Academic Skills - Session

Academic Skills for University Level

By Gina Perry - Academic Skills Lecturer

Developing skills for level 4

Workshops

•Workshop 1: Academic Language

•Workshop 2: Structuring assignments

•Workshop 3: Sources of information - Library

•Workshop 4: Referencing: Embedding references

•Workshop 5: Referencing: Reference Lists

Academic Language

Recognising, understanding and producing the language you need at university

In today's session you will:

1. Discuss the features of academic language.

2. Apply formal language rules to a text.

3. Identify key academic language in assignment briefs.

4. Highlight the link between directive words and answering the question.

Scan the handout - what are the clues that this is an academic text?

- Types of words
- How it looks on the page
- Structure
- Style of writing

​Discuss in groups. Be ready to feedback.

​What makes writing seem academic?

Features of academic writing

Hard to read

Information in the title

Layout - subheadings / titles

Keywords

Information overload

Formal

Technical words

References

Structure

Small writing

Multiple Choice

How formal is academic writing?

Academic Writing is the most formal style

Word Cloud

Task 2: SKIM the journal article.
Write one word from the article that you think is formal.

Formal academic writing is more than just vocabulary...

​

​Features of Formal Writing

​Quiz to explore the 'rules' of academic writing - some might be a bit different to the rules you are use to.

Academic Writing Rules

Multiple Choice

1. Academic Writing allows contractions such as: isn't, can't, it's, woudn't, should've

• True

• False

Match

2. Reorder the following words from very informal to very formal

• Thing

• Part

• Feature

• Compenent

Very informal

Informal

Formal

Very formal

• Very informal

• Informal

• Formal

• Very formal

Multiple Choice

3. Most assignments should be written in the third person.

• True

• False

Multiple Select

4. What can replace the word "like" in this sentence - "There are many symptoms like headaches, fever and nausea"

• For example

• For instance

• Such as

Multiple Choice

5. Which is the least formal verb in this sentence: Section 6 of the Health and Safety Act 1974 _________

• Discusses

• Talks about

• Explores

• Examines

Multiple Choice

6. True or False: You can use questions in your assignment.

• True

• False

Multiple Select

7. In an academic essay, which is the most formal and suitable word for people ages 13-19

• Young person

• Adolescent

• Juvenile

• Youth

Multiple Choice

8. Exclamation marks and words written in CAPITAL letters should be avoided in academic writing.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

9. Why should you avoid words such as: “really,” “very,” “pretty” “a bit”, "a lot" and “quite"?

• This is too vague

• It is informal and chatty

• They are a waste of your word count

• All of the above

Multiple Select

10. Colloquial phrases should be avoided in academic writing. Which of these phrases are examples of colloquial phrases?

• At the end of the day

• It goes without saying

• In this day and age

• It is hard to get to grips with this.

Multiple Select

11. What is wrong with this sentence: There are many issues e.g. austerity, cost of living crisis and the pandemic, etc...

• etc

• ...

• e.g.

• all of them

Multiple Choice

12. Avoid using 'actually', 'basically', 'literally', 'obviously' in academic writing because it is 'chatty'

• True

• False

 Compare your rules to the ones we have given you in the workbook.

​Write at least 3

Based on the quiz, what are the rules of academic writing?

5 Minute task

The rules of academic writing

Task 3: The rules and make this piece of text more formal

Answers

 Over the past five years social media, such as Instagram and Tiktok, has begun to play an increasingly key role in the daily lives of adults
and children alike.
Since the pandemic, there has been a significant amount of research in to the positive and negative impact it has had, especially on teenagers. 
This essay will discuss how the effect of social media is not straightforward, as it needs to recognise a broad range of benefits alongside the drawbacks.

Choose sources that have academic language – journals, books and academic articles.

Only useing websites will not improve your vocabulary. 
You will struggle to get a higher grade due to the quality of your sources.

Notice academic words and phrases when reading about your topic.

​Reading to improve your academic language

 Lectures and seminars.

 Written assignments – essays and reports.

 Oral assignments – presentations and posters

​Writing & Speaking

 Lectures.

 Academic journals, books and articles.

 Assignment briefs.

Reading & Listening

Academic language in context

Sources for academic language

 Links to rules about academic language, phrases and examples:

 https://blog.nus.edu.sg/celceresources/academic-writing/

 https://libguides.staffs.ac.uk/academic_writing/linking

 https://writing.wisc.edu/handbook/transitions/
https://libguides.newcastle.edu.au/foundation-studies/feedback/home

 https://www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk/

 Watch Youtube videos about academic language:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbWE3iuN6QQ&t=213s

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pE-ohVy9e0

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cq4J8bPBcck&t=7s

Understanding assignments briefs

Recognising, understanding academic language in assignment briefs so you can answer the question successfully.

​Understanding assignment briefs is key to your assignmentes.

​

The Role of Assignment Briefs

Task 4: Scan Assignment Brief

Decide which sections will be most important.

Discuss most important

Identify the sections of the assignment brief from the sub-headings.

List the sections

Sections

−Background to the question

−The assignment question or task*

−Learning outcomes

−Word count

−Marking criteria and weighting

−Submission date

−Recommended sources

−Formatting/structural guidelines

Breaking Down an Assignment Question

​Task 5: Breaking down assignment questions

 Analyse the extent that the cost of living crisis has impacted on the families in Oldham.

​Task 5: Breaking down assignment questions

 Analyse the extent that the cost of living crisis has impacted on the families in Oldham.

​Task 5: Breaking down assignment questions

Discuss the impact of social media on mental health in the UK.

​Task 5: Breaking down assignment questions

Discuss the impact of social media on mental health in the UK.

•In small groups.

•Discuss the correct word based on the definition.

•Give your answer by selecting the right card and holding up.

​

Task 6: Match the Directive

1. Give the exact meaning of something. Where relevant, show you understand how the definition may be problematic.

Define

1. Give the exact meaning of something. Where relevant, show you understand how the definition may be problematic.

2. Make something clear or easy to understand by describing or giving information about it.

Explain

2. Make something clear or easy to understand by describing or giving information about it.

3. Give the main characteristics or features of something, or give a detailed account of it.

Describe

3. Give the main characteristics or features of something, or give a detailed account of it.

4. Give reasons for a point of view, decisions or conclusions, and mention any main objections or arguments against.

Discuss

4. Give reasons for a point of view, decisions or conclusions, and mention any main objections or arguments against.

5. Determine what are the key points to be addressed and their implications.

Identify

5. Determine what are the key points to be addressed and their implications.

6. Examine the worth, importance, validity, effectiveness of something using evidence – and draw a conclusion.

Evaluate

6. Examine the worth, importance, validity, effectiveness of something using evidence – and draw a conclusion.

7. Make a methodical and detailed study of something in order to discover or understand more about it.

Analyse

7. Make a methodical and detailed study of something in order to discover or understand more about it.

 5. Identify

 6. Evaluate

 7. Analyse

1.Define

2.Explain

3.Describe

4.Discuss

Answers

What Directive Words are in the Question & Learning Objectives?

​Many students do not apply the directive word to the question being answered. Students often give a descriptive answer, where they tell the tutor everything they have learned about the topic instead of answering the question.

​Why do directive words matter?

Plenary

Open Ended

What would you include in an academic writing checklist?

​Sources:

 Burns T., & Sinfield, S. (2022). ‘University Assessment and How to Succeed.’ Essential Study Skills: The complete University Guide. Sage.

 University of Birmingham. (2017). A short guide to understanding your assignments. https://intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/as/libraryservices/library/asc/documents/public/short-guide-understanding-assignment.pdf

 University of Leeds (2022) Plan Your Writing. https://library.leeds.ac.uk/info/14011/writing/219/plan_your_writing

 University of Sheffield (nd) Developing an academic argument. https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/academic-skills/study-skills-online/academic-argument

Features of Academic Writing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cq4J8bPBcck

Features of writing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9d9EXWIkuI

University of Hull: Writing Academically https://libguides.hull.ac.uk/writing/home