Lecture #2

ILLUSTRA

TION

DRAFTING

Schedule

• 2:00-2:40 A - Common Errors:

Arguing vs. discussing

Redundant writing

• 2:40-3:20 B - Effective techniques:

Writing paragraphs

Signposting

• 3:20-4:00 C – Verb Tense

Arguing vs. discussing

It is important to distinguish betweenyour claim (proposition, point) - your point of view, what you believe;

your premise(s) (explanations)- why you believe what you do;

your evidence (support)- the facts, data and examples that support your point of view; and

your conclusion - how the evidence you have provided leads to the claim your are making.

A1 - COMMON MISTAKES

Example:Argumentative writing

Redundant writing

Good writing avoids redundancy. Redundant writing is any writing that:

does not convey new information;

repeats information that has already been provided;

over uses words or phrases in a way that does not facilitate meaning.

A2 - COMMON MISTAKES

Writing paragraphsB1 - EFFECTIVE TECHNIQUES

• Academic writing is divided into paragraphs.

• Written work is divided into paragraphs in a meaningful way.

• A paragraph is a group of sentences that develop

one topic or idea.

1. Topic sentence

2. Elaboration/Explanation

3. Examples

4. Further elaboration of your point with examples and quotations

5. Summary

6. Hints leading to your next point (optional)

Structure of a body paragraph

Structure of a body paragraphTopic sentence

• “The first thing that this essay would like to draw your attention is to the future possible development of computers in the entertainment industry.”

• “The next important point that the essay would like to address is that, in the future, it is very likely that computers will be widely used in the field of design.”

• “Last but not the least, it is important to note that computers will become a necessary aspect of the interior design industry.”

The first thing that this essay would like to draw your

attention is to the future possible development of

computers in the entertainment industry. When

compared to fifty years ago, the use of computers in

the production process of modern day movies has

simply become a must. Recently, a number of very

large scale movie productions are totally

computerized. According to this trend, it is predicted

that…… The market share of fully computerized

production will increase greatly.

Structure of a body paragraphTopic sentence

For instance, the number of animated films that have been

introduced to the market have Increased significantly.

Some examples of these productions, which are well-

known and popular, are Happy Feet, Final Fantasy and

Finding Nemo.

Structure of a body paragraphExamples

Structure of a body paragraphFurther elaboration with examples & quotations

With all these example, Final Fantasy can be said to be a perfect example to show the rapid development of computers in the entertainment industry. The main reason is that Final Fantasy uses total animated casts, who are representations of actual humans. The high level of authenticity of the animated characters has been discussed in the Entertainment Report. It is quoted from the report that “it took a total of three years time for the production team to draw all the hair of the actress in the leading role.” (Johnson 2001, p.23)

Structure of a body paragraph

Summary

To summarize, it has been proved through good work like final Fantasy that the use of computer in the industry of entertainment will become enormous in the future.

Hints leading to your next point

In the next section, the future development of computer in the industry of interior design will be discussed.

Sign-posting & transition sentences

Generally, signposting sentences and transition sentencesappear at the beginning and ending of texts, or of the sections within them.

Their function is to signal a shift in the direction of ideas, to establish logical connections and conclusions,

or the relationships between ideas.

B2 - EFFECTIVE TECHNIQUES

Signposting and transition sentences Introductory signposting sentences

Signposting and transition sentences come in several forms.

Introductory signposting sentences indicate what you are doing, why you are doing it,

and how you are going to go about doing it.

Introductory signposting phrases should be few, and located within introduction, or the first and last sentences of paragraphs.

Examples ofIntroductory signposting sentence stems

“My research contributes to knowledge about the theory of long take, and specifically the application of it in narrative through an in-depth study of ... “

“The study demonstrates that this construction of …”

“The thesis draws on the view that …”

“This dissertation grounds the rhetoric of “seeing is believing”. It provides detailed interpretations of the representation of reality in photography”

“This chapter sets out to investigate the … and its links with ... It closely examines the … In addition, the thesis also investigates the notion that …”

• “This section provides a general discussion on evolution of western movies. The section concludes with coverage of the history of western movies. The last part of the section reveals that ......”

• “In this section the aspects of … are considered separately to highlight their relationship to …”

• “The three following sections review insights from selected authors about the value of ... in order to highlight …”

• “The next section highlights the literature relevant to the concept of … in order to show that …”

Examples ofIntroductory signposting sentence stems

Signposting and transition sentencesConcluding signposting sentences

Concluding signposting sentences provided at the end of paragraphs and sections aim to draw together the main ideas or conclusions, and to highlight the significance or relevance of the preceding discussion.

Concluding signposting sentences should be more numerous than introductory signposting sentences because they provide direction, and give the text a critical, assertive tone.

Examples ofConcluding signposting sentence stems

• From the above discussion on composition of a picture it follows that ... This adds to my proposition that framing is important in photography.

• Current literature often presumes …

• This brief overview of … shows the overall direction of …

• The influence of … is highlighted here…

• As the statement above indicates, …

• Again it is evident that …

• For this reason, it can be said that …

• Thus, there is a strong argument for …

Examples ofConcluding signposting sentence stems

• The understandings generated from this review of the literature on the impact of post colonialism in architectureshows that the materials used and spatial design are heavily influenced by post-colonialism.

• In this context, then … • Consideration of the underlying factors demonstrate that ... • My investigation shows that … • This research sought to establish… • The issues raised from this review of literature establish that

... • This review of research into … reveals that … • Given the observed trends of … it can be concluded that ...

Examples ofConcluding signposting sentence stems

• Based essentially on the argument that photography is evidence because of its representational nature outlined above, I maintain that “seeing is believing”

• Although different authors have put different emphases into their descriptions of … there is general agreement that ...

• Throughout the literature … It is generally claimed that ... • The strength of such an approach is that … • This chapter commenced with an exploration of ... It reveals

that … • While we now know a great deal about ... little research has

been done on … This raises the question ...

Signposting and transition sentencesTransition sentences

● 'Transition' sentences and phrases are a mixture of introductory and concluding signposting sentences.

● Transitions usually involve summarising or pointing to the main point or topic of a particular section of writing, and thensignaling a new topic of discussion.

Examples ofTransition sentence stems

• Before the discussion on the significance of … can be extended, the theoretical grounds for ... requires explanation.

• Before going on to explore further the issues of …., the working definitions for ... require clarification.

• Before going on to look at … it is important to consider ….

• The applicability of this concept to … has not previously been considered. Therefore, … the three subsections below investigate literature on … specific to the question of ….

Examples ofTransition sentence stems

• Authors considered in the following section have been more explicit about how photography and moving images fabricated and manipulated through the mechanism of mass media than those above who focus purely upon representational nature of photography and moving images

• In contrast to those authors whose paramount concern is ... the field of ... takes the perspective that ...

• Research discussed in the following section, takes the question of … further. This work suggests that ...

• However, not all authors agree that … Some describe a different approach in which …

Signposting and transition sentences

Show order/sequence:first, then, next, finally, secondly, thirdly, at last

Show time: soon, then, finally, previously, later, last, meanwhile, earlier, at the same time, subsequently, following on from, when, immediately, upon, since

Add some ideas: again, and, besides, therefore, also, additionally, indeed, moreover, another, as well, furthermore, finally, next

Show cause and effect: thus, hence, therefore, consequently, so, because, since, then, finally, accordingly, for these reasons, as a result, on that account

Indicate a summary: in brief, finally, in conclusion, to conclude, lastly, in summary, on the whole, to sum up, in fact, indeed, in other words

Contrast ideas: however, nevertheless, yet, but, still, on the other hand, otherwise, conversely, in spite of, by contrast, despite, although, though, on the contrary, notwithstanding

Compare ideas: similarly, likewise, correspondingly, both equally, equally important, in the same way, in the same manner, each

Illustrate: for example, for instance, to illustrate, to be specific, in particular

Signposting and transition sentences

C1 –Verb Tense

Past tense is used to refer to past research:

'Harrison and Quah (1990) found that in current architectural approaches, the strong image of high tech buildings relies on a clear bright efficient look' … and

'In a recent report, Harrison and Quah (1990) determined that good design and detailing act as the first line of defence against weathering'.

C1 –Verb Tense

Present tense is used to indicate consensus

with an author:

Dahlén further finds that creativity product novelty and marketing novelty significantly affect customer satisfaction,

they draw attentions and increase sells (Dahlén, 2008).

References

Image – Academic Englishhttp://www.englishworld.asia/academic.html

Image – Graphic Communicationhttp://art.nmu.edu/department/gcomm/faculty.html

Image – 6 steps to completing your dissertationhttps://www.flickr.com/photos/chnrdu/3899986476/

Image – What is a dissertation?http://libweb.surrey.ac.uk/library/skills/writing%20Skills%20Leicester/page_80.htm

Excerpt – What is a dissertation? (Slide 3)http://www.cee.usu.edu/htm/dissertation-thesis-guidelines-and-information

Image – Fishbone: Open Eye Galleryhttp://www.research.ed.ac.uk/portal/files/14977617/Gibbs_Open_Eye_2_Page_2.jpg

Image – Fishbone: Jonathan Gibbshttp://www.research.ed.ac.uk/portal/files/14977616/Gibbs_Open_Eye_2_Page_1.jpg

Excerpt – Fishbone: Abstract (Slide 5) http://www.research.ed.ac.uk/portal/en/publications/fish-bone-oneperson-exhibition(cbafaead-c357-4b22-b015-215a2d601038).html