Academic Writing

Senta A. Sanders – Universität Augsburg

Welcome to Academic Writing!

• Course for English Studies MA students

(literature/linguistics)
Why Academic Writing?
• Academic texts in English mostly include certain
standard features and these help to ensure clarity.

• When these standards are understood and

respected, the writing process becomes easier.
It is also easier on your readers!

• This course will be a lot of work! However, what we

do here should help you for the rest of your studies.
 Coursework

• 4-hour sessions on a biweekly basis!

• Attend regularly!
• Written homework after nearly each session
–> you need to be writing, writing, writing!
• Check the course page on Digicampus
regularly for new documents.
 Assignments

Written assignments are to be completed at

home and turned in via email during the in-
between week
by Thursday before midnight!
 Grading
• There will be 5 assignments in total

• For the first assignment you will receive a

“mock grade” which will not count.

• The following 4 assignments will each count

towards 25% of your final grade (4 X 25%).
Grading:
0 – 39 %: 5.0
40 – 44 %: 4.7
45 – 49 %: 4.3
50 – 55 %: 4.0
56 – 59 %: 3.7
60 – 63 %: 3.3
64 – 68 %: 3.0
69 – 72 %: 2.7
73 – 76 %: 2.3
77 – 81 %: 2.0
82 – 85 %: 1.7
86 – 90 %: 1.3
91 – 100 %: 1.0
 Goals
• Work on strong clear writing
Good subjects
Clear structure & thesis statement
Supporting arguments, evidence & examples
Academic Language

• Write regularly
• Make your texts interesting and easy to read
• Reflect on your own strengths & weaknesses
• Improve your English
 Classroom
Introductions
First a note on
plagiarism…

(SNL video)
What is plagiarism?
 Is this Plagiarism?

Example 1:
Copying a paragraph as it is from the source
without any acknowledgment.
 Is this Plagiarism?

Example 2:
Copying a paragraph making only small
changes, such as replacing a few verbs or
adjectives with synonyms.
 Is this Plagiarism?

Example 3:
Cutting and pasting a paragraph by using the
sentences of the original but by leaving one or
two out, or by putting one or two sentences in
a different order.
 Is this Plagiarism?

Example 4:
Composing a paragraph by taking short
standard sentences from a number of sources
and putting them together with some words
of your own.
 Is this Plagiarism?

Example 5:
Paraphrasing a paragraph by rewriting with
substantial changes in language and
organization, amount of detail, and examples.
 Is this Plagiarism?

Example 6:
Quoting a paragraph by placing it in block
format with the source cited.
Plagiarism handout
 Plagiarism
• Plagiarism involves handing in work where all
or a part of the work is not entirely your own.

• This is a serious matter in academic

institutions!

• Using material without acknowledgement

from any source is plagiarism – even if the
source is not published, such as with a lecture.
 Plagiarism

• In short, anything ‘borrowed’ from another

author or source must be ‘given back’ by
acknowledging it properly and accurately
(i.e. correct reference/citation).
Plagiarism?
Plagiarism
Plagiarism?
Plagiarism
Typical examples of Plagiarism
• Copying material from another source (e.g.
textbook, article, internet) without properly
referencing it.
• Handing in work as your own which is in fact
not entirely your own.
• Presenting any material, idea, research
argument etc. as your own, which is actually
from another source.
Plagiarism is a serious offense
and will not be tolerated in this
course!!
Anyone found to plagiarize will not only fail
the assignment, but will also be expelled
from the course.
Furthermore, the incident will be reported
to your department.
How to avoid Plagiarism…
1. Be informed – read up on plagiarism (see
Digicampus)

2. Be honest – don’t try to deceive your

professor/instructor by handing in work that is not
entirely your own.

3. Be professional – follow the academic conventions

carefully by referencing all the material you have
taken from other sources.
=> refer to the style sheets for literature and
linguistics
How to avoid Plagiarism…
4. Be cautious – if you are not sure whether to
include a reference, check with your instructor. If
this is not possible, include it anyway.
(You can’t be accused of plagiarism if the reference
wasn’t necessary!)

5. Be smart – don’t avoid plagiarism because you’ll

be punished, avoid it because you’ll learn more
and your readers will hear your voice and not
someone else’s.
Don’t worry too much about correct citations/
references yet!

The first assignment consists of an opinion essay and

no sources are needed.

More will follow on appropriate citation/reference

methods in following sessions.
 References
De Chazal, Edward & Sam McCarter. 2012. Oxford EAP: A Course
in English for Academic Purposes. Oxford: Oxford University
Press.
Middeke, Martin, Timo Müller, Christina Wald & Hubert Zapf
(eds.). 2012. English and American Studies: Theory and
Practice. Weimar: J.B. Metzler.
Swales, John M. & Christine B. Feak. 2012. Academic Writing for
Graduate Students: Essential Tasks and Skills. Ann Arbor:
University of Michigan Press.
Thinking about your writing…
Task 1
Essay Structure

What are the parts of an essay?

 Essay Structure
In English, an argumentative essay general consists of:
(1) the introduction
(2) the main body
(3) the conclusion

These 3 parts should correspond to the following:

1. Tell me what you are going to tell me,
2. tell me,
3. and tell me what you have told me.
Structure: Funnel Model
Introduction
•Catch our attention
•Lead audience to topic
•Tell us main idea
Argument 1
Main Points •Give us info about
structure
Argument 2
•Explain the purpose WHY?
•Thesis should be a clear
Argument 3 statement of purpose and
a key to the structure
Conclusion
Structure: Funnel Model
Introduction

Argument 1
Main Points
Make a point, prove the point,
Argument 2 support it with more info, use examples

Link each section with link words!

Argument 3

Conclusion
Structure: Funnel Model
Introduction

Main Points
Argument 1

Argument 2
Conclusion
Bring the essay to a nice close by
Argument 3
signaling that you are now at the end.
Briefly rephrase your main points.
“What now?” Finish by telling us what
this all means for the future. Provide
final focus.
Planning
• A term paper should be well planned and
thought through: in other words, you need to
be clear about the outcome of you paper
before you start writing!!
Planning
• Make an outline of your essay before you
write: see where the arguments fit and where
they don’t.
Planning – Task 2
Create a reverse outline
What is the most important
part of the essay?
The thesis
statement!!
Thesis Statements
Why is a thesis important?
• It expresses an original idea
regarding a topic.
• It gives the essay (paper, etc.) direction
and makes it easier to follow complex
argumentation.
• It focuses the reader (& hopefully the writer).
• A thesis should be controversial & arguable.
Thesis Statements
A possible thesis statement:
“The Civil War was caused by social, economic, and
political disagreements in the North & South.”

Weak thesis – vague, obvious, simplistic. Impossible to argue against.

“Disagreement between the North and the South over

tariffs and states’ rights was a more significant cause
of the Civil War than opposing views on slavery.”
Strong thesis – it is controversial – many believe that slavery caused
the war. Statement is SPECIFIC as to which economic and political
factors.
Thesis Statements
A possible thesis statement:
“Characters in Huckleberry Finn have differing views on
justice. Some believe that their society is fair and just,
whereas others believe that societal change is necessary.”
Weak thesis – obvious, simplistic

“Although Mark Twain uses the relationship between Huck and

Jim to suggest that a society can be equally just to all of its
racial groups, Twain himself perpetuates racial stereotypes by
describing Jim as a superstitious, passive character.”
Strong thesis – it is arguable (maybe passiveness and superstition due
to natural landscape and not racial stereotype).
Also complex because it shows how the novel contradicts itself.
 Essay Introduction
• Offers the reader an overview of the whole
essay.

• It usually includes:
– A statement or ‘hook’ to gain the readers’ interest
– Contextualizing material (background information)
– The topic and focus of the essay
– An indication of the essay’s organization
 Essay Introduction
• By the end of the introduction, the reader
should be clear about what the essay is going
to focus on, why, and how.

• This specific information is usually expressed

in the thesis statement.
Introduction
Tasks 3& 4
Essay Tips
Please also have a look at:
 Link words

You need to use them and

to learn them: see the
word list on digicampus!
Please read the Essay Checklist!