南京大学学术英语写作总结英语

Lesson 1

1.Importance of writing

1)help u to reach people in different time and space;

2)express yourself more clearly and more accurately;

3)organize your thoughts in clear and logical way;

4)make a distinction between facts and opinions;

5)reflects on your thoughts and feelings;

6)enable u to see both the overall picture and minute details of complex issues;

7)turn your initial impressions or gut feelings into complex research design;

8)seek worthwhile questions;

9)establish the relationship between writers and readers

10)refine and enrich your ideas based on feedback from readers

11)essential job skill

2.academic writing

(1) Features:

1) written for specific audiences;

2) present an argument;

3) cohesion and coherence;

4) formal and no spelling and punctuation errors;

3.what makes critical reading?

1)Judging the appropriateness of the reading materials;

2)Finding materials most relevant to the research topic;

3)Avoiding the materials that contain weak arguments;

4)Distinguishing between and opinions.

4.Requirements of a critical writer

1)understanding the requirement of writing task;

2)proving or arguing for a point;(introduction, body, conclusion)

3)providing a set of contributing arguments;

4)considering alternative or opposing views;

5)being a critical reader of her or his own writing;

6)conclusion drawn naturally and logically from argument;

7)contributing something new;

PS: things to avoid: 1) being to descriptive and rely too much on summaries and explanations; 2) being biased and blinded by personal misconceptions; 3) sticking to one position blindly.

5.Writing process

1）Prewriting and outlining;(help to organize idea and generate idea)

Free-writing; Questioning (why when where who and how); make the list;

Diagramming; preparing a scratch outline

2）Writing a first draft;

Content first; think about the essay as a whole; consistency (in word, sentence type, tone)

3）Revision (change content and structure)

Whether the paper is unified (stick to one thing); is my paper supported? Is my paper

organized?

4）Editing

Sentence be parallel; consistent point of view; specific words; active verbs;…

Lesson 2

1.Basic structure of an essay (have no single rule or pattern apply to all essay)

1)introduction;

providing the background, raising a question or problem; indicating the importance of an issue; ending with a thesis statement.

2)main body;

topic sentence;

supporting sentence: key concepts; examples; explanations; significance;

concluding sentence

3)conclusion

repeating, restating; summarizing; answer the question; point out the importance;

giving consequences; making predictions.

2.Topic selection

General principle:

1)Interest to u and your reader;

2)Meaningful, having academic and practical appeal;

3)Manageable, give your time, energy and expertise.

Steps:

1)Brainstorm to get research topic ideas;

2)Read general background information;

3)Focus in on your topic (narrow down the topic);

4)Make a list of useful keywords;

5)Define your topic as a focused research question;

6)Formulate a thesis statement

Additions tips:

1)Ask why where when who how;

2)Avoid topics are too: locally confined; recent; broadly interdisciplinary(跨学科)；

popular

3.Types of writing (Expository writing\Descriptive writing\Persuasive writing\Narrative

writing)

1)Expository writing;

Explains or informs. It talks about a subject without giving opinions.

Features:

(a)subject-oriented;

(b)facts and figures needed;

(c)no opinions.

Key points:

(a)explain something in a process;

(b)equipped with facts and figures;

(c)in a logical order or sequence;

when use expository writing: textbook writing; how-to articles; recipes; News stories;

business\technique\or scientific writing.

2)Persuasive writing;

Try to bring others around to your point of view. (to convince, have opinions)

Features: contains justifications and reasons or arguments.

When use: opinion and editorial newspaper pieces; advertisement; reviews; letter of

Lesson 3

1.Task of an introduction:

1)grab attention;

2)narrow focus;

3)present thesis (main idea);

2.six elements included in conclusion:

1)original question or hypothesis;

2)review of major findings;

3)explanations for findings;

4)limitations;

5)implications;

6)further research applications.

3.Peer review: evaluation of scientific, academic or professional work by other working in

the same filed.

4.Reason for peer review

1)Have a broader audience for writing;

2)Develop the ability to give the feedback;

3)See different approaches and perspectives;

4)Develop a more unified and coherent essay

5.Ways of making an effective peer review

1)Mirroring: writing down what u think the writer intended to communicate

2)Being specific in praise and critique (specific suggestion)

3)Being sensitive and careful with language

4)No being afraid of being subjective

5)Balancing the praise and critique

Lesson 4

1.How to incorporate evidence into academic writing

1)summarize;

2)paraphrasing;

3)direct quote.

2.Types of source

1)reference sources (dictionaries [give general background information] );

2)book;

3)popular article;

4)scholarly article;

5)website.

3.Finding the sources

1)start from a search engine;

2)consult librarians, digital specialist or ur professors.

3)Use academic journals or scholarly articles;

4)Book

5)Use online scholarly databases

6)Don’t forget the library;

4.Evaluate the sources

1)Authority

2)Applicability;

3)Timeliness

Lesson 5

1.Introduction

1)a hook; 2)background; 3) thesis statement

2.Body

1)Topic sentence and main point support it;

2) supporting evidence and explanation of points (facts, details )

3.Conclusion

4.Argument——Counter argument (must have supporting evidence, quote have to claim

its sources)

5.Planning an outline:

1)Choose a topic (it can be broad);

2)Decide on your main goal;

3)Gather supporting materials;

4)Choose a type of outline;

6.Patterns of organization s

1)Chronological pattern (time);

2)Sequential patterns (step by step that describe a process);

3)Spatial patterns (how things fit together in physical space)

4)Comparisons contrast pattern (two or more things similar or different from each

other);

5)Cause-Effect patterns (one event as a result or consequence of some other events

or actions);

6)Problem-solution patterns (divide to two section: problem and solution );

7)Topical patterns (different sub-topics within large topic)