A resource to assist tutors working with Indigenous students Table of Contents The academic world 3 Critical thinking 4

A resource to assist tutors working with Indigenous students Table of Contents The academic world 3 Critical thinking 4 Preparing to write an essay 6 Unpacking the essay question 6 Looking at the marking rubric 7 Understanding a Brainstorm of the essay topic 8 Developing a Taxonomy for the essay topic 9 Academic essay structure 10 A word on academic language 10 Writing a thesis statement 11 Writing an introduction 12 A note on using headings 12 Writing a paragraph 13 Essay: An annotated example 14 Referencing 20 In-text referencing 20 Appendix 1: Analytical essay 21 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thanks to Jamie Pomfrett for providing original materials for this guide. Thanks also to Jamie, Debra Dank and David McClay PhD for reviewing this document. Lesley MacGibbon PhD ACIKE Staff Development Charles Darwin University Purpose of this booklet This booklet aims to provide resources to tutors who work with Indigenous students at Charles Darwin University. It is intended to provide you with information and exercises to assist you to scaffold students to be successful in their university studies. We focus on writing academic essays, because this is a skill student’s need in most university courses, and is a skill that can be transferred to assessments in other units. We know that students bring a wide range of skills and life experiences to the university setting. What we hope to do is to assist you, as tutor, to build on the students’ existing skills and knowledge, with transferrable skills that will enable them to succeed at university. Our philosophy aligns with the old proverb: “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, but teach him to fish, you feed him for life.” 2 Exercise: Rules of the game Ask your student which sport they play or follow. On paper or whiteboard draw up two columns. In one column list the rules of the game as the student identifies them. In the other column, list the rules of writing academic essays. Get the student to help to identify these if they can. Your completed list might look something like this: Rules of soccer(football) Rules of essay writing You cannot pick up the ball unless you are goalie. You must analyse the question carefully to make sure you answer what is asked. You can head the ball in the air. You must use formal academic English – not slang or txt language. You must play within the lines of the field. You cannot just write your opinion. You must back everything you write with evidence (what other people have written). You cannot physically push or shove players on the other team. Different lecturers may have different rules about what academic language is – you will need to check with them. Games are usually 45 mins each half. You must reference where you got your information from. You must obey the Referee even if you don’t agree with him or her. There are particular forms of referencing