Academic Writing Skills For International Students

Description

This engaging guide will equip students who are non-native speakers of English with the tools and confidence to respond effectively and appropriately to written assignments at university. It supports students in the development of essential writing skills, such as structuring paragraphs and building an argument, and provides practical guidance on adhering to the conventions of academic writing. It guides students systematically through a series of text analyses which bring out key linguistic and rhetorical features, making complex textual issues manageable and understandable for learners of all abilities. This is an ideal self-study aid for non-native English speakers, both on pre-sessional language courses and on degree programmes, who need to get to grips with the conventions of academic writing. Cover Half Title Series Title Title Copyright Contents Acknowledgments Introduction Who is the book for? What can you learn from the book? How is the book organised? What are the unique features of the book? Part I Essential features of academic writing Unit 1 Appropriate writing style What is style? 1.1 Comparison between written and spoken styles 1.2 Strategies for developing an academic writing style Unit 2 Correct conventions for using sources 2.1 Referencing: commonly asked questions 2.2 Using quotations: some DOs and DON’Ts 2.3 Paraphrasing and summarising: some strategies Unit 3 Clear structure and layout 3.1 Principles of structure, organisation and layout 3.2 Six steps to effective writing Unit 4 Coherent flow of ideas What is coherence? How can you achieve coherence in writing? 4.1 Four cohesive devices 4.2 Coherence within a paragraph 4.3 Coherence between paragraphs Unit 5 Accurate use of language 5.1 Common trouble spots 5.2 Grammar: problematic issues 5.3 Sentences: some key issues 5.4 Vocabulary: word use and spelling Part II Types of university written assignments Unit 1 Essays 1.1 Analytical essays 1.2 Visual analyses 1.3 Discursive essays 1.4 Reflective essays 1.5 Argumentative essays Unit 2 Case studies Unit 3 Reports 3.1 Laboratory reports 3.2 Research reports 3.3 Technical reports Unit 4 Literature reviews What is an annotated bibliography? Unit 5 Research proposals Part III Developing your writing Unit 1 Aspects of development How do these two aspects work together? Selecting the organisational method: why does it matter? Unit 2 Methods of organisation 2.1 Classification or division 2.2 Logical enquiry 2.3 Chronology 2.4 Separate and paired methods Unit 3 Introductions and conclusions 3.1 Role of introductions and conclusions 3.2 Some common problems 3.3 A model for constructing introductions 3.4 A model for constructing conclusions Unit 4 Paragraph structure and construction 4.1 Basic principles of paragraphing 4.2 The TEC model for paragraph construction 4.3 Effective topic sentences Unit 5 Techniques for developing your writing 5.1 Using examples 5.2 Writing extended definitions 5.3 Analysing differences and similarities 5.4 Explaining cau ses and effects 5.5 Describing data presented in figures and tables Part IV Presenting a point of view: argumentation Unit 1 The elements of argumentation 1.1 The topic and issue 1.2 The elements of argumentation Unit 2 The issue and thesis statement 2.1 Thesis-led and discussion-led arguments 2.2 Explaining the issue 2.3 Writing the thesis statement Unit 3 Structuring the argument 3.1 Separate or ‘Block’ pattern 3.2 Paired or ‘point-by-point’ 3.3 Separate and paired pattern combined Unit 4 Building the argument 4.1 Process of logical reasoning 4.2 Appropriate argumentative style 4.3 Argumentation strategies Unit 5 Argumentative essays for study Guide to annotations Part V Putting it all together Essay 1 Analytical: comparison and contrast Essay 2 Analytical response Essay 3 Analytical and discursive Essay 4 Analytical Essay 5 Discursive Essay 6 Case study Essay 7 Discursive Appendix A: Answers to practice activities Part I Essential features of academic writing Part II Types of university written assignments Part III Developing your writing Part IV Presenting a point of view: argumentation Appendix B: Language charts A classification of instruction verbs and their meaning The language of description The English Articles The English prepositions Appendix C: A glossary of some grammatical terms Index