Writing for Information

Doon Academy Library

Which type of essay?

• Discursive/Argumentative– Both sides of argument

• Informative/Persuasive– Explaining a topic

Planning 1

• Before you start– Think about possible topics – Avoid the obvious ones – too boring– Watch the news– Do background reading

Locating information

• Library catalogue

• Issues series

• English page • Discursive links

• Newspapers websites

• Statistics sites

Use a range of sources

Planning 2

• Decide on your problem or question

• Start a mind map– Try Mindomo or Mindmeister or Bubbl.us

• Make up an essay plan

Locating information 2

• Up to date

• Reliable

• Unbiased

• Authoritative

Note-taking

• Skim and scan for facts to back up your argument• Record them

– In your jotter

– In a visual way, making a timeline, a web or a diagram

– By making lists, columns, or outlines

– By highlighting text

Do not copy and paste

Note-taking 2

• How does this fit with what I have already read?

• What doesn’t make sense?

• Which side does this evidence support?

• What are the characteristics of this source?

• What do I still need to find out?

Getting organised

• You work hard to find information so look after it!

• Only print what you need• Keep your notes on a mind-map or word

doc.• Keep your work in a folder or inside your

jotter.• Note your sources as you go along.

Getting organised 2

• Note details of resources you use:

• URL, Author, title, date, publisher, page numbers.

• The work will be copyright.

• This applies to web pages and

CD-ROMs as well as books

Academic honesty

• Copyright means you must not copy!

• Copy and pasting is passing of other people’s work as your own

• SQA can cancel all your exam entries

• Universities expel students caught copying

What is Plagiarism?• Using a choice phrase or sentence that you

have come across. • Copying word-for-word directly from a text. • Paraphrasing the words from a text very

closely. • Using text downloaded from the internet. • Borrowing statistics or assembled facts from

another person or source. • Copying or downloading figures, photographs,

pictures or diagrams without acknowledging your sources.

Source: Open University What constitutes plagiarism or cheating?

Self-evaluation 1

• Review your information

• Support your argument with evidence

• Give your own opinion

• Finish with a summary and a conclusion

Self-evaluation 2

• Make sure you are happy with how your work looks.

• Use the spelling and grammar checker• Ask someone else to read it over• Hand it in on time!

• Have a look at Check your sources for more help