Transferable Writing Skills
The writing skills addressed in this section are termed "transferable" because they are used by writers working across a wide range of academic contexts and writing projects. Indeed, many skills here may also be useful for professional, non-academic tasks, such as writing a business report or blog writing.
This section begins with three essential and interrelated skills that are essential when previous publications have a prominent role in your writing:
Paraphrasing
Paraphrasing
When referring to the writing of another scholar, or scholars, it is sometimes suitable to use direct quotations. Most of the time, however, it is better to paraphrase.
Summarising
Summarising
Students sometimes ask what the difference is between summarising and paraphrasing. It is helpful to see it in terms of ratio. In a paraphrase, the writer does not dramatically condense the length of the original source material.
Arguing
Arguing
A simple academic argument usually consists of claims, and support for those claims, which build towards a key point.
Stance and Voice
Stance and Voice
The terms 'stance' and 'voice' are often used by tutors and supervisors when giving feedback, but students are not always clear on their meaning.
Interpreting Empirical Findings
Interpreting Empirical Findings
Many scholars in the social and natural sciences describe their research findings in a chapter entitled "Findings" or "Results".
Incorporating Scholarship into your Writing
Incorporating Scholarship into your Writing
Academic writers have several options when incorporating scholarship into their own writing.
Contents
The Hub is presented in three sections, each of which considers Academic Writing from a somewhat different perspective:
Paraphrasing
When referring to the writing of another scholar, or scholars, it is sometimes suitable to use direct quotations. Most of the time, however, it is better to paraphrase.Summarising
Students sometimes ask what the difference is between summarising and paraphrasing. It is helpful to see it in terms of ratio. In a paraphrase, the writer does not dramatically condense the length of the original source material.Synthesising
SynthesisingArguing
A simple academic argument usually consists of claims, and support for those claims, which build towards a key point.Stance and Voice
The terms 'stance' and 'voice' are often used by tutors and supervisors when giving feedback, but students are not always clear on their meaning.Interpreting Empirical Findings
Many scholars in the social and natural sciences describe their research findings in a chapter entitled "Findings" or "Results".