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Centre for Learning and Study Support (CLaSS): Academic Writing

Academic Writing Resources

  Understanding the Assignment and getting started  

Download our PDF guide on how to get started on your assignment taken from the Higher Education Assignment Toolkit (HEAT)

• Understanding the assignment title
• What is the assignment looking for?
• Making the connections and developing ideas
• Making a start

 

  Glossary of Academic Words used in Titles 

Use this glossary from the HEAT to help you to break down your assignment title.

 

  Focus on: Essay Writing  

Try the new interactive Focus on guide, or the pdf version for hints and tips on writing your essay.

  Planning the structure  

Download our PDF guide on how to plan your assignment taken from the Higher Education Assignment Toolkit (HEAT)

• What are the benefits of planning the structure?
• How to make an essay plan
• Free writing
• Starting or developing writing
• A basic essay structure
• Report writing

 Structure templates and infographics 

Download our essay structure templates and planning guides below to guide your approach

 See our more detailed pages on Reading and finding information

  Turning Reading into Writing: 5 minute bitesize video tutorial

Download a transcript of the video below

  How to summarise, paraphrase and use quotations  

See p.58 of our PDF guide on writing your assignment taken from the Higher Education Assignment Toolkit (HEAT)

  How to read and critique a journal article: 10 minute bitesize video tutorial

Download a transcript of the video below
 

 

 

Critical thinking interactive resource (engagement time: 5 minutes)

  Finding your critical voice: 5 minute bitesize video tutorial

Download a transcript of the video below

 

 

  Structuring a paragraph  

See p.50 of our PDF guide on writing your assignment taken from the Higher Education Assignment Toolkit (HEAT)

  Introductions and conclusions  

See p.49 of our PDF guide on writing your assignment taken from the Higher Education Assignment Toolkit (HEAT)

  Templates 

*NEW!*

The Scholarly Detective

Are your proof reading skills up to scratch? Do you want to test them out, or have some low-stakes practice before tackling your next big assignment? Why not try our new Proofreading Detective game, the Scholarly Detective and the Case of the Slapdash Thief!

This light-hearted game is designed to work alongside the Proof-Reading for Grammar Toolkit and covers some key tips for effective proofreading, as well as giving you a chance to try out your skills on some real problems.

Try it out, and let us know what you think!

 

On an older browser? try the Flash Version here.

 Proof reading toolkit

Work through our interactive guide to improving your language and grammar.

  Editing and proof reading

Download our PDF guide on how to get started on your assignment taken from the Higher Education Assignment Toolkit (HEAT)

  • How to edit and proof read your writing
  • Checklist to help you edit and proofread
  • Understanding feedback from your tutors
  • Proofreading (Checking your work)

  Proofreading Checklist 

Try the Proofreading checklist extract from the Higher Education Assignment Toolkit (HEAT)

  Understanding Feedback From Tutors 

Use this extract from from the Higher Education Assignment Toolkit (HEAT) to help you address the feedback you receive from your tutors. 

 

 

 

 

 Referencing from databases

  Writing Reports 

Download our PDF guide on writing reports.

  Verbal Presentations

Download our PDF guide on verbal presentations.

  Writing Reports : 5 minute bitesize video tutorial

Download a transcript of the video below