~ 20 tips and techniques to improve your writing ability

 

1.     Allocate more time to the assignment.

2.     Read and research more. Use the library and subject librarian. Use google, google scholar and other electronic academic journal sites like www.jstor.org.

3.     Read good papers on how to write, e.g. google: “A guide to writing in economics” by Paul Dudenhefer.

4.     Provide a table of contents (with page numbers). Insert page numbers.

5.     Use numbered headings and sub-headings.

6.     Google: “How to write an introduction”

7.     Your introduction could have an opening paragraph setting the context/brief background/need for your study, then it should state the research question/ purpose/aim of your study. Thereafter, perhaps give a brief overview of your assignment stating that section x does this and section y does that and finally, section z concludes.

8.     Google: “How to write a conclusion”

9.     Your conclusion could state to what degree you were successful in answering your research question/purpose/aim, the main findings, perhaps any shortcomings of the study, recommendations and/or area for future research and/or a way forward.        

10.                        Google: “How to paraphrase” – Paraphrasing is an important skill that you need to practice.

11.                        Google: “How to quote” Use quotes strategically and sparingly. Cite the page number that the quote was taken from. Long quotes should be paraphrased.

12.                        Google: “How to write an abstract”.

13.                        Ask your lecturer for additional guidance – Arrange a meeting or send an e-mail to try to ensure that your understanding of the assignment is correct and that the direction/focus that you have chosen is appropriate. It is sad to see students misunderstand a topic and then research and write “off-topic”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

14.                        Use a comprehensive Harvard referencing guide – keep referring to it to make sure that you are referencing correctly. Use alphabetical order to list your references - do not number your references.

 

15.                        A list of references is where you reference only the studies that you directly cited in your assignment. A bibliography is a list of all the reference that you directly cited in your study as well as other references that were useful in the writing of your assignment. Use a reference list or a bibliography – not both. (Check with each lecturer what is required for your future assignments).

16.                        Be meticulous about your spacing between words and your punctuation.

17.                        Use the United Kingdom Spell Check on word. The spell check is normally set on US English - You need to re-set the spell check to UK English.

18.                        If you use an appendix, then make sure that it is necessary, useful, concise and referenced.

19.                        Type the title of figures below the graph and the title of tables above the table. Reference your tables and figures.

20.                         “Practice makes perfect – well almost perfect J” I’m still learning… “I’m not where I should be, but thank God I’m not where I used to be” (Joyce Meyers).