Academic Writing for FYP Students: Applied Languages
Seminar 3
Íde O’Sullivan, Lawrence Cleary
Regional Writing CentreThe Writing Centre, UL
www.ul.ie/rwc
Revising the research methodology
Is the methodology appropriate?
Are the following clear and appropriate?
Sampling strategy
Data collection
Data analysis
Are the findings presented clearly?
Are the findings supported by sufficient data?
How important are the findings?
Revising the content
Accuracy
Facts: Is the content accurate?
Quotations: Is it clear which ideas are mine / those of others?
Are all sources and references acknowledged?
Is everything in the bibliography?
Revising the content
Style / use of words
Are there words, phrases, sentences or paragraphs that are unnecessary?
Will the reader get lost in long sentences?
Are there any obscure / ambiguous words?
Is the appropriate voice used?
Are there unnecessary modifiers?
Final read
Does it flow smoothly / read well?
Is it interesting?
Is the pace / rhythm appropriate?
Does it look neat and professional?
Style: simplicity and economy of words
Logical
Interesting
Brevity
State things as clearly as you can
Do not overcomplicate / undercomplicate things
Clear/strong verbs: thinking suspiciously vs suspecting
Pin down your ideas with the right words
Words are the vehicels for your ideas
Copyediting / Proofreading
This is the careful editing of each line and each graphic to ensure that the material is expressed in simple, clear correct English
Checking errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar, format, sentence structure
Proofreading is not editing in the broader sense – it is an effort to achieve correctness in the elements mentioned above
Correctness is the most important criterion of excellence
Spelling
Make sure to set the language to BrE or AmE but stick to one (-ise/-ize)
Standard forms
Double letters
Don’t rely on spell check – it doesn’t catch everything
- for foe
- form from
- quiet quite
- practice practise
- affect effect
Grammer – grammar - grammatical
Grammar
Sentence structure
Complete sentences
Agreement
Tense
Grammar check is not always correct
- passive sentences
- defining and non-defining clauses
The woman who lives in apartment No. 34 has been arrested. Mrs. Jackson, who is very intelligent, lives on the corner.
Punctuation
Commas, semi-colons, full stops
Apostrophe
its Vs it’s
1920s
Possessives
The dog’s bone
The dogs’ bone
The horses’ mouths
Seamus’ car
Capitalisation
Tips for editing
Set it aside for a few days and come back with a fresh eye
Get someone else to proofread it as well as you
Use the print preview button to check layout before you print
Always proofread on hardcopy
Hold paper below the line you are proofreading
Use the find button to make changes
Be consistent!!
Editing a reference list is separate
Editing a reference list
Check that in-text dates and page numbers match reference list
Only enter names in reference list that you have mentioned in your text – it’s not a bibliography
Make sure that if a name is mentioned in the document that is in included in the reference list
Do a separate edit of your reference list, checking everything matches, everything is included and it is consistent
Common errors
Consistency of layout
Spelling, punctuation and grammar
Syntax
Correct font and spacing
Word or letter substitution
Transposition of letters
Omission of a line or lines, which does not outwardly affect the meaning
Check finished work with original
Dates, proper names and place names, and figures
Complete labelling of diagrams, tables, graphs, etc
Comments