Home Students’ Area Weblinks

Weblinks

These links to relevant websites are provided to offer students further advice and information on the topics covered by the Academic Writing books.

Topics are organised alphabetically.

The views and comments found on these websites do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the author.


Academic Vocabulary: Nouns and Adjectives

Here the emphasis is the use of adjectives in phrases:

https://awelu.srv.lu.se/grammar-and-words/selective-mini-grammar/adjective-phrases

Academic Vocabulary: Verbs and Adverbs

This website offers a variety of resources to explore:

www.utsc.utoronto.ca/twc/sites/utsc.utoronto.ca.twc/files/resource-files/xAdjsandAdvs.pdf

This presents an extensive list of related verbs, nouns and adverbs:

www.worldclasslearning.com/english/list-of-verbs-nouns-adjectives-adverbs.html

Academic Writing Tools

Practical tools for international students:

https://www.routledge.com/go/academic-writing-practical-tools-for-international-students

Approaches to Vocabulary

This website presents the complete Academic Wordlist:

https://www.uefap.org/vocabulary-selecting-awl

Here are some useful exercises with the Academic Wordlist:

www.nottingham.ac.uk/alzsh3/acvocab/index.htm

The Oxford English Dictionary provides an extensive list of abbreviations:

https://public.oed.com/how-to-use-the-oed/abbreviations

This website features an extensive academic phrasebank:

www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk/giving-examples/

Argument and Discussion

A useful guide to writing the discussion section:

http://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide/discussion

Helpful tips for persuasive writing:

https://www.uefap.org/writing-functions-27-persuading

Artificial Intelligence

Using AI ethically in writing assignments:

https://cte.ku.edu/ethical-use-ai-writing-assignments

Tips for teaching writing in the age of AI:

https://apastyle.apa.org/blog/teaching-writing-artificial-intelligence

Avoiding Plagiarism

A comprehensive explanation of plagiarism:

www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/guidance/skills/plagiarism?wssl=1

This contains some useful definitions and examples:

https://www.uefap.org/writing-plagiarism-definitions

Cause and Effect

Examples and relevant phrases for discussing cause and effect:

https://www.bristol.ac.uk/academic-language/media/BEAP/4.4/index.html

Advice on structuring cause and effect papers:

www.eapfoundation.com/writing/essays/cande/

Cohesion

A simple guide to cohesion:

https://www.eapfoundation.com/writing/cohesion

A detailed study of the use of cohesion in university essays:

www2.ngu.ac.jp/uri/gengo/pdf/genbun_vol2502_07.pdf

A guide to improving cohesion, leading to better communication:

https://students.unimelb.edu.au/academic-skills/explore-our-resources/essay-writing/improving-cohesion

Comparison

A basic outline of comparing and contrasting papers:

http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/writingprocess/comparecontrast

Contrasting Sources

This website provides a useful introduction:

https://www.brookes.ac.uk/students/academic-development/online-resources/writing-with-sources

A solid guide to source integration:

www.una.edu/writingcenter/docs/Writing-Resources/Source%20Integration.pdf

Some practical advice and a clear example:

www.bgsu.edu/content/dam/BGSU/learning-commons/documents/writing/synthesis/asked-to-synthesize.pdf

Definitions

A clear, short guide to writing definitions:

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/common_writing_assignments/definitions.html

Some useful language for making definitions:

www.eapfoundation.com/writing/other/definitions/

Editing and Proofreading

A thorough guide to both these processes:

https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/editing-and-proofreading

On this website the focus is mainly on editing:

www.ed.ac.uk/institute-academic-development/study-hub/learning-resources/editing-and-proofreading

A basic outline of the subject from Oxford Brookes:

www.brookes.ac.uk/students/academic-development/online-resources/editing-and-proofreading/

Examples

Some illustrations of the structure of examples:

https://www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk/giving-examples

Finding Key Points and Note-making

A comprehensive guide to note-making:

https://libguides.reading.ac.uk/reading/notemaking

Another useful website, well illustrated:

https://libguides.cam.ac.uk/wolfsoncollege/notemaking

Generalisations

Some helpful advice on how to avoid over-generalisations:

https://www.monash.edu/student-academic-success/improve-your-academic-english/strategies-for-writing-academic-english/express-uncertainty-in-writing/how-to-avoid-over-generalisations

Introductions and Conclusions

Practical advice on writing these sections:

http://advice.writing.utoronto.ca/planning/intros-and-conclusions/

This website includes helpful exercises to practise your skills:

https://aso-resources.une.edu.au/academic-writing-course/paragraphs/introduction-paragraphs

A clear guide to the elements of introductions:

www.monash.edu/rlo/research-writing-assignments/assignment-types/writing-an-essay/writing-the-introduction

Literature Reviews

A basic introduction to the topic:

https://library.concordia.ca/help/writing/literature-review.php

This offers a more comprehensive approach:

www.ed.ac.uk/institute-academic-development/study-hub/learning-resources/literature-review

A helpful short summary of the component:

https://guides.library.ucsc.edu/write-a-literature-review

Longer Papers

A good, practical introduction to the subject:

www.hamilton.edu/academics/centers/writing/writing-resources/writing-longer-papers

Another useful source of advice:

https://libguides.reading.ac.uk/c.php?g=521171&p=3563650

Numbers and Visual Information

Some clear examples, plus exercises:

www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/exercises/grammar/grammar_tutorial/page_33.htm

A simple introduction:

https://canvas.hull.ac.uk/courses/213/pages/writing-numbers

More examples of visual imagery:

www.sussex.ac.uk/skillshub/?id=371

A useful set of exercises on describing graphs and tables:

www.elanguages.ac.uk/los/eap/introduction_to_describing_graphs_and_tables.html

Organising Paragraphs

Flow and connectivity in paragraph writing:

https://www.mpls.ox.ac.uk/training/resources-for-researcher-and-career-development/communication-skills/scientific-writing/paragraphs-flow-and-connecting-methods#:~:text=Ideally%2C%20a%20paragraph%20has%20the,to%20the%20next%20(see%20below)

Organising your Work

Zotero

https://www.zotero.org

Prefixes and Suffixes

Build your vocabulary with these lists of word forms:

http://write-site.athabascau.ca/esl/word_forms.php

Problems and Solutions

A clear introduction, with example:

www.eapfoundation.com/writing/essays/problemsolution/

A graphic breakdown of the process:

www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Problem-Solution-Paper

Punctuation

A set of well-presented, useful notes:

https://www.student.unsw.edu.au/punctuation-guide

A guide with helpful examples:

https://www.uefap.org/writing-punctuation-introduction-2

Reading: Finding Suitable Sources

Useful guidance on integrating sources from Harvard:

https://usingsources.fas.harvard.edu

A clear presentation of different reading strategies:

https://web.archive.org/web/20130726023918/http://www.lc.unsw.edu.au/onlib/read.html

A helpful short summary of reading techniques:

http://writingcenter.unc.edu/esl/resources/academic-reading-strategies/

Reading: Developing Critical Approaches

Practical tips for effective critical reading:

http://advice.writing.utoronto.ca/researching/critical-reading/

Some exercises on critical reading:

www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe-writing-centre/critical-reading-and-writing

More advice on critical thinking, with a video to watch:

https://libguides.westminster.ac.uk/critical-thinking-and-writing/critical-reading

References and Quotations

A clear guide to the importance of referencing:

https://student.unsw.edu.au/why-referencing-important

Links to detailed guides to the main systems:

http://library.worc.ac.uk/guides/study-skills/referencing

Short guide to referencing, using examples in Harvard:

https://libguides.reading.ac.uk/citing-references/quotesandparaphrases

Helpful and thorough explanation of using quotations:

https://awelu.srv.lu.se/sources-and-referencing/how-to-give-references/quoting

Reflective Writing

A basic introduction to the subject:

https://library.leeds.ac.uk/info/14011/writing/113/reflective_writing

A comprehensive and thorough overview, with examples:

www2.port.ac.uk/media/contacts-and-departments/student-support-services/ask/downloads/Reflective-writing—a-basic-introduction.pdf

York University offers a helpful guide:

https://subjectguides.york.ac.uk/academic-writing/reflective

Reports

The difference between essays and reports explained:

https://library.leeds.ac.uk/info/14011/writing/114/report_writing

A detailed checklist of the key parts of an academic report:

www.port.ac.uk/student-life/help-and-advice/study-skills/written-assignments/key-features-of-academic-reports

More useful advice in this guide:

https://libguides.reading.ac.uk/reports/structuring

Spelling and Grammar

British vs. American punctuation differences:

https://www.thepunctuationguide.com/british-versus-american-style.html

British vs. American spelling differences:

https://www.oxfordinternationalenglish.com/differences-in-british-and-american-spelling

Style

The Oxford Style Guide is a comprehensive reference tool:

www.ox.ac.uk/sites/files/oxford/media_wysiwyg/University%20of%20Oxford%20Style%20Guide.pdf

Plenty of university websites to choose from, including:

https://libguides.hull.ac.uk/writing/style

‘Nine basic ways to improve your style’ – good practical advice:

https://slc.berkeley.edu/writing-worksheets-and-other-writing-resources/nine-basic-ways-improve-your-style-academic-writing

Summarising and Paraphrasing

Some helpful exercises for practice:

http://learninghub.une.edu.au/tlc/aso/aso-online/academic-writing/summarising.php

More practice with summarising:

https://www.uefap.org/writing-reporting-summary

Synonyms

A lively approach to a variety of synonyms – good and bad:

https://uwaterloo.ca/writing-and-communication-centre/blog/post/power-synonyms-good-bad-and-between

Understanding Essay Questions and the Planning Process

Very comprehensive guide to the whole planning process:

www.nottingham.ac.uk/studentservices/documents/planning-and-preparing-to-write-assignments.pdf

A focus on analysing the wording of titles:

https://canvas.hull.ac.uk/courses/778/pages/analysing-essay-titles

Some videos and examples of this skill:

www.sussex.ac.uk/skillshub/?id=356

Writing Basics

https://www.uefap.org/writing-introduction