Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

What is good academic writing? How should I present my written work? How can I improve my written work? Academic writing can be a daunting prospect for new undergraduates and postgraduates alike, regardless of whether they are home or overseas students. This accessible book provides them/students with all they need to know to produce excellent written work.

Based on their many years of experience, the authors have structured the book so as to build students' confidence in their own writing ability whilst at the same time respecting conventional ideas of what is, and what is not, acceptable in the academic domain. To reinforce student learning, the material is presented using a wealth of clear examples, hands-on tasks with answers, and logical sequences that build on earlier chapters. The first two sections of the book address the preparation and writing of assignments and research projects, while the third provides a useful toolkit containing reference materials on areas including punctuation, grammar and academic terminology.

The book includes numerous tips and insights and comprehensively covers issues such as:

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Acknowledgements (p. viii)
• Foreword (p. ix)
• A guide to the book's icons: what do they mean? (p. xii)
• Part 1 The fundamentals of academic writing (p. 1)
• 1 What are the key functions in academic writing? (p. 3)
• 1.1 Introduction (p. 3)
• 1.2 Defining terms and ideas (p. 4)
• 1.3 Describing (p. 9)
• 1.4 Comparing and contrasting (p. 18)
• 1.5 Classifying (p. 26)
• 1.6 Explaining causes and effects (p. 31)
• 1.7 Developing an argument (p. 36)
• 2 How should I structure my writing? (p. 45)
• 2.1 Coherence: the flow of good writing (p. 45)
• 2.2 The three main parts of a writing project (p. 46)
• 2.3 Citation, referencing and paraphrasing (p. 67)
• 2.4 Using footnotes (p. 80)
• 3 What do I need to know about writing style? (p. 85)
• 3.1 Writing clearly and concisely (p. 86)
• 3.2 Level of formality (register) (p. 94)
• 3.3 Using gender-neutral language (p. 96)
• 3.4 Reading other research projects (p. 97)
• 4 Approaching your writing project: tips and strategies (p. 99)
• 4.1 Planning carefully (p. 100)
• 4.2 Deciding on your writing approach (p. 100)
• 4.3 Sourcing and selecting information (p. 102)
• 4.4 Recording information/making notes (p. 105)
• 4.5 Drafting (p. 111)
• 4.6 Defining terms (p. 112)
• 4.7 Supporting your claims (p. 113)
• 4.8 Acknowledging alternative perspectives and counter-arguments (p. 114)
• Part 2 Putting together your research project (p. 117)
• 5 Understanding the research and writing process (p. 119)
• 5.1 What is a research project? (p. 119)
• 5.2 What is the difference between a thesis and a dissertation? (p. 120)
• 5.3 The basic requirements of a research degree (p. 121)
• 5.4 Deciding on a research topic (p. 123)
• 5.5 Choosing and using yoursupervisor: what exactly is their role? (p. 124)
• 5.6 Writing a proposal (p. 126)
• 5.7 Adopting the correct mindset (p. 129)
• 5.8 Studying independently (p. 129)
• 5.9 Attending research seminars, conferences etc. (p. 131)
• 5.10 Understanding disciplinary differences (p. 131)
• 5.11 The upgrading process (PhDs only) (p. 131)
• 5.12 Familiarity with 'Codes of Practice'/Rules and Regulations (p. 132)
• 5.13 Ethical considerations (p. 132)
• 5.14 The importance of finding your own 'voice' ... and why it can be challenging (p. 134)
• 5.15 Getting down to writing (p. 136)
• 6 What are the different components of a research project? (p. 137)
• 6.1 Title page (p. 138)
• 6.2 Abstract (p. 139)
• 6.3 Acknowledgements (p. 141)
• 6.4 List of contents (p. 143)
• 6.5 List of acronyms and abbreviations (p. 143)
• 6.6 Introduction (p. 144)
• 6.7 Literature review (p. 145)
• 6.8 Methodology (p. 148)
• 6.9 Results/data (p. 153)
• 6.10 Analysis and discussion (p. 167)
• 6.11 Conclusions (p. 169)
• 6.12 Bibliography (p. 170)
• 6.13 Appendices (p. 176)
• 7 ... And when it's all over: publishing and presenting your research (p. 177)
• 7.1 Introduction (p. 177)
• 7.2 Journal articles (p. 178)
• 7.3 A book (p. 180)
• 7.4 Conference presentations (p. 182)
• 7.5 A final note (p. 182)
• Part 3 Toolkit (p. 183)
• 8 Punctuation basics: a brief guide to punctuation use (p. 185)
• 8.1 Introduction (p. 185)
• 8.2 Capital letters (p. 186)
• 8.3 The comma (p. 186)
• 8.4 The semicolon (p. 189)
• 8.5 The colon (p. 190)
• 8.6 Parentheses (p. 191)
• 8.7 Inverted commas (p. 191)
• 8.8 The hyphen (p. 193)
• 8.9 The apostrophe (p. 194)
• 9 Glossary of key terms (p. 197)
• 10 The academic word list (p. 203)
• 11 List of prefixes and suffixes (p. 209)
• 12 Appendix (p. 215)
• 12.1 Citation styles (p. 215)
• 12.2 Sample table of contents (p. 218)
• 12.3 Sample list of figures (p. 223)
• 12.4 Sample list of maps (p. 224)
• 12.5 Sample list of photos (p. 225)
• 12.6 Sample list of tables (p. 225)
• References (p. 227)
• Index (p. 229)

Author notes provided by Syndetics