note-making	p. 140
Punctuation	p. 147
Quotations and citations	p. 155
'Signpost' words	p. 159
Spider diagrams, idea clusters, brainstorming	p. 159
Structuring arguments and counter-arguments	p. 159
Using an index	p. 166
Word-processing tips	p. 167
References	p. 169
Index	p. 170
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