Transcript DRAFTING THE PAPER IN AN ACADEMIC STYLE

DRAFTING THE PAPER IN
AN ACADEMIC STYLE
As you draft, your voice should flow from one idea to the
next smoothly and logically. You should adopt an academic style,
understanding that such a style requires precision but not
necessarily long, polysyllabic words pulled from a thesaurus.
Therefore, treat the initial draft as explanatory, one that searches for
the exact word, not just long word. Every discipline has its own
specialised words.
A research paper may examine a subject in depth, but it
also examines your knowledge and the strength of your evidence.
You may need to retrace previous steps – reading, researching, and
note-taking. Ask you instructor to examine the draft, not so much
for line editing but for the big picture, to see if you have met the
assignment and not ever-simplified the issues.
DRAFTING THE PAPER IN
AN ACADEMIC STYLE (2)
• Be Practical
1 Write what you know and feel, not what you think
somebody wants to hear.
2 Write portions of the paper when you are ready, not only
when you arrive there by outline sequence.
3 If necessary, leave blank spots on the page to remind you
that more evidence is required.
4 Skip entire sections if you are ready to develop later
paragraphs.
DRAFTING THE PAPER IN
AN ACADEMIC STYLE (3)
• Be Uninhabited
1 Initial drafts must be attempts to get words on the page
rather than to create a polished document..
2 Write without fear or delay.
3 Cite the names of the sources in your notes and text.
4 Enclose quotations in your notes and text.
5 Preserve the page numbers of the sources.
DRAFTING THE PAPER IN
AN ACADEMIC STYLE (3)
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Your early draft is a time for discovery. Later, during the
revision period, you can strengthen skimpy paragraphs, refine
your prose, and rearrange material to maintain the momentum of
your argument
Begin with these tasks:
Focus your argument
Refine your thesis sentence.
Write a title that identifies your key terms.
Begin writing from your notes and outline.
(For further reference, please refer to your Writing Research
Papers book pp 158 – 171)