The Mechanics of Writing

 Hello Everyone,

I am Hinaba Sarvaiya a student of English Department MKBUniversity Bhavnagar. This blog is my thinking activity assigned by Megha ma'am. This blog is about the Watching three videos. The title is 'Academic writing' . What should you understand about this video and writing as your task assigned. These video lectures are given by Kalyan Chattopadhyay sir and Atanu Bhattacharya sir. 

Let's have a look at what Kalyan sir says in 'Academic Writing' in the first video. 

Kalyan sir started with basic ideas of academic writing. First we have looked at the definition of academic writing.

Accordingly to Scribbr,

Academic writing is a formal style of writing used in universities and scholarly publications. You’ll encounter it in journal articles and books on academic topics, and you’ll be expected to write your essays, research papers, and dissertations in academic style.

Sir's also said that we have to write research papers, articles, journals, dissertations, and questions in exams. Those types of writing are Academic writing styles. Then sir explained the formal text and information text. 

When writing a letter, the writing style plays a very important role, especially when the letter is addressed to some respected or high-value person. There are two writing styles, i.e. Formal Writing and Informal Writing. 

Formal text:-

A formal writing style is one which is used in business or professional purposes.

Information text:-

An informal use when personal or writing style is used for we are writing for some casual reason.

F.w.- Passive voice

Inf.w.- Active voice

F.w.- Professional and officials

Inf.w- Personal and friendly

F.w.- Reference, citation needed.

No need.

These are some differences sir are discussing in this lecture. Sir also referred to hegic. Hegic means you don't argue strongly. You have not put your stand in very strongly. Academic writing does not use "I". To avoid saying what I am saying or my point of view because you tried to become objective and use a passive voice.

Do not go in a subjective way. Research means not finding a new thing but we have to re-explore things which are already told. We have to find a gap that is not looked by others and we have to stand those shoulders and look further. That is a Research. Academic writing means to use other finding, replication, recording interviews, data then further research in your research area. 

Sir's tells some interesting or fruitful tips or techniques which are very helpful to the research area which they have to do. Let's discuss techniques here,

Divide Paragraphs:-

Developed a particular aspect or association to an idea. Briefly introduced the topical sentence with supporting sentences. 

Topical sentence means a sentence that states the main thought of a paragraph or of a larger unit of discourse and is usually placed at or near the beginning.

The supporting sentences, also called the body of the paragraph, are used to support, explain, illustrate, or provide evidence for the idea expressed in the topic sentence.

Then you have to write a concluding part. Conclusion is not the repetition of a topical sentence. They different or summarize early arguments with evidence. 

Second technique is a used Signal Expression:-

Used some signal expressions like beside, then, indeed, results, although, however etc. It is helpful to connect your one argument to another one. Careful to use this. If we turn your other arguments then signal expression becomes helpful. New chapter starts with the connection of previous chapter or arguments, it is beneficial to the reader.

Third techniques is a Using a Questions:-

Academic writing is based on the questions and the first aspect is to tell the questions or find some answers. You can ask self questions, you address the questions in your research. Deal with issues and raise this question with supporting arguments. 

Sir's tells the most four things which is very useful in academic writing that is,

Careful Thought

Analysis

Comparison

Division making

These four things are more important. We see the literature Review then we have to look at it critically. Critical writing is important but it is very difficult to put your stand in a critical. Asked the question, why should I agree with questions? Then analyse, then compare your arguments with others' arguments and then you make your own decision with Supporting your claim. Use reference to support your arguments.

Briefly I tells that which is things is important that,

Established your voice

Finding link, connect the dots with previous research

You have to think a critical

Topical sentence with supporting sentences.

This whole information was talked about by Kalyan Chattopadhyay sir in this video. It is very helpful or fruitful for new researchers who are doing research. It is very beneficial for me now to do my dissertations. 

Another lecture also based on Academic Writing which is by Atanu Bhattacharya sir. He deals with many basic principles or The Mechanics in Academic Writing. 

Atanu Bhattacharya sir started with some basic principles of academic writing in a very unique style of telling things as a storytelling. 

Outline of this session:-

What not to do

What can be done

Web tools

Case study

Sir's started with academic writing as a skill. Which have developed in their own way with help of your guide, research scholars or professor ect. We have developed Academic Writing skills. Sir's give the example of Alan Sokal & Jean Bricmont who published an article which is very difficult to read or not easy to understand. The article is "Transgressing the Boundaries: Towards a Transformative Hermeneutics of Quantum Gravity." He used huge gargans terms. It's very difficult to understand. Many people are admired but many do not understand. Then Alan gives an explanation that is not a good article. It presented a combination of only sentences. 

That's part sir explained things that researchers can not use complex language to not clearly understand what you say. Researchers use a simple language and write their research of reader angles. If they used a simple or understanding language it is helpful to readers and new researchers who are doing in this area what you were doing in previous. 

A few takeaways:-

Writing has material effects

Avoid massive jarganisation

Research and publication ethics

Carefully choose the topic.

Writing has material effects means we have used other materials to help our own research. To refer to the article, a journal which is based on your research area. Avoid a complex language or become familiar to some people who might understand your writing or research. Over research became easy to read by the reader. We followed the same rules and regulations or ethics in research and publication. Most important thing is to carefully choose the topic in your research because research is an individual work and means your guide also helps them but definitely to do it on your own. Research is a long process, work on your own. 

Writing it up: a few tips:-

Introduction last

Do not repeat same arguments

Use available digital tools

Follow the literature.

It is very fruitful tips given by sir. If we followed in the same way the journey of a researcher became easy and we did over research in a bounding time duration. 

Qualitative research sources:-

UGC- care list

Scopus

Scimago journal & Country Rank.

Digital Tools - reference management:-

Zotero 

MENDELEY

Microsoft windows

Language help:-

The tone of academic language is usually formal, meaning that it should not sound conversational or casual. You should particularly avoid using colloquialisms, idioms, slang, phrasal verbs or journalistic expressions because they are often imprecise, leading to misinterpretation. 

Language presented a vital role in academic writing. In the video sir's given very fruitful tips for us to use some digital tools and check your language.

Grammarly

Owl - online writing lab

Excelsior online writing lab.

Its session is an introductory part of academic writing given by Atanu Bhattacharya sir. Last part of session is based on "Academic Writing: The Mechanics"

What are Writing Mechanics?

A writing mechanics definition could be the rules and conventions concerning technical aspects of writing composition. The category of writing mechanics includes technical areas such as punctuation and spelling that concern expressive accuracy. Mechanics can also be expanded to include organization within one's writing, such as ideas, words, sentences, and paragraphs.

Genre: Classification (Swales's CARS Model)

Definition

Purpose

Justification

Literature Review

Method

Argument

Conclusion.

The Creating a Research Space [C.A.R.S.] Model was developed by John Swales based upon his analysis of journal articles representing a variety of discipline-based writing practices. His model attempts to explain and describe the organizational pattern of writing the introduction to scholarly research studies.

Its model is very helpful to define your area and complete in your time duration. Skills of classification are most important in academic writing. This classification of "alankars" of academic writing.

Organization ideas:-

Mindmup

Mindly

If we are not organised in your research in the proper way, digital tools are helpful. 

Paraphrasing:-

Avoid repeating yourself

Avoid quoting someone else exactly.

Change your vocabulary

Developed your own voice in your writing

Do not use 'I' research as objective.

Provide to generate overview to what you say

Contextualizing material.

This whole thing is told by Atanu Bhattacharya sir in a session of academic writing. It is very helpful to us. Thank You sir. 

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