Linking up: using conjunctions

Conjunctions are words which link together parts of sentences, or link sentences together into paragraphs:

The experiment was repeated three times, but the results were totally consistent.

There are frequent strikes. However, the economy remains strong.

Words such as but, however, although, whereas, while, yet, despite are a special type of conjunction: conjunctions of opposition. It is vital to understand how these work both for reading and writing.

These conjunctions are signposts which tell the reader that two sides of a situation are being presented, often a positive and a negative, for example:

      frequent strikes = negative
      strong economy = positive

Note the position of the conjunction in the following:

Although/ while there are frequent strikes, the economy remains strong.

There are frequent strikes, but/ yet the economy remains strong.

There are frequent strikes. Nevertheless, the economy remains strong.


Students are strongly advised NOT to use 'On the one hand .... on the other ...' as it is frequently mis-used.

Confusing capitals!

Using capital letters in academic writing can be confusing. In modern English there is a tendency to use capitals less, but they are an important guide for the reader and certain rules need to be followed:

• A new sentence must begin with a capital letter: In the beginning ...
• Names of organisations and their acronyms: The University of East Anglia (UEA)
• Days and months: Sunday March 10th
• Nationality words: Germans live in Germany
• Names of people and places: Dr Martin Lee from Singapore
• Article and book titles: Power and the State (main words only)

We normally use capitals to talk about geographical or political areas: Middle East, the West, but not with directions e.g. east, west.
 
Certain titles also require capitals: Prime Minister, Vice-Chancellor.

In every subject there are schools of thought that generally need capitals: Communism, Keynesianism, Marxism.

There are also well-known events such as The Second World War, The War on Terror and The Industrial Revolution that are usually capitalised.

As with other aspects of writing, the more articles you read the more examples you will find of good practice in your academic area.

What are paragraphs for?

 

A paragraph is a group of sentences that deal with a single topic. Paragraphs help both the writer and the reader. They break the text up into shorter units that are easier to understand. Each paragraph contributes another block to building your thesis.

 

Example:

 

There are a number of arguments in favour of studying abroad. Students have more choice of courses and teaching styles, and may make contact with a wider variety of fellow students. In addition, if they have to study in another language it will give them chance to become proficient in that language. The growing numbers of students who travel to another country to attend university suggests that these benefits are widely appreciated.

 

In this case the paragraph consists of:

 

1. Topic sentence

There are a number of arguments in favour of study abroad.

2. Reasons A

Students have more choice of courses and teaching styles, and may make contact with a wider variety of fellow students.

3. Reason B

In addition, if they have to study in another language it will give them chance to become proficient in that language.

4. Conclusion

The growing numbers of students who do travel to another country to attend university suggests that these benefits are widely appreciated.

 

Note that every paragraph must have a topic sentence, which is often the first. But depending on the type of text, other sentences may give:

 

definitions

examples

information

restatements

summaries

 

The number of sentences in each paragraph will vary, but as a rough guide you should aim to have from four to six, on average. Note also that the writer must try to link each paragraph to the one before. Therefore, the next paragraph in the example above might start:

 

However, the are some negative factors associated with foreign study ....

 

 

 



What's your problem?

Writing good academic English is a concern for thousands of international students worldwide. But not all students face the same problems. Some, for example, are studying in English-speaking countries, while others may have to write in English but use a different language outside the classroom.

Many students may have to write long dissertations, or essays of many thousand words, while others may need to make notes on lectures or journal articles. Some may need to write intensively in exams, others only have to complete coursework. The demands they face may also vary according to the subject being studied: business, engineering or law have quite different requirements.

Send a short description (about 100 words is enough) of the writing difficulties YOU face in YOUR studies to this blog, and I will try to suggest some answers. The best contributions will win a copy of Academic Writing.

Use the comment box at the bottom of this post or email to: peakenglish@w3z.co.uk

Writing essays in exams

 Many students have to write essays in exam conditions at the end of the first semester, to assess their performance in the modules they have studied. Writing in this situation, with severe time pressure, is quite different from writing coursework essays, when you may have months to complete the task. With only an hour or so available, the following steps are critical:

• Make sure you understand what the title is asking for. Underline the key words in the question such as 'describe' or 'discuss'.

• Make a plan of your essay to check that you are answering all parts of the question. If you only answer half the question you can only get half marks!

• If you find time is short, make notes of the key points. Your teacher is looking for evidence that you understand the subject.

• Make sure that you finish writing about five minutes before the end. You MUST re-read your work to check for small errors that may affect the meaning and lose you marks.

To summarise, students lose marks in exams if they panic. Five minutes spent planning your answer at the start, and five minutes checking at the end, can make all the difference between a pass and a fail!
 

Academic Writing Quiz: Answers

Test your knowledge of academic writing by answering the questions in the quiz (posted January 23rd),then check them with the answers below:

1. b
Academic writing tends to use a more specialised vocabulary, which may make it more difficult to understand. However, its most important feature is the attempt at objectivity - trying to present an unbiased and accurate view of the topic.

2. c
Among the many writing tasks that students are set, both essays and projects are common.
These may vary in length between 1,000 to 5,000 words, but essays are generally written to titles selected by the teacher, while the subject of projects is chosen by the student. On Masters courses the same applies to dissertations and theses.

3. a
If you have to write an essay, the starting point is to analyse the title, so that you are sure you are answering the right question. Teachers say that students often don't understand what is required, and lose marks by not doing what their teacher asked.

4. c
It may be a mistake to write the introduction to an essay or project first, except in an exam. It can be better to wait until you have written the main body, so that you know exactly how your answer is organised.

5. b
Plagiarism is an academic offence in most educational institutions, and even if you don't intend to plagiarise you may do so by accident. Therefore, it is important to find out more about the subject before you submit any work for assessment.

6. c
Good note-making habits need to be learnt when reading sources, attending lectures and seminars, and preparing to write. Although it may seem strange at first, you need to make notes in English if you are going to write in that language.

7. c
This is the style required by the Harvard system of referencing. Your department may use another system, but it is important to be clear about what is required and how it works.

8. b
When making notes on a text, paraphrasing is one technique which ensures that you do not plagiarise. It is necessary to change as much vocabulary as possible without changing the meaning.

9. c
A topic sentence is usually the first sentence in the paragraph. It states the main subject of the paragraph, which is then developed in the following sentences.

10. a
An introduction is in many ways the most important part of a piece of writing. It must explain the purpose of the text, as well as outlining the method by which you answer the question.

You can practise all these skills - understanding titles, writing introductions, note-making, paraphrasing, referencing, avoiding plagiarism, and many others, by using Academic Writing - A Handbook for International Students
 

Quiz: How much do you know about academic writing?

Try this fun quiz and find out!


1. The main difference between academic writing and normal writing is that academic writing:

a) uses longer words
b) tries to be precise and unbiased
c) is harder to understand

2. The difference between a project and an essay is:

a) essays are longer
b) projects are longer
c) students choose the topics for projects

3. Teachers complain most about students:

a) not answering questions given
b) not writing enough
c) not referencing properly

4) The best time to write an introduction is often:

a) first
b) last
c) after writing the main body

5) Plagiarism is:

a) a dangerous disease
b) an academic offence
c) an academic website

6) Making careful notes is essential for:

a) writing essays
b) revising for exams
c) all academic works

7) An in-text citation looks like:

a) (Manton, 2008)
b) (Richard Manton, 2008)
c) (Manton, R. 2008)

8) Paraphrasing a text means:

a) making it shorter
b) changing a lot of the vocabulary
c) adding more detail

9) Paragraphs always contain:

a) six or more sentences
b) an example
c) a topic sentence

10) The purpose of an introduction is:

a) to give your aims and methods
b) to excite the reader
c) to summarise your ideas

Answers next week.......