Transcript Slide 1

Writing at the Graduate Level
Matt Sharkey-Smith
Writing Instructor and Coordinator of
Graduate Writing Initiatives
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Housekeeping
• Muting
• Questions
• Tech trouble?
http://support.citrixonline.com/en_US/GoToTrain
ing
• Recording:
http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/415.htm
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Agenda
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APA Style
Paraphrasing
Plagiarism
Graduate Writing
Grammar
Resources
APA Style Refresher
• Citations
• References
• Paraphrasing
• Plagiarism
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Citations
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Citations
• In-text citations
– Smith’s (2012) study showed that APA was
students’ favorite citation style.
– According to Zuckerman (2012), APA triggers
more neurons in the brain than footnotes.
• Parenthetical citations
– APA makes the world a better place
(Grammer, 2012).
NO: (Grammer, 2012) said that APA makes the
world a better place.
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Citation with Direct Quotation
• Direct quotations
– According to Oyler (2012), “Citations help one’s
reader to better understand the origin of
material” (p. 12).
– To become a stronger writer, one must begin “by
tackling the ominous stare of the blank computer
screen” (Powet, 2012, para. 4).
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Citation Variations
• An organization: (US Bank, 2005)
• No author: (“Without Identity,” 2002)
• Secondary source: Cosby (as cited in Nash,
2007)
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Which would be a correct in-text citation?
A. According to Johnson 2012, “College
graduates are underprepared for the rigors of
the corporate world” (p. 214).
B. Students who have recently graduated “are
underprepared for the rigors of the corporate
world” according to (Johnson, 2012, p. 214).
C. Johnson (2012) reminded the researchers
that “College graduates are underprepared for
the rigors of the corporate world” (p. 214).
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References
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Common References
Poe, E., & Lee, A. (1847). Good poetry and onesyllable surnames. Journal of Really Nothing,
4(2), 23-45. doi: 107897830
Nadeau, N. (2012). Rapping with Seoul.
Funtown, MN: Too Cool Press.
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Common References
U. S. Department of Education. (2007).
Reconstructing the educational system:
Guidelines from trial and error. Retrieved from
http://www.ed.gov/ficticioussite
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Which Reference Is Best?
A. Skarbakka, K., & Grammer, R. (2012). How to
talk like a scholar and really mean it. Journal
of All Things Crazy, 8(17), 22-44. doi:
10x594930
B. Skarbakka, K., & Grammer, R. (2012). How to
talk like a scholar and really mean it. Journal
of All Things Crazy, 8(17), 22-44. doi:
10x594930
C. Skarbakka, K., & Grammer, R. (2012) How to
talk like a scholar and really mean it. Journal
of All Things Crazy, 8(17), 22-44. doi:
10x594930
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For a List of Common References
He used the website →
• www.writingcenter.waldenu.edu
• http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/353.htm
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Paraphrasing
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Paraphrasing
Terms
Ideas
Themes
Your Mind =
Funnel
PARAPHRASE
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Paraphrasing
Strategies
• Reread until you relax
• Look up from the
screen
• Be selective: Do you need to paraphrase the
entire source?
• Change the structure, then the words.
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Paraphrasing
Original: “Students who have a tendency to apply
source material without adapting a proper
citation and abiding by APA format may be
prosecuted for intentional imitation and may be
required to modify their material.”
Paraphrase: Students may be accused of plagiarism
and have to rewrite their papers if they use
outside sources and don’t follow APA rules for
citations.
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Plagiarism
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What is Plagiarism?
Using other people’s words, ideas, images, data,
etc. without proper attribution
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Plagiarism and Culture: Why?
Personal
• Time
• Fear
• Lack of
confidence
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Lifestyle
• Copying
• Common
Knowledge
• Definition of
“intellectual
property”
Academic
• Test only
• Memorization
• Imitation
How to Avoid It
Don’t:
Do:
• Just insert
synonyms
• Forget your
citations
• Paraphrase
• Restructure the
entire sentence
• Give credit to any
ideas that are not
your own
http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/63.htm
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Graduate Writing Expectations
•Scholarly voice
•Argument
•Writing tips
•Resources
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Scholarly Voice
Goal: sound serious, professional, and informed
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Formality: Word choice
Formal and precise language
• Avoid slang, colloquialisms, and clichés
The kids said the test was a piece of cake.
The students said the test was easy.
• Avoid metaphors and similes
The patient was sick as a dog.
The patient was diagnosed with severe pneumonia.
• Avoid contractions
James hasn’t ever missed a day of school.
James has never missed a day of school.
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Formality: Point of View
• Avoid the second person (you/your)
You need to be aware of your treatment options. →
Patients need to be aware of their treatment options.
• Avoid the general we (or us or our)
We are responsible for our children’s wellbeing. →
Parents are responsible for their children’s wellbeing.
• Use the first person (I/me/my) only as appropriate
This paper will discuss…→ In this paper, I will discuss…
The data will be collected.→ I will collect the data.
The scholar will argue… → I will argue…
Not appropriate: I found several studies that suggested…
Not appropriate: I think that all politicians are corrupt.
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Neutrality
• Avoid opinion statements
I think/I feel/I believe
Not so great: I think childhood obesity is a
major concern.
Better: Childhood obesity is a major concern.
Best: Childhood obesity is a major concern, as
17% of children in America are obese (CDC,
2012).
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Neutrality
• Avoid generalizations
Not so great: Children do not get enough
exercise.
Better: Many children do not get enough
exercise.
Best: According to the CDC (2012), in 2011,
only 29% of high schoolers received the
recommended amount of exercise, defined as
at least one hour per day.
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Clear and Direct Statements
• The simpler the better!
Not so great: There are 60 individuals who
participated in the study and responded to the survey.
Better: Sixty participants responded to the survey.
Not so great: How to address the achievement gap in
the most effective way has been argued and debated
by scholars.
Better: Scholars debate the most effective way to
address the achievement gap.
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Consider Your Audience
• In general: scholars in your field
• May depend on assignment
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Argument and Analysis
• Not just reporting what you’ve learned!
• Take part in the scholarly conversation.
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Argument and Analysis: Thesis
Thesis
• Specific and arguable
• Comes at the end of introduction
Not so great: This paper is about classroom management
Better: Classroom management is an important part of
teaching.
Best: All teachers should develop the classroom
management skills of authority, individualization, and
time management, which are necessary to run effective
classrooms.
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Argument and Analysis
Evidence
• Supports your central argument throughout
your paper
• Demonstrates your scholarly credibility
Each and every sentence that uses information
from a source must include a citation.
• Cite credible sources
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Argument and Analysis
Analysis
• Your own interpretation of other authors’ ideas
• Ensures that you’re not just summarizing your
research, but using it to support your argument
According to Wilson (2011), 68% of Dallas high
school juniors reported chronic boredom in math
class, suggesting a need to reconsider the math
curriculum and invest in teacher training in this
district.
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Writing Tips
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Tips: Research
Strong choices Weak choices
•Articles from peerreviewed journals
•Peer-reviewed or
scholarly books
•Scholarly websites
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•Wikis or blogs
•Newspapers
•Magazines
•Popular books
•General websites
•Encyclopedias
Tips: Prewriting
• Outlining
I. Introduction
A. Main topic
B. Focus of paper
D. Thesis statement
II. Background
A. Evidence of the problem
B. Significance of problem
III. Major Point 1
A. Evidence of point…
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Tips: Writing
Introduction
• Construct an arguable thesis
• Establish your scholarly tone
Conclusion
• Reiterate your thesis
• Provide closure
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Tips: Writing
MEAL plan:
• Main idea: topic sentence
• Evidence: information from your sources to
support your main idea (usually include citations)
• Analysis: explanation of the evidence/discussion
of its relevance in light of your thesis statement
• Lead out: conclusion
(Duke University's Thompson Writing Program, n.d.)
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Tips: Revise, revise, revise!
Revision checklist:
Thesis statement
Paper and paragraph organization
Use of evidence
Citation format
Reference format
Scholarly tone
Simple and direct sentences
Mechanics (grammar and spelling)
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Recap
• Include APA citations in each and every sentence
that includes information from your sources
• All sources you cite in your paper should appear
in your reference list
• Paraphrase mindfully and carefully
• Keep your tone formal and neutral and your
sentences simple
• Use scholarly arguments to join the conversation
• Remember that writing is a process!
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Resources
• Website: http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/
• Guides and resources
• Exercises and quizzes
• Webinars
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Writing courses
Grammarly
[email protected]
One-on-one paper reviews
Library
References
Amsberry, D. (2010). Deconstructing Plagiarism: International
Students and Textual Borrowing Practices. The Reference
Librarian, 51, 31-44. doi: 10.1080/02763870903362183
Duff, H. A., Rogers, D. P., & Harris, M. B. (2006). International
engineering students—avoiding plagiarism through
understanding the Western academic context of
scholarship. European Journal of Engineering Education, 31
(6), 673-681. doi: 10.1080/03043790600911753
Hayes, N., & Introna, L.D. (2005). Cultural Values, Plagiarism,
and Fairness: When Plagiarism Gets in the Way of Learning.
Ethics & Behavior, 15(3). doi: 10.1207/s15327019eb1503_2
Heitman, E., & Litewka, S. (2011). Seminar article:
International perspectives on plagiarism and considerations
for teaching international trainees. Urologic Oncology:
Seminars and Original Investigations, 29 (1), 104-108. doi:
10.1016/j.urolonc.2010.09.014
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Questions?
[email protected]
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