Writing Up Your University Assignments and Research Projects: A Practical Handbook

• What is good academic writing?
• How should I present my written work?
• How can I improve my written work?

Academic writing can be a daunting prospect for new undergraduates and postgraduates alike, regardless of whether they are home or overseas students. This accessible book provides them/students with all they need to know to produce excellent written work.

Based on their many years of experience, the authors have structured the book so as to build students' confidence in their own writing ability whilst at the same time respecting conventional ideas of what is, and what is not, acceptable in the academic domain. To reinforce student learning, the material is presented using a wealth of clear examples, hands-on tasks with answers, and logical sequences that build on earlier chapters. The first two sections of the book address the preparation and writing of assignments and research projects, while the third provides a useful toolkit containing reference materials on areas including punctuation, grammar and academic terminology.

The book includes numerous tips and insights and comprehensively covers issues such as:

• Reading around a new topic
• The need for coherence and how to achieve it
• Structure and organisation
• Plagiarism, quoting and citing sources
• The main sections of a typical research project
• Writing style
• Finding your own voice
• Examiner expectations

Neil Murray is Senior Lecturer and Programme Director at the School of International Studies, the University of South Australia. He has taught academic English and applied linguistics at undergraduate and postgraduate level for twenty-five years and has published in both areas.

Geraldine Hughes is Lecturer in Academic English and Study Skills at King's College London, where she was formerly Director of the international foundation programme for over a decade. She has also taught academic English and communication skills at undergraduate and postgraduate level for thirty years.