Academic Writing vs Encyclopedic Writing - Evaluating Sources
This is the content for Academic Writing vs Encyclopedic Writing - Evaluating Sources, scheduled for 10-14.
These slides gives some guidelines for academic writing in general, with more detail on selecting and citing good sources.
The reason I’ve spent so long establishing [that writing helps you refine your thinking] is that it leads to another [point] that many people will find shocking. If writing down your ideas always makes them more precise and more complete, then no one who hasn’t written about a topic has fully formed ideas about it. And someone who never writes has no fully formed ideas about anything nontrivial.
Assignment: Academic Paper
Write a short academic paper (4-8 pages + references) on a sustainability-related topic (preferably local). This complements your Wikipedia assignment by practicing academic voice, structure, and argumentation.
Learning Goals
- Write for an academic audience with clear structure and argument.
- Critically evaluate and integrate scholarly, policy, and NGO sources.
- Develop a sustained argument (not just description).
- Practice ethical scholarship: attribution, citation consistency, transparency.
- Engage with local/global sustainability questions.
Instructions
- Choose a topic. Prefer local relevance (Olomouc / Moravia / Czechia). Pick from the seed list below or propose your own.
- Research. Use at least 5 reliable sources, including, if relevant, 2+ scholarly/peer-reviewed. Policy/NGO/government reports are welcome. Contact local experts if necessary.
- Content:
- Title & Name <email>
- Abstract (150–200 words)
- Introduction (topic, research question/thesis)
- Body (evidence, analysis, argument)
- Conclusion (findings, implications)
- References (use APA)
- Paper format:
- Paper size A4, margins 25mm
- Single line spacing
- Text: Palatino font 12pt (or TeX Gyre Pagella)
Title and Headers should be the same font but larger, I leave it up to you.
- Length: 4--8 pages.
- The pages must be numbered.
- The essay must contain the title and the author's first
and last names and email address. This information should not need to
be at the top of the first page, not a separate page.
- Make the citations as complete as possible, and justify your choice of sources in the paper.
- Submit Draft for peer review (Week 7).
- Revise and submit final paper (January 15).
Suggested Seed Topics
- Why is metal recycling in Olomouc only in a
few specialised bins, instead of with plastic (like in Spain)?
Timeline
- Week 3: Topic selection — choose a topic; optional 3–5 source mini-bibliography.
- Week 5: Annotated bibliography — short notes on 5+ sources — at least 2–3 sentences justification for each
- Week 7: Draft due — bring a complete draft (formatted appropriately) for in-class peer review.
- Final: submit revised paper formatted appropriately.
Tips for Success
- Lead with a clear research question and answer it.
- Use topic sentences and signposting for flow.
- Support every claim with citations (even when paraphrasing).
- Write in a formal academic style; avoid slang and vague phrasing.
- Check originality and citation consistency before submitting.
- Write the whole thing yourself, do not rely on AI for anything except final proofreading.