Academic Writing: An

Overview

Whether you knew it or not when you

started, conducting research is the
defining feature of your graduate
career. If you plan to stay in
academe, it will be the defining
feature of your academic life.
--Lesli Mitchell
The Ultimate Grad School Survival Guide

The genre of research

What its not:

What its not only:

A loose collection of anecdotal information

Reporting of others knowledge

What it is:
Creation of knowledge
Added security of academic support
Contribution to a larger academic
discussion
Problems and solutions

Before you write:

Read sources critically
Read studies similar to what you want to

Read studies similar to what you want to

write

Abstracts
Literature Reviews
Conclusions/Discussion

Professional journals, masters theses, Google

scholar

Recommendations for Future Study

Take notes (dont highlight!)

Summarize/paraphrase passages

Quoting Sources (in

brief)

Use quotations sparingly and

strategically.
Use quotations only when the
language is so unique that you must
use it; that is, the language adds
color, power, or character, to your
project.
Too many quotes are distracting;
reader needs to hear your voice.

Quote use

Identify quotes with frames that

precede, follow, or interrupt.
Use appropriate verb of attribution.
Punctuate correctly.
Quotes should be syntactically
correct and integrated into your own
language.

The Art of the

Paraphrase

You are writers, not re-typers.

Instances of plagiarism (from the Office of the Associate VP,
CSU Fresno):
Failure to use quotation marks when quoting
directly from another, whether it be a paragraph,
sentence or part thereof
Copying phrases or ideas from a book, magazine,
or other source without giving credit to the
author
Turning in a paper or computer program that is
the work of another individual

Drafting

Should be the least time-consuming of

all steps in the process
If its taking you forever to write 1,000
words, two things could be happening:
1. You dont have a clue what you
should be saying.
2. You're revising while you draft so
that you end up with one sentence an
hour.

The Introduction: Your

papers first
impression

Introductions should:
Introduce

subject and

problem
Clearly state purpose

Strategies for
Introductions

Begin with a narrative

Begin with a question or series of questions.

Bold, expert opinion captures readers attention.

Begin by citing key data

Shows reader that your subject is provocative and

interesting.

Begin by quoting a key source.

Anecdotes that make the topic more real to reader.

Alarming stats emphasize importance

Writing Studio at Duke University:

http://uwp.duke.edu/writing-studio/resources

Review of Literature

Examine/analyze what has already been

published on your topic
Find the gaps (Recommendations for future
research)
Provide framework for scope of the problem
Explain where your study fits

Review must be thorough

Currency, credibility
Snowball your sources

Review must be accurate

Follow rules for specific documentation style

Report your findings

What trends did you find in the

research?
Did you discover something that hasnt
been addressed? (Creation of
knowledge)
Did you gather your own data?
(surveys, experiments)
Presentation of findings in tables,
figures, etc.

Conclusions

Place the paper in a larger context

Convince readers that what they read was
meaningful.
Go beyond mere summary and avoid
repeating word-for-word a statement you
wrote earlier in the paper.
Answers the question, Where could we
go from here?
Makes suggestions or calls to action

You are the author

Paper should be predominately your

ideas and opinions.
Show your critical thinking skills.
A paper with patched together
summaries and paraphrases, even if
theyre in your own words, will not
succeed.