Academic Writing Skills

RPW 305 Research Paper Writing

Basics about Your Instructor

Name & Surname: Office: Office Number: E-mail address:

RPW 305- RESEARCH PAPER WRITING

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COURSE OBJECTIVES

Students will develop their reading and writing skills needed for academic settings, advance their competence and confidence in using the English language form and function.

summarize given short and long texts.

paraphrase sentences and paragraphs.

evaluate sources for relevance to their research topics.

apply research methods, apply referencing rules (APA style documentation) Write a documented expository essay.

RPW 305 – Course Requirements

• 2 hours per week / 1 credit • 6 hours of absence at most – Doctor’s report (within 15 days) – Clash (copy of student’s program) – Excuses related to Çankaya (document from the university) – Working (any document) • All documents about absence will be given to the instructor

RPW 305 - Grading

* MIDTERM: 30% * FINAL PAPER: 20% (Writing) * FINAL: 40% * TEACHER ASSESSMENT: 5% * ORAL PERFORMANCE IN CLASS: 5%

RPW 305 - PORTFOLIO

• • • • TASK 1: Making an outline for a research paper (expository essay) (in-class) TASK 2: Non-documented expository essay (400 500 words) (During the midterm exam) TASK 3: Referencing, summarizing, and paraphrasing library and online database sources (at least 4 sources) (in-class) TASK 4: and integrated version of task 2 and 3) (600-800 words) Documented expository essay (a revised (take-home, 20 pts) ATTENTION: Do not leave gathering your sources to the last minute, choose your topic and hand in your sources in the 3rd week.

RPW 305 - COURSE BOOK

Academic English Survival Skills II

Gülcü, M., Gülen, G, Şeşen, E., & Tokdemir, G. (2011). Academic English: Survival Skills II (4th ed.), Ankara: Black Swan.

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ENG 305 Study Pack (available at the photocopy room) *Both materials need to be brought to the class each week.

PORTFOLIO ASSESSMENT POLICY

1) Task 1 and 3 will be written in-class and the teacher will give in-class feedback, but they will not be graded.

2) Task 2 will be written during the midterm. Students can bring their outlines to the midterm exam.

3) Students are not required to write second drafts.

CANKAYA UNIVERSITY - OFFICE OF BASIC AND ELECTIVE COURSES- ENGLISH UNIT

PORTFOLIO ASSESSMENT POLICY

4) You have to type your task 4 on a computer with the online document called “Student Assignment Sheet” on top of it. Your final draft has to be double spaced and typed in Times New Roman 12 point characters.

5) Due Date for Task 4 is week 14.

CANKAYA UNIVERSITY - OFFICE OF BASIC AND ELECTIVE COURSES- ENGLISH UNIT

PORTFOLIO ASSESSMENT POLICY

6) If you don’t submit task 4 on time, late submission is possible only within 7 days. However, you should know that half of the points assigned to that task is extracted from your grade.

CANKAYA UNIVERSITY - OFFICE OF BASIC AND ELECTIVE COURSES- ENGLISH UNIT

RESEARCH

Sources can only be obtained from printed library materials or online databases.

Online databases can be accessed from Çankaya University Library’s website: http://library.cankaya.edu.tr/onlinevtabani.html

CANKAYA UNIVERSITY - OFFICE OF BASIC AND ELECTIVE COURSES- ENGLISH UNIT

TURNITIN MEMBERSHIP

- All students need to get a turnitin membership to upload task 4 Go to www.turnitin.com

And get a student account. It’s easy when you follow the instructions!

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RESEARCH TOPICS

Engineering Departments and MCS

• Contributions of 3 Great Mathematicians to Modern Mathematics (3 or more) • Sustainable (Renewable) Energy Sources • How Technology Fosters Education • Advances in Communication Technology

PSIR and ECON

• US Influence on Third World Countries • Ways to control Inflation • Globalization and Economy • The Dangers-Restrictions / Benefits EU Would Bring Along

MAN – IE –INTT

• International Economical Unions of which Turkey is a member • Restrictions on International Trade • Competition

IE

• Production Planning and Control Techniques for Performance Improvement • Benefits of Total Quality Management • Major Roles of Industrial Engineers in Production Process

AR & INAR

• Design Concepts • Basic Principles of Interior Design • The Influence of Ottoman Architecture on Turkish Architecture (Some masterpieces) • Criteria for Designing Small Spaces • Examples of Green Architecture / Benefits of Green Architecture

PSY

• Good/bad Conditions of Children Living in the Social Service and Child Protection Institutions • Major Subfields of Psychology • Working conditions of psychologists in Turkey (handle either negative or positive aspects)

PSY

• The importance of family/marriage counseling for the maintanence of healthy relationships • Ways of coping with problematic children in primary or secondary school education • Psychological challenges that a pubescent encounters

CHECK OUR WEBSITE REGULARLY!

rpw305.cankaya.edu.tr

You can find all course related materials and announcements from ppt presentations to syllabus on this website.

BECOME A REGULAR VISITOR 

LETS START WITH THE COURSE...

CHARACTERISTICS of FORMAL WRITING

(AESS II, p. 311)

• Whether you’re a student, teacher, or businessperson, academic writing skills are necessary in today’s world.

• Essays , reports , presentations and research papers are just some examples of documents written in the academic style.

What is academic writing?

• In brief, academic writing is 'structured research' written by 'scholars' for other scholars (with all university writers being 'scholars' in this context). • Academic writing is; *factual, *objective, and most importantly, * FORMAL .

What are the characteristics of formal writing and informal writing?

• Formal English is used mainly in academic writing, and business communications • Whereas informal English is casual , and appropriate when communicating with friends and family.

Characteristics of Formal Writing

Formal Writing Informal Writing Distant Language -Personal pronouns are usually avoided.

-Passive voice is often preferred.

Personal Language -Personal Pronouns are common.

-Personal feelings and views are expressed.

-Active voice is often preferred.

Characteristics of Formal Writing

• Formal Writing is ACCURATE: -Precise evidence is presented.

-Facts are distinguished from opinions and feelings.

-Sources are carefully used and acknowledged.

-Sentences are clear and constructed carefully.

-Punctuation marks are accurately used.

Characteristics of Formal Writing

• Structure and vocabulary are formal; -Full forms are used (What have, cannot...) -More formal, abstract words with Latin or Greek origins are often preferred.

Yet informal writing is...

• OFTEN IMPRECISE; -A personal viewpoint is expressed.

-Statements are not necessarily accurate.

-Facts and opinions are not necessarily distinct.

-Sources are used rarely and carelessly.

-Sentences are shorter, and not so carefully constructed.

-Dramatic punctuation marks (?, !, ...) are common.

Characteristics of Formal Writing

• Formal writing is TENTATIVE; -There are few definite statements.

-Quick conclusions are avoided.

Yet in informal writing;

• Structure and vocabulary are informal; -Short forms and contractions (I’ve, he’s, can’t...) are often used.

-Shorter, less formal language is preferred (e.g. phrasal verbs, compound words, idioms, slang and colloquial language).

However, informal writing is ASSERTIVE;

-There are often definite statements and generalizations.

-Conclusions may be drawn from insufficient evidence.

Formal Writing vs. Informal Writing

Formal Writing DISTANT LANGUAGE ACCURATE FORMAL STRUCTURE and VOCABULARY TENTATIVE Informal Writing PERSONAL LANGUAGE OFTEN IMPRECISE INFORMAL STRUCTURE and VOCABULARY ASSERTIVE

The First Draft

(Study Pack p. 3-4)

• The Short Research Paper In an academic context, students are required to write essays including references to other sources to support their thesis statements and main ideas.

The First Draft

(Study Pack p. 3-4)

To support their ideas, they need to research what authorities have to say about their topics and include relevant support from outside sources by - summarizing, - quoting, - or paraphrasing it.

The First Draft

(Study Pack p. 3-4)

• However, you should always keep in mind that no one else’s words are as important as yours!!!

• As a writer, you use summaries, quotes, or paraphrases from others only to strenghten your own points.

• Your instructor wants to see that you have researched authorities’ ideas and findings, and that you have integrated those with your own writing well.

Doing Research

(Study Pack p. 1-2)

• CONCRETE SUPPORT What is concrete support?

- It is information from outside sources, such as - Books, - Articles - and Websites that you insert into your essay to add weight to your arguments and make them more convincing.

Doing Research

(Study Pack p. 1-2) Guidelines for Choosing a Piece of Concrete Support

1. Carefully consider the source; use well known newspapers and magazines – you can also use online versions of the well known ones.

For Websites: Be extra critical and skeptical about the credibility of documents on the Web.

1. Ask yourself these questions: a. What is the source? If you cannot find it, do not use the site.

b. If you can find the source, is it trustworthy?

2. In general, do not use information that is older than five years.

3. Choose a passage that directly supports your point.

4. Do not take a passage out of context.

5. Do not use more than two pieces of concrete support in one paragraph. Most of the paragragh should be your own words.

6. Do not choose a passage that is too technical or field specific for your reader to understand (Above all, you need to understand it well in the firt place).