Academic Writing Overview
Academic Writing Guide
UTS LIBRARY
February 2013
Academic Writing Guide Overview: This guide provides explanations, examples and advice on the different aspects of academic writing, including assignment types, grammar and research writing.
2
Welcome to the UTS Academic Writing Guide
1. Why do I need this guide?
The aim of this guide is to give you a place to come and find explanations, examples and advice about different aspects of academic writing. When you have a question about your assessment task you can refer to different sections of the guide for help. For example, the guide can tell you what is meant by academic tone; how to write an annotated bibliography (Assignment Types – 7 Annotated Bibliography); the way to structure an essay (Academic Writing – 3.3 Structure), or add variety to your writing (Grammar – 2. Linking Words).
The guide is in four sections:
1. Academic Writing – what it is and how to do it. 2. Assignment types – what’s the difference between a report and a literature review? 3. Grammar – a nuts and bolt guide to building academic sentence, using reporting verbs and transition signals, etc. 4. Research Writing – how to do a literature review, write an abstract writing, submit and give a conference paper.
2. Why do I need to do assessment tasks?
Assessment tasks are your chance to show your teachers your ability across a range of skills. Becoming proficient in these skills is an academic and professional necessity. During your course you will be asked to perform different tasks requiring different skills. No matter what assessment task you are doing the following checklist applies: • • Always make sure you clearly understand what is required. If you are unsure, ask your lecturers and tutors to explain. Analyse the question before you start researching or writing. Make sure you understand what the instruction words are asking you to do, what the keywords are, the scope, etc. Look at the assessment criteria for each task
UTS LIBRARY
February 2013
Academic Writing Guide Overview: This guide provides explanations, examples and advice on the different aspects of academic writing, including assignment types, grammar and research writing.
2
Welcome to the UTS Academic Writing Guide
1. Why do I need this guide?
The aim of this guide is to give you a place to come and find explanations, examples and advice about different aspects of academic writing. When you have a question about your assessment task you can refer to different sections of the guide for help. For example, the guide can tell you what is meant by academic tone; how to write an annotated bibliography (Assignment Types – 7 Annotated Bibliography); the way to structure an essay (Academic Writing – 3.3 Structure), or add variety to your writing (Grammar – 2. Linking Words).
The guide is in four sections:
1. Academic Writing – what it is and how to do it. 2. Assignment types – what’s the difference between a report and a literature review? 3. Grammar – a nuts and bolt guide to building academic sentence, using reporting verbs and transition signals, etc. 4. Research Writing – how to do a literature review, write an abstract writing, submit and give a conference paper.
2. Why do I need to do assessment tasks?
Assessment tasks are your chance to show your teachers your ability across a range of skills. Becoming proficient in these skills is an academic and professional necessity. During your course you will be asked to perform different tasks requiring different skills. No matter what assessment task you are doing the following checklist applies: • • Always make sure you clearly understand what is required. If you are unsure, ask your lecturers and tutors to explain. Analyse the question before you start researching or writing. Make sure you understand what the instruction words are asking you to do, what the keywords are, the scope, etc. Look at the assessment criteria for each task