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Writing

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Writing an assignment for University is not like writing a letter to a friend or a piece of fiction. There are many rules about academic writing. One of the most important ones is that you must justify your statements. If you have a point to make, you need to provide supporting evidence, either in the form of a series of logical arguments or relevant references (or both).

Moreover, your work should flow. Sentences should be grouped into clear paragraphs, and each paragraph should lead into the next one. The person marking your work should not have to guess at your argument; rather each detail should be apparent from what you have written. The old idea that an assignment consists of an introduction, a body and a conclusion is still a useful one.

Assignment writing is a skill that can be learnt and practice is probably the best way to do this.The Academic Skills Office has a number of Fact Sheets in PDF format to help you learn how to write well:

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Writers Web

Another source of information on writing is Writers Web, which contains topics on stages of the writing process. Writer's Web is a free, public-access handbook designed by students and staff at the University of Richmond.

In addition, there are many books in the University Library that deal with this topic. If you are finding writing difficult, ask your lecturer or unit-coordinator for advice or a referral to either the Academic Skills Office or the person on the staff of your Faculty who is available to assist you in acquiring academic skills.

Another important resource is Academic Literacy Online. This was designed to help students in the UNE Bachelor of Education programme develop their academic literacy skills. However, the resource contains much of value for students in other disciplines.

Academic Writing: A Handbook for International Students

Irrespective of whether or not English is your first language, this is a useful book. It explains every aspect of writing process and includes Writing Tests that allow you to assess your writing skills.