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    "result": {"data":{"site":{"siteMetadata":{"title":"Linnéuniversitetet","language":"en"}},"mdx":{"fields":{"id":"ee0e7d32-57c1-51c8-abc3-b3162b521f50","title":"Writing","slug":"/04-thesis-work/02-writing-tools/03-Writing"},"body":"var _excluded = [\"components\"];\n\nfunction _extends() { _extends = Object.assign || function (target) { for (var i = 1; i < arguments.length; i++) { var source = arguments[i]; for (var key in source) { if (Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(source, key)) { target[key] = source[key]; } } } return target; }; return _extends.apply(this, arguments); }\n\nfunction _objectWithoutProperties(source, excluded) { if (source == null) return {}; var target = _objectWithoutPropertiesLoose(source, excluded); var key, i; if (Object.getOwnPropertySymbols) { var sourceSymbolKeys = Object.getOwnPropertySymbols(source); for (i = 0; i < sourceSymbolKeys.length; i++) { key = sourceSymbolKeys[i]; if (excluded.indexOf(key) >= 0) continue; if (!Object.prototype.propertyIsEnumerable.call(source, key)) continue; target[key] = source[key]; } } return target; }\n\nfunction _objectWithoutPropertiesLoose(source, excluded) { if (source == null) return {}; var target = {}; var sourceKeys = Object.keys(source); var key, i; for (i = 0; i < sourceKeys.length; i++) { key = sourceKeys[i]; if (excluded.indexOf(key) >= 0) continue; target[key] = source[key]; } return target; }\n\n/* @jsxRuntime classic */\n\n/* @jsx mdx */\nvar _frontmatter = {\n  \"title\": \"Writing\",\n  \"metaTitle\": \"Writing\",\n  \"metaDescription\": \"This is the meta description for this page\"\n};\nvar layoutProps = {\n  _frontmatter: _frontmatter\n};\nvar MDXLayout = \"wrapper\";\nreturn function MDXContent(_ref) {\n  var components = _ref.components,\n      props = _objectWithoutProperties(_ref, _excluded);\n\n  return mdx(MDXLayout, _extends({}, layoutProps, props, {\n    components: components,\n    mdxType: \"MDXLayout\"\n  }), mdx(\"h2\", null, \"Start early, write regularly\"), mdx(\"p\", null, \"A common way of thinking about thesis writing is that it is best to wait to write until you have something meaningful to say: how can you say something about your project when it isn\\u2019t finished? The risk, and it is a large risk, is that if you wait until you \\u201Cfeel ready to write\\u201D then you may not write at all. If you skip writing one week thinking that you will be more ready later, suddenly you might only have a couple of weeks until the deadline and you haven\\u2019t written a single word!\"), mdx(\"p\", null, \"You can start writing about your project even if you are not exactly sure how it will end up. Writing then helps you develop your ideas and can help you identify what is missing. Through regular writing, you can build your confidence in writing, and through revising, you can select the parts that are useful in the final report version and reject the parts that do not fit. Even if you reject parts you can actually speed up the writing, since you develop your writing skills every time you write something!\"), mdx(\"p\", null, \"Here are some tips on what you can write:\"), mdx(\"ul\", null, mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"My project is about\\u2026\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"I am currently working on\\u2026\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"The next step is\\u2026\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"During the last week, my project has progressed by\\u2026\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"I have learned the following from reading articles related to my project\\u2026\")), mdx(\"p\", null, \"You can also use some of the parts you write when you send status reports to your supervisor.\"), mdx(\"p\", null, \"Write drafts of each chapter, and send a chapter to your supervisor for feedback when it is ready. Don\\u2019t wait until the whole report is written before you send it to your supervisor. The feedback you receive on a chapter might be very valuable when you later write the following chapters.\"), mdx(\"h2\", null, \"Who is the reader?\"), mdx(\"p\", null, \"Who, besides from your supervisor and the examiner, do you think is interested in reading your thesis report? When you have an idea about the target audience, imagine yourself being a member of this audience reading your report. What does the audience already know about the theory and background of your thesis? You don\\u2019t have to write about things that the audience already knows. Focus on writing what you think the audience need to know to understand your project.\"), mdx(\"h2\", null, \"Writing strategies\"), mdx(\"p\", null, \"It can sometimes be very difficult to start writing. You know that you must write drafts, and you keep staring at the blank paper in front of you. There are a number of writing strategies that can help you get started. You can try one or all of them, and use what works best for you.\"), mdx(\"h3\", null, \"Writing to prompts\"), mdx(\"p\", null, \"In this strategy, you use a fragment of a sentence or a question to stimulate writing. It can help you getting started. These prompts should be short, direct and informal. They shall help you focus on the topic you need to write about. Some prompts can be used at any point in the thesis writing process, for example, \\u201CWhat writing have you done and what do you want to do?\\u201D. Others are more specific to some parts of the writing process. Here are some example prompts you can use:\"), mdx(\"ul\", null, mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"What writing have I done and what would I like to do?\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"Where do my ideas come from?\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"Last week I have worked on\\u2026\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"The theory I just read about can be explained as\\u2026\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"How does what I read compare to my own views?\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"What I want to write about next is\\u2026\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"What do I want to write about next?\")), mdx(\"p\", null, \"Psychologically prompts change your mind from focusing on the mountain of \\u2018writing still to be done\\u2019 to something more manageable. Every time you sit down and are to write a draft in your report, select a suitable prompt and write ten minutes on it. Don\\u2019t think about the quality of what you write. You can revise it later!\"), mdx(\"h3\", null, \"Freewriting\"), mdx(\"p\", null, \"Freewriting is another strategy that can be used instead of writing to prompts. It can help you \\u201Cforce\\u201D writing, fill the report with content, and develop your writing skills. It works like this:\"), mdx(\"ul\", null, mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"Find a topic. What do you want to write about next?\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"Write for five to ten minutes on the topic\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"Don\\u2019t stop writing\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"Private writing: what you write is only intended for yourself\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"No structure needed\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"Don\\u2019t think about the quality of the text, but use sentences when you write (not bullet points)\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"You are free to wander off the topic\")), mdx(\"p\", null, \"Freewriting can help you to synthesize ideas and bring meaning to thought fragments in your head, and you will most likely become more fluent in writing if you practice freewriting regularly.\"), mdx(\"p\", null, \"Freewriting helps you get into the mood of writing and can be very useful for filling your report with content. It is important to note the privacy of freewriting. What you write during freewriting shall not be seen by anyone else. You can, however, revise what you have written and used it in the report or in status reports to your supervisor. Psychologically the privacy requirement makes you feel less stressed when you write. Since no one else will read it quality doesn\\u2019t matter!\"), mdx(\"p\", null, \"Freewriting is a very versatile strategy that can be used for a number of different purposes:\"), mdx(\"ul\", null, mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"As a \\u201Cwarm-up\\u201D for writing\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"To get into the \\u201Cwriting habit\\u201D\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"To develop fluency in writing\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"To clarify your thoughts\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"To reflect upon a difficult theory\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"To increase your confidence in writing\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"To overcome obstacles by articulating them\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"\\u2026 and more\")), mdx(\"p\", null, \"Freewriting can be seen as \\u201Cbrainstorming in text\\u201D.\"), mdx(\"h3\", null, \"Generative writing\"), mdx(\"p\", null, \"Generative writing is very similar to freewriting but with some differences:\"), mdx(\"ul\", null, mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"Find a topic. What do you want to write about next?\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"Write for five to ten minutes on the topic\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"Don\\u2019t stop writing\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"Use sentences when you write (not bullet points)\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"Stick to the selected topic\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"Optionally, let someone else read what you have written\")), mdx(\"p\", null, \"It is more closed than freewriting. You focus on a topic and stick to it without wandering off. You can let someone else read what you have written, but this is optional. This has been shown to change the writers\\u2019 experiences dramatically. When we know someone else will read it, we focus much more on the quality and that what we write must make sense. It is important to note that if you choose to let someone else read and comment on what you write, it shall be a peer and not your supervisor. Generative writing shall, as in freewriting, not be constrained by academic writing standards. By letting someone else read what you write you feel more and more comfortable in showing your work to others, which can make it less stressful when you have to show your work to your supervisor. Generative writing works best in writing workshops where you and some of your peers write together and comment on each other\\u2019s texts.\"), mdx(\"h2\", null, \"From drafts to formal text\"), mdx(\"p\", null, \"You shall always proof-read your text before sending it to your supervisor to remove misspellings and grammatical errors. The spelling checker in for example Word identifies most misspellings and many common grammatical errors. Use it!\"), mdx(\"p\", null, \"Here are some common errors we often see in student reports:\"), mdx(\"ul\", null, mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"Wrong use of is/are. Singular, use is. Plural, use are. Examples: \\u201Cthe student is\\u2026\\u201D and \\u201Cthe students are\\u2026\\u201D\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"Add s to a verb. If the subject is singular, add an s to the verb. If the subject is plural, don\\u2019t add an s to the verb. Examples: \\u201Cthe algorithm works by\\u2026\\u201D and \\u201Cthe algorithms work by\\u2026\\u201D\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"Overusing commas. A sentence with too many commas is very hard to understand. If you are unsure about a sentence, read it out loud. It will sound weird if you have overused commas. You can find some good rules of thumb for using commas \", mdx(\"a\", {\n    parentName: \"li\",\n    \"href\": \"https://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/Commas.html\"\n  }, \"here.\")), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"Too many short sentences. Examples: \\u201CWe conduct an experiment. The experiment is repeated five times. Execution time will be measured.\\u201D. Compare to \\u201CWe conduct an experiment that is repeated five times, and execution time will be measured.\\u201D. Again, this is easily spotted if you read your text out loud.\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"A bad structure of sentences. Sentences are often constructed differently in different languages, and you shall make sure you use correct English sentences. Example: \\u201CTomorrow at school I will tell you a story\\u201D is incorrect. It shall be \\u201CI will tell you a story at school tomorrow\\u201D. Some short but very useful information about sentence structure can be found \", mdx(\"a\", {\n    parentName: \"li\",\n    \"href\": \"https://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/word-order\"\n  }, \"here.\")), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"Overusing semicolons (;). You can read about when to use them \", mdx(\"a\", {\n    parentName: \"li\",\n    \"href\": \"https://writing.wisc.edu/handbook/grammarpunct/semicolons/\"\n  }, \"here.\"))), mdx(\"h2\", null, \"Active or passive voice?\"), mdx(\"p\", null, \"Formal text shall be written in passive voice. Passive voice is used when the focus is on the action. It is not important or not known who or what is performing the action.\\nExamples:\"), mdx(\"ul\", null, mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"Passive voice: An experiment was conducted.\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"Active voice: I conducted an experiment.\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"Passive voice: A web service was implemented in the project.\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"Active voice: I implemented a web service in the project.\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"Passive voice: An app was implemented for the company by me.\"), mdx(\"li\", {\n    parentName: \"ul\"\n  }, \"Active voice: I implemented an app for the company.\")), mdx(\"p\", null, \"You can read more about active and passive voice \", mdx(\"a\", {\n    parentName: \"p\",\n    \"href\": \"https://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/passive\"\n  }, \"here.\")), mdx(\"h2\", null, \"Past or present tense?\"), mdx(\"p\", null, \"Most of the report shall be written in past tense, for example, \\u201Can experiment was conducted\\u201D and \\u201Cthe results were analyzed\\u201D. Exceptions are the Discussion and Conclusion chapters which typically are written in present tense, for example, \\u201Cthe problem has been answered\\u201D and \\u201Cthe results show that\\u201D. You can read about present tense \", mdx(\"a\", {\n    parentName: \"p\",\n    \"href\": \"https://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/present-perfect-simple\"\n  }, \"here\"), \" and past tense \", mdx(\"a\", {\n    parentName: \"p\",\n    \"href\": \"https://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/past-perfect-simple\"\n  }, \"here.\")));\n}\n;\nMDXContent.isMDXComponent = true;","tableOfContents":{"items":[{"url":"#start-early-write-regularly","title":"Start early, write regularly"},{"url":"#who-is-the-reader","title":"Who is the reader?"},{"url":"#writing-strategies","title":"Writing strategies","items":[{"url":"#writing-to-prompts","title":"Writing to prompts"},{"url":"#freewriting","title":"Freewriting"},{"url":"#generative-writing","title":"Generative writing"}]},{"url":"#from-drafts-to-formal-text","title":"From drafts to formal text"},{"url":"#active-or-passive-voice","title":"Active or passive voice?"},{"url":"#past-or-present-tense","title":"Past or present tense?"}]},"parent":{"relativePath":"04-thesis-work/02-writing-tools/03-Writing.md"},"frontmatter":{"metaTitle":"Writing","metaDescription":"This is the meta description for this page"}},"allMdx":{"edges":[{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/02-course-content/01-lectures","title":"01 Lectures"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/02-before-course","title":"Before Course"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/03-starting-project","title":"Starting a project"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/01-course-information","title":"Study guide"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/04-thesis-work","title":"Course content"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/05-examination","title":"Examination"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/01-course-information/00-timeline","title":"Timeline"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/01-course-information/02-course-goals-activities","title":"Course goals and activities"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/01-course-information/03-expectations","title":"What we expect from you"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/02-before-course/02-ideation","title":"Ideation"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/","title":"Degree project"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/02-before-course/01-registration","title":"Registration"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/02-before-course/04-external companies","title":"External Companies"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/02-before-course/03-work-in-pairs","title":"Forming Pairs"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/02-before-course/00-precourse-introduction","title":"Pre-course Introduction"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/02-before-course/05-letter-to-companies","title":"Letter to companies"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/03-starting-project/03-course-introduction","title":"Course introduction"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/03-starting-project/04-workshops","title":"Workshops"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/03-starting-project/05-student-project-proposal","title":"Student Project Proposal"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/03-starting-project/06-getting-a-supervisor","title":"Getting a supervisor"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/04-thesis-work/01-research-methods","title":"Research methods"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/04-thesis-work/02-writing-tools","title":"Writing Tools"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/04-thesis-work/03-examiner-seminar","title":"Examiner seminar"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/04-thesis-work/04-peer-review","title":"Peer Review"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/05-examination/07-opposition","title":"Opposition"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/05-examination/06-presentations","title":"Presentations"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/05-examination/08-examiner-review","title":"Examiner review"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/05-examination/09-publication","title":"Publication"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/03-starting-project/04-workshops/04-workshop-research-area","title":"W1 - Research and Application Area"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/03-starting-project/04-workshops/06-workshop-knowledge-contribution","title":"W2 - Knowledge Contribution"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/03-starting-project/04-workshops/08-workshop-methodology","title":"W3 - Methodology"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/04-thesis-work/01-research-methods/case-study","title":"Case Study"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/04-thesis-work/01-research-methods/03-validity-and-reliability","title":"Validity and reliability"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/04-thesis-work/01-research-methods/design-science","title":"Design Science"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/04-thesis-work/01-research-methods/controlled-experiment","title":"Controlled Experiment"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/04-thesis-work/01-research-methods/interviews","title":"Interviews"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/04-thesis-work/01-research-methods/literature-review","title":"Literature Review"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/04-thesis-work/01-research-methods/surveys","title":"Surveys"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/04-thesis-work/02-writing-tools/01-Refero","title":"Refero guide"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/01-course-information/01-communication-strategy","title":"Communication Strategy"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/04-thesis-work/02-writing-tools/02-Referencing","title":"IEEE Referencing"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/04-thesis-work/02-writing-tools/04-Layout","title":"Layout"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/04-thesis-work/02-writing-tools/03-Writing","title":"Writing"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/04-thesis-work/02-writing-tools/Searching","title":"Searching"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/04-thesis-work/02-writing-tools/template","title":"Template"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/03-starting-project/04-workshops/04-workshop-research-area/01-prepare","title":"Prepare"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/03-starting-project/04-workshops/04-workshop-research-area/03-practice-reading-thesis","title":"W1.1 - Reading a thesis"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/03-starting-project/04-workshops/04-workshop-research-area/02-theory","title":"Theory"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/03-starting-project/04-workshops/04-workshop-research-area/04-practice-Reasearch-Area","title":"W1.2 - Searching"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/03-starting-project/04-workshops/06-workshop-knowledge-contribution/02-Theory","title":"Theory"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/03-starting-project/04-workshops/06-workshop-knowledge-contribution/01-Overview","title":"Overview"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/03-starting-project/04-workshops/06-workshop-knowledge-contribution/03-Practice-Reading","title":"W2.1 Practice reading thesis "}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/03-starting-project/04-workshops/06-workshop-knowledge-contribution/04-Practice-Pitches","title":"W2.2 Work on pitches "}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/03-starting-project/04-workshops/08-workshop-methodology/01-theory","title":"Theory"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/03-starting-project/04-workshops/08-workshop-methodology/03-practice-research-instrument","title":"W3.1 - Research instrument"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/03-starting-project/04-workshops/08-workshop-methodology/06-practice-read-thesis-method-chapter","title":"W3.3 - Read thesis method chapter"}}},{"node":{"fields":{"slug":"/04-thesis-work/02-writing-tools/05-help","title":"Academic Support Centre"}}}]}},"pageContext":{"id":"ee0e7d32-57c1-51c8-abc3-b3162b521f50"}},
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