AW-Full

Theresa Bell

Writing centre coordinator, Royal Roads University

Writing Centre Website

Introduction to Academic Writing

Qualities of academic writing

At RRU, academic writing:

•Provides an in-depth, evidence-based analysis of a topic

oDemonstrates your critical thinking on the topic

•Is clear, concise, and easy to understand

oAvoids assumptions of reader knowledge or experience

•Demonstrates the outcomes of the assignment

•Consistently and correctly follows the APA Style rules; see APA Style for moreinformation

Concise Writing & Academic Writing

•Focus is on your thoughts and experiences

oPresent your thoughts on a reading, discuss a personal experience, apply atheory to a real-life example, or some other focus that asks you to thinkabout and explain your thoughts and experiences

•Use the first person voice (I, me, my)

oCan I use the first person voice in my academic writing?

•Usually less formal than a standard research paper

Personal or reflective writing

Academic Writing & Reflective Writing

•Informs or introduces your reader to a subject

oDoesn't argue a position but rather explains the issue

oE.g., an expository essay might present an overview of the differing viewson a specific topic, whereas an argumentative or persuasive essay willchoose which approach is the most appropriate.

•An expository essay explains things to your reader

Expository writing

•Using sound reasoning, support a claim with research evidence

oFact: Emotional intelligence is “perceptiveness and skill in dealingwith emotions and interpersonal relationships” (“Emotionalintelligence, n.d., para. 2).

oClaim: Emotional intelligence is a key factor to consider whenassessing someone’s leadership potential.

•Synonyms: appeal, assert, claim, contend, defend, demonstrate, display,establish, explain, justify, persuade, present, reason, show

Argumentative or persuasive papers

Building an Argument & Academic Writing

•Highlight your critical examination or analysis of a topic in order tointerpret the strengths and weaknesses of a debate.

oOften uses a compare-and-contrast model

oE.g., if asked to analyse two models, you would look at each author’sclaims, the evidence used to support the model, consider the assumptions,and then demonstrate how the models are similar and different.

•Synonyms: explain, consider, determine, dissect, divide, estimate,evaluate, figure, interpret, investigate, resolve, scrutinize

Analytical essays

Academic Writing

What is critical thinking?

“Disciplined thinking that isclear, rational, open-minded,and informed by evidence”(“Critical thinking”, n.d.-a,para. 1).

“The process of analysinginformation in an objectiveway, in order to make ajudgement about it”(“Critical thinking”, n.d.-b,para. 1).

Critical Thinking

Research evidence

Analysis of connectionbetween evidence andclaim

Claim

Answer the “sowhat?” or “whyshould I care?” foryour reader

Your idea

Fact(s) from otherscholars’ researchthat support yourclaim

Demonstrating critical thinking

Building an Argument

E.g., Victoria’s climateenables residents to enjoyoutdoor activities, whichcontributes to a higherquality of life

E.g., “Victoria has anaverage of 308 clear daysper year and receives 66.5cm of rain” (TourismVictoria, n.d. para. 1)

E.g., Victoria’s mild climateallows residents to enjoyoutdoor activities year-round, which means peoplelive more active and healthylives.

Creating a document plan

Planning the Paper

Helps you stayon track

Identifiesmissingresearch

Identifiesproblematiclogic orassumptionsbefore you startto write

Preventswriter’s block

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OnlineCollege.org

Drew Coffman

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Source: Open Clip Art

1. Choose topic and brainstorm ideas

Royal Roads University

Peacocks

Focus onteamwork

Online &F2Flearning

Gardens

Appliedprograms

Returninglearners

Ecosystems

Cougars

Bears

Applied focus

Online & F2F instruction

First Nations’ ancestral lands

Movies: X-Men

TV: The Arrow

Ghosts (reportedly)

Military connections

Peacocks

Royal Roads University history

Life-long learning

Quarterdeck

Focus on teamwork

Geese

Deer

Garry Oaks

Gardens

Ducks

Educational programs

Dunsmuir family

Historic buildings

Hatley Castle

Cedar Building (formerly Dunsmuirs’ dairy & cattle barns)

Gatehouses

Mews (formerly Dunsmuirs’ stables & garage)

James Dunsmuir

Laura Dunsmuir

James Dunsmuir, Jr.

Serving maid

Known as “Boy”

Killed when Lusitania sank – was on his way to fight in WWI

James Dunsmuir, Jr. (Canadian Mounted Rifles)

Royal RoadsMilitary College

Current students who are Canadian Armed Forces members

Rose

Italian

Japanese

RRMC-era buildings

Grant

Nixon

Millward

Old-growth trees

Library

Survived massive forest fire in 1700s

10th largest Douglas Fir in BC

5th largest Grand Fir in BC

15 km of hiking trails

Some trees 800+ years old

Royal Roads University: Brainstorming

2. Draft your thesis statement

•Should be specific because the statement outlines the focus andboundaries of the discussion

oCan be one or two sentences long

oThink about how you would finish the sentence: “In this essay, I will…”

oE.g., In this essay, I will demonstrate that Royal Roads University is uniqueamongst post-secondary institutions on Vancouver Island because of itshistory, Hatley Park, wildlife, and educational programs.

Thesis Statements/Research Questions

Historic buildings

Hatley Castle

Cedar Building (formerly Dunsmuirs’ dairy & cattle barns)

Gatehouses

Mews (formerly Dunsmuirs’ stables & garage)

Ecosystems

Cougars

Bears

Applied focus

Online & F2F instruction

First Nations’ ancestral lands : Xwsepsum (Esquimalt) & Lkwungen (Songhees)

Peacocks

Royal Roads University history

Life-long learning

Focus on teamwork

Geese

Deer

Garry Oaks

Ducks

Educational programs

Dunsmuir family

Gardens

Rose

Italian

Japanese

RRMC-era buildings

Grant Block

Nixon Block

Millward wing

Killed when Lusitania sank – was onhis way to fight in WWI

Military connections

James Dunsmuir, Jr. (Canadian Mounted Rifles)

Royal RoadsMilitary College

Current students who are Canadian Armed Forces members

Royal Roads University is unique amongst post-secondary institutions on Vancouver Island because of itshistory, Hatley Park, diversity of wildlife, and educational programs:

Hiking trails (15 km)