Using quotations effectively
Quotations should serve your argument. Find pertinent quotations, place them for best effect and make them fit your purpose.
Paraphrasing: what it is and how to do it
Swapping the author’s words for your own, even with the help of the thesaurus, won’t save you from plagiarism. Indeed, although the thesaurus is a useful writing tool, it can also be a trap. In a PhD, dissertation or essay, successful paraphrasing is taking the nub of someone else’s argument and relating it to the point you are making.
How to bring your voice into reflective writing
Dr Lucy English Reflective writing is used in subjects as varied as education, nursing, sociology and the creative arts as a method to reflect on the learning experience. Students often find reflective writing difficult. How do you write about your…
Developing a critical mindset
Developing a critical mindset involves drawing on qualities including confidence, motivation, curiosity and effort.
When to quote rather than paraphrase
When done well, quoting can enhance your work. Here are three reasons to use direct quotes in your Arts or Humanities essay.
Reflection as a writing tool
It’s not difficult or time-consuming to build reflection into your writing practice, but it is enormously beneficial.
Voice in academic writing
'Good academic writers communicate their ideas simply and clearly, conveying a sense of wonder or excitement about their subject.'
You before me: prioritising the reader
The thesis writer has to think carefully about what the reader needs to know at any given point. For maximum impact, it has to be ‘you before me’ all the way from first draft to viva.
The story of your research
The principles of storytelling can be successfully applied to academic writing to make your research more compelling.
Who’s listening?
Nothing is more paralysing than speaking to people who know more than you do about the very thing you’re speaking about. Students sometimes write badly for a related reason. They write with defensive terror, knowing the person reading the essay…
