Academic writing / Writing key points / Academic Writing key points

Organization

Introductory Paragraph:

Background Information / historical perspective / why it’s an important topic / definitions (where appropriate)

Thesis Statement which states the controlling ideas of the essay and indicates the order in which they will be presented (usually the last sentence)

It could be argued that sport has had a commercial aspect since the earliest times. As far back as 590 BC Greek athletes were rewarded in the Olympic Games with financial prizes (Harris, 1964). However, in recent times the commercialization of sport has exploded, and today sport offers lucrative returns to sponsoring companies. Sporting events, teams and individual athletes attract large companies as sponsors and in return for their financial input, the companies are able to expand their marketing through the exposure sporting events provide them as well as through branding, advertising, and merchandising. Besides the financial benefits for the companies, there are also many benefits for the athletes and the sports which may otherwise face difficulties due to the limitation of funds. Audiences also gain from this sponsorship as international and elite sporting events have increased through the involvement of corporations. Nevertheless, there are some concerns regarding this increasing level of sponsorship in sport. In fact, there have been calls from some to reduce the level of involvement of business in sport because it is claimed that the downside has now begun to outweigh the benefits (Jones, 2006). In order to evaluate whether this is true, it is necessary to identify some of the negative effects of increased sponsorship in sport. The principle concerns about the negative effects of increasing sponsorship in sport are that the athletes’ needs may be sacrificed due to the demands of sponsors, some sponsors’ products may be socially irresponsible, and the standards of the sport may be compromised.

Body Paragraphs:

Each paragraph contains a different idea

Topic sentences introduce the main idea & controlling ideas of each paragraph (i.e. limits the main idea to one or two areas)

Ideas should be coherent, logically organized and well connected

Topic sentences examples

One negative effect is that athletes’ needs may be sacrificed in order to meet the demands of the market.

In addition, sponsorship can also lead to the advertising of socially irresponsible products.

Another negative effect is…

Finally,…

Concluding Paragraph:

Recap thesis and main points

Make a final comment on implications of findings

DON’T INTRODUCE NEW INFORMATION!!

Incorporating research

It is important that you present your opinion, but it must be objective and supported by reliable research.

Paraphrase, summarise, or use direct quotations HOWEVER, avoid over-using direct quotations

Demonstrate the significance of the information

Reference all secondary sources

(Style guides available on Student Learning Support or Library website)

Editing

Check for errors in grammar and spelling (Don’t rely totally on the computer’s grammar and spelling checker)

Check the structure and organisation

Ensure you have answered the question and have not included any irrelevant information

If possible have another person read your essay

Ensure you have referenced all information you have borrowed from other sources, and that in-text citations and reference list correspond

Check that the presentation is correct, e.g. cover page, page numbers, double spacing (these can differ according to your lecturer’s requirements)

Ensure your language is formal and appropriate for the audience.

Use the FIND function to focus on your specific errors

Formality

There are a number of ways that you can make your academic writing more formal.

Do not use contractions, e.g. isn’t, don’t

Do not use colloquial vocabulary

Do not use clichés or proverbs, e.g. “Every coin has two sides”

Avoid using basic vocabulary: get/got, a lot of/lots, nice, bad, thing, big, anyway

Avoid using run-on sentences such as “and so on” or “etc”

Do not start sentences with And, But or So.

Do not use rhetorical questions, e.g. “What is a good leader?”

Place adverbs within the verb group rather than at the beginning or end of sentences, e.g. It can then flow. (Then it can flow.)

Write objectively. Avoid the use of personal pronouns I, we, you etc. Rather than “I think rising oil prices will have an extremely detrimental effect on the economy”, say, for example, “The effect of rising oil prices on the economy will be extremely detrimental” or simply “The rising oil prices will…”

Choose more formal alternatives, e.g. rather than “The issue will be looked at..” say “The issue will be examined..”

Do not use abbreviations such as “e.g.” or “i.e.”

Avoid gender-specific language and “he/she”

Do not mix British and American English

Make sure your paragraphs are well defined

RESOURCES:

Student Learning Support iLearn Community

http://www.bond.edu.au/SLS http://www.gcu.ac.uk/student/coursework/academicwriting/ http://www-public.jcu.edu.au/learningskills/resources/wsonline/index.htm http://unilearning.uow.edu.au/main.html

Why not bring your first assignment to Student Learning Support to make sure you’re on the right track and let us give you some suggestions to improve it? Or come along to other workshops on quoting and paraphrasing, referencing or ready4writing.

STUDENT LEARNING SUPPORT

learningsupport@bond.edu.au