Writing for Academic Success : A Postgraduate Guide

by Gail Craswell

• ISBN13: 9781412903011
• ISBN10: 1412903017
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-11-18
• Publisher: SAGE Publications Ltd

Summary

'Gail Craswell has written an excellent book. Chapters are rich with detailed, step-by-step explanations that will be as useful to experienced writers as to students. Clear, specific advice with concise steps for succeeding at each kind of writing makes each chapter a valuable tool'- Design Research NewsWriting for Academic Success is an excellent practical guide for any student entering into postgraduate study, providing a comprehensive coverage of academic writing skills and communication techniques.From initial time-management strategies to detailed tips on thesis and exam writing, Craswell helps the postgraduate student to develop their own effective communication methods. Further sections on doing a presentation and cogent advice on how to get articles published ensure that Craswell provides the widest coverage of all aspects of writing and academic communication.Key features:- highly practical - illustrative case-studies, exercises throughout each chapter, step-by-step strategies, helpful tips throughout- strong cross-disciplinary focus - ideal for all students undertaking postgraduate study in any discipline- broad framework - covers whole range of academic writing from short 'exam' essays to thesis structuring, as well as advice on presentations and publishing. An essential companion at every stage of a postgraduate degree, and beyond!Written in a clear and accessible style, Writing for Academic Success is essential reading for postgraduate students seeking no-nonsense advice on how to get ahead in their degree.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	xiv
Introduction	xv
The aims of the book	xvi
Organization of the book	xvi
Terminology and other practices	xvii
Part one: GENERAL ISSUES IN ACADEMIC WRITING AND COMMUNICATION	1	(90)
Managing the writing environment	3	(23)
Effective self-management	3	(9)
Networking for support	4	(3)
Pre-planning: maximizing effort	7	(5)
Avoiding occupational hazard	12	(1)
Managing the writing	12	(7)
Managing multiple communication tasks	12	(3)
Being realistic about the demands of writing	15	(2)
Handling critical feedback	17	(2)
Communicating with lecturers and supervisors	19	(3)
Resolving uncertainties	19	(1)
Email communication issues	20	(2)
Issues in cross-cultural writing and communication	22	(4)
Preparing the ground	26	(23)
The graduate writing culture	27	(4)
Mastering (inter)disciplinary writing practices	28	(3)
Treating information critically	31	(7)
Critiquing: critically evaluating source materials	31	(3)
Critically evaluating theory	34	(2)
Critical enquiry and the status of existing knowledge	36	(1)
Working with different types of information	36	(1)
Following your hunches	37	(1)
Ensuring task-focused information	38	(8)
Assessing the academic merit of source materials	39	(1)
Avoiding the urge to rush into data-gathering	40	(2)
Defining reading goals	42	(1)
Reading intensively and skimming	42	(4)
Strategies for information storage	46	(3)
Reflecting on current practice	49	(25)
Reviewing your approach to writing	50	(1)
A question of efficiency	50	(1)
The mechanics of academic writing	51	(2)
Ensuring consistency of practice	51	(1)
Spelling, grammar and proofreading	52	(1)
Punctuation	53	(1)
Plagiarism and referencing	53	(7)
Avoiding plagiarism	53	(4)
Choosing an academic referencing style	57	(1)
Citing sources from the Internet	58	(1)
Selecting a reporting tense/verbs	59	(1)
Attending to audience needs	60	(4)
The reader as disciplinary practitioner	61	(1)
The reader as subject specialist	61	(1)
Signposting: signalling your intentions	62	(2)
Clarity: the first rule of style	64	(10)
Conciseness (low fat writing)	65	(2)
Aspects of voice and tone	67	(4)
Other style issues	71	(3)
Whole text development	74	(17)
Visual mapping of material	75	(2)
Brainstorming	75	(1)
Mind mapping	76	(1)
Sequential outlining	77	(4)
Using sub-headings effectively	79	(2)
Developing texts	81	(8)
Controlling paragraph development	81	(3)
Strategies for linking paragraphs	84	(3)
Manipulating sentence structure	87	(1)
The `discards' file	88	(1)
Improving overall structure	89	(2)
Part two: ISSUES SPECIFIC TO DIFFERENT TYPES OF WRITING, PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLICATION PROCESSES	91	(161)
Research essays, book or article reviews and coursework exam papers	93	(37)
Research essays	93	(2)
`Essays' and their synonyms	94	(1)
The short essay	95	(1)
The research essay as formal argument	95	(3)
Decoding the meaning of `argument'	96	(1)
Distinguishing ideas from opinions	96	(1)
Basic criteria applied in assessing essays	97	(1)
Topics (or questions)	98	(4)
Setting up your own topic	98	(2)
Analysing a given topic	100	(2)
Compiling an introduction	102	(3)
Establishing the context	102	(1)
Defining important terms, phrases or concepts	103	(1)
Laying out a position	103	(1)
Making a procedural statement	104	(1)
Evidence and reasoning	105	(5)
Arguing from sources	105	(1)
Avoiding faulty reasoning	106	(1)
Strategies to strengthen argument	107	(3)
Developing a position	110	(2)
Ensuring structural coherence	111	(1)
Determining relevance	112	(1)
Working up a conclusion	112	(1)
Cutting to meet word length	113	(1)
Reviewing the essay presentation	114	(1)
Book or article reviews	114	(4)
The different types of reviews	114	(1)
Conducting an academic review	115	(2)
Structuring a review	117	(1)
Coursework exams	118	(1)
Setting up a revision plan	119	(5)
Stage 1: Focusing your plan	119	(1)
Stage 2: Systematizing your plan	120	(3)
Stage 3: Testing the efficacy of your plan	123	(1)
Exam room strategies	124	(2)
Interpreting exam paper instructions	124	(1)
Determining the order of your answers	125	(1)
Working out a time schedule	125	(1)
Starting on answers in the `permitted study period'	126	(1)
Writing the exam paper	126	(4)
Essay papers	126	(1)
Short answer papers	127	(1)
Multiple-choice papers	128	(2)
The literature review, reports and research proposals	130	(33)
The literature review	130	(10)
Scoping a review	131	(2)
Determining task objectives	133	(1)
Structuring a review	134	(1)
Review mode and orientation	135	(2)
Critical engagement with the literature	137	(2)
Positioning your research in relation to the literature	139	(1)
Audience: signalling your intentions	140	(1)
Reports	140	(2)
Possible audience considerations	141	(1)
Business reports	142	(1)
Focusing a business report	142	(1)
Experimental or technical reports	143	(6)
The interlocking relationship of the structural divisions	144	(1)
Focusing the different parts of the report	145	(4)
Formal reports	149	(2)
Two prominent structures	149	(1)
Distinctive features of the formal report	149	(2)
Field reports	151	(2)
Keeping precise records	151	(2)
Progress reports	153	(1)
The purpose of a progress report	153	(1)
Research proposals	154	(9)
The different purposes of proposals	154	(2)
Focusing a proposal	156	(4)
Structuring a proposal	160	(3)
Thesis writing	163	(42)
Prior considerations	164	(6)
Some intellectual property issues	164	(1)
Orientation to thesis writing	165	(2)
Managing the project through writing	167	(2)
Setting up a thesis writing schedule	169	(1)
Settling on typography and formatting	170	(1)
Expectations of theses	170	(3)
Standard expectations	171	(1)
Bringing examiners into view	171	(2)
Longer theses	173	(8)
Focusing an `original' contribution	173	(1)
What PhD examiners say in then reports	174	(5)
Summary observations on examiners' reports	179	(2)
Shorter theses	181	(2)
Different topic orientations	181	(1)
Orientation and practice	182	(1)
Structuring a thesis	183	(5)
Dividing up the text	184	(2)
Key structuring strategies	186	(1)
Providing a thesis statement	186	(2)
Chapter structuring options	188	(4)
A science model	189	(1)
The illustrations-based model	189	(1)
A `photographic' model	189	(2)
A sequential model	191	(1)
Gaining overall thesis control	192	(4)
Visually mapping core chapters	192	(1)
Brainstorming the table of contents	192	(2)
Producing a detailed thesis outline	194	(2)
Writing specific parts	196	(1)
Developing the abstract	196	(1)
The thesis introduction	197	(3)
The issue of length	197	(1)
Timing the writing of an introduction	198	(1)
Focusing an introduction	198	(2)
The thesis conclusion	200	(2)
Processing findings	201	(1)
Drawing out implications	201	(1)
Grounding speculations	202	(1)
Organizing a thesis writing group	202	(3)
Oral and visual presentations	205	(30)
The nature of oral presentations	206	(1)
Distinctive features of presenting	206	(1)
The different types of presentations	207	(1)
Tutorial and seminar presentations	207	(3)
Distinguishing these two types	207	(1)
Clarifying expectations	207	(2)
Forestalling criticism in progress review seminars	209	(1)
Conference presentations	210	(4)
Generating funding	210	(1)
Locating appropriate conferences	211	(1)
Getting a paper accepted	212	(2)
Poster presentations	214	(3)
Factors that might influence design	214	(1)
Design principles	215	(2)
General issues in presenting	217	(1)
Planning for success	217	(4)
Audience analysis	217	(2)
Language appropriateness	219	(1)
Venue needs	219	(1)
Building `time' into a plan	220	(1)
Formatting options	221	(5)
Using scripted notes	221	(1)
Reading a paper as a presentation	222	(1)
Reworking a lengthy paper to present	223	(1)
PowerPoint presentations	224	(1)
Multi-media formatting	224	(2)
Fine-tuning and rehearsal	226	(4)
Encoding audience management	226	(3)
The value of prior rehearsal	229	(1)
On the day: issues of delivery	230	(5)
The presenting venue	230	(1)
What to do with yourself while presenting	231	(1)
Dealing with the unexpected	231	(1)
Canvassing audience questions	232	(1)
Managing nervousness	233	(2)
Journal article and book publication	235	(17)
Publishing while producing a thesis	235	(2)
The pros and cons of publishing	236	(1)
Co-authorship and thesis requirements	237	(1)
Including supervisors as co-authors	237	(1)
Targeting an appropriate journal	238	(2)
Profiling the targeted journal	239	(1)
Shaping a paper for publication	240	(3)
Following editorial instructions	240	(1)
Focusing the abstract	240	(1)
Reviewing practices in published articles	241	(1)
Engaging the reader	241	(2)
Approaching a book publisher	243	(3)
Strategic considerations	245	(1)
Coping with peer review	246	(3)
What reviewers look at	247	(1)
Dealing with the outcome of peer review	248	(1)
Electronic publishing (eJournals)	249	(1)
Forming a publication syndicate	250	(2)
Appendix 1 Words and phrases for developing discussions	252	(2)
Appendix 2 Example of a detailed thesis outline	254	(8)
References and further reading	262	(3)
Index	265