Delivering the right care, at the right time, in the right place 2
Workshop Objectives
By the end of this workshop, you will:
• be able to explain how to structure a piece of academic writing
• understand how to write in third person
• be able to undertake literature searches to find the most relevant and up-to-date academic resources
• be able to reference sources correctly both in text and in a reference list
Delivering the right care, at the right time, in the right place
NWAS Learning & Development
What is academic writing?
It keeps to the point There is no humour It isn’t ‘flowery’ Description plays only a small part It looks thoroughly at a subject It accurately defines things It analyses situations, looking at many sides of an
argument
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Common Features of Academic Writing
Use literature sources - don’t just state your personal opinion. Use studies, books, journal articles, seminal pieces, etc. to support your arguments
Follow a set structure – group similar points together rather than dotting them about throughout the whole assignment
Write in 3rd person – when referring to yourself, your views, thoughts and opinions you should write in 3rd person, e.g. the author feels that, it is the opinion of the author that …
Delivering the right care, at the right time, in the right place
NWAS Learning & Development
Follow a line of argument fully – tackle one line of reasoning at a time and fully, so that your assignment flows well from one point to the next
Compare and contrast – you may be asked to compare and contrast a number of theories or techniques and discuss the merits of each against the other (strengths and weaknesses)
Remain emotionally neutral – take care not use emotive words or phrases. You will be required to comment objectively and dispassionately on the topics in your assignments.
Common Features of Academic Writing
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6 step process
1. Analyse the question2. Research and record information3. Organise and plan4. Write an outline plan and first draft5. Work on your first draft6. Final drafts
Delivering the right care, at the right time, in the right place
NWAS Learning & Development
Analysing the Question
All assignments contain a central question which has to be answered. Your main task is to apply what you know to answer this central question.
It is NOT about showing how much you know. Focus on the title before you start researching and writing Read the question a few times to fully understand what you are
being asked. Keep it in front of you so that you can keep checking that you are
truly focused on the title when writing.
Delivering the right care, at the right time, in the right place
Analysing the QuestionAnalyse Examine in close detail; identify important points and chief
features.
Comment on Identify key issues & give reactions based on what you have read. Avoid personal opinion.
Compare Show how 2 or more things are similar. Indicate the relevance or consequences of these similarities.
Critically evaluate Weigh arguments for an against something, assessing the strength of the evidence on both sides. Use criteria (methodological and/or conceptual) to guide your assessment of which theories, models or items are preferable.
Describe Give the main characteristics or features of something.
Define Give the exact meaning of. Where relevant show that you understand why the definition may be problematic.
Delivering the right care, at the right time, in the right place
Analysing the Question
Discuss Write about the most important aspects of (inc. criticisms); give arguments for and against; consider the implications of.
Evaluate Assess the worth, importance or usefulness of something using evidence. There will probably be cases to make both ‘for’ & ‘against’.
Examine Put the subject ‘under the microscope’; focus in detail & critically evaluate.
Explain Make clear why something happens or why it is the way it is.
Justify Give evidence which supports and argument/idea; show why a decision or conclusions were made; consider possible objections.
Outline Give only the main points, showing the main structure.
To what extent Consider how far something is true or contributes to a final outcome. Also consider ways in which the proposition is not true (the answer is usually somewhere between ‘completely’ and ‘not at all’).
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NWAS Learning & Development
Step 2 – Research & record information
Use relevant sources from reading lists Visit University Library Undertake literature searches e.g. NWAS Library
Information Service, university electronic journals/books
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Literature Searches
Good research needs to be placed in the context of existing – usually articles published in peer reviewed journals
Literature searching requires that you find other relevant published research – this means searching databases such as CINAHL, EMBASE and MEDLINE
Access to databases is provided through NHS Evidence or your University. You will need an NHS Athens Account and a University provided User Name or Password if you are attending a University
Delivering the right care, at the right time, in the right place
NWAS Learning & Development
Literature Searches
• You will find all the information you need either from your University Library or from Matt Holland, NWAS Librarian
• For more information look at the NWAS Library guides located here http://www.networks.nhs.uk/nhs-networks/nwas-library-and-information-service/guides
Delivering the right care, at the right time, in the right place
NWAS Learning & Development
Step 3 – Organise and plan
What do you do when you ‘plan’ your assignments?
How much time do you spend planning?
Delivering the right care, at the right time, in the right place
18%
60%
22%
40%
25%
35%
Planning Drafting Editing
Non-Professional Professional
Percentage of Time Spent Writing
Delivering the right care, at the right time, in the right place
NWAS Learning & Development
Assignment Structure
Title Introduction Main argument Conclusion References Appendices
Delivering the right care, at the right time, in the right place
1. Create a spider diagram to identify key points
2. Place key points in separate circles
3. Add the detail using trigger words to create mind map
4. Highlight links and repetition – this will help you to group your content into relevant sections
5. Decide what key points you want to discuss in your introduction
6. Undertake additional literature research
Initial Planning
Delivering the right care, at the right time, in the right place
Academic Writing
A
D
C
B
1
2
2
1
3
1
2
32
1
Initial Planning
Delivering the right care, at the right time, in the right place
Select a sequence and number the details in a logical order.
Create an outline by converting your cluster into an ordered vertical list.
This may even become your contents page at a later stage.
Academic Writing
A
D C
B
1
2
3
21
2
1
2
13 A – Introduction: 1 –
2 –
3 –
B – Section 1: 1 –
2 –
C – Section 2: 1 –
2 –
3 –
Step 4 - Outline Plan and 1st Draft
Delivering the right care, at the right time, in the right place
Write 1st Draft
•Use your vertical list as your guide and start writing.•True drafting is where you start typing and carry on
typing.•Don’t re-read the sentence you’ve just written.•Don’t check your spelling or grammar at this point.•Don’t cross anything out•Just type!
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Step 5 – Work on 1st draftThis is the stage where you will edit your work:
Correct spelling, punctuation and grammar errors
Change sentence/paragraph structure
Make sure that the whole assignment flows logically form one paragraph to the next. If not, change it.
Add/delete information as necessary
TIP: reading aloud will help you to spot places where your writing is not fluent
Delivering the right care, at the right time, in the right place
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Step 6 – Final Draft
Again, check your spelling, punctuation and grammar Ask someone to proof read your work for you Make sure you have referenced all academic work
and that you have done this correctly
Delivering the right care, at the right time, in the right place
NWAS Learning & Development
How to reference
… using the Harvard Referencing System or the Name/Date system
There are two parts to referencing, citing in text and the bibliography at the end of your piece of work
Citing in text – use the name of the author of the piece of work you are referring to and the date of publication (Holland 2011)
At the end of a piece of work list your references in alphabetical order by author using your University Harvard Style or the NWAS Harvard style
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How to reference
• Your reference will look something like thisBook - Holland, M. 2011. Referencing is easier than
it looks. Harvard Press: Liverpool. Article - Holland, M. 2011. Referencing in research –
a look at the evidence. Journal of Very Advanced Referencing. 56 (1), 1-30.
• For a guide to referencing and links to all the referencing styles used by Universities in the North West see Citing references – a guide for students
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Plagiarism
Copying word-for-word from a published text without indicating it’s source.
Passing off the ideas/work of someone else as your own – this can include writing something in your own words without acknowledging the original source of the idea/work.
Remember, to reference every source that you take information from and use in your assignment.
Delivering the right care, at the right time, in the right place
How to get good marks
DO:
• Always make sure you have answered the question
• Prepare
• Use up-to-date sources (usually within the last 10-15 years)
• Develop a clear & logical structure
• Ensure your introduction is focussed, concise & directional
• Go beyond mere description, critique the work of others & back up points with evidence
• Check spelling, punctuation & grammar
Delivering the right care, at the right time, in the right place
NWAS Learning & Development
How to get good marks
DON’T: Waffle - check sentence construction & don’t fill an essay with
irrelevant information Over-rely upon direct quotations: keep to a minimum, the
majority should be written in your own words Rush Plagiarise - make sure you have perfect referencing!
Delivering the right care, at the right time, in the right place
NWAS Learning & Development
Further Tips
Distinguish fact from opinion Be objective rather than emotional Avoid sweeping claims or statements – you should be
able to support everything you write with evidence Avoid using colloquialisms Remember to keep saving your work on your PC so that
you don’t lose it Set the language to UK English not US English
Delivering the right care, at the right time, in the right place
NWAS Learning & Development
Formatting
Times New Roman or Arial font
Size 12
Double lined spacing
Always include a cover sheet detailing your name (or ID number), module number, assignment title, date of submission
Check if you have to declare the word count
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