Academic Writing Skills

Aims / outcomesAim of Session:To introduce the academic writing skills unit

Outcomes. At the end of the lesson you should beable to: Discuss any concerns re: academic reading Describe the differences between leisure and

academic reading Describe a range of books and identify style of

books - swiftly

Content… Academic reading Essays and essay planning Note taking Evidence for unit – English

assignment 1F Studying this unit – until half term

(following this individual support will be available)

Reading to learn…

…developing the skill of academic reading

"I have always been the sort of person who enjoys reading. When I have nothing else to do, I read.Charlie Brown

Over to you… What was the last thing you read? Try to identify one thing that you

read by choice…and one thing that you may have been asked to read as part of your course

What was good about it? Anything challenging / negative?

Book buying is soaring, so why aren’t we reading? THE INDEPENDENT 25-7-02

Are book sales growing? How many of us never read books? How many minutes daily do we read for ?Non-fiction Newspapers/magazines Fiction Total

Book buying is soaring, so why aren’t we reading? THE INDEPENDENT 25-7-02

Are book sales growing? YESHow many of us never read books?

40%

How many minutes daily do we read for ?Non-fiction 8Newspapers/magazines 22Fiction 11Total 41

Speed & Academic Reading

Primary school

Secondary school

College Post-graduate

Adult

200 250 325 400

200

Does our average WPM change throughout the life-cycle? (Buzan, 2003)

Learning Style & Academic Reading

Do auditory and visual learners have different reading preferences? (Dunn & Dunn, 1986)

Visual learners prefer pre-class readings

Auditory learners prefer post-class readings

What do I look for in a textbook?

An accessible, clear written style - not too familiar, not too stuffy

A balance of detail and comprehensibility

Contemporary, global examples Clear layout, using pictures

intelligently Things to make and do?

A thorough index

How do leisure reading and academic reading differ?

How do leisure reading and academic reading differ?By choice By directionMay be discussed Will be discussedAt your own pace To a deadlineUsually enjoyable Sometimes

enjoyableMore passive More activeLinear FragmentedChairs, beds, beaches

Desks, libraries

Once More than once

“I took a speed reading course and read War and Peace in twenty minutes. It involves Russia”.

- Woody Allen (1935- )

Book review

In pairs – select a book and write notes on thefollowing:

• What kind of book is it?• What's the layout and presentation like?• Is it comprehensive?• What's the level of detail and difficulty like?• What's the written style like?• How did you navigate your way around the

book?

Academic Writing

Starting with you… Interview the person next to you about

their experiences of academic writing What types of academic writing have

they done before? What was the last thing they wrote?

What did they enjoy about it? What did they find difficult? What type of feedback have they

received?