Writing the university essay Take the University Challenge.

Writing the universityessay

Take the University Challenge

Pop Quiz

Question True False

1. A good thesis must have three supporting points.

2. An essay must have five paragraphs.

3. An essay should not include the writer’s opinion or ideas.

4. All evidence from other sources must be in quotation marks.

5. Each supporting point should fit into one paragraph.

Pop Quiz

Question True False

1. A good thesis must have three supporting points.

False

2. An essay must have five paragraphs. False

3. An essay should not include the writer’s opinion or ideas.

False

4. All evidence from other sources must be in quotation marks.

False

5. Each supporting point should fit into one paragraph.

False

University Expectations

IN GENERAL:

• You are Analyzing and Synthesizing knowledge, not just reporting it

• Focus is on HOW and WHY, not just WHAT and WHEN

The Process: Ideas First!

• Plan/Think

1. Choose and Narrow your Topic or Analyze a Given

Topic

2. Do Preliminary Research/Reading/Review

3. Ask a Research Question. Develop a tentative

thesis or answer to that question

4. Research: find, evaluate, skim, read, note & develop

reference list

5. Make an Outline: with thesis (main argument and

supporting points• Write & Revise: write draft, revise, edit and proofread draft

ANSWER THE

QUESTION

FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS

Instructions • Type of assignment

– Essay? Reflection? Article Summary? Report? • Type of research

– Primary? Secondary? Professional? News? Literature?• Length – Format - Referencing

For example: This is an eight to ten page analytical essay using primary

sources from the text book (available at the bookstore) and graded on analysis and interpretation of historical evidence, as well as conformance to scholarly writing conventions (for History papers), grammar, and English. Due November 20th at the start of lecture. Essay is double spaced in 12-point font (2.5 cm margins) using Chicago Style title page, bibliography, and footnotes. Instructions are posted on the course website.

Consider this

• Course context– Main themes & questions

• Assessment: What is valued?– Research– Organization– Clarity of Writing– Analysis & Critical Thinking– Academic Integrity

Ask Questions

• What do you need to know about the topic?

• Explore facts. Define terms. Outline process. What? Who? When? Where?

• Interrogate relationships. Consider context. Evaluate impact. Analyse significance. How? Why? So What?

Is Canada truly multicultural?

• Big question! Quick brainstorm – – Toronto is good example – many cultures

represented in population– Ethnic Neighbourhoods: Kensington market,

Chinatown, Little Italy– Cultural centres – religious centres,

educational opportunities, arts & culture– Diverse Services – language supports– But discrimination exists . . .

Don’t be predictable

• The five-paragraph structure can only articulate a very simple form of argument, involving a major claim and three supporting claims.

As Canada’s largest city, Toronto’s ethnic neighbourhoods, cultural centres, and diverse services demonstrate how Canada is truly multicultural.

Don’t write this 5-paragraph essay

1. Introduction

2. Ethnic neighbourhoods

3. Cultural centres

4. Diverse services

5. Conclusion

Dig deeper. Ask more questions.

• How do we define multiculturalism? How does the government support multiculturalism?

• How do communities include and exclude populations? Does this change in different communities? Urban-rural? East-west? North-south?

• What are the perceptions of new Canadians? Does this change for 2nd and 3rd generation Canadians?

• How important is language? Religion? Cultural norms? • Political and economic contexts for multiculturalism? • Why is it important to understand multiculturalism in

Canada?

A Thesis EVOLVES

Do you have an opinion?

• The topic asks a question; the thesis answers the question according to the writer's opinion, based on his or her research.

• Organize your essay to best support your thesis(your answer and your opinion), using facts and arguments to do this.

Focused. Analytical. Clear.

Despite the Canadian government’s official efforts over the last forty-five years to support a multicultural society, ethnocentrism still creates some barriers for the social, political, and economic equality necessary for a nation to be truly multicultural.

A Tentative Thesis Helps You:

Avoid confusion of many possible “answers”

Avoid passively absorbing rather than actively engaging with others’ ideas

Avoid plagiarism because you lack ideas: you can agree with someone’s ideas and use them in your essay, but they must be referenced properly

Outline is CRUCIAL

• It is the map / skeleton basis of your essay. It allows you to see a lot of information and organize ideas clearly. It stops your work from wandering off topic.

Point Form Outline: Keep it Close

Tentative Thesis

Despite the Canadian governments’ official efforts over the last forty-five years to support a multicultural society, ethnocentrism still creates some barriers for the social, political, and economic equality necessary for a nation to be truly multicultural.

Introduction – leads up to thesis; provide basic information. Define key term: “multicultural”’s different meanings

1. Considering equality – how does it inform multiculturalism?

2. Outline Canada’s efforts to support a multicultural society – federal govt, provincial govt,

3. Considering ethnocentrism: meaning, history of it in Canada

4. Impact of ethnocentrism: Barriers for social, political, and economic equality

5. Results of ethnocentrism: ghettoization, discrimination,

Conclusion – synthesize points; restate thesis

A Collage of Information is not an Essay!

Paragraph Structure: Develop your ideas

• Topic Sentence: introduces the idea that this paragraph will develop

• Evidence: data, logical argument and quotations that support and/or develop the paragraph topic

• Discussion/Explanation: shows how your evidence supports the point made in the topic sentence and answers the question, "So what?"

• Conclusion/Transition: sums up what your paragraph has shown or discussed and may connect it to the next paragraph (not always necessary)

Effectively Integrating Evidence• Paraphrase: Use to integrate specific

argument/evidence/data into essay

According to Pazy and Ganzach (2009), in short-term or contractual employment, pay is one of the most important factors that affect job performance.

• Summary: Use to integrate source’s overall or more general argument/evidence into essay

Evidence suggests that personal well-being and job satisfaction together affect employment status (Wright & Bonett, 2007).

Effectively Integrating Evidence

•Quotation

As Boswell, Zimmerman, and Swider (2013) point out, the time when a new graduate enters the workforce is “one of the most critical periods for individuals’ lifelong career success” (p. 129).

SO WHAT ?

• Ask yourself “So What?” for each paragraph. What is the point of this paragraph and what am I trying to do with this paragraph.

• Are you merely cataloguing information (Joyce uses a metaphor) or are you moving your thesis forward (Joyce’s use of metaphor reinforces…) ?

Learn from Comments

• Common problems– Vague/general writing or ideas– Quoting without analyzing the quotation– Not writing simply or clearly – Improper use of sourcesor referencing– Submitting an unrevised, unedited,

insufficiently proofread draft

All True

Question True False

1. A good thesis demonstrates critical thinking.

True

2. An essay must have clear structure. True

3. An essay presents an argument that is supported by evidence.

True

4. All evidence is explained and linked back to the thesis of the paper.

True

5. Paragraphs are organized around one idea, as part of a supporting argument.

True

Come Talk to Us!• Do you want to ask questions about something you heard today?• Do you want an instructor to look at work you did during these

sessions (sample thesis, lecture notes, paraphrase)?

Come see us at the Academic Skills Centre!• We have booked and online appointments Monday-Friday.• You can book an appointment through our NEW Online

Appointment Booking System at www.trentu.ca/sep• You can also call us at 705-748-1720 during office hours.

Academic Skills CentreChamplain College 206

www.trentu.ca/academicskills705-748-1720