Writing at University

by Creme, Phyllis; Lea, Mary

• ISBN13: 9780335221165
• ISBN10: 0335221165
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-05-01
• Publisher: Open Univ Pr

Summary

Writing at Universityoffers guidance on how to develop the writing you have to do at university along with a greater understanding of what is involved in this complex activity. Writing is seen as a tool for learning as well as a product to be assessed. The importance of what you yourself can bring as a writer to your academic writing is stressed throughout the book.The book looks at an array of writing projects, including essays, reports and dissertations, and analyzes what is expected of each form of assignment. The authors provide examples of student writing and reflections on writing by both tutors and students.This edition includes new sections on: Making an argument and persuading your reader Using sources creatively Avoiding plagiarism Writing online Further sources of information about academic writing Writing at Universityis an essential resource for all college and university students, including postgraduates, who wish to develop their academic writing. It will also be an invaluable aid for tutors in supporting their students.

Author Biography

Phyllis Creme is a senior teaching fellow in the Centre of the Advancement for Learning and Teaching at University College London. She teaches and researches on the Academic Communications Programme working with both students and tutors.

..Mary R. Lea is a senior lecturer at the Open University in the Institute of Educational Technology. She has extensive experience of both supporting students with their writing and researching in the field of writing and learning.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	p. xii
You and university writing	p. 1
Why a book on university writing?	p. 2
Working with others	p. 3
You as a writer	p. 4
Different types of writing	p. 5
Talking for writing	p. 6
Getting started, keeping going and dealing with writing blocks	p. 7
Keeping a learning log	p. 9
Getting help	p. 9
A note on word processing	p. 10
A tour through the rest of the book	p. 10
Getting started	p. 13
Bridging a gap: you and university study	p. 14
Practice writing	p. 15
Fast writing	p. 19
Brainstorming	p. 19
Generating questions	p. 21
Writing for different course	p. 25
Ways of writing	p. 26
Different perspectives	p. 26
Unpacking assignments	p. 28
Key elements of university writing	p. 32
Different ways of knowing	p. 33
Structure and argument	p. 35
The traditional essay format approach to writing	p. 35
The 'building blocks' approach to writing	p. 36
Beginning with the title	p. 39
Keywords	p. 40
Disadvantages of just looking for keywords	p. 41
Analysing the assignment	p. 42
Example A	p. 43
Example B	p. 45
Example C	p. 47
Reading as part of writing	p. 51
Approaching reading	p. 52
Choosing your reading for an assignment	p. 53
Working with your reading	p. 55
Thinking about the different texts	p. 57
Reading and note taking	p. 58
Making mind maps from reading	p. 59
Keeping records	p. 61
Making meaning through reading	p. 63
'Fitting together' reading	p. 64
'Analytic' reading	p. 64
Reading your own and other students' work	p. 66
Organizing and shaping your writing	p. 71
Getting the assignment into shape	p. 71
Different approaches to planning and organizing your writing	p. 72
The diver writer	p. 73
The patchwork writer	p. 74
The grand plan writer	p. 74
The architect writer	p. 75
What kind of writer are you?	p. 76
Some structures used in university writing	p. 77
Chronology writing	p. 77
Description writing	p. 78
Cause-effect writing	p. 78
Compare/contrast writing	p. 78
Summary writing	p. 79
Analysis writing	p. 79
Evaluating writing	p. 80
Using a range of writing structures	p. 81
Considering your argument: working out your 'story' and getting your central idea	p. 82
Building on your central idea step by step	p. 82
Constructing your 'story'	p. 83
Formulating your central idea	p. 83
Developing you argument from topics and themes	p. 85
Making an argument and persuading your reader	p. 89
Your reader	p. 90
What does 'argument' mean?	p. 91
How students define 'argument' in their subjects	p. 92
Psychology	p. 93
History	p. 93
History/Philosophy	p. 94
Biological physics	p. 94
Law	p. 94
Sciences	p. 95
English	p. 96
Linguistics	p. 97
Developing a thesis statement	p. 97
Working from first thoughts	p. 98
Making an argument by anticipating questions and objections	p. 100
Making an argument by looking at two opposing versions	p. 101
Persuading the reader	p. 104
Making good use of your sources	p. 110
Referencing systems	p. 112
Referencing websites	p. 113
Referencing other sources	p. 114
Recording references	p. 115
Referencing and plagiarism	p. 115
Thinking about plagiarism	p. 119
Using your sources creatively	p. 120
Discussion	p. 123
Putting yourself into your academic writing	p. 127
One student's dilemma	p. 128
'Parrot writing'	p. 129
Can you be 'original' in your university writing?	p. 131
Using 'I' in your assignments	p. 132
From the personal to the academic	p. 133
Commentary on Passage 1	p. 136
Commentary on Passage 2	p. 138
Commentary on Passage 3	p. 139
Putting it together	p. 142
Writing the introduction	p. 143
Writing the conclusion	p. 147
Reviewing your work: redrafting and editing	p. 150
Editing for the reader	p. 151
Reviewing your work: what are you looking for?	p. 151
Reorganizing your work: an example	p. 153
Completing the assignment and preparing for next time	p. 157
Grammar and punctuation	p. 157
Techniques for working on your writing	p. 158
Cohesion	p. 158
Punctuation	p. 160
Reference	p. 165
Coherence	p. 166
Handing in your assignment	p. 167
Learning from feedback: grades and tutors' comments	p. 168
Using written feedback	p. 169
Talking with a tutor	p. 169
Understanding tutors' written comments	p. 170
Exploring different kinds of writing	p. 173
Case study: one student's experience	p. 175
A practical report	p. 175
A collaborative writing project	p. 177
A review of an article	p. 179
A tutorial presentation	p. 180
An essay based on an interview	p. 181
A seminar paper	p. 181
Report writing	p. 184
Dissertations and projects	p. 187
Electronic writing	p. 188
Email	p. 189
Computer conferencing	p. 189
Using the Internet as a resource for writing	p. 190
Evaluating web resources	p. 191
The URL	p. 191
The publisher	p. 191
Personal web pages	p. 192
The author	p. 192
Authority and reliability	p. 192
Date	p. 192
Purpose	p. 193
Omissions	p. 193
Visual and written texts	p. 194
Learning journals and reflective writing	p. 195
Learning journals	p. 196
What if your learning journal is assessed?	p. 197
What is a learning journal like?	p. 198
Who is your journal for?	p. 200
Different kinds of learning journal: different titles	p. 200
Hand-write or word-process?	p. 201
How can learning journals help you to learn?	p. 202
Reflecting on practical work	p. 206
From journals to reflective essays	p. 207
The 'learning cycle' and different kinds of writing	p. 207
A final reflection	p. 209
Further reading and some additional sources	p. 211
References	p. 214
Index	p. 216
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