Writing in Academia

Mathias Klangklang@ituniv.se

The purpose of university

• To challenge ideas and minds by thinking freely within research and education

• BUT…within an international traditional regulatory system

• University and academy lacks a sense of humor when dealing with academic honesty

What is an essay?

• Excercise in the clear presentation of evidence, reasons and arguments to arrive at a conlcusion.

Every essay should have:

• Plan & Structure• Definitions of key concepts• ARGUMENT, critical thinking• Readable English & Accurate spelling• References • No unnecessary points

“I can’t write…”

• Writing is a process• Not an automatic skill• Learning by doing and practicing

• Laziness• Write and re-write• Work with your text• Spelling and grammar

Structure• Title page• Introduction

• Purpose/Question• Background• Theory• Related Work

• Method• Result• Discussion• Conclusion• References

Objective

Analysis and conclusions drawn from material

Time

• When is it due?• Length?• ”simple”

mathematics• Advanced math

– weekends– Boredom– I never thought it

would happen…

Marat, murdered by Charlotte Corday, painted by David 1793

Technical & Social Problems

• Upgrades• Virus & spam• Games• Friends • Family

Seated Scribe, Egyptian (ca 1350 BCE)

Writing

• Do NOT begin at the beginning• Borrow/steal ideas & text for inspiration

(beware plagiarism)• Write down ideas straight away!

Getting started

• Pictures• Brainstorming• Mindmaps• Notebooks

• Read similar stuff• Write down every

”aha”

Why does anyone read essays?

• One of the primary hurdles in getting people to read your paper is getting them to read the content of the paper. If the title is misleading, and if the abstract and introduction do not manage to establish the setting in an interesting way, chances are that the reader will not go any further, unless they are very devoted to the topic, appointed reviewers (in which case you are in trouble anyway), or a close friend. (Sørensen)

Who reads it?

• Compulsory • Family• Grades• Opponent

• Interest• Supervisor• Future employers

Catch the reader

• Know what your question is• Know why your question is important• Tell us quickly • Avoid poetry

The End

• Has the questioned been answered

Borrowing, Copying and Plagiarism

Illegal file sharing

University Plagiarism

FormIdeas

Plagiar

ismCopyright

What is a copy?

Plagiarism

• Priscilla was my age and lived two blocks away. For the first fifteen years of my life, those were the only qualifications I needed in a best friend.

• Bridget is my age and lives across the street. For the first twelve years in my life, these qualifications were all I needed in a best friend.

Viswanathan: How Opal Mehta

Got Kissed, Got Wild and

Got a Life (2006)

McCafferty: Sloppy Firsts (2001)

Copyright protects form but not the idea

“Copying non-generic details of a plot may be copyright

infringement” (Posner 1987)

Problem 2

• Dan Browne “Da Vinci Code” sued for copyright violation by Baigent & Leigh authors of “The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail” (1982)

• Claimed that Browne stole the idea that Jesus married Maria Magdalena and had children.

Disciplinary Measures

• Disciplinary measures may be taken if (Chapter 10 Higher Education Ordinance, SFS 1993:100):– Use of non-permitted material or tools– Attempts to deceive examiners– Disrupts or prevents teaching, examination

or other activities at university– Harassment of students or staff.

Attempt to deceive

• By using non-permitted aids or in other ways attempt to deceive in connection with examinations or other occasions when student work is assessed.

Cheating

• To use non-permitted methods to attempt to gain an advantage.

• Helping others to cheat is also seen as cheating

Non-permitted cooperation

• When students collaborate in work that is intended to be conducted individually

Plagiarism

• Plagiarism is included in the concept of attempting to deceive the examiner.

• Plagiarism may be described as: any attempt by a student to use the ideas or words of others in an attempt to deceive the examiner into believing they are students own.

What happens

• The department is required to notify the Vice Chancellor

• The Vice Chancellor may decide to:– Not proceed further– Hand out a formal warning– Defer to the university disciplinary

committee

The Disciplinary Committee

• May decide to– Not proceed further– Hand out a formal warning– Suspend the student for a period of up to six

months

• Suspension entails that the student may not participate in teaching, examination or other university activity

Uncertain?

• Ask!– Lecturers– Course manager– Examiner– Student guidance office

• Ignorance is not a defence