Tips on Writing Assignments

1. Tips on Writing Assignments by AUT Chinese Centre

2. Content • Time Management • Writing Process • Assignment Format • Writing Tips

3. 中国学生写作时存在的问题 • 时间规划差，动手晚 • 不能正确理解作业题目和老师的要求 • 写作技巧薄弱 • 英语水平不够

4. 中国学生写作时存在的问题 • 不会查阅对写作有用的文章 • 不引述或引述别人的东西方法不对 • 欠缺批判思维表述 • 欠缺逻辑思维

5. Time Management • 转变自己听从老师和家长告诉你需要做什么的观念 • 培养自主学习能力 • 阅读你的Study Guide • 在日历上备注上课、交作业、小组讨论、考试等时间 • 学会减压，劳逸结合，锻炼身体，课余参加当地和学校的课余活动。

6. Study Guide • 老师的联系方式 • 要求购买的书 • 课程学习的要求 • 考核形式和时间

7. Writing Process • Read and understand the assignment question • Brain storm • Search references and read for your assignment • Outline assignment points • Writing your first draft • Editing • Submit your assignment

8. Writing Introduction: • Context/background • Purpose/aim • Plan/structure

9. Writing Introduction: • A brief background mentioning what the assignment will discuss • The aim/purpose of writing this assignment • A few lines to indicate how the assignment will be structured/organised.

10. Introduction Obesity Epidemic and Efforts being Made to Tackle it Background: Obesity is one of the major public health challenges of the twenty first century as its prevalence is increasing at an alarming rate in both developing and developed countries.

11. Introduction • Aim and structure: This assignment discusses the pattern of development of the obesity epidemic and its epidemiology. It also seeks to analyse how globalisation, trade and debt have fuelled the problem. In addition, the assignment will examine the interventions that are addressing this issue.

12. Body Paragraph 1: • Your topic sentence or your statement • Build your arguments by including evidence and opinions from different sources and different perspectives so that you present a clear, unbiased picture.

13. BodyEvidence • Include examples in your assignment is a useful way to demonstrate all of the above. • Use statistics/ figures/ tables and explain their relevance to your assignment.

14. BodyEvidence • Examples/evidence/quotations: You will usually need to include evidence that develops/contrasts an idea. • This informs and strengthens your argument. • Try and introduce your evidence clearly and remember to reference the source (either as a citation in the body of your text or as a footnote/endnote)

15. BodyEvidence – very important part! • Evaluative sentence/s: You may need to offer some explanation on the relevance of your examples/evidence/quotations. Why is this evidence useful? What does the author say that supports the idea you are developing? Does this evidence have any limitations

16. Critical thinking • Demonstrate your critical thinking • Weigh weaknesses and strengths • Express your opinions • Will be given marks for this

17. Conclusion • i) stating the aim/ context of the assignment again • ii) followed by a very brief summary of the main points • iii) final comments often considering the future (for eg: what can be done to improve the implementation of an intervention in the future = recommendations)

18. Conclusion • Restating the key points and emphasising what has been learned in the course of the essay. • The goal of this section is to show that the purpose has been achieved as fully as possible and give a sense of “closure” to the work.

19. Citation • “Direct quote” （p 90) • Indirect quote • Support

20. Tips on writing • 安排好文章结构 （logical thinking skill • 找到相关的文章最重要 （library skills) • 把有用的信息和观点摘录出来分配给每个部分 (critical thinking)

21. 会把找到的资料用在文章中（APA referencing skills) • 用自己的话写出来（paraphrasing skill) • 写作时运用语言工具(English language skill) - 句酷： http://www.jukuu.com/ - Google - online dictionary

22. Academic Writing Support • Learning Advisors in WB239 • Learning Mentor Ziggy • Academic writing workshops • English language workshops

23. Questions? Good Luck!