1. Writing Up You University Assignments
and Research Projects
ROBERT BRUNET SOLÉ
Department of Chemical Engineering, URV, Tarragona
Sustainable Computer Aided Process Engineering Group
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2. 3. What do I need to know about writing
style?
3.1. Writing clearly and concisely
3.2. Level of formality (register)
3.3. Reading other research projects
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3. Authors of academic papers should avoid:
• an informal style;
• unnecessary wordiness;
• writing a poorly organized paper.
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4. 3.1. Writing clearly and concisely
• Past: complex sentences and sophisticated vocabulary were an indication that the
writer was erudite and well educated.
• Present: simpler, more straightforward vocabulary and writing which allows the
reader easier access to ideas is preferred.
3.1.1. Parallel structure
• Parallel structure refers to sentence elements that are similar (parallel) in
grammatical form and therefore create a kind of blance or symmetry.
•Parallel strucutre should be used when dealing with more than one item in a list.
• The grammatical form chosen for the first item in a sentence should be used for
subsequent items in the same sentence. In other words, it serves as a kind of
model.
• Her frequent absences (noun) and poor motivation (noun) caused her to fail.
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5. 3.1. Writing clearly and concisely
3.1.2. Sentence combining
• There are a number of ways in which sentences can be combined. Used well these
can introduce variety into your writing:
•Coordiantion (and, or, but, yet, so, for)
•The job of coordinating conjunctions is to coordinate clauses or sentences and as
such they can be considered the most basic method of sentence combining.
• Young people are often influenced by peer pressure, but this, in itself, is not sufficient to explain
why some youngsters commit extremely violent crimes.
• Conjunctive adverbs (moreover, however, therefore, etc.)
• A more sophisticated way of joining two sentences –one often used in more formal
writing.
• The environment is now high on the Government‘s agenda; therefore, plans for wind farms are
likely to be received sympathetically.
• Subordinate conjunctions (altough, because, if, unless, when, whereas, etc.)
• Complex sentences are formed by using at least one dependent clause, precedes or
follows an independent clause.
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6. 3.2. Level of formality (register)
• Academic writing requires a more formal style that can be seen in:
3.2.1. The type of vocabulary used.
• In academic writing there are certain words that may often be preferable to their more
casual counterparts.
Saw  observed
Shows  illustrates, indicates
So  therefore, consequently
But  however, nevertheless, although
people  subjects
big  large, considerable, substantial
long  extensive, extended
seems  appears
important  significant
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7. 3.2. Level of formality (register)
3.2.2. The avoidance of first person singular (‘I‘)
• In general it is preferable to avoid using ‘I‘. When in doubtt, play safe and do what
tradition dicatates.
I  The author/ This writer
I found that...  It was found that...
I was surprised to observe that...  The observation that ... Was surprising
I found the results interesting because...  The results were interesting in that...
I decided to use...  The decision was made to use...
I think/ believe that...  It might be argued that// It would seem reasonable to argue that...
I take this to mean  This suggests/ indicates that...// This can be taken to mean that
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8. 3.2. Level of formality (register)
3.2.3. Absence of slang and other more casual forms
3.2.4. Absence of contracted forms
• It is best to avoid using contracted forms in academic writing instead use complete
forms (e.g. „“it is“ not “it‘s“ “does not“ not “they‘re“)
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9. 3.3. Reading other research projects
• Finally, try to look at dissertations and theses that have been written by other
people.
• This will help you develop a sense of what is and is not good style, and
of what is and is not appropriate and acceptable.
• Remember, much of what welearn about good style we learn from reading. The
principles explained in thisbook will help you develop good style, in part by enabling
you to recognizeit when you see it applied in the course of your reading.
• This process will sensitize you to the requirements of academic writing in general
and research report writing in particular, and ultimately empower you to improve
your own writing.
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10. Thanks for your attention!
ROBERT BRUNET SOLÉ
Department of Chemical Engineering, URV, Tarragona
Sustainable Computer Aided Process Engineering Group
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