Writing an academic paper entails providing an intelligible set of concepts into a well-rounded argument. Writing is one of the macro skills that must be developed by all students regardless of their specialization. Because of that, they must be able to scribe their ideas in the most logical way possible. This week’s lesson shall focus on developing the existing writing skills of the students. It will include a recollection of the parts of a critical paper, the different classifications of writing, and what constitutes a good writing material worth reading.
I. Organization
- how ideas are presented
- the arrangement of the larger units of meaning in a paper
- the flow of a piece of writing affects how readers interpret ideas
*All types of texts have their own patterns of organization, all of which are acceptable in specific disciplines.
📚1. Chronological Order
Example:
In the relatively short span of sixty years, there has been an incredible evolution in the size and capabilities of a computer. Today, computer chips smaller than the tip of your fingernail have the same capabilities as the room-sized machines of years ago. The first computer was developed around 1945. They were so large that they required special air-conditioned rooms. About twenty years later, in the 1960s, desk-sized computers were developed. This represented a gigantic advance. Before the end of that same decade, however, the third generation of computer, which used simple integrated circuits and which were even smaller and faster, had appeared. In 1971, the first microprocessor, less than one square centimeter in size, was developed. Today modern microprocessors contain as many as 10 million microprocessors doubles every eighteen months.
📚2. Spatial Order
Examples:
a.
To the left of me is a laptop, and to its right is the mouse. Below is the cubby at my center is a pen cup. On the left-hand side of my desk is a consoling phone, and in front of it lies a notebook. There are several knickknacks scattered around the top of my desk, and a wrist pad directly in front of me. The coffee bar across the room from my location is well stocked with coffee, cups, and syrups. The television mounted high on the wall to the left is on low volume.
b.
There is a certain store that I must admit is my favorite place to shop. When I enter, I find the flowers on my right, followed by fresh fruit and vegetables in a long bin. After this, I love to get a sample of the taste of the day at the end of the aisle. Moving along to the left is a wonderful array of meats and packaged dinners. Up ahead to the left is a dairy section of yogurt, milk, and butter. Moving on is the wine on my right and snacks galore on the left. At the end of this path is a convenient check-out area! Love this store!
📚3. Deductive Order
Examples:
a.
Ancient Greece gave us the first philosophers, whose names have been placed among those of the enlightened elders. One of these figures is Aristotle, the disciple of the great teacher Plato, who in turn was a disciple of Socrates.
Socrates is considered the first great philosopher. The theories of Aristotle are still valid and are the basis of many of the postulates of current thought.
His studies on art and empirical sciences in many cases renewed the thinking of later eras and established new paths of investigation.
b.
Many foreign aid projects fail because of poor planning, thereby wasting huge amounts of money. Years ago in a remote part of a Pacific island nation, an international aid agency donated a hospital. This was a brand new purpose-built facility that would serve a large community that at that point had no health care. The architecture was of the highest modern standards and the hospital was built on land well away from the river to avoid seasonal flooding. It was constructed of materials which were able to withstand the extremes of temperature and climate in the region. The opening was a great occasion. Officials and important people came from far and wide for the event. There were politicians who made speeches to praise the project. They said that it was a major development for the area and would radically change the lives of the people. Sadly, however, it was never used. The government lacked the funds to equip or staff the hospital. Moreover, the building itself was located far away from the river, which was the main means of transport for local people, so access was almost impossible. This health facility remained empty and unused.
📚4. Inductive Order
Examples:
a.
Years ago in a remote part of a Pacific island nation, an international aid agency donated a hospital. This was a brand new purpose-built facility that would serve a large community that at that point had no health care. The architecture was of the highest modern standards and the hospital was built on land well away from the river to avoid seasonal flooding. It was constructed of materials which were able to withstand the extremes of temperature and climate in the region. The opening was a great occasion. Officials and important people came from far and wide for the event. There were politicians who made speeches to praise the project. They said that it was a major development for the area and would radically change the lives of the people. Sadly, however, it was never used. The government lacked the funds to equip or staff the hospital. Moreover, the building itself was located far away from the river, which was the main means of transport for local people, so access was almost impossible. This health facility remained empty and unused. Many foreign aid projects fail because of poor planning, thereby wasting huge amounts of money.
b.
My dog Max wants to chase every non-human living creature he sees, whether it is the cats in the house or rabbits and squirrels in the backyard. Sources indicate that this is a behavior typical of Jack Russell terriers. While Max is a mixed breed dog, he is approximately the same size and has many of the typical markings of a Jack Russell. From these facts along with his behaviors, we surmise that Max is indeed at least part Jack Russell terrier.
***Inductive reasoning presents facts and then wraps them up with a conclusion.
***Deductive reasoning presents a thesis statement and then provides supportive facts or examples.
📚5. Climactic Order
Consider the potential effect of just a small increase in the earth's atmospheric temperature. A rise of only a few degrees could melt the polar ice caps. Rainfall patterns would change. Some deserts might bloom, but lands now fertile might turn to desert, and many hot climates could become uninhabitable. If the sea level rose only a few feet, dozens of coastal cities would be destroyed, and life as we know it would be changed utterly.
II. Coherence
- the logical bridge between words, sentences, and paragraphs
- unity or consistency to connect the words, sentences, and paragraphs
- created when correct vocabulary and grammar are used
Coherence may be achieved through the following:
1. Parallelism (words and sentences)
2. The use of transitional words
3. Repetition
4. Synonyms
5. Pronouns
Cohesive sample: Dogs are canines that people domesticated a long time ago, primarily for practical reasons. Even though dogs descended from wolves, they are tame and can be kept in households. Since they are tame, people have various reasons for owning a dog, such as a companionship.
🖊️1. Concise Language
-avoid redundancy - use least words possible to convey the most meaning while still maintaining clarity
Example:
At this point in time, as we, group of students who are leaders discuss this important issue, we have to be objective and observe seriousness in coming up with concrete solutions.
- Now, as we, student leaders discuss this important issue, we have to be objective and serious in coming up with possible solutions.
*** Some longer expressions that can be replaced with shorter ones
1. a number of: some, many
2. afford an opportunity: allow, let
3. an appreciable number of: many
4. as a means of: to
5. as prescribed by: in, under
6. at the present time: now
7. by means of: by, with
8. comply with: follow
9. due to the fact that: because, due to, since
10. during the period of: during
11. for a period of: for
12. has a requirement for: needs, requires
13. have an adverse effect on: hurt, set back
14. in a timely manner: on time, promptly
15. in accordance with: by, following, per, under
🖊️2. Concrete Language
- using specific, precise language to paint a picture for your readers so that they can more easily understand your ideasExample:
A young woman will open her business in the near future.
- A 25-year-old enterprising woman will open a bakeshop two years from now.
IV. Mechanics
1. Spelling
2. Capitalization
3. Punctuation Marks
✍️✍️✍️Things to Avoid When Writing for General Readers ✍️✍️✍️
❌Cliches
- Cliches are phrases or expressions which have become too common due to overuse. Although clichés were creative and popular ideas before, the long excessive application of these passages lost their impact, originality, and meaning.
Ex. To be honest, At the end of the day, For your information, First of all
- Jargon refers to the language or technical phrase/term used by a particular group of people whose meanings are understandable within the group’s context such as medical, politics, media, and business.
Ex. Left wing for liberal viewpoint, Beat for a subject assigned to a reporter, DUI for driving under the influence, Code red for emergency
❌Slang
-Slang is an informal non-standard variety that is more appropriate in speech than in writing and is used by a particular group of people particularly barkadas and social media users.
Ex. Joe for Americans, Chick for young and pretty girl, Nosebleed for difficulty in speaking, Shrink for psychiatrist, Nigga for a black man, Gotta for I got to, Wanna for want to
❌Redundant Words
- Some terms that are redundantly used. Double negatives, etc.
Ex. First and foremost, Revised changes, Free gift, Repeat again, Combined together, Like for example, Basic fundamentals, Future plan
❌Fillers
Fillers are meaningless words word or phrase intended to fill in a sentence gap.
Ex. Uhm, Like, You know, Ahh, Hmm
Sources:
Tips for Good Writing. (2009) englishshared.blogspot.com
Deductive an inductive paragraph organization. (2012) writeenglish.org
What is an inductive-deductive paragraph? enotes.com
Organizing Paragraphs Inductively and Deductively. ln.edu.hk
Inductive and deductive writing styles. https://warwick.ac.uk
Informative normal paragraphs and functional paragraphs. (2017) curn.edu.co
Summary and synthesis of academic texts. (2013) erasmus.ufm.edu
Deductive paragraph. (2017) academia.edu
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