Guidelines on Academic Writing

Guidelines on academic writing

(1) Introductions can make your writing clearer by:

• interpreting the assignment title

• establishing the importance of the topic and focusing in on the issue

• giving some background or context

• presenting the intention of the writer

• defining the terms used

• mapping out the assignment – making the structure explicit to the reader

(2) Conclusions can be used to:

• summarise the ‘answer’ to the question, showing how it has been answered

• spell out the writer’s point of view

• point out the limitations of the scope of the assignment

• suggest further related ideas

• draw out the implications of the discussion, analysis etc.

(3) Signposting and signalling:

• orientate the reader to the content and approach you have taken

• make the structure of your argument or investigation explicit

• make clear how sentences/paragraphs/sections fit together

• make the communication of complex ideas clearer

See http://www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk/for a bank of phrases to use for signalling and signposting in your writing and

http://www.uefap.com/writing/writfram.htm > paragraphs > signalling

(4) Paragraphing is crucial to clarity and effective organisation of ideas; one topic per paragraph with clear signalling of meaning.

(5) In academic coursework check your referencing carefully:

What should be referenced?

• All use of other people’s work, whether as quotations, summaries, paraphrases

• Quotations – which need to be indicated with speech marks and the page reference given

• Diagrams, graphics, maps, and statistics you have used or cited in your work

• Internet sources as well as books, articles etc. must be referenced properly

Signposting Language

You can help your readers find their way through your argument by signposting your purposes and intentions very explicitly.