Workshop Series Presentation 1

8/12/2019 Workshop Series Presentation 1

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Katie Kirkby, MPH University of Oxford Aldineber Alzate, University of Sussex


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Welcome Welcome to the series of lectures and workshops with

the purpose of familiarising students and academic staff with application processes for studying abroad and

processes of publishing articles in English ininternational journals.


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This workshop series is in four seminars:

1. Improving your English writing skills , as they areessential for all of the following.

2. How to write and publish your scientific articles inEnglish

3. How to find and apply for Masters degrees andscholarships abroad

4. How to find and apply for Doctoral degrees andfellowships abroad


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Workshop scheduleThursday 10 th May Writing of scientific articles in English for

publication in international journals- Structure of articles- Writing style- Processes of application to journals


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Workshop schedule Wednesday 16 th May Application processes for Doctoral degrees abroad

- How to choose the right programme for you-The application process-How to write a statement of purpose-How to write a research proposal-How to find fellowships (scholarships)


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Structure of the workshopsThe workshops are structured in the following way:

Approximately 2 hours divided into:1 hour lectureFollowed by a 15 break1 hour workshop


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Different applications and processesUK versus USA systems

- Masters applications - Both ask for Personal Statements, 2-3 References, CV, transcripts

- USA GREs and TOEFL- UK TOEFL/IELTS- Funding opportunities

- Doctoral applications- UK research proposal and statement of purpose- USA statement of purpose- Choosing your supervisor

- Scientific article submission- Different types of journals how to choose the right journal- Different submission procedures and requirements


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Why is this important?1. Lots of opportunities for study abroad

- Missing opportunities for courses and scholarships forMasters and PhDs that are available in USA and Europe, as well as Asia and Australia.

2. Publishing articles in English gets you worldwiderecognition

- English dominates the scientific world- Worldwide recognition of yourself as a scientist/researcher- Citations- Make connections with other researchers around the world- Proof of your abilities and experience = Jobs- Higher university ranking- Recognition for Colombia and Latin America as a whole


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Importance of English writing skills

Need of good technical writing skills for writing:- Articles

- Personal statements- Research proposals- Essays- Dissertations- Thesis


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Workshop 1: Writing SkillsStructure is everything!

Follow the formula

Plan before you write


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Structure of an essayIntroduction

ParagraphsConclusionPlanning the essay Writing clear sentencesLogical development of the argument

Workshop 1: Material to be covered


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Structure of an essay

Conclusion

BodyParagraph

Paragraph

Paragraph

Introduction


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Structure of an essayIntroduce general topic

Papersargument

Support for thesis statement

BriefSummary

Link to wider perspective


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Examples: Essays


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Example: Scientific paper


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Structure of an essayIntroductionGrab the reader

Introduce the topic What your main argument/point is What is going to follow in the essayStart wide and get more and more specific

ParagraphsEach paragraph is a new argument or topicGives more detailed support or evidence for your argumentEach paragraph has a beginning, middle and an end

ConclusionSummary of main findingsLink to broader themes and consequencesFull circle ending


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Structure of the introduction

1. First sentence grab attention, introduce the widertopic

2. Thesis statement the argument of the paper in onesentence

3. Development sentence the points that you will bemaking to develop/support your argument


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Example Introduction 1From: THE COST OF TOURISM IN THE COOK ISLANDS

In theory, tourism brings substantial economic benefits to acountry. But who gains the wealth generated? In recent times touroperators have brought large numbers of tourists to the Cook Islands toenjoy their beauty and the traditional life style. Local people meet thisdemand in the form of profit generation. Can it be argued that tourism inthe Cook Islands has brought wealth and well-being for the majority ofthe local population? Tourism is also promoted as creating jobs andfostering social relations, and in particular a better understandingbetween nations. However, there is, according to one researcher, "agrowing body of empirical evidence that the so-called 'benefits' of

tourism are often greatly outweighed by the substantial long-term socialand environmental costs incurred" (Mercer, 1994, p. 127). This essay willargue that in the case of the Cook Islands, tourism's economic andsocial benefits are unfortunately unrealised ideals and that insteadit has put stresses and strains on both the country's economic wellbeing and its social values.


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Example Introduction 2From: A CRITIQUE OF THE LOGICAL FRAMEWORK AND REVIEW OF ALTERNATIVE WAYS FORWARD

The Inservice Secondary School Teacher Education Project (INSSTEP) was a DFID-funded programme from 1995-2000 in Uganda targeted at increasing the efficiencyand effectiveness of secondary school education. Like many projects, a logical framework(logframe) was central in its planning, monitoring and evaluation (PM&E). The logframe hasa rational underlying logic: if certain activities are undertaken and inputs provided, givencertain assumptions, a set of outputs will result, which in turn will make a contributiontowards achievement of pre-defined objectives (Harley, 2005). Projects built around the

logframe are thus intended to be clear, transparent and accountable. Evaluation is builtaround specified objectively verifiable indicators (OVIs). However, in the case of the INSSTEPproject evaluation, the OVIs with which success was to be measured were quantitative, such asmeeting attendance, and unsuited to measuring what the project was trying to achieve, beingenhancements in teachers resourcefulness, confidence and knowledge. Furthermore, thelogframe-based evaluation revealed that several assumptions did not hold and two of theoutputs were not achieved; however, other beneficial consequences not within the purview ofthe project purpose were excluded, such as the evolution of teacher collegiality,encouragement of enthusiasm towards their work and their personal benefits in terms ofprofessional growth (Harley, 2005). Thus while the logframe is meant to bring clarity andrationality to project management, this very strength brings attendant limitations toan understanding of real outcomes and processes leading to such outcomes (ibid ).There are many limitations in the use of logframes in project PM&E, which manyorganisations are recognising and responding to with the development of alternativetools; two such methodologies, Results Frameworks and Outcome Mapping, will beevaluated here for their potential as alternatives to the logframe, as well as thelessons they yield in practice.


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Structure of the paragraphs

1. Topic sentence introduce the subject of theparagraph (general, not too detailed)

2. Supporting details, arguments or evidence (in order ofimportance or order of chronology/events)

3. Closing sentence summarising the topic sentence ina different way and linking to the next paragraph topic

sentence


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Example paragraphFrom: COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN MATERNAL AND CHILD

HEALTH / FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAMMES

Community participation is seen as the key to primary health care.It is concerned not with advanced medical technology but rather with applying tried and tested health care procedures to the healthproblems of the poor and underprivileged, most of whom life inrural areas of the developing countries. It is believed that only if those who most need health care participate in its delivery will there be anyimpact on the diseases afflicting them, and that only communityinvolvement can ensure that culturally acceptable care is available tothose who are at present underserved. WHO and UNICEF have notconfined themselves to mere advocacy of primary health care based oncommunity participation but have also pursued activities designed topromote its practical application. For example, in developing a strategyfor health for all by the year 2000, WHO has focused on examining therole of members of the community in the delivery of health services.Those concerned with the control of communicable disases haveexamined methods of involving members of the community intheir efforts and have incorporated community participationcomponents in their training modules.


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Structure of the conclusion

Summarise main ideas and argumentOne strategy is to take all of your topic sentences andsummarise/rephrase them

Explain why is this topic important. Why should thereader care?

Relate your story to the general world/fieldOne strategy is to circle back to the way you openedthe introduction


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Summary: Structure of an essay

General statementsThesis statement

PARAGRAPHS:Topic sentence- Support- Support- SupportConclusion/Linking sentence

Summary of main pointsFinal comment

Body

Conclusion

Paragraph

Paragraph

Paragraph

Introduction


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Planning

1. Analyse the essay title


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Planning2. Brainstorming and mind-maps


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Planning

Use key words


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Planning

LOCAL PRODUCTION OF GENERIC ARVS FOR HIV/AIDS TREATMENT AND ISSUES OF ACCESSIN UGANDA

Introduction- HIV situation in Uganda- Are problems of access to ARVs about COST or about barriers in HEALTH

INFRASTRUCTURE?Thesis: Although there is local production which presents an opportunity forincreased access to ARVs, access still depends on various changes to thehealthcare system.

Paragraph 1: Background to ARVs and access in Uganda and global ARV mechanisms

Paragraph 2: Local drug production in UgandaParagraph 3: Problems in health infrastructure and barriers to drug access in

Uganda

ConclusionCheap drugs will not solve the problem of accessUganda needs to address critical issues of access and healthcare infrastructure.

3. Make an essay plan


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Planning4. Do the research

Journal articles Read the abstracts, introductions, conclusionsand note key references

Books read introductions and key chapters. Note key quotes.

Internet dont believe everything you read!

Put key information and quotes into your essay plan.

*Note down the details of the references you use for yourbibliography.


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The importance of clear sentences

The secret of good writing is to strip each sentence toits cleanest components. Every word that serves nofunction, every long word that could be a short word these weaken the strength of a sentence. And theyusually occur in proportion to the education and rank.

William Zinsser in On Writing Well, 1979


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Clear writing

Do not hide your main points or arguments putthem at the beginning of sentences or paragraphs.

Do not use emphatic writing- Best- Always- Excessive personal emotion- Too much detail and story-telling

Cut unnecessary words and phrases


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Cut unnecessary wordsExample:

This paper provides a review of the basic tenants of cancer biologystudy design, using as examples studies that illustrate the

methodological challenges or that demonstrate successfulsolutions to the difficulties inherent in biological research.

This paper provides a review of the basic tenants of cancer biologystudy design, using as examples studies that illustrate the

methodological challenges or that demonstrate successfulsolutions to the difficulties inherent in biological research.

This paper reviews cancer biology study design, usingexamples that illustrate specific challenges and solutions.


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Example:

As it is well known, increased athletic activity has been related toa profile of lower cardiovascular risk, low blood pressure levels,and improved muscular and cardio- respiratory performance.

As it is well known, increased athletic activity has been related toa profile of lower cardiovascular risk, low blood pressure levels,and improved muscular and cardio- respiratory performance .

Increased athletic activity is associated with lowercardiovascular risk, low blood pressure, and improved fitness.

Increased athletic activity lowers cardiovascular risk andblood pressure, and improves fitness.

is associated with

fitness


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Take out words that

slow down the readeras it is well knownas it has been shownit can be regarded thatlong words or phrases that could be short (muscularand cardio-respiratory performance)

repetitive words (illustrate/demonstrate,challenges/difficulties)adverbs (very, really, quite, basically, generally)


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Shorten long words or phrases

A majority of Most

A number of Many

Are of the same opinion Agree

Less frequently occurring Rare

Give rise to CauseDue to the fact that Because

Have an effect on affect


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There is more power in shorter

sentences that give the main idea:Brain injury incidence shows two peak periods in almostall reports; rates are the highest in young people and theelderly.

More power:

Brain injury incidence peaks in the young and theelderly.


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Logical development of theargument

Importance of planning

Importance of structureConnectors and linking wordsEditing


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Transitions / ConnectorsLink paragraphsLink sentences

Make your ideas flow

Firstly, secondly, thirdly Primarily Above allFinally As a result In additionFurthermore Therefore Additionally

However Consequently To concludeOn the other hand Thus AlsoIn contrast Hence BesidesSimilarly The cause of CorrespondinglyLikewise Moreover To summarise


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Editing

Get feedback

If the meaning is unclear, it is badly writtenTake a break from the writing and return to edit it later


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Conclusion

STRUCTURE

Logical development of the argumentThesis statementMain arguments = main paragraphsOne sentence = one idea

Linking words = connecting ideasConclusion


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Thank you

Any questions?


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Workshop group exerciseNever write before you make a plan

Essay topics:

How can corruption issues in Colombia be solved? Why is the gap between the rich and poor increasingin Colombia and how can this be reduced?

Where do you see Pereiras development in the next 20

years and why?

1. Brainstorm2. Make an essay plan

Workshop Series Presentation 1

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