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www.library.qut.edu.auQUT Library

7 Step Plan forWriting

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Having to write an assignment is a stressful process for many people. Here is a seven step guide to help you through it.

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Early in semester

and get going!

Note the due date in your diary

Organise your assignment files

Set a start date 3 weeks before the due date

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1 • Collect task information

2 • Analyse the task

3 • Collect and organise information

4 • Plan the overall structure

5 • Draft effective paragraphs

6 • Integrate the evidence

7 • Edit and proofread

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Unit BlackBoard

site

Task Sheet

Criteria Sheet

Additional tips

sheets

Notes on what was

said in lectures

1 Collect Task Information

Write a checklist of everything that is specified about what you have to include or do in the assignment.

Collect all the relevant materials

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2 Analyse the task

Read your task sheet and look for certain key words

Topic words – these are the words and concepts you have to research

Task words – these words tell you how to structure the information you find in your research (eg. discuss, outline, analyse)

(see a list of task words in cite|write)

Limiting words – these words limit the scope of the subject to be research and written about

For more details see Studywell >Researching > Working Out How to

Start

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Discuss the public health strategies that you are proposing that will effectively address the problem.

Describe the process you use to choose the IT applications

Apply the key concepts addressed in the lectures to your research about this practitioner

2 Analyse the task Example:

Task word - analyse is to address each factor separately

Analyse the geographical factors that both contribute to and hinder the success of tourism in Australia.

Topic words – the topic you need to research – tourism in Australia

Limiting words – geographic factors only in relation to tourism in Australia

Further Examples:

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Brainstorm what you already know

Think about what you need to read and/or research

Consider other similar terms that you could research

Thesaurusgeography (n.)- topography- natural features- landforms

2 Analyse the task Start thinking

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Stop and think about your material at different points of researching and writing:

Is this relevant? Does it specifically help to answer the question / complete the task?

How does it connect to other evidence?

How can I put this evidence together to create a single argument?

What are my main points? How do they fit together?

2 Analyse the task

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3 Collect and organise information

Start with the unit

resources from the

BlackBoard site and QUT Readings

Use Quick Find on the

Library website to

look for resources in the library

Consider a variety of resources including books, journal articles, websites

Sources must be current, authorit-ative and

relevant to your topic

Start with QUT Library to find resources

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When taking notes:

Just read at first to get a idea of the topic and work out a general thesis. Then take notes on information that is specifically relevant to the task.

Start with the more general sources – encyclopaedias (if necessary), then general books, specialised books, websites and finally journal articles

Make sure you write down all the bibliographical details of all the resources you use

3 Collect and organise information

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Look for patterns and themes in your notes. Think about how these themes relate to each other.

Proctor, T. & Thomas, R. (2004). Australian Tourism and the “Tyranny of Distance”. Australian Economic Quarterly, 17(1), 35-47. Retrieved 12 February, 2009 from InformitSearch Database. p. 34 Long way from tourist feeder countries in Northern hemisphere p. 36 competition - wildlife in Tanzania and Kenya, volcanoes& biodiversity in Costa Rica

Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism. (2009). Australia’s natural attractions. Retrieved 10 February, 2009 from http://www.ret.gov.au/pubs/2008_09/natural_heritage.html Survey - Natural attractions most like to go to: Uluru, Great Barrier Reef, Kakadu Great Ocean Road, Tasmanian Wilderness. 30,000kms of coastline in Australia, much of it beach. Over 10,000 miles of white beaches, GBR - 1,500 unique species of tropical fish, 400 species of coral and species of whales, birds, sharks, and invertebrates

Colour code key themes: Distance, Landforms, Animals,

3 Collect and organise information

Essay Question:. Analyse the geographical factors that both contribute to and hinder the success of tourism in Australia.

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Theme 1 Source 1 notes

Source 2 notes

Theme 2 Source 1 notes

Source 3 notes

Theme 3Source 1 notes

Source 2 notes

Source 3 notes

Use a matrix to gather all your sources together for each theme

Source 2 notes Assign-

mentThesis

Theme 1

Theme 3

Theme 2

Source 1 notes

Source 2 notes

Source 1 notes

Source 3 notes

Another way is to draw a concept map

These themes become the main points of your body paragraphs

Source 1 notes

Source 3 notes

3 Collect and organise information

For more detail see Studywell > Researching > Organising Your Notes

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4 Plan the Overall structure

Using your notes:

1. Each grouping of evidence in a theme can become the information in a paragraph / section.

2. The theme for a group of evidence can be converted to the main point of the paragraph /section.

3. The overall summary of the main points can be made into your thesis.

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1st Point 2nd Point 2nd Point cont. 3rd Point

4 Plan the Overall structure

Think about:

How your paragraphs can be logically structured

The relationships between the main points (eg. agree/disagree) and how you can use transition words / phrases to signpost this to your reader

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Academic writing generally follows a diamond structure:

4 Plan the Overall structure

Conclusion

Diamond shape of

each body paragraph

Diamond shape of

whole essay

Introduction

Body Paragraphs

Introduces the topic

Outlines the essay structure

Topic Sentence: Introduces paragraph topic

Evidence Sentences: Provide reasons and evidence that support the topic sentence

Concluding Sentence: Summarises paragraph

Repeats the topic

Restates the thesis

States the thesis

Summarises the essay structure

Look at the example in

Studywell > Writing > Writing Structure

Overview

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4 Plan the Overall structure

Body paragraphs are ordered to suit the type of task you have been asked to do. For example:

Theory 1

Theory 3 Theory 2

COMPARISON (egcompare the three theories of …)

ANALYSIS (eg analyse the causes of …)

Factor 1

Factor 2

Factor 3

DISCUSSION (egdiscuss the effect of …)

Cause 1

Cause 2

Cause 3

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4 Plan the Overall structure

Plan out how many words you are able to write for each section

Work out the overall word allowance for the assignment (1500 words)

Introduction and conclusion are each about 10% of the total number. (150 words each, 1200 words remaining)

Divide the remainder of the words equally (more or less) among the body paragraphs / sections (About 400 words each)

Introduction• 150 words

1st body para / section • 400 words

2nd body para / section • 400 words

3rd body para / section • 400 words

Conclusion• 150 words

Overall Assignment• 1500 words

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5 Draft Effective Paragraphs

Body paragraphs are like mini-essays: topic and concluding sentences introduce and sum up the point; supporting and evidence sentences back up the point.

Topic Sentence

This states he main point of the paragraph and links it with the thesis.

Concluding Sentence

This restates the point. It may also provide a link to the next paragraph.

Evidence Sentences

Examples, data, statistics, quotes which back up the point. These must be cited and referenced.

Supporting Sentences

These may add information to the main point. For example, define terms or explain concepts

See Studywell > Writing > Writing Structure Overview

for more detail and examples

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Introductory and concluding paragraphs have a slightly different structure to body paragraphs. They are like the bookends of academic writing and tend to mirror each other

5 Draft Effective Paragraphs

Introductory Paragraph

Introduces the topic States the thesis (main point of the assignment) Outlines the structure of the assignment (main point of each body paragraph / sectionDefines the scope (limits) of the assignment

Concluding Paragraph

Paraphrases the thesis Sums up the main points of the body paragraphs Does not include any new material Concludes strongly

Go to Studywell > Writing > Writing Structure Overview for detailed examples

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The wording of your evidence often needs to be adapted to smoothly fit into your assignment. This can be done in three ways:

6 Integrate Your Evidence

QUOTING – Using the authors’ own words to express their ideas.

You must use quotation marks

PARAPHRASING - Using the authors’ information but expressing it in your own words SUMMARISING – Briefly

mentioning authors’ ideas without explaining further

For more detail see Studywell >

Citing & Referencing >

Integrating Evidence

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Editing looks at the essay as a whole

Proofreading looks at the details

7 Integrate Your Evidence

For more details see Studywell > Writing > Editing and

Proofreading

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Reference List (in order of appearance)PAGES 1-11etrusia_uk, 'Busch Gardens Weird Bird', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/e_phots/2335343283/, ed, 2008, head of a bird with bristled crest.

Adam Smith, 'Summer Planner', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gingerblokey/2183461901/, ed, 2008.

Esther Simpson, 'files', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/estherase/52172823/, ed, 2005, pile of coloured manila folders.

Evan Moss, 'Vegas Neo Signs - Go', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mightymoss/2890664490/, ed, 2008, Neon Sign saying Go

Ali Nassiri, 'To-do list', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/alinassiri/3874169787/, ed, 2009, girl with post-it notes on hand.

Justin See, 'To-do list book', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/koalazymonkey/3596829214/, ed, 2009, open notebook with pencil

'So that is what is inside my head!' In: http://baldgeek.wordpress.com/2007/12/18/so-that-is-what-is-inside-my-head/, ed, 2007.

Jacob Botter, 'Brainstorms at INDEX: Views', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jakecaptive/49915119/, ed, 2005, wall of postit notes

Ardonik, 'Ring-of-14-cubes.5', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ardonik/3274122364/, ed, 2009.

Auntie P, 'Magnifying Glass ', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/auntiep/17135231/, ed, 2005, magnifying glass

Laszlo Ilyes, 'Variety~', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/laszlo-photo/3943097052/, ed, 2009, piles of spices

Johnson Cameraface, 'S104 text books', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/54459164@N00/2812340882/, ed, 2008.

'304x400_student6', In: 304x400_student6.jpg, ed, student in library with laptop.

'student1', In: http://www.registry.ed.ac.uk/Fees/images/student1.JPG, ed, student using a computer.

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Reference List (in order of appearance)PAGES 12-

Patrick Medved, 'Structure ', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ppix/2305078608/, ed, 2008, steel frame

Rachel Cobcroft, 'John Wilbanks', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/felix42/2278259037/, ed, 2008, A lecturer giving a lecture in MELT classroom.

Exothermic, 'Flaming Orange Red Autumn Tree', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/exothermic/2041438046, ed, 2007, completely orange red autumn tree

Grant MacDonald, 'fall leaf ', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/grantmac/246785658/, ed, 2006, autumn leaf lying on the ground