learning skills - macquarie university

Making your writing more academic LEARNING SKILLS

https://ougaz.wordpress.com/2011/02/24/what-do-academics-do-in-their-spare-time/

What’s academic writing like?

Examples of different styles

3 COPYRIGHT © LEARNING & TEACHING CENTRE I LEARNING SKILLS GROUP 2015

Ø Read the two texts on the next screen

Ø Where might you find each text? Ø What clues (features) in the texts make you think this?

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So many workouts, so many excuses. Running? Cramps in your side. Swimming? Hate getting wet. And Pilates? Expensive. Walking? Um... Finally, an exercise truly devoid of downsides. It’s not flashy or cool, but according to growing scientific evidence, walking, done often and properly, can deliver an array of benefits that are just as impressive as those often gained from sportier regimens.

Walking is the most effective outdoor activity for reaching recommended physical activity targets. It is a natural activity, which is inexpensive and requires no special skills or equipment. It is also convenient and can be routinely incorporated into daily lifestyles. Walking increases aerobic performance, and helps prevent cardiovascular disease and obesity.

Reading 2 Reading 1

http://www.realsimple.com/health/fitness-exercise/benefits-walking/walking-10

Based on Barton, J., Hine, R. & Pre3y, J. (2009) The health benefits of walking in greenspaces of high natural and heritage value, Journal of Integra.ve Environmental Sciences, 6:4, 261-‐278, DOI: 10.1080/19438150903378425

Text features

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Reading 1 (online article) Reading 2 (journal article) rhetorical questions statements

sentences linked with conjunctions (and, …)

sentences linked through vocabulary and linking words

emotive language neutral language contractions full forms

personal pronouns (I, we, you)

impersonal (it, they)

Overview of this workshop

6 COPYRIGHT © LEARNING & TEACHING CENTRE I LEARNING SKILLS GROUP 2015

SOME FEATURES OF ACADEMIC WRITING

•  Formal

• Objective

• Cautious

• Discipline-based

•  Abstract

http://www.flickriver.com/photos/ilikegooglebetter/1813766674/

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Formal writing: follows conventions

Some Conven)ons Examples ContracUons it’sè it is

AbbreviaUons K’sè Kilos

ConjuncUons at the start of sentences

And it’s pre3y convenientè It is also…

Rhetorical quesUons

So what’s the best way to exercise? è Research generally agrees that walking is the best form of exercise.

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Overused words Specific words interesting relevant, useful tool very (statistic) really, just, so, basically - bad vague, ineffective good practical, relevant, useful… something, thing theory, question… everybody students, residents, participants… make (make a suggestion, make a point, make an enquiry)

suggest, emphasise, enquire

do (do research, do a deal) research, negotiate

Formal writing: uses precise language

Activity

9 OFFICE I FACULTY I DEPARTMENT

1. Basically, it’s really important to eat stuff that’s good for your body. 2. What else is important? Getting some sleep. And trying not to stress out too much.

MAKE THE FOLLOWING MORE FORMAL

Activity- answers


Basically, it’s really important to eat stuff that’s good for your body. èIt is important to eat healthy foods. What else is important? Getting some sleep. And trying not to stress out too much. èIt is also important to have regular sleep and to avoid stress.

MAKE THE FOLLOWING MORE FORMAL

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USE IMPERSONAL IT-HE-SHE-THEY RATHER THAN I-YOU-WE

Formal writing is often objective

http://www.cmaconsult.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Regional-Personality.jpg

https://cdn-media.threadless.com/submissions_wm/578507-cb4a13659a7fe797437fe621cb971c62.jpg

When to use I?

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Your purpose Which to use? Writing about a field trip, classroom observation, reflection (what you learned from an activity)

I-we

Positioning your research (explain how your research is different from that of others)

I-we In our study of American popular culture of the 1980s, we explored the degree to which materialism characterized the cultural milieu.*

Making a general statement Impersonal When you study hard, you do better è Studying hard leads to better marks

Giving reasons Impersonal I think that having a part time job gives you important skills. è Research by Smith (2011) shows that students who work part-time while studying develop key professional skills.

ALSO CONSIDER YOUR DISCIPLINE, AND ITS EXPECTATIONS

*http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/should-i-use-i/

Activity


1. You can apply the same theory of learning to small children.

2. The figures are accurate to within 1%, but you should note that local variations may apply.

3.  In the second section of the report, we will consider the environmental consequences.

4.  I think that Aristotle’s ethical arguments are logical and readily applicable to contemporary cases, or at least it seems that way to me.

5. As I was reading this study of medieval village life, I noticed that social class tended to be clearly defined.

MAKE THE FOLLOWING MORE OBJECTIVE

http://library.bcu.ac.uk/learner/writingguides/1.21.htm http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/should-i-use-i/

Activity- answers


1. You can apply the same theory of learning to small children. èThe same theory of learning can be applied…

2. The figures are accurate to within 1%, but you should note that local variations may apply.

3.  In the second section of the report, we will consider the environmental consequences. èThe second section considers…

4.  I think that Aristotle’s ethical arguments are logical and readily applicable to contemporary cases, or at least it seems that way to me.

5. As I was reading this study of In medieval village life, I noticed that social class tended to be clearly defined.

MAKE THE FOLLOWING MORE OBJECTIVE

http://library.bcu.ac.uk/learner/writingguides/1.21.htm http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/should-i-use-i/

Academic writing is cautious


How sure?

Tests show that this drug will cure all forms of cancer.

Research has proved that the oil crisis was caused by OPEC’s actions.

How probable?

Academic writing is cautious

It is obvious that children with learning difficulties should be integrated in regular classrooms. Americans do not travel much, so none of them are very aware of the world outside their country’s borders. Research has proved that the oil crisis was caused by OPEC’s actions.

Instead: Several studies indicate that when children with learning difficulties are integrated into regular classrooms, their learning outcomes tend to be better (Li, 2009; Jones, 2012; Smith, 2012). Instead: Americans travel outside their borders significantly less than Europeans, according to Camber (2012). This may result in less awareness of other cultures. Instead: Flabitz, Tang & Palgrave’s study (2005) suggests that OPEC’s actions probably contributed to the oil crisis.

may might could

So…we use words that express uncertainty & caution

modal verbs

sometimes often

frequently

adverbs of time

possibly probably

other adverbs

tend to appear to seem to

introductory verbs

suggest indicate

reporting verbs

some likely

possible adjectives

Activity

18 http://aeo.sllf.qmul.ac.uk/Files/Hedging/Hedging.html

1.  If viewers watch a movie with a lot of partying,

afterwards, they will drink more alcohol than normal. 2.  This study proves that humans are wired to imitate.

3.  Eating fatty foods causes heart attacks.

MAKE THESE SENTENCES MORE CAUTIOUS

Activity

19 http://aeo.sllf.qmul.ac.uk/Files/Hedging/Hedging.html

If viewers watch a movie with a lot of partying, afterwards, they will drink more alcohol than normal. èViewers who watched a movie containing heavy drinking were more likely to drink alcohol in the hour afterwards. This study proves that humans are wired to imitate. èThis study suggests that/ supports the theory that humans imitate instinctively. Eating fatty foods causes heart attacks. èEating fatty foods may cause/ is a leading cause of heart attacks.

MAKE THESE SENTENCES MORE CAUTIOUS

One topic, different disciplines


Health The purpose of this study was to assess the relative and absolute reliability of metabolic measures of energy expenditure and gait speed during overground walking in older adults with mobility limitations. http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/25007982

Biomechanics We investigated the effects of increased unilateral foot pronation on the biomechanics of lower limbs and pelvis during gait. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0966636214007516

…AND DIFFERENT LANGUAGE


Social The paper explores social benefits of urban green space, which includes recreational opportunities, aesthetic enjoyments, adjusting psychological well‐being and physical health, enhancing social ties, and providing educational opportunities. http://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/full/10.1108/14777831211204921

Psychology In Experiment 1, while seated and then when walking on a treadmill, adults completed Guilford’s alternate uses (GAU) test of creative divergent thinking and the compound remote associates (CRA) test of convergent thinking. http://psycnet.apa.org/psycinfo/2014-14435-001/

One topic, different disciplines …AND DIFFERENT LANGUAGE

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WARNING: 1. Think about who your reader will be. If your

assignment is to explain a concept to a client (who is not an expert) you will need to use everyday vocabulary that they understand.

2. If you don’t understand a word or a term, DON’T USE IT. Your reader will know!

Discipline-based/ technical terms

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People who walk a lot find it easier to move their joints easily in different ways. People who walk a lot have better flexibility. Regular walking increases flexibility.

Abstract ideas

http://www.gmchospital.com/newsletter/0811/images/walking1.jpg

Formal writing

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So what’s the best way to exercise? Walking is the #1 activity if you want to get healthy. It’s cheap, and you don’t have to have any special gear to do it. And it’s pretty convenient, since people can make time whenever and where ever it suits them to. For me, the pluses are that walking helps drop the K’s and makes it easier to run for a bus.

ACTIVITY

Rewrite the example paragraph using a more formal style

Formal writing

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Walking is the most effective outdoor activity for reaching recommended physical activity targets. It is a natural activity, which is inexpensive and requires no special skills or equipment. It is also convenient and can be routinely incorporated into daily lifestyles. Walking increases aerobic performance, and helps prevent cardiovascular disease and obesity.

ACTIVITY: SAMPLE ANSWER

Based on Barton, J., Hine, R. & Pre3y, J. (2009) The health benefits of walking in greenspaces of high natural and heritage value, Journal of Integra.ve Environmental Sciences, 6:4, 261-‐278, DOI: 10.1080/19438150903378425


https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/cc/05/51/cc05516faaf78bb105b729ee2cc24ad2.jpg

Thank you!

learning skills - macquarie university

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