Preparing to write

Understanding the topic (ch 3)

Session 3
Important dates

1. Weekly presentations
2. Debates
○ Group essay outlines
3. Individual essay
4. Final group reflection
Feedback on Critical Analysis

This was a task for you to use your brain, not the internet!

What are the steps for analysing an advert/article?

1. D_______: What does it show/say?

2. A______: Ask yourself why they show this? What’s the
deeper meaning/references?
3. C_______: any issues/ shortcomings/ problematic areas?
○ Look for b___, em___v_ l______, un______ sources and ______.
Overview: Preparing to write
Part 1: Understanding the task (ch 3 + 6)
1. Genre, audience & purpose
2. Key words : topic words + task words + focus words

Part 2: Strategies to get started (ch 3)

3. Brainstorming
4. Mindmapping
5. Research focus questions: who, what, when…

Next week: Structure for the academic essay

● Structure of argument essay (ch 6)

● Finding reliable sources (ch8)
Part 1: Understanding the task

1. Genre, Audience & Purpose

2. Key words

Always have a clear goal

Part 1: Understanding the task
Ask yourself...
Why are you writing this
essay/report/paper/reflection/summary?
Part 1: Understanding the task
Know the Genre, Audience & Purpose
● Genre: Academic essay
○ purpose of academic essay = develop a
clear and logical response to the
topic. This should be your own
interpretation, but is supported by
evidence.
○ Other academic genre: research report,
case study, summary of literature;
critical review; reflective journal
○ Think about different movie genre
Part 1: Understanding the task
Know the Genre, Audience & Purpose
● Audience: Remember your reader is an
informed lecturer
○ Strike a formal, academic tone
○ Use correct vocab & terms
○ Be reader friendly - simple, clean
sentences (120+ papers)
● Purpose: to inform or persuade your
audience
○ To inform: list / describe /
summarise
○ To persuade: explain / justify /
critique / argue
Part 1: Understanding the task
We adapt our language for the audience...
How would you greet these two queens?
Part 1: How do you identify key words?
Part 1: How do you identify key words?

Who

What

When

Where

Why

How
Part 1: Understanding the task
Understand the topic & key words

Break it down and understand what you are writing about

What are the key words?

● Topic words
● Focus words
● Task words

(pp57-59)
Part 1:
Activity

Account for the rapid spread of HIV/ Aids in Africa since

the 80s. How has HIV/ Aids affected infant health?
Remember:

● Topic words/ phrases - tell you what you are going to write about
● Task words/ phrases - describe how you will write you assignment (question words: why?
how?)
● Focus words/phrases - are the aspects of the topic you are asked to pay particular
attention to
Part 1:
Activity: answer
Part 1:
Common task words (p58)

Tell you WHAT to do

Part 1:
Activity: Unpack the topic

Companies should focus primarily on profit, rather than

their social and environmental impact. To what extent do you
agree with this statement.
Part 1:
Activity: Unpack the topic

Today, an equal representation of women in higher management

levels should be encouraged. Critically discuss.
Part 1:
Activity: Unpack the topic

The informal economy in Asia reflects the strong

entrepreneurial potential of the region. Argue whether the
government should increase regulation for this sector?
Part 2: Strategies to get started

1. Brainstorm
2. Mindmap
3. Research questions
Part 2: Strategies to get started
Step 1: Brainstorm

Activity: write down everything you think of in relation to

your topic
Activity
Part 2: Strategies to get started
Activity: Brainstorm - topic 1
Companies should focus primarily on
building a productive enterprise and
generating profit, rather than their social
and environmental impact. To what
extent do you agree with this statement?

Reasons/ arguments for Reasons/ arguments for society

profit & environment
Pollution MNCs
Future People+planet+profit = triple
Technology bottom line

Solutions Economic cost (environment)

Resources legal/=/ ethical

Child labour
 Today, an equal representation of women

Activity: Brainstorm Topic 2

in higher management levels should be
encouraged. Critically discuss.

Arguments for: Reasons against:

Responsibility - work + home Stereotypes vs capability

+multitask bias/ prejudice

Corporations Monitor

Pay gap + Glass ceiling Encouraged vs enforced

Takeover C-level (higher mgmt)

Recognition → motivation → Company reputation

productivity & outcomes
 The informal economy in Asia reflects the
strong entrepreneurial potential of the
Activity: Brainstorm - topic 3 region. Should the government increase
regulation for this sector?

Labour force + protection Startup

Employment Streetfood
Tradition Govt regulation? Rules +
laws
Tasks
GDP & economic contribution
Skill level
Taxes
Black market / shadow
economy
Part 2: Strategies to get started
Step 2: Mindmapping

Activity: Organise
your ideas
Part 2: Strategies to get started
Step 2: Mindmapping (h/work)
Companies should focus primarily on
building a productive enterprise and
generating profit, rather than their social
and environmental impact. To what
extent do you agree with this statement?

Give it a solid structure:

Separate the reasons (arguments) for and against

the topic (Advantages & disadvantages)

→ Profit vs society & environment

→ Reasons for/ against gender equality at higher

mgmt levels

→ Reasons for/ against regulating the informal

economy
Part 2: 3:Strategies
Step Researchtoquestions
get started
(what you need to find
out)

Who

What

When

Where

Why

How
Part 2: 3:Strategies
Step Researchtoquestions
get started
(what you need to find
out)

Who is this about -

What should companies do to reduce impact on environment?

When

Where can we see examples of good social & environmental

responsibility companies & countries (example of)

Why

How do companies balance making profit & protecting soc &

environ
Part 2: Strategies to get started

Activity
Part 2:
Handout Essay Topics

Let’s unpack the topics for your group essays

1. Brainstorm
2. Mindmap
3. Research questions

Complete this in Gdrive folder

Part 2: Strategies to get started
Going forward

1. Unpacked the topic (keywords)

2. Brainstorm-mindmap
○ Organise arguments for/ against the topic
3. Research questions (rewriting the topic)
○ Search synonyms
Part 2: Strategies to get started
Reminder: Reading list
Part 3: Structure for your essay
Week 5

Where do we begin?
Part 3: Structure for your essay
Week 5
Introduction - Agree OR Disagree with topic

Against topic
Reason 1 - FOR topic /

Reason 2 - FOR topic / Against topic

Reason 3 - FOR topic

Against topic
Counterargument - Against topic
Response
Conclusion
Class work
Part 2: Strategies to get started Companies should focus primarily on
building a productive enterprise and
Step 1: Brainstorm - topic 1 generating profit, rather than their social
and environmental impact. To what
extent do you agree with this statement?
Social impact: Work conditions → boost
Ethics & empathy productivity

Survival + Labour protection (child labour)

Reputation Environ impact: Sustainable, ethical, green,

clean, organic, carbon footprint
Social value
Benefits (profit + reputation) vs cost (taxes +
Long term
fines)
thinking
Corporate social responsibility
Welfare -
measurement People, planet + profit = triple bottom line
 Today, an equal representation of women

Topic 2
in higher management levels should be
encouraged. Critically discuss.

Skills &
Opportunity Leadership characteristics
Equality → Job satisfaction → Higher management - C-
productivity level & C-suite
Healthy work environ → company Encouraged vs enforced
reputation
Pregnancy + housework
Sexism + bias + prejudice responsibilities
Management requirements /=/ physical
(Girls tend to be more educated with
better results at school level)
 The informal economy in Asia reflects the
strong entrepreneurial potential of the

Topic 3 region. Argue whether the government

should increase regulation for this
sector?

Asia + developing countries Large portion of economy

(GDP) (potential)
Informal - manual labourers
Employment
+ Streetfood
Informal /=/ illegal
Protection of labour?

tax contribution
Entrepreneurship = business,
Regulation: Advantages + start up
disadvantages
 Today, an equal representation of women

Step 1: Brainstorm - topic 2 in higher management levels should be

encouraged. Critically discuss

Inequality Babies (maternity leave) &

Gender gap / pay gap home responsibilities

Leadership Cultural habits/ beliefs/

biases
Unconscious bias
Promotion
Stereotype
Glass ceiling
Higher mgmt = C-level
Girl boss
Encouraged vs enforced

Step 1: Brainstorm - topic 3
GDP & growth rate
Economic risk/ benefit
Shadow/ underground economy
Profitable
Policy/ rules/ laws
Tax evasion
60-70% of Asian economy =
informal
The informal economy in Asia reflects the
strong entrepreneurial potential of the
region. Should the government increase
regulation for this sector?
Informal /=/ illegal
Carefully investigated
business/ start up
Job creation/ low
unemployment / labour
protection?
Asia - streetfood +
streetvendors
Part 2: 3:Strategies
Step Researchtoquestions
get started
(what you need to find
out)
Who will bear the cost of environmental damage? (crops/
agric. Food security fail → rising price food; damage to
land and assets…)

Who is most responsible for environmental damage? MNCs… O&G

What impacts the companies cause to society or environment

When will the cost > benefits?

Where can we see examples of corporate social

responsibility? (countries + companies?)

Why do companies put profit above environment?

Part 2: 3:Strategies
Step Researchtoquestions
get started
(what you need to find
out)
Who is encouraging women at higher mgmt?

What needs to be done to increase equality at those higher

levels?

When should women accept promotions/ choose to have children,

given their responsibilities in the home?

Where do the most cases of harassment happen? (country +

company) / do we see high levels of equality in higher mgmt?
(country + company)

Why is equality (female representation) so low at those high

Part 2: 3:Strategies
Step Researchtoquestions
get started
(what you need to find
out)
Who will be “winners and losers” from regulation / Who works
in the informal economy?

What field/ sector/ industry has the higher prop of informal

workers? What is the economic impact of the informal economy?

When should the govt get involved in the informal econ.

Where

Why does the informal economy in Asia have so much potential?

How would more govt regulation affect the informal economy?

Part 2: 3:Strategies
Step Researchtoquestions
get started
(what you need to find
out)
Who will be in charge for social & environ strategy?

What have companies done to increase productivity &

profit?

When will the benefit (social & environ projects) >

cost?

Where in the world are there examples of strong social &

environmental companies?

Why should we care/ be concerned about social & environ

impact > profit?
Part 2: 3:Strategies
Step Researchtoquestions
get started
(what you need to find
out)

Who

What are the benefits of having equal rep of women at

the top?

When

Where (what country) do we see women rising in

business?

How can we encourage equal rep (instead of enforcing?)?

How did this problem come about? Who is responsible for

Part 2: 3:Strategies
Step Researchtoquestions
get started
(what you need to find
out)

Who are the entrep for informal economy?

What is their contribution to overall economy?

When

Where are the cases of labour abuses in

informal economy?

Why is the informal econ important? Why do we

need to establish laws/ regulations?

How will govt regulate the informal economy?