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Academic Writing - Staff Resource Page


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Websites

Please note that external websites are not the responsibility of Learnhigher.

  • Dartmouth Writing Program: Comprehensive range of resources, there’s a particularly useful section for staff teaching academic writing.
  • The OWL at Purdue: The OWL is a series of online writing guides, it’s very comprehensive, but it’s not for the casual browser as you jump straight into the subject without much of an introduction.  Excellent source to link to, but please let them know you are linking to them.
  • The WAC Clearinghouse: This website provides a scholarly support network for tutors interested in incorporating writing into their sessions. The website has excellent definitions and examples of ‘Writing Across the Curriculum’ and ‘Writing in the Disciplines’ methodologies. The site provides links to academic papers, a teachers’ forum, activities and resources plus a link to the informative WAC journal.
  • Thinking Writing: Superb set of resources for teaching staff interested in developing academic writing: contains examples of both subject-specific and subject neutral resources.
  • International WAC/WID Mapping Project: This site follows a research project at University of California at Davis mapping the use of WAC and WID methodologies in the teaching of academic writing. The site provides a globalised view of the Writing Across the Curriculum approach and provides a network of contacts for tutors working in this field.
  • Writing Matters: Writing Matters is a report published by the Royal Literary Fund.  It’s beautifully written, although it does fudge it’s conclusion a little.  Everyone involved in teaching academic writing should read it; the site also has links to other reports and resources.
  • WriteNow: Tri-institutional CETL focussing on academic writing, still at the early stages of the project, but already contains useful resources.
  • University of North Carolina: The link takes readers to an online writing tutor programme (program).  It’s interesting to see the pedagogical basis for the programme and description of process. There’s also an extensive resource bank of student guides.
  • Unilearning: This website based at the University of Wollongong in Australia is an excellent student friendly resource covering aspects of reading, writing, note taking and critical thinking. The site also defines the different types of academic writing such as introductions, reports, essays etc. and has a number of activities for students to try.

 

Books

study-skills-handbook.jpgThis book provides a step by step guide to help tutors develop the use of writing in their sessions. Using writing not only for assessment but also to help students develop their learning of the subject.

BEAN, J. (2001) ‘Engaging ideas. The Professors guide to Integrating writing, Critical thinking and active learning in the classroom.’ San Francisco. Jossey Bass

 


cite-them-right.jpgThis book provides tutors with excellent advice on all manner of study skills. Sections cover a wide range of issues from ‘promoting an effective transition into HE’ through to how to promote effective writing or note making with your students.  Each section has an introduction and a guide to how it has been done before to give you an idea of the kinds of activities and practices you could use in your sessions. Sandra Sinfield is also a partner in the Learnhigher CETL so check out the Reading and Notemaking pages for more of her work.

BURNS, T & SINFIELD, S. (2004) ‘Teaching, Learning and Study Skills. A guide for tutors.’ London. SAGE Publications


students-guide-to-writing.jpgThis book investigates current theories, practices and models of teaching academic writing in the UK. The chapters provide a valuable overview of current debates and looks in more depth at the pedagogy behind the teaching of academic writing.

GANOBSCIK-WILLIAMS, L. (2006) ‘Teaching Academic Writing in UK Higher Education.’ Hampshire. Palgrave Macmillan.

 

Podcasts

Click on the link below to listen to excellent podcasts that offer useful advice from lecturers about academic writing.

Click here to listen to the 'academic writing for exams' podcast

Click here to listen the 'revision techniques' podcast

Click here to listen the 'exam techniques' podcast