Academic Skills Development free essay sample

However, as experienced writers point out, you do not have to be an award winning novelist or rousing poet to report the results of a well-conceptualized and executed study. You only need to be organized, accurate, clear and concise in your writing. And you have to keep your eye on the details, because, when writing an academic article, the devil is in the details (Feldman, 2004:1). Questions to discuss: 1) Why do we write scientific articles? What is their function? 2) What are the most difficult things for many people in writing an article? Task 2.Study the able that characterizes a writing process. Describe in detail what activities each stage involves (in your opinion). Preprinting Writing Revising Editing Proofreading Task 3. Traditionally, a scientific article has the following structure: title, abstract, keep. Roods, introduction, literature review, methods, findings and results, discussion, conclusion, references, if applicable, appendices. Match the following questions with articles structural elements. (Teaching materials designed by TUMS English instructor Karl Hughes. 2010) 1. What are my main points? Abstract 2.Is there any extra information? Introduction . What does it mean? Methods 4. What did I find out? Discussion 5. How did I deal with the problem? Rest Its 6. Whose work did refer to? Conclusion 7. Who helped me out? Acknowledgements 8. What is the problem? References 9. What did I do, in a nutshell? Appendices Article Components: Title The title, keywords, abstract, introduction and discussion are perhaps the most important as these are the doors and windows through which a reader is most likely to access the article. It is, therefore, extremely important to use effective key. Rods and make a title that is able to grab the readers attention. Guidelines to formulating a title: choose a title that would be proper and adequate to the function and style. For example, the title More than a one night stand would not be appropriate for a journal article on relationship marketing; the title should be as specific as possible given the restrictions on length; some of the keywords listed after the abstract should appear in the title; A title should preferably answer the following questions: What will be researched? How will the topic be researched? With whom? Describes the research population and units of measurement Where / in what context will the study be conducted? Language Practice Activity Task 4. Read seven suggestions for writing the title of a research paper. Which suggestions should you use to write a good title? Which suggestions dont give good advice? A) Make it about 50 words long b) Write it as a question c) Begin with a phrase like A study of . D) Inc lude a joke or play of words e) Include important key words for internet search tools f) Include information such as the species studies, the treatment used. G) Present the key result Task 5. Study the following titles and analyze how complete they are. Use the questions introduced above to help you choose the appropriate title. 1) Engineering students presentations: a focus on results or methodology? 2) Do engineering academics in Finland have job satisfaction? 3) Pedagogical evaluation of simulation tools usage in network technology education. 4) The algorithm of data scheme matching in information systems in oil and gas production. 5) Upstaging software for geological models of fields. 6) Cognitive radio application in IEEE 802. 22 wireless networks. Task 6. Choose the appropriate title. A A new signature file scheme based on multiple-block descriptor files for indexing very large data bases 1 b Signature file indexes based on multiple- block descried photo files AAA Extensions to ranking techniques for large text collections b An investigation of the effectiveness of extensions to standard ranking techniques for large text collections AAA Duplication of data leads to reduction in network traffic b Duplicating data to reduce network traffic AAA Artificial intelligence b Human intelligence and the foundations of artificial intelligence Language practice Activity Traditionally an abstract consists of four parts: State the research question Present the hypothesis Introduce the method Introduce key results Task 6.The following phrases can also be used to signal the purpose of each part of an abstract. Divide the phrases (a-I) into four groups according to their functions presented above. A) An investigation was undertaken to explore g) the study provides strong evidence that b) It seems likely that h)We demonstrate that c) Result show that I)We expected that d) The aim of the study was j) We investigated a new method of VERB-ins e) The data suggest that a) The method involved VERB-ins f) The present study investigates b) was found to (Taken from Cambridge English for Scientists. CUP. 201 1 . P. 74) Task 7. Read the abstracts below. Comment on their structure. Is it complete or not? What would you change?An engineering education response to a glossing world (Trend Clauses, Telemeter University College, Norway) ABSTRACT 1 In August 2002, the Engineering School at Telemeter University College, Pronghorn, Norway, commenced a nationally supported pilot project on recruiting vocational school graduates holding a relevant trade certificate to its electrical, electronics and control engineering department. Earlier, vocational school graduates would have had to spend one academic year or ore in the study of mathematics, sciences and languages to be considered eligible for admission. The principle of academic equivalence, with respect to the Education Act, is underlying this project.To make this principle work, the School, and not the students, had to change. After seven years of operation the admission is competitive, the academic results appear satisfactory, the retention has been improved all resulting in a better college economy. These benefits at present Seem to outweigh the administrative challenges Of running two parallel and different types of classes. Robotics education: a review of graduate profiles ND research pathways (Bruce Milton David Johnson, University of Technology Sydney) ABSTRACT 2: Robotics is a rapidly emerging field of engineering, and many of the Australian universities that offer a Bachelor of Engineering now offer majors in robotics/mechanics.This article explores and analyses some implications for robotics education, with a focus on graduate attributes and research pathways. The preliminary results of this review suggest that courses in robotics tend to include introductory material from a relatively large number of sub-disciplines, and robotics courses do not ordinarily permit he selection of sub-majors from other inter-related disciplines. It is concluded that courses might place greater emphasis on the graduate attributes that are essential to be able to work effectively in cross-discipline teams. It is also concluded that it may be beneficial to undertake further research, which compares the approaches to robotics education taken within Australian universities with the approaches of overseas counterparts. . 1 In the abstracts above underline the main components, such as: a) Background position b) Aim and thesis of article c) Method of research d) Results of research Writing Activity Task 8. Think about some research you have done recently. Write: One or two sentences which provide the key background to the research A sentence which states your research question A sentence which presents your hypothesis Two or three sentences outlining the main methods used One or two sentences presenting the key results A sentence which states the key implication of your finding. Introduction Introduction is the bridge to the proble m described in the article. Reading the introduction readers can clearly understand what problem is under study and how this study can advance their knowledge. Guidelines to writing an introduction: start your introduction with a specific question or the scientific context in which you are asking the question; briefly describe what has been known before your attempt to research the topic; briefly mention the results expected or achieved; an introduction should be half a page long. Phrase Bank for Writing an Introduction: 1) The article is based on findings from recent research into. 2) The arguments that will be put forward are relevant to 3) For the purpose of this article, two opposing theories will be scrutinized. It will be referred to Ens and Ups works, respectively. Many articles have been published on the subject of 5) Beyond the scope of this article, the analysis of 6) The first section reviews recent literature, with reference to the argument/ idea/theory concerning 7) This thesis consists of several parts. Each part describes 8) The material is divided into three sections, with each section devoted to 9) The dissertation is concerned with individual differences in with a focus on 10) The assignment will address the problem of socio- economic data in Note: for additional phrases, see Appendix 1, p. 131 133. Task 9. Find the appropriate word from the Phrase Bank above to fill in the issuing words in the introduction off paper. The (1) of this paper is to consider the nature of moral education in Soviet childrens literature.It is particularly (2) with the moral values presented in books published with the (3) of teaching reading at primary school. The thesis (4) of four parts. The first part attempts to (5) a number of general questions relating to childrens literature from the historical period. Parts 2, 3 and 4 are specifically to the Soviet example. Part 2 is (7) into three main sections, the first of which discusses the nature of the Soviet value system with a particular (8) n the work ethic. (Taken from: the textbook Academic Vocabulary in Use. CUP. 2008. P. 87) Task 10. Choose from the list below what is normally found in an introduction. Put Y for (yes) or N for (no). I) A definition of any unfamiliar terms in the title. (ii) Authors opinions on the subject Of the paper. (iii) Mention of some sources the author has read on the topic. (iv) A provocative idea or questions to interest the reader. (v) The aim or purpose of writing. (vi) The method the author adopts to answer the question. (vii) Some brief background to the topic. (viii) Any limitations the author sets himself. 10. Read the extracts below from introductions to articles and decide which of the functions above (I-viii) they are examples of. (I) In the past 20 years the ability of juries to assess complex or lengthy cases has been widely debated. Ii) The rest of the paper is organized as follows. The second section explains why corporate governance is important for economic prosperity. The third section presents the model specification and describes the data and variables used in our empirical analysis. The fourth section reports and discusses the empirical results. The fifth section concludes. (iii) The purpose of this paper is o investigate changes in the incidence of extreme warm and cold temperatures over the globe since 1870. (iv) There is no clear empirical evidence sustaining a managerial myopia argument. Pugh et al. (1992) find evidence that supports such theory, but Molecular et al. ( 1990), Mahoney et al. 1 997) and a study by the Office of the Chief Economist of the Securities and Exchange Commission (1985) find no evidence. (v) Social cohesion is usually defied in reference to common aims and objectives, social order, social solidarity and the sense of place attachment. (vi) This study will focus n mergers in the media business between 1 990 and 2005, since with more recent examples an accurate assessment of the consequences cannot yet be made. (Taken from: Academic Writing. Handbook for International Students. Taylor and Francs Group. Id De. 2011. ?. 83-84. ) Task 1 1 . Study the following Introductions and decide which introduction is the best one. Prove your opinion. INTRODUCTION 1 The world is complex.But engineering education often presents knowledge about the world in different ways. For applications, this accumulation of knowledge divided into different areas must be brought together. So, a natural idea was to create interdisciplinary projects for engineering students. Additionally, projects were very suitable for co-operation between staff members and students. Basic knowledge in mathematics and physics is often necessary to the understanding of engineering processes. In addition, computer science and computer software are becoming even more important to the handling of complex phenomena and the relations between them. Projects about oscillators are presented requiring knowledge in these disciplines.The mathematical point of view is especially stressed. INTRODUCTION 2 Over the last decade, an increasing awareness has developed across engineering and technology of the need to recognize that the practice of engineering increasingly transcends national and cultural boundaries. Anecdotal evidence reveals that combining global generic competencies with technical education makes engineering graduates much more acceptable to the job market. It essentially enhances their employability. Evidence is also reported to show that engineering graduates with cross-cultural global experience have a greater empathy in dealing with cultural differences which hey encounter.With the rapid pace of change of technology, society and demographics, engineering educators are now faced with the challenge of developing a package of knowledge, skills inclusive of global Emotional Competencies. A starting point in establishing Emotional Competencies would be to understand and measure Emotional Intelligence in the lecture room. (Taken from: Global Journal of Engineering Education. Volvo. 12, , 2010. Up. 6, 17. ) 11. 1 In the introductions above underline the following components: 1. Purpose 2. Methods 3. Background outline 4. Definition 5. Limitation Note: it is important to avoid opening sentences that are over-general. Compare: 1) Nowadays there is a lot of competition among different providers of news. 2) Newspapers are currently facing strong competition from rival news providers such as the Internet and television.Writing Activity Task 12. Write introductory/opening sentences for the following topics. Example: How important is it for companies to have women as senior managers? Option: In recent years there has been a steady criticism of the lack of women in senior management. 1) Are there any technological solutions to global warming? ) What can be done to reduce infant mortality in developing countries? 3) Compare the perturbation process in two contrasting countries. Organizing Paragraphs Paragraphs are the best building blocks in academic writing. Well-structured paragraphs help reader understand to topic more easily by dividing up the argument into convenient sections.Guidelines to writing a good paragraph: A paragraph is a group of sentences that deal with the single topic; The length of paragraphs varies significantly according to text type, but should not be no less than 4 or 5 sentences; The first sentence (but not always) introduces the epic. Other sentences may give definitions, examples, information, reasons, restatements and summaries; The parts of the paragraph are linked together by phrases and conjunctions. They guide the reader easily through the arguments presented. (See appendix 1, p. ) Study the paragraph below. It is from introduction to an essay titled Should home ownership be encouraged? The rate Of home ownership varies widely across the developed world.Germany, for instance, has one of the lowest rates, at 42 per cent, while in Spain it is twice as high, 85 per cent. Both the USA and Britain have similar attest of about 69 per cent. The reasons for this variation appear to be more cultural and historic than economic, since high rates are found in both rich and poorer countries. There appears to be no conclusive link between national prosperity and the number of homeowners. The paragraph can be analyses: Topic sentence The rate of home ownership varies widely across the developed world. Example 1 Spain it is twice as high, 85 per cent. Example 2 Both the USA and Britain have similar rates of about 69 per cent.Reason The reasons for this variation appear to be more cultural and historic than economic, since high rates are found in both rich and poorer countries. Us Mary There appears to be no conclusive link between national prosperity and the number of homeowners. Task 13. The sentences below from the third paragraph of the same essay, but they have been mixed up. Use the table below to put them in the correct order. (I) These had been developed to allow higher-risk poorer families to buy their own homes, but contributed to a property price bubble. (ii) Many economists now argue that there is a maximum level of home ownership that should not be exceeded. Iii) All these claims were challenged by the economic crash of 2008, which was in large part caused by defaults on American sub-prime mortgages. (iv) Even households that had positive equity still felt poorer and reduced their spending. (v) Others were trapped in their houses by negative equity, in other words their houses were worth less than they had paid for them. (vi) When this burst, millions of people lost their homes, which for many had contained their savings. Topic sentence All these claims were challenged by the economic crash of 2008, which was in large part caused by defaults on American sub-prime mortgages. Definition Result 1 Result 2 Task 14. Read the following introductory paragraph to an essay and then discuss it with other students. Why is it a poor beginning?DISCUSS THE PROBLEM OF POLLUTION IN YOUR COUNTRY Since the current trend of Green politics came to the fore, we have discovered our water is unfit for consumption; our meat is poisoned by various bacteria; and our fruit and vegetables are contaminated by chemicals. Not only are food and water affected, but the land and sea are constantly subject to chemical and nuclear dumping. In addition, sewage and various oil disasters have contributed to the increase in the killing of wildlife. Even the air we breathe is polluted every day by the millions of cars constantly pumping carbon monoxide into the atmosphere. 14. 1 The following introductory paragraph is on the same subject. Read and then discuss it. Why is it better than the one above?