writing skills workshop keith cheverst [email protected]

C.Sc. 110: Computer SystemsC.Sc. 110: Computer Systems

Writing Skills Workshop

Keith Cheverst

[email protected]


Aims of the Workshop

• Understand the difference between different kinds of document.

• Learn how to produce an abstract.• Understand how to produce a report/paper. This

will include learning to:• Plan and structure a report,• Adopt an appropriate use of language/style,• Use sentences and paragraphs appropriately,• Use references within the document,• Present the report in an attractive way.


Structure of Workshop

• What is a paper…• Look at a published technical paper• Writing an abstract

• Exercise: write your own abstract• Constructing a paper…

• The components…• The process…• Assignment: write your own paper


Essay vs. Paper/Report (1)

• Essay…• More personal viewpoint or standpoint • ‘I’ – first person, colloquial style more acceptable

• Paper/Report…• Third person - distancing / impersonal / less

committing…• ‘it is interesting to note…’• ‘it is generally accepted that…’• ‘the current opinion regarding…’

• Occasionally use ‘I/we’ - usually followed by believe – when argument is more subjective.


Essay vs. Paper/Report (2)

• Major difference between paper and essay is a difference in emphasis…

• A paper is…• NOT A PERSONAL STATEMENT• AN ARGUED AND LOGICAL

PROGRESSION FROM A SET OF PREMISES TO ONE OR MORE CONLUSIONS…


The paper…(1)

• Written under various constraints…• Font type and size, margins etc.• Length: maximum of 8 sides • But paper also judged under specific criteria…

• Title… (must encapsulate what follows…)• Author information• Abstract (147 Words)• Keywords


The Paper…(2)

The main sections…1. Introduction2. GUIDE Requirements3. The Development of GUIDE4. Application and User Interface Design5. Evaluation by Expert Walkthrough6. Evaluation by Field Trial7. Related Work8. Future Work9. Discussion and Conclusion10. References


The Paper…(3)

• Presenting information in a user friendly way…

• The use of figures…• Digitised picture (e.g. fig 1)• Line drawings (e.g. figs 2 and 3)• Screen shots (e.g. figs 4, 5 and 6)• Tables (e.g. fig 7)• Can also have graphs, e.g. pie charts etc.


Writing an Abstract (1)

• Usually 100-150 words• A brief account of the paper…• Needs to have punch!• This is where you are trying to ‘sell’ the idea• This is what people will read first…

• cf with a 2 min video preview...

• Writing abstracts is a skill that takes practice• Try to show someone else your abstract


Writing an Abstract (2)

• An abstract will often highlight the paper’s• Motivation…• Its aims…• An overview of its content…

• Should be clear and concise…


Your first task…

• Write a 150 word abstract for the article• ‘Your Phone Is You’


Constructing a paper…(1)

• The top-down view…• Paper• Sections • Paragraphs• Sentences• Words


Constructing a paper (2)

• The Paper…• Should communicate one or more ideas/results

• To communicate effectively you must take into account the likely level of understanding of your audience

• The goal is to communicate ! Not to write for oneself

• Should be written with reader in mind• Should be self-contained• Should argue in logical steps



• Sections…• Breaks paper down into logical units• Section Headings, usually stipulated font/size/style• Sub-sections for providing different levels• Progressively Numbered (if numbering required)

• 1. 1.1 1.2 1.2.1 1.2.2 1.3 2. 2.1 3. …

• Can use Intro, Resume and Bridging paragraphs between sections.

• Intro, …., Conclusions, References.• Task 2: Write numbered headings for the CHI

paper.


The ‘Introduction’ Section…

• Statement of the problem or question…• Motivation

• Introduce relevant theoretical background• State assumptions or limitations of work• Possibly paraphrase conclusions


The ‘Middle’ Sections…

• Background…• Requirements…• Approach…• Design…• Evaluation…• Results…• Future Work…


The ‘Conclusions’ Section…

• Check matches up with the intro.• Should not introduce any new material,

references etc.• Conclusions should be fully justified from

material covered or cited in the paper.• All conclusions should be presented

concisely, consider bullet points etc.


The ‘References’ Section…

• Usually given a format for presenting references, e.g. [1] Norman, D.A. The Invisible

Computer. MIT Press. ISBN 0-262-14065-9. (1999).

[2] Schilit, B., Adams, N., and Want, R. Context-Aware Computing Applications, in Proc. of the Workshop on Mobile Computing Systems and Applications, Santa Cruz, CA, U.S. (1994).



• Paragraphs…• Definition: “A cluster of sentences relating to a

particular idea or argument.”• Use one paragraph to make one strong point

(clearly)• Use them to help the reader…• Often paragraph breaks become apparent on re-

reading the complete paper



• Sentences…• Favour short sentences (but make sure they are

sentences – i.e. contains verb, i.e. a doing word, subject and a predicate (i.e. saying something about the subject)

• Be careful of missing out needed words…• I never have accepted and never will accept a bribe.• As Joe began to prepare dinner he discovered that

the oven wasn't working properly.



• Use of Language…• Avoid slang/colloquialisms/hyperbole

• e.g. ‘kind of’, ’fantastic’

• Explain jargon that cannot be assumed common knowledge to the intended audience


The Process..

• Sketch down your ideas on paper• What you want to say

• Produce a structure for the paper• Produce successive drafts of the paper• Have someone proof read the draft

• For content/structure – does it make sense?• For spellings/grammar

• Produce the final version…


Hot tips…

• Know/Respect audience• The goal is to communicate ! Not to write for

oneself• The longer spent on planning the quicker

the overall completion• Remember you do not have to write the

paper in the same order as it is presented, i.e. some people prefer to write the intro last and the conclusions first.


Your task…

• Title – ‘The Case for the Superiority of Digital over Analogue TV’

• Research information on the subject…• Web, library, magazines, brochures, etc…

• Collate Information (and cite references)• 1700-2000 words (including 150 word abstract)• Try to use CHI paper guidelines (but A4 size)• The intended audience…• Bring two copies to the next workshop.

writing skills workshop keith cheverst [email protected]

Documents

paper slide

abstract slide

concise slide

conlusions slide

published technical

abstract exercise

word abstract

author information abstract