Nursing Writing Skills 09

7/28/2019 Nursing Writing Skills 09

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(University) Writing skills

Caryn West RN, Cert CR & GCP, GDip Res Methods


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Whether youre a

student or teacher,

academic writing skillsare necessary in

todays world.

Essays, reports,presentations and

research papers are

just some examples ofdocuments written in

the academic style.


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Academic writing, whenused appropriately,presents a polished and

professional image.

Academic writing

skills encompass strong

composition, excellent

grammar, and aconsistent

stylistic approach.


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It is a learnt skill and,


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What is academic writing?

Academic writing refers to a particular style

of expression.


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Characteristics include

A formal tone, use of the

third-person rather

than first-personperspective, clear

focus on the issue or

topic rather than theauthors opinion, and

precise word choice.


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Writersemploying the

formal

academicstyle avoid

jargon, slang,

and

abbreviations.


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Academic writing is formalwriting. Many novice

writers have trouble

telling informal writing

apart from formal

writing. They resort to

informal writing, since

its easier and morefamiliar.


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Characteristics of informal writing

the use ofcolloquialisms

and jargon,

writing in the firstperson or making

I statements,

making directpersonal

statements, andimprecise word

choices.


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Just as you probably

wouldnt wear shorts

and flip-flops to a

wedding, theres atime and a place for

informal writing.

Informal writing is fine

for diary entries, blogs,

personal writing,letters or emails to

friends.


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The most informal writing

imaginable is the textmessage, full of

abbreviations such as R

U here? to convey quick

questions and responses.

In comparison, the most

formal writing of all can

be found in legal

documents.


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Writers working on papersfor school, collegeapplication essays,scientific papers,research papers,

conference

presentations, andbusiness proposalsgenerally employ a more

formal style akin to

donning a suit or dressto attend a wedding.


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ExamplesInformal writing:

I think hes a loser.


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Formal writing:

Macbeths horrific choices cause him to lose

everything he holds dear: children, wife,

friends, crown and king.


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The first statement is informal. The writerspeaks in the first person, using the wordI, and states an opinion. The slang termloser, is used, which is inappropriate in a

formal context. They also uses thecontraction hes. If this were in the middle

of a paragraph, it may be easier to

understand to whom the author is referring.

Taken as a simple statement, however, its

impossible to know whether the writer thinks his bestfriend, his dog, or a rock star is a loser!


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The second example uses an academic,

formal style. Written in the third-person,the sentence omits references to the writer

and focuses on the issue. Strong, specific

adjectives like horrific convey theauthors view clearly without resorting to

slang. The use of the colon creates a

strong, formal feel when properly usedhere to introduce a list.


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Good Guides

Assignment writing

A Visual Guide to Essay Writing


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Need to know stuff

Access the JCU T&L Centre

Layouts (PG 50 Mariner)

How to find literature Referencing


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Wheres the info ??

Library

On-line

JCU Data bases (turn on remote access)

Lectures Text books

Tutorials

News

Newspapers

Everywhere!!!


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Referencing

Why?

Credible sources

StyleAPA (when it is and when it isnt) Endnote


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What is plagiarism

Copying of

passages/text/work/

ideas without properacknowledgement of

the author. This

includes otherstudents work.


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Safe assignment


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Getting started

Find your time

Find your space

Discipline, self & others Brain storming, clustering, mind mapping

Free writing


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Introduction

What is the question? Global view from the

broad to the narrow

Introduce the : Who What

When

Where

Why

How


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The topic

Why is it being asked?

Is it multi layered?

Does it invite a largely factual response? Is it looking for a particular stance such as

argue or critique?


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Literature

Is it current?

Is the author a credible source?

Is the subject relevant? Clustering

References/endnote


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Wikipedia

IS NOT A CREDIBLE SOUCE


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Beginning

A quotation is it relevant

A question

An opinion An interesting fact

An irony or paradox

An analogy And anecdote
http://images.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://blogs.psychologytoday.com/files/u45/flow_water_fall.jpg&imgrefurl=http://blogs.psychologytoday.com/blog/dont-delay/200805/procrastination-and-flow-experiences-tale-opposites&usg=__p6-yqYcPv27cARkgPWPAiZuKNMc=&h=443&w=354&sz=106&hl=en&start=4&tbnid=622P7xiSLuNT8M:&tbnh=127&tbnw=101&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dflow%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den


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Body

Your paragraphs should

flow naturally into one

another andconnections should

be made
http://images.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://blogs.psychologytoday.com/files/u45/flow_water_fall.jpg&imgrefurl=http://blogs.psychologytoday.com/blog/dont-delay/200805/procrastination-and-flow-experiences-tale-opposites&usg=__p6-yqYcPv27cARkgPWPAiZuKNMc=&h=443&w=354&sz=106&hl=en&start=4&tbnid=622P7xiSLuNT8M:&tbnh=127&tbnw=101&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dflow%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den


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Paragraphs

7-8 sentences

Each should be topic specific, preferably

with an introductory sentence

Each sentence state the content/context

and then some supporting example which

is where the references come in.

The last sentence concludes the

paragraph and moves to the next.


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Transitional words

Joining words Also, and, again, etc

Comparing words Also, in comparison

Contracting words Although, but, conversely, despite, even though, however

Positioning words

Above, adjacent to, below

Situation words Before, briefly, consequently, finally, first


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Conclusions

Dont introduce anything new

Draw in the introduction

Demonstrate a conclusion or a lack of

conclusion

Give the essay a sense of completeness Leave a final impression
http://images.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://www.ok.gov/okohstest/images/chain.jpg.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.ok.gov/homeland/Cyber_Security/Chain_Letters/index.html&usg=__1YmttGedr-Jb8jZILWK7_X5M4lI=&h=1024&w=819&sz=139&hl=en&start=1&tbnid=ekLHKtwl0EWwCM:&tbnh=150&tbnw=120&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dchain%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den


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Revision

Links and gaps

Be ruthless

Read text out loud

Content revision does it answerthe question?

Grammatical and presentation

revision Spelling!!!!! (American vs

Australian English)
http://images.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://www.ok.gov/okohstest/images/chain.jpg.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.ok.gov/homeland/Cyber_Security/Chain_Letters/index.html&usg=__1YmttGedr-Jb8jZILWK7_X5M4lI=&h=1024&w=819&sz=139&hl=en&start=1&tbnid=ekLHKtwl0EWwCM:&tbnh=150&tbnw=120&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dchain%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den


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Edit

Another pair of eyes

Bottom line. You have to communicatewith the marker you do not get to sit next

to them.


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Marking criteria

Mariner pg 55

Documents

Nursing Writing Skills 09