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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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