Reference no: EM133665043

Foundations for Professional Health Practice

Academic Writing in Australia and Beyond

Start your introduction here (Bridges, 2021). Introduce what will be discussed in the paper and perhaps include a definition or statement of detail about the subject (Bridges, 2021). Use third person writing only (Patterson, 2019). Cite all information that is not simply a statement of what is in the paper. So, if you write some facts or information, you need to cite it even in the introduction (Patterson, 2019). This sample essay will show you a sample layout. It is not exact (Bridges, 2021). You may need more or less headings and more or less paragraphs. It is a guide (Bridges, 2021). This essay example will consider what is expected in an academic essay along with examples and explanations.

Writing in Paragraphs

Indent the first line of each paragraph under a level two or level three heading (Murad, 2022). Start your paragraph with a topic sentence for that content. Continue with any statistics, definitions, measures, and information about the subject (Murad, 2022). Include at least three sentences in all paragraphs. Cite all information in the paragraph (Bridges, 2021). This means if you write a sentence, you should have a citation for that content if the information came from somewhere (Bridges, 2021). If you have a further on sentence on the same idea taken from the same source, you do not have to cite it. However, after two sentences, you should cite again even if it is the same source (Bridges, 2021).

Use of Citations in Sentences

Ensure that all information is cited throughout each paragraph (Patterson, 2019). A citation at the end of a sentence may be written in this way (Smith & West, 2022). Remember in an academic paper that the reader needs to be able to easily understand where the content being paraphrased (or quoted) comes from - the source used. You do this with the citation (Smith & West, 2022). If you cite all sentences, then the reader is aware of sources you have used and can go

to those sources for more details or to read more fully about the concepts being discussed (Murad, 2022). Each time you use a different source you must cite it - even if you cited the sentence before from a different source (Patterson, 2019). The rule of thumb is that each new idea (or fact) discussed in an academic essay is cited (Patterson, 2019).

Writing Statistics and Measures

Statistics and measures will be discussed in the modules for the unit (Saphalata et al., 2021). Statistics may be written as percentages or ratios. If you have a statistic for one country, then you should have a statistic that relates to that issue in the other country (Saphalata et al., 2021). If you state that 89% of dialysis patients feel fatigued at the end of the day's treatment in Australia, then you should state the correct statistic for that issue in the other country being discussed (Smith & West, 2022). This allows the reader to compare and contrast each country. It is important also to explain the way the content is measured (World Health Organization [WHO], 2020). Example: Based on birth rates, 0.03% of babies are born needing dialysis, however based on mortality rates, 3.467% of people in Australia needed dialysis prior to their death. This allows for comparison and discussion of contrast when statistics are written about each country (WHO, 2020). These numbers are not accurate and are written here as examples of writing numbers and considering measures (WHO, 2020). Ensure to include the appropriate measurement, such as, average life expectancy in Sweden is 76 years (WHO, 2020). Another example is: A total of AU$ 5.5 million was spent on addressing the health promotional activities in Canada (WHO, 2020).

Writing Under Each Heading

Each time you have a heading you must have a paragraph of information related to the heading (Smith & West, 2022). Smith and West (2022) have stated that "you need to cite the content and make sure that each citation has a reference in the reference list" (p. 38). If your citation is (Smith & West, 2022) then in the reference list you need the reference for Smith & West,

2022 with all of the essential details included (see APA 7th referencing guide). You can cite it many times, but you need one reference for it in the reference list (Smith & West, 2022).
Formatting and Citation Styles

A level three heading is much the same as a level two heading except the heading is in italics (Harmston & Grecio, 2021). A level three heading is used when a sub-set of information from the level two heading is going to be discussed. The CMHL1000 Formatting Guide can help direct you on how to format all aspects of the paper for this unit and future units. Discussion will continue now on citations (Harmston & Grecio, 2021). Always cite the first sentence and the last sentence in the paragraph (Patterson, 2019). Also cite all sentences in between - unless a follow-on sentence clearly linked and is discussing the same idea and is from the same source as the previous sentence.
Examples are given throughout this example essay (Patterson, 2019). There are many styles for including citations in sentences, however, there are two types of citations that you should practice and use (Harmston & Grecio, 2021). The two styles are called parenthetical and narrative styles of citations. Examples of these will follow if you keep reading (Harmston & Grecio, 2021).
Two Citation Styles for Academic Writers

A parenthetical citation is generally expected from first year students (Major & Minor, 2018). They are citations which are placed at the end of the sentence of content. The full stop goes after the citation at the end of the sentence (Major & Minor, 2018). A narrative citation includes the citation as part of the sentence. Research by Patterson (2019) shows that students engage more with their learning if they feel confident in what is required. Content in the sentence can also be used in a quote with a citation (Patterson, 2019). Saphalata et al. (2021) stated that "citations are needed in each sentence when content is being included" (p. 56). A quote always, always, always requires a page number as part of the citation (Major & Minor, 2018). Ensure to download all the sources in pdf format so that you will have access to page numbers. All other formats may not contain page numbers limiting the ability to quote from them (Major & Minor, 2018).

Some Essentials in Academic Essays

Make sure your heading represents what you are writing about in the paragraph (Murad, 2022). It is important to proofread your work carefully. Read your work out loud (to yourself or others) to see and hear the issues within the writing (Graham & Brooks, 2021). It is good to step away and come back to the paper and proofread again. Many errors are because the writer is tired or busy (Graham & Brooks, 2021). Another aspect to consider is that all content takes word count (Odin et al., 2020). This includes citations in the body of the paper. Word count is from the first word of the introduction (which goes directly above the introductory paragraph) to the last word in the conclusion (Odin et al., 2020). It is important to note that this includes all headings, all words, numbers, and all content within any tables or figures included in the paper (Odin et al., 2020).

Comparing Concepts in Academic Essays

Comparing and contrasting are interesting words (Odin et al., 2020). When the writer compares, they look at the similarities between the two aspects. This might be comparing how parenthetical citations and narrative citations are the same (Odin et al., 2020). They both state the source and give the author and year the publication was published. They both show that the writer of the essay honoured the source and gave credit to the source (Odin et al., 2020). If it is a quote, they both stated the author, year and page or paragraph number the content was found on.
Comparing shows how they are alike (Odin et al., 2020).

Contrasting Concepts in Academic Essays

Understanding how to compare is important so that you can then contrast the content (Graham & Brooks, 2021). How are they different or how do they differ? Parenthetical citations are placed in parenthesis at the end of the sentence (Graham & Brooks, 2021). The full stop for the sentence is after the close of the parenthesis. This compares to narrative citations which are part of the sentence with some aspects in parentheses, but not all (Graham & Brooks, 2021). The author is

referred to in the sentence writing and the year is in parentheses just after the author is stated. According to Salomon et al. (2022), "if the narrative citation is in a sentence with a quote, then the page number or paragraph number is at the end of the sentence in its own set of parentheses" (p. 5). Quotation marks are essential as part of a quote no matter if it is a parenthetical citation or narrative citation for the quote (Salomon et al., 2022).

Prevention of Plagiarism With Paraphrasing and Citing

Make sure all citations have a reference in the reference list and that all references have at least one citation in the paper (Odin et al., 2020). If they do not match, then it is academic plagiarism as the writer has not shown where the content they are paraphrasing has come from in the essay.

Paraphrasing is putting the content you have read from a source into your own words in the essay (Salomon et al., 2022). It takes time to master paraphrasing and can be a frustrating process.

However, it is an essential skill to learn during university and will be needed in many units you will undertake (Salomon et al., 2022). Use the Turnitin report to see how much highlighted text you have in the writing (Harmston & Grecio, 2021). Some highlighting is casual match and is allowed (such as citations, common words and names), however always look and see if it is because paraphrasing was not thorough - and re-write the sentence (Harmston & Grecio, 2021).

Conclusion

The paper should always end with a summary of what has been discussed within the paper. No citations should be needed in the conclusion as there should be no new information here. It is purely a summary of the paper above. As with all paragraphs it should be three plus sentences and include a good concise overview of the paper. The conclusion leaves the reader understanding what the paper included. Word count comes just after the conclusion.