Point Highlighting in Academic Writing - Rama Al Sawah
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Transcript of Point Highlighting in Academic Writing - Rama Al Sawah
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Point Highlighting in Academic WritingRama Al Sawah
Supervised by: Prof Nazir Ibrahim
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The Writing process
• Organizing paragraphs, Opening Paragraphs
• Paraphrasing, synonyms
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Elements of writing
• Argument
• Discussion
• problem solution
• Examples
• Generalizations
• Restatement and Repetition
• Numbers
• Visual Information
• Style
• References and Quotations
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Organizing Paragraphs
• How long is my paragraph?
• Topic sentence- what is the main idea of my paragraph?
• The parts of the paragraph are linked together by the phrases and conjunctions.
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Organizing Paragraphs • What to use to introduce a new topic?
The main / chief factor / issue is
Turning to the subject of
Moving on to the question of
Another important area is
should also be examined
Traditionally, few examples were
Finally, the performance of
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Organizing Paragraphs • How to move into another idea inside a paragraph?
Firstly, The first point In the first place
Secondly, Next, Then, In addition, Moreover,
Finally, Lastly,
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Paraphrasing
• What is it?
• Why is it used?
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Paraphrasing• How?
a) Changing vocabulary: SYNONYMS:• research studies
• severalmany
• objective/aimgoal
• civilizationsociety
• compromisedconsisted of
• beforeprior to
• assesLook at
• methodmodality
• useutility
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Paraphrasing
• How?
a) Changing vocabulary: SYNONYMS
b) Changing word class:
c) Changing word order:
d) generalizing when appropriate: 85% of patients most patients
NB: Not all words and phrases can be paraphrased. For example?
A study in Syria (n.) A Syrian study (adj.)
The study aimed The goal of the study
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TEST YOURSELF!
HCV one of the most dangerous health issues around the global
A Medline search was performed
A reduction in prevalence was observed
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Synonyms• When to use them?
• When NOT to use them?
• Where do I look for synonyms
Within a paper subjects patients
casesmengroup
might all be used interchangeably
but??
THESAURUS
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Synonyms• British vs. American Vocabulary
BRITISH AMERICAN
Organise Organize
Analyse Analyze
Centre Center
colour color
Tumour Tumor
leukaemia leukemia
Haemorrhage Hemorrhage
Oestrogen estrogen
Paediatric pediatric
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Argument and Discussion
• Problem ⟷ Discussion (pros and cons) ⟷ YOUR OPINION!
• Vertical: Adv / Disadv
• Horizontal: Different viewpoints
e.g. Vaccinations: Medical, society, economically..
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Argument and Discussion
• Counter-Argument
• Problem/Solution argument
e.g. Problem
Solution A
Arguments against
Solution B
Arguments against
Conclusion in favor of solution you prefer
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Argument and Discussion
• Some common phrases for starting the sentences
Adv: a positive aspect of
Disadv: a serious drawback to
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ExamplesPhrases to introduce examples:
a) for instance, for example (with commas): avoid for e.g. The oral polio vaccine, for instance, is notoriously unstable
b) such as.Other diseases such as Chagas disease, affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide.
c) particularly, especially (to give a focus)Certain chronic diseases, especially diabetes, needs regular follow ups.
d) a case in point (for single examples)A few diseases have been successfully eradicated. A case in point is smallpox.
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Generalizations• Compare the statements on the data on UK smokers by gender
a) 56.2% of British smokers are women.
b) The majority of British smokers are women.
• Which is more accurate? Which is easier to understand?
• When do I use each???
Generalizations are used to give a simple picture of a topic.
You must avoid using generalizations that cannot be supported by evidence or research
MEN WOMAN
43.8% 56.2%
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Other considerations: Restatements
• Avoid using “i.e”
Use “that is (to say)” or less preferably “in other words”
that is breast cancer
The most common caner in women, i.e breast cancer
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Other considerations: Repetition
• How do we avoid repetition??
• Exercise:• Hepatitis C is one of the most dangerous chronic diseases. • Hepatitis C is one of the most common causes of liver
transplantation
synonyms paraphrasing compound sentences
• ???Make them one sentence!
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Other considerations: Redundancies• What are they? How to avoid them?
• Exercise:
HCV is a global problem in the whole world
Currently these days, people are more carefully aware of the risks of smoking
In addition, another point to consider is the lack of education about the good benefits of exercise
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References
• Bailey, Stephen. Academic Writing, A handbook for international students. 3rd ed. Canada: Routledge, 2006.
• Hall, George M. How to write a paper. 5th ed. UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 2013.
• www.scribendi.com
• www.englishclub.com
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Thank you
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