1 computer systems 2009-2010 week 2: academic writing alma whitfield

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Computer Systems2009-2010

Week 2: Academic WritingAlma Whitfield

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Academic Writing Define your target audience (Do

they have any prior knowledge of the subject?)

Define the purpose of your report Collect your information Don’t rely on just one source

Wikipedia Is this useful?

What do you think about Wikipedia?

Have you used this in any way?

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Plan Generate Ideas Sketch them out Write freely - don’t think about the

structure of the document at this time

Talk about your ideas Brainstorm with fellow students and

anyone else who will listen

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Plan Spend as much time planning as

writing Planning prevents wondering what

to do next Revise plans as necessary Select the information to be

presented from your research Make an outline to organise the

order of your report

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Write the Report Make a list of the most important points Ensure you have evidence to support

these points. Make sure the jargon is not too technical

for your reader. Who are you writing for? Use your outline to prepare a rough draft. At this stage just get it on paper, don’t

bother with grammar. Walk away from it. Take time out and

then return to your assignment.

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Revise This will take 50% of your total time

if done correctly Read aloud Read to someone else Look for problems

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Problems Coherence Comprehensible (Does it make sense?) Accuracy of content Organisation (Does information link?) Emphasis Spelling Grammar Consistency in layout ALL CAN BE COVERED IN COHERENCE

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Improve the coherence of writing Coherence refers to the way the

writing hangs together, the ease with which the reader understands the transition from one idea to the next

Tell the reader where you will be leading him before you start

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Structural elements critical to coherence Titles Headings Sub headings Lists Introductions Conclusions

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Coherence of Writing Write informative titles and

headings Does your title identify your

research? Is it easy to understand? Is it structured appropriately for the

subject Is it structured appropriately for the

reader

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Coherence of writing Use lists or tables to communicate

parallel information Use numbers when priority of items

is important Ensure they are in the correct order

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Coherence of writing Use introductions appropriately What is the subject? What is the purpose of the discussion? What is the background of the subject? What is the scope of the discussion? What is the organisation of the

discussion? What are the key terms that will be used

in the discussion?

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Coherence of writing Use conclusions to complete

discussion What are the main points

established in the document? What do we know from these

points? What should be done next? How can the reader find out more

information if required?

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Revise First revision

Check for accuracy of statements. Are they valid? Can you support them?

Check for accuracy of charts Check for accuracy of equations Delete any misleading or confusing

statements, charts , diagrams etc. Always annotate diagrams

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Referencing What is a reference What information is needed How to cite How to create a list of references

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According to Webster’s Dictionary (2002), a reference is “a short note acknowledging a source of information or quoting a passage”

References

(2002). Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, [online] www.dictionary.com [accessed] 17-Sept-02

What is a reference

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What is a reference A reference is a standardised method of

acknowledging another individual’s or group’s work.

References avoid plagiarism ie: knowingly copying another person’s work.

References allow readers to explore an avenue of interest.

What information is needed An appropriate label in the body of

the text where you want to indicate you are referring to the work of others

A list of references at the end of the text that the labels refer to

Harvard System of referencing There are several different styles for

referencing The Department of Computer

Science at Hope has adopted the Harvard System

Harvard System of referencing Harvard system has rules for the different

types of publications: books chapters in books e-books journal articles conference papers etc

See the Anglia Ruskin University Guide at: http://libweb.anglia.ac.uk/referencing/harvard.htm?harvard_id

=27#27

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References

Bennet, S., McRobb, S. and Farmer, R. (1999) Object-Oriented Systems Analysis and Design Using UML. Berkshire, England: McGraw Hill,.

Butler J & Walbert D (1986) Medicine and the Law, New York: Facts on File Publications,.

Example Reference list in Harvard style

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References




Author, Initials/first name., Year. Title of book. Edition. (only include this if not the first edition) Place: Publisher.

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References




Leave a blank line between each entry

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References




Listed in alphabetical order of first author surname

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Labels within the text in Harvard SystemUsing the Harvard system, the author's name and year of publication are inserted within the text for reference: eg"in a recent study (Picard, 1997) it is described as ..."If the author's name occurs naturally in the sentence, the year is given in parentheses; if not both name and date are given: eg"Laurel (1992) argues that ...."

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When the same author has published more than one cited document in the same year, these are distinguished by adding lower-case letters (a, b, c, etc.) after the year and within parentheses.

"In a further article (Laurel 1992b) greater attention is given to ..."

Labels within the text in Harvard System

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If there are two authors, the surname of both should be given before the date: eg"Menzel and D’Aluisio (1984) take a different view".

If more than two authors, the surname of the first author only should be given, followed by "et al”. e.g."This work (Bennett et al, 1999) quotes ..."

Harvard referencing system

Referencing rules The Harvard System has lots of rules You do not need to remember them;

you only need to remember where to find the rules.

Keep a note of the Anglia Ruskin University web site mentioned earlier

Next slide has a quick guide for referencing books

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1. For all references start with the author information. (author surname, followed by initials,first)

2. Then add the publish date of the reference. (1990)

3. Next add the title of the reference. (The Definitive Guide to Referencing)

4. Next add the publishing details of the reference. Web address OR Publisher name and place

5. Last add specific details of the reference. page numbers.

Referencing in 5 easy steps

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Adding references to the text“A computer is a devices that allows data…to bestored, manipulated, retrieved and communicatedelectronically.” Whitfield A (2002). Page 3

According to Whitfield (2002), data is information without meaning. Data has two aspects - information and instructions.Whitfield A (2002).

Reference: Whitfield A (2002). IM&C Booklet. Liverpool Hope

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Adam-Smith P (1978) The ANZACS, Thomas Nelson, Melbourne

'Anorexia nervosa' (1969) British Medical Journal, 1, 529-530.

Beckleheimer J (1994) How do you cite URL's in a bibliography? [Online] www.nrlssc.navy.mil/meta/ bibliography.html [Accessed 13-Dec-95]

Butler J & Walbert D (1986) Medicine and the Law, Facts on File Publications, New York.

Dewhirst C (1986) 'Hot air over the Himalayas', World Geographic, vol. 1, no. 4, pp. 44-45.

Educating America for the 21st century (1994) [Online] www.ilt.columbia.edu/CONF/ EdPlan.html [Accessed 2001, May 16].

Example of a reference list

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Warning: You must cite your references. If you use anyone’s work, for any reason, whether a friend’s work, the internet, or a book, it is plagiarism, and reason for expulsion from the course if not cited.

Follow up activities Seminar sessions will have follow up

activities on writing and referencing.

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1 computer systems 2009-2010 week 2: academic writing alma whitfield

Documents

coherence slide

reader slide

coherence of writing

source slide

correct order slide

coherence of writing

writing planning

writing hangs