How to Write for University

Jonathan Weyers and Kathleen McMillan both work at the University of Dundee. Both have been teaching and lecturing for over 25 years and latterly have specialised in the transferable skills area. They have a track record of collaborative writing and achievement in this area.

Introduction

1. The importance of writing at university - how your abilities in academic writing contribute to your sucess

 

Essentials for getting started – how to gather and record information

2. University writing in context – how your academic  writing is shaped from the very start of your course

3. Lectures, listening and academic writing – how information you hear in lectures contributes to your writing

4. Researching information for writing assignments – how to use the library as a source of academic information

4. Reading effectively – how understanding the structure of text helps your own writing

6. Notes from lectures and reading – how to record information in note-form for use in your writing

7. Speaking, thinking and academic writing – how discussing your work contributes to organising and wording your writing

 

Understanding the contexts and practices relating to academic writing – how to meet the standards

8. Organising yourself for writing – how to use your time effectively to ensure successful completion of assignments

9. The format of academic writing – how to structure your text appropriately

10. Following the expected academic style in your writing – how to adopt the appropriate language conventions in your task

11. Information-processing and critical thinking for writing – how to approach your analysis of source material

12. Referring to source material in your writing – how to cite and reference correctly to avoid plagiarism

13. Presentation of academic assignments – how to follow the relevant academic conventions in your written work

14. What markers look for when assessing written work - how markers grade your academic writing

 

Writing technique – how to plan and write for assessment

15. Planning writing assignments – how to reflect on and organise your response to the task

16. Writing a first draft – how to shape your text using sentences and paragraphs effectively

17. Reviewing, editing and proof-reading your writing – how to make sure your writing is concise and correct

Developing future academic writing – how to build on markers’ advice for good results in later writing including exams

18. Acting on feedback in your coursework – how to use markers’ comments to develop your academic writing

19. Academic writing in exams – how to translate the techniques of coursework writing into your exam script

 

Appendices