Write a summary of the author’s ideas, including a suitable reference.

1) ‘The revolution taking place in information and communication technologies have been the central and driving force for the globalization process’ [Ajayi, G. O. (2000). Challenge to Nigeria of Globalization and the Information Age. Keynote address at the Workshop on National Information Communication Infrastructure (NICI) Policy Plans and Strategies for Implementation, Maitama, Abuja].

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! Referring verbs use both the present and the past tenses. If you feel that the ideas or data are still valid it is better to use the present tense for recent sources:

In addition, as Trostinikov (1970) has pointed out, rapid expansion of a mass of diversified information is occurring, which has received the name "information explosion".

suggests that If the source is older and the ideas perhaps out-of-date use the past tense:

According to Daniel (2000) Nancy Schiller was one of the first writers to use the expression "virtual library" which she defined in 1992, simply as "libraries in which computer and telecommunications technologies make access to a wide range of information resources possible."

! There are three main systems of reference in use in academic writing:

1. Capron (2000) revealed … (date of publication in brackets when referring verb is used)

This surface model was used to describe incoherent directional component of surface reflection from rough surfaces. [K. Torrance and E. Sparrow, 1967] (authors and date in brackets after summary).

NB! For quotations page numbers should also be given after the date.

‘Addressing a different cause for non-Lambertian reflectance from the one discussed here, we used linear transport theory to analyze subsurface scattering from a multi-layered surface’[P. Hanrahan andW. Krueger, 1993, pp.165-174].

2.  Insert numbers in brackets in the text for each source, and at the end of the chapter or article list the references in number order:

This function was designed to obey Helmholtz’s reciprocity principle [2] but is not based on any

theoretical foundation. The studies cited above were attempts to design reflectance models based on measured reflectance data. In contrast, Smith [1] and Buhl et al.

1. B. G. Smith. Lunar surface roughness: Shadowing and thermal emission. Journal of Geophysical Research, vol.72(16):, August 1967,pp.4059–4067.

2. P. Beckmann and A. Spizzichino. The Scattering of ElectromagneticWaves from Rough Surfaces. Pergamon, New York, 1963, pp.436-450.

3.  Use footnotes. The references are listed at the bottom of the page.

This phenomenon is referred to as backscattering [4].

NB! A full reference section is required at the end of the article or book.

A. Style

! Modern academic writing has a semi/formal, impersonal and objective style.

The focus is on presenting information as clearly and accurately as possible. Be as precise as possible when dealing with facts or figures. If it is necessary to estimate numbers use approximately rather than about.

Following are some of the small but specific mistakes in style that are made (mainly unconsciously) in formal written work.

Avoid using:

ü personal language

ü language that is emotional

ü words that express your opinion too strongly

ü unnecessary words

ü brackets and dashes to add information

ü like (use such as or for instance), thing (use factor, issue or topic), lots of (use a significant/considerable number), little/big (use small / large), get phrases (use improve and deteriorate)

ü etc. or and so on when writing lists,. Insert and before the last item.

ü phrases such as about a hundred or hundreds of years ago.

Do not use:

ü colloquial language or slang

ü shortened forms of words and phrases incorrectly

ü dot/bullet point lists unless you are instructed to

ü shift verb tense unnecessarily

ü exclamation marks (!!!) in your essay

ü question forms. Use statements instead.

ü questions and commands

ü misuse font and font styles (mainly italics & underlining)

4.  In the following, first underline the examples of poor style and then re-write them in a more suitable way:

1) Lots of people build computers so you need to look at component shipments.

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2) Yes, we know this is a sadly long list of rules, but please read it.

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3) You can't always trust those download links that you find.

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4) The second thing is, anyone who uses the Internet today is agreeing to one form of TOS or another, it’s the way everything is going.

5) Alternatively, perhaps the varying meanings of the word " program " in everyday language ("TV program ", "study program " etc .) confuse things.

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6) Lots of studies looked at adults rather than kids.

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7) I don’t think anyone understood how important the Steam gaming service would become when it was released in 2003.

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8) I've heard mixed things about this game, but the mysterious Ada Wong character looks like the most exciting thing about it to me!

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9) Why people insist computers can’t think?

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E. Synonyms

! When writing it is necessary to find synonyms in order to provide variety and interest for the reader: Synonyms are not always exactly the same in meaning, but it is important not to change the register. There are some common academic synonyms you need to remember.

 

Nouns		Verbs
goal	target	reduce	decrease
study	research	achieve	reach
results	findings	alter	change
area	field	evaluate	examine
authority	source	claim	suggest
benefit	advantage	assist	help
category	type	attach	join
component	part	challenge	question
concept	idea	clarify	explain
behaviour	conduct	collapse	fall down
controversy	argument	concentrate	focus
feeling	emotion	confine	limit
beliefs	ethics	show	demonstrate
expansion	increase	eliminate	remove
interpretation	explanation	found	Establish
issue	topic	develop	evolve
method	system	maintain	insist
option	possibility	predict	forecast
statistics	figures	prohibit	ban
framework	structure	retain	keep
trend	tendency	strengthen	reinforce
		accelerate	speed up

 

5.  Replace all the words or phrases in italic with suitable synonyms.

1)  Symfony Components implement common features needed to develop websites.

2)  FedStats provides easy access to statistics and information produced by more than 100 U.S. Federal Government agencies.

3)  Of course the spree killer was a CounterStrike gamer and a lot of politicans are now calling for a total prohibition of 'killer' computer games.

4)  These games aren't just for fun. They're designed to teach kids how to concentrate.

5)  Some components may retain high voltages even after the printer is turned off.

 

G. Tables and Figures

! At times, it may be permissible and appropriate to insert tables, figures and other graphics in your essay. These graphics may have been copied, adapted from sources of information or may be from your own research. They need to be relevant, correctly labelled and referenced—unless they are entirely your own work. It is important that tables and figures are used purposefully (i.e. with good reason) and referenced correctly.

NB! DO NOT:

ü restructure data from an information source into another format (e.g. a graph, a flowchart) without referencing the author of your information. You may structure the graph, but the author still 'owns' the research!

ü just 'plonk' a table or figure into your writing. You need to refer to its existence and relevance to your argument in the preceding text.

ü give extensive descriptions in your writing of the contents of a table or diagram. The information in a table or diagram tells its own story—it's your job to point out its significance to your argument.

6. Below are illustrations of some of the main types of visuals used in academic texts. Match the uses (a-f) to the types (1-6) and the examples (A-F) in the box below.

Uses

a) location b) comparison c) proportion d) function e) changes in time f) statistical display

Types	Uses	Example
1. diagram (scheme)
2. table
3. map
4. pie chart
5. bar chart
6. line graph

 

A.		B.		C.
D.		E.		F.

! Although visuals do largely speak for themselves, it is usual to help the reader interpret them by briefly commenting on their main features using the language of change.

Verb	Verb	Adjective + Noun
grow	fall (to)/ decline (to)	a slight drop
raise/rise (to)	drop (to)	a gradual fall
increase (to)	decrease (to)/reduce (to)	a sharp decrease
climb (to)	collapse	a dramatic growth
step up	cut	a huge boom
expand	go down (to)/fall (to)	a steep increase
improve	break	a substantial climb
shoot up/soar	push down	a considerable change
peak (at)	bottom out	a significant reduction
boom	dip (to)	a marked change
Adverbs		a moderate reduction
substantially	slightly	a minimal growth
considerably	gradually	Verb
significantly	steadily	maintain the same level
markedly	sharply	stay at
moderately	dramatically	keep
minimally	hugely	reach a peak
swiftly	rapidly	remain stable
quickly	slowly	be constant
suddenly		level off/out

7. Place the correct letter in the right box.

	slump		rise		recover		plunge		pick up		hold steady
	drop		soar		climb		fall		rally		bounce back
	crash		slide		stabilize		escalate		decline		take off
	rocket		dip		fluctuate		plummet				flatten out

! To introduce visuals and name the parts of a diagram you can use the following phrases:

Introducing visuals

Naming the parts of diagrams

I'd like you to look at this graph... Let me show you this pie chart... Let's have a look at this model... Let's turn to this map... To illustrate my point let’s look at some diagrams... As you can see from these figures... If you look at these photographs you'll see... If you look at this bar chart you'll notice... If you look at this histogram you'll appreciate... If you look at this flow chart you'll understand.. If you look at this matrix...

The vertical axis represents total annual … The horizontal axis shows our … The curve, The solid line, The dotted line, The broken line, The shaded area, The unshaded section, The dotted column, The coloured segment, The red bar…

8. The diagram shows how the Global Positioning System (GPS) works in order to help people find their location anywhere on Earth.Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information shown below. You should write at least 150 words.

a) Look at the diagram and answer the following questions.

ü How many segments are there in the system?

ü What are the main components of each segment?

ü What part does each segment play in the whole system?

b) Now write a description following this plan:

1. Describe briefly what a GPS is and what the three segments of the system are.

2. Describe the space segment: what it consists of and what it does.

3. Describe the control segment: what it consists of and what it does.

4. Describe the user segment: what it consists of and what it does.

 

 

 

1. Academic Writing’, by Malashenko, Elena, 2007.

2. BCS the Chartered Institute for IT, 2012. /http://www.bcs.org/content/

3. Charts, graphs and diagrams. Business English, 2008.pp.4-9./www.thelanguagemenu.com/

 

[1] Skimming means to get a general idea of what a text is about. Read the first paragraph (the introduction) and the last paragraph (the conclusion). Then read the first and last sentences of the other paragraphs.

[2]

[3] fix (an object) firmly and deeply in a surrounding mass

[4] B. W. Hapke and Huge van Horn. Journal of Geophysical Research, 68(15), August 1963, pp.4545–4570.