GST111: Communication in English

(Topic Outlines and Notes)

(1) Writing Activities: (Pre-writing, writing, post writing, editing, and proofreading;

Brainstorming, outlining, paragraphing, types of writing, Summary, Essays,

Letter, Curriculum Vitae, Report Writing, Note Making, Mechanics for

Writing).

(2) Logical and Critical Thinking and Reasoning Methods (Logic and Syllogism,

Inductive and Deductive Argument and Reasoning Method, Analogy,

Generalisation and Explanations).

(3) Ethical Considerations, Copyright Rules and Infringements.

Essays

Introduction

An essay is generally a piece of work that gives the author's own arguments. In other

words, it is the writer’s logical presentation of his views or arguments, depending on

the type of essay involved. An essay is written for different reasons – be it academic

(formal) or personal (informal) – but requires the writer to stick to its vital features.

Essays are traditionally sub-classified into formal and informal. The former is known

for its serious purpose, logical organisation, and length, whereas the latter embodies

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personal elements (like self-revelation, individual tastes, and experiences), humour,

graceful style, rambling structure, unconventionality, or novelty of theme.

Since its inception, the essay has been, commonly, used as literary criticism, political

manifesto and learned arguments. It is, mostly, written in prose, though some works

written in verse, such as Alexander Pope’s An Essay on Criticism, have been dubbed

as essays. One of the yardsticks for what makes up an essay is brevity, although there

are essays such as John Locke’s An Essay Concerning Human Understanding that

are voluminous in nature

In some countries (the United States and Canada for example), essays have become

a major part of formal education, such that even Secondary school students are

taught structured essay formats to improve their writing skill. It is common in these

nations to find higher institutions requesting students to write admission essays as

part of the requirements for securing admission. In the humanities and social science,

generally, essays are used as a way of assessing the performance of students.

It is important to note that, the concept of an essay now covers other mediums apart

from writing. A film essay, for example, is a type of movie that regularly

incorporates documentary filmmaking styles, focusing more on the evolution of a

theme or idea. A photographic essay covers a topic with a linked series of

photographs that may have accompanying text or captions.

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Definitions and antecedents

The essay enjoys a number of definitions. Its practice has not also been constant over

time. It can be defined as a composition (a long systematic discourse) in prose with

a focused subject or a topic of discussion. The leading essayist, Aldous Huxley,

defines it as a piece/devise for saying almost everything.

It is said that the word essay was derived from the French word essayer, meaning to

try or attempt. In English, a trial or an attempt are still alternative meanings of essay.

It was Michel de Montaigne (1533-1952) that first described his works as essays in

his attempt to put his thoughts into writing. His works were composed in 1572 and

first published in 1580.

It was notably Francis Bacon’s essays (first published in a book form in 1597) that

set the stage for essays written in English. It was, however, around 1609 that the

famous renaissance playwright, Ben Johnson, first used the word essayist in English.

Of note is the need to understand that essays follow an organisational structure and

can take many forms. Understanding the way thoughts are managed/organised in an

essay is actually as important as its content. This is known as logical structure or

organisation.

LITERARY AND NON-LITERARY ESSAYS

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The different types of essays that we have can be subsumed into at least three forms.

These are the academic, magazine or newspaper, and non-literary forms. Essays are,

essentially, written across disciplines and professions, which determine the structure

and logic of their composition.

1) Academic: it is expected of students in higher institutions to write essays as part

of their requirements before graduation. The essays are to gauge their understanding

of the subjects they are taught or topics that they read in the course. In some

countries, essays are called academic essays or papers. These essays are written in a

logical and factual manner. The use of the first person is discouraged in this form of

essay.

Academic essays require that all facts and quotations in an essay are acknowledged

by way of in-text citation and bibliography or works cited. This scholarly convention

helps others to verify the materials (facts, statistics, and arguments) presented by the

writer to support the essay's argument. It also helps to determine the extent to which

the arguments are supported by evidence.

2) Magazine or newspaper: this form of essay is also called long-form journalism.

It is not as structured/disciplined as academic essays. The essays in this category

appear in magazine, especially those magazines with an intellectual bent. The topics

that are covered under this form are numerous.

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Some of the types of essays that fall under this category (magazine and newspaper)

are descriptive and narrative essays. It is out of place then to find process and cause-

and-effect, or argumentative essays in newspapers or magazines.

3) Non-literary: this is an unconventional form that utilises visuals and audio

instead of just words. Although writing is involved, it is meant to only aid the

presentation. These non-literary essays include:

Film-essay (or the cinematic essay): this essay covers the evolution of a theme or an

idea rather than a plot per se. It involves cinematic accompaniment, with a narrator

reading the essay. This could be in the form of a documentary show with a

combination of commentary (audio) and self-portrait (visual). It blends elements of

documentary, fiction and filmmaking styles.

Music: this essay is normally composed in the form of an orchestra, and relies on the

form and content of the music to guide the listener's ear, rather than on any extra-

musical plot or story.

Photography: this essay presents a topic through a linked photographs series. The

photo essay can be in the form of purely photographic presentations, or a

presentation of photos with captions or small notes, or a full-text essay with a few

or many accompanying images. They can be sequential in nature, meant to be viewed

in a particular order, or may consist of non-ordered photos viewed all at once or in

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an order that the viewer chooses. It is worth noting that photo essays are collections

of images, but not all collections of photos constitute the photo essay. Finally, a

photo essay addresses certain issues or tries to capture characters (subjects), places

(settings) or events (situations).

MAJOR TYPES OF ESSAYS

There are many types of essays, ranging from personal, academic, to journalistic. In

this section, we will study the features of some of these major types of essays.

(1) Narrative/personal writing

As ordinary as our lives are, we sometimes assume that there is nothing interesting

to write about ourselves. But the truth is, once we dig into our lives we would realise

that there are more to talk about. Our thoughts or experiences may be as interesting

as anyone else’s.

This venture of turning our thoughts and experiences inside out and looking at them

in new ways is called personal writing. Imagine stepping out of your skin to look at

yourself in the mirror! The more we dig into our lives the more we discover the glow

in us. This type of writing offers a window into our lives. It is, simply, a self-

reflexive way of studying the self.

Also called the narrative essay, personal writing normally tells a story about a single

personal experience, either a boring party or an exciting sightseeing excursion, daily

journal writing, personal narrative/essay or assessment rubric (Sabranek et al, 2001).

Narrative essays are generally written in the 1st person (the I which speaks) narrative

point of view. It allows the reader an excursion into the inner recesses of the mind

of the writer. This essay is riddled with phrases such as: I wonder, I question, I hope,

I was surprised to find that, I wish, I decided to, if only, I have learned that, they say,

but my experience tells me, I should make a contract with myself, I never thought I

would see the day, I was once but now I am, etc.

In personal writing, you re-create an incident you were involved in over a period of

time. It could be a tragic, exciting, or an emotional experience. It is the expected of

a writer in this essay to provide sufficient details. He is also required to utilise images

in order to make the experience come to life for his readers.

Since the writer is dealing with a myriad of events, she will have to use tools such

as flashbacks, flash-forward and transitions that help build to a climax of the story.

One of the cardinal principles in this essay is the plot. The narrative is often arranged

in a chronological order.

When writing as well, writers should consider other elements such as purpose, point

of view, audience, dialogue and organisation. Below are tips for an effective

personal writing:

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Prewriting: choose a topic (an appealing past incident); gather detail (scribble down

details as they come to mind); focus your efforts (decide on the mood of the essay:

sadness, fear, sorrow, happiness).

Writing and revising: hook the reader (sustain her attention by starting in the middle

of the action, getting your characters to talk, or providing slices of an event and

withhold the main gist); improve your writing (revise your writing, aloud or silently,

to determine whether you have said all that you intended to say, or to ascertain if the

story entertains, surprises or makes a point).

Editing and proofreading: check style and accuracy (for clarity, flow, accuracy of

language use and proper punctuations); prepare a final copy (proofread for standard).

Try the following tips to generate a topic for personal writing:

Page through family pictures

Talk to your grandparents

Mind mapping

Consider categories like early childhood, elementary school, holidays, etc.

And lastly, check your assessment rubric:

Stimulating ideas

Logical organisation
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Engaging voice

Original word choice

Effective sentence style

Proofread.

(2) Descriptive/subject writing

Most magazines are riddled with stories such as description of a new product and an

eyewitness account of an important event. The stories are anchored around a subject

(product, person, or event). They describe what one likes, sees or feels. They can

also be about how something (like a machine) works, or how something sounds,

tastes or smells (a beautiful flower in a vase or a bee honey-making process).

Writers of these kinds of stories rely heavily on primary sources (visits, observations,

interviews, adventure) for their materials. Descriptive essays provide sensory details

of what is, actually, described (a person, place, or thing). They appeal to the physical

senses and provide a mental image of what is described. Literary devices are utilised

in this case to create such images. In Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, for

example, Amalinze the cat is described to a point that the reader can see how he

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works (spring like), his physique (including the six-packs and muscles), his

enormous strength, and his prowess in wrestling (suggesting that he is a cat with

nine lives).

These kinds of stories try to appeal to the reader's emotional, physical, or intellectual

sensibilities. They are likened to painting a picture with words. In order to achieve a

good description, the writer must write from a position of authority (he either knows

the person being described or closely observes a place or an event). It is important

to use sensory and mental details to bring the subject to life.

It is necessary to determine the purpose of a descriptive piece so as to avoid random

and rambling description. Of course this also entails knowing your audience and the

lexis to use in order to create a dominant impression using descriptive language.

Most descriptive pieces utilise spatial descriptions by arranging items in the order of

their physical location, thus focusing on location (a scene or person) instead of time.

There are a number of descriptive essays that are, however, chronological (following

the beginning, middle, and end pattern).

As highlighted earlier, descriptive essays have a penchant for imagery. Some of the

notable tools utilised to achieve this words-to-pictures drive are denotative language,

connotative language, figurative expressions, and tropes such as metaphor and

simile.

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Below are tips for an effective descriptive writing:

Prewriting: choose a topic (a subject like someone you admire, or a favourite place,

worthy of description); gather details (when describing a place, imagine every detail

like size, shape, design, colour that comes to mind or that you can see); focus your

efforts (decide which idea or feeling works best).

Writing and revising: connect your ideas (guide the thoughts and imagination bit by

bit to explore the memory and sensory detail); improve your writing by revising and

taking a mental tour of your descriptions.

Editing and proofreading: check style and accuracy for coherence and choice of

words (use colourful modifiers); take note of grammar and mechanics; then prepare

a final copy (proofread for standard).

(3) Argumentative essay

An argumentative essay is aimed at convincing the reader to accept your position on

an important matter that you feel strongly about. A good argumentation essay relies

heavily on facts and details that can counter an opposing point of view(s). The drive

is to get a solid argument across to a reader.

Argumentation essay attempts to sway a reader to see the topic through the author’s

point of view. It is useful for students because it is good practice to not only argue a

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case, but also to articulate one’s thought(s) on a certain matter. The writer is required

to provide an objective analysis of a subject by narrowing it to a single topic.

This essay requires research and analysis in addition to logic and good structure. It

is expected of the writer to support his argument(s) with sufficient evidence relevant

to the point. One of the features of a good argumentative writer is the capacity to

place points and examples in their right contexts and situations.

Below are tips for an effective argumentative writing:

Prewriting: choose a familiar terrain/topic (a topic you can support with solid

evidence or issues you have heard debated about); list points that can be used (make

sure you have enough); identify reasonable claim to argue (some topics are dead

horses); have your intended readers in mind; research the topic over and over again

(be sure your facts are convincing).

Writing and revising: collect your own thought about the subject (be sure that you

have original ideas); refer to the identified sources of data (books, articles, internet);

argument should be focused and clear (don’t ramble around); locate the pros and

cons (a coin has two sides); structure the argument well and take note of the good

paragraph rule (one point/topic per paragraph); observe the natural progression of

ideas (use transitions and discourse markers); don’t be wordy (don’t overbore the

readers and don’t repeat points); end with a strong conclusion (the last word counts).

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Editing and proofreading: revise your writing and check for mechanical error; pay

attention to logic and avoid hanging arguments; proof read for standard.

It is important to learn some basic transitions for coherent discourse. They serve as

a building block for your arguments.

(a) When moving from pros to cons:

While I have shown that [....] others may say

Opponents of this idea claim / maintain that […]

Those who disagree claim that […]

While some people may disagree with this idea, others may find it [...]

(b) When you want to refute or counter the cons, you may start with:

However,

Nonetheless,

But,

On the other hand,

This claim notwithstanding

(c) If you want to mark your total disagreement:

Their argument is irrelevant [...]

Contrary to what they might think [...]

Addendum

What is important, or in fact what may make your arguments more valid than those

of others, is the use of facts, statistics, quotes, and examples in the essay; the essence

being to convince your readers.

(4) Expository Essay

Also called academic writing, an expository essay requires extensive research on an

idea, concept or issue. It is a serious writing that helps students to form their thought

about the different subjects they are studying. This form of essay encapsulates other

types such as process, cause/effect, definition, and problem/solution essays.

The writer in an expository essay may be asked to explain how a complex process

or idea works, analyse the causes and effects of an important event (like the world

war) or evaluate/examine a concept. In these types of essays, writers are usually

required to know what they are talking about, evaluate issues (concept or history)

and present an evaluation and conclusion based on findings.

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It is important for the writer in this case to present ideas, evaluate evidences (facts

or statistics) and have a cogent argument. This essay should flow from one point to

the next in a logical order. The best expository essay is the product of planning,

research, writing, and revision.

The essay teaches students how to conduct a research. It thus requires a certain set

of skills and continuous practice. The accumulated research skill garnered over time

as a result of practice allows students to discover new knowledge. In this essay, there

is an emphasis on opinion (opinion-based); as such there are no wrong answers.

Below are important tips for writing this type of essay:

Articulated thesis: the writer should start with a thesis statement, also called a

statement of intent or research question. It is critical to ensure that you answer your

set question or accomplish what you say you set out to do. Importantly, do not

wander from your topic.

Provide evidence: arguments and positions in this essay should be supported with

facts, statistics, and/or logic. Do not simply list facts; rather, incorporate the facts as

examples supporting your position.

Be succinct (to the point): clearly state your point or make your argument and

conclude your essay. Repetition or over-stating your case will not score points with

your reader(s).

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(5) Persuasive essay

The goal in persuasive writing is to get your readers/audiences to think the way you

do about a timely and controversial topic. Unlike the argumentative essay, this essay

is designed to persuade or convince. Hence, while the former expresses an argument

or opinion, the latter tries to change the reader’s perspective on an issue.

Most persuasive essays focus on current issues (youth candidatures, Palestine-Israel

conflict, or rotational presidency, for example) and what people could do about them

in reality. This essay can be so tasking, as it is difficult to convince people (especially

the informed readers) to accept another point of view.

The writer must be credible by showing confidence and authority in his/her writing.

The persuasive essay ultimately loses credibility when it loses the reader (by failing

to move him/her). It is critical for the writer to establish a connection with the reader

by presenting strong views that can sway him/her without necessarily being pushy.

Many writers find it difficult to establish this writer-reader connection early on. The

following are some of the important tips to consider when writing this essay:

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Definite point of view: make sure you present and sustain your perspective in the

writing. Avoid wandering around.

Maintaining the reader’s interest: the motive is to win the reader over. Ensure that

you sustain his/her interest. Don’t bore him/her.

Use of sound reasoning: it is important to develop cogent arguments that the readers

can reason with.

Use of solid evidence: this essay is at its best when there are valid evidences. This

gives credence to the position(s) of the writer.

Intended audience as central: always remember that knowing the audience is key to

writing a good essay. This helps you determine the facts to deploy and the style and

language use to adopt.

Conduct researches: a well-researched essay is always more reliable. Research on

your topic; don’t assume that you are the first to proffer an argument.

Avoid sentiment, prejudice, or passion, as they affect affects readers’ interest.

Use lucid language so as not to bore the reader.

Avoiding repetition of points.

Observe the rules of the good paragraph: one single topic per paragraph, and natural

progression from one to the next.

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Provide a strong conclusion.

Further Reading

Adorno, T.W (2000). "The Essay as Form", in: Theodor W Adorno, The Adorno

Reader, Blackwell Publishers.

Bensmaïa, R. (1987). The Barthes Effect: the Essay as Reflective Text. Trans. Pat

Fedkiew. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.

D'Agata, J. (2009) (Ed.). The Lost Origins of the Essay. St Paul: Graywolf Press.

Giamatti, L. (1975). "The Cinematic Essay", in: Godard and Others: Essays in

Cinematic Form. London, Tantivy Press.

Lopate, P. (1998). "In Search of the Centaur: The Essay-Film", in: Beyond

Document: Essays on Nonfiction Film. Middletown: Wesleyan University Press.

Sebrankek, P., Kemper, D. and Meyer, V. (2001). Writers Inc. A Students Handbook

for Writing and Learning. Massachusetts: Great Source Education Group.

REPORT WRITING

This is writing that gives an account of an event that was witnessed; of an

investigation that was carried out; and of some work that has been done. Reports are

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quite formal and factual, except where you have to draw conclusions from stated

facts. Reports are based on observations and investigations.

TYPES OF REPORT

1. EYE WITNESS REPORT

As the name implies this is a report that accounts for an event that was

witnessed e.g. robbery, accident, fire break, riot, demonstration. This calls for

narrative writing. This is usually the type of report required for the WASSC

and NECO Examinations.

2. WORK REPORT

These are routine reports like the report on the progress in a building site, the

report on a school administration and a report on the proceedings of a meeting.

Such a report could be a petition against a person or an organization.

3. INVESTIGATION REPORTS

These involve reports of investigations carried out together with the

conclusions and results arrived at as a result of such an investigation.

Eye Witness Report

Organisation

1. The report should have a heading. This should be underlined.

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2. The body should include only the main issues in the report and exclude all

trivialities.

3. Paragraphs should be properly linked especially with transitional

expressions like “furthermore”, “indeed”, “moreover”, “besides”, “finally”

etc.

4. Each paragraph should treat only one topic.

5. Use the chronological order of presentation, as the report you will be asked

to write in the examination is usually a narrative that needs a sequential

order of presentation of materials.

6. Do not make your report too detailed or else it will become boring, so

include only important details.

7. At the end of the report, give your full name, your official position and

your address. E.g.

Engineer (Mr) Labaran Zunnurain,

General Manager,

Nigeria Port Authority,

Katsina.

Expression

1. Write simply and clearly

2. Be brief and exact in your report

think could be true.

4. Use past tense as is the case with narrative writing.

5. Do not use expressions that would appeal to the emotions of the reader i.e.

avoid emotive language that can influence the reader’s appreciation of

your report.

Mechanical Accuracy

As for essay

LOGICAL AND CRITICAL THINKING AND REASONING METHODS

Logical thinking involves the process of using reasoning (the deduction of

interpretations from premises or abstract thought – an assumption made to account

for known facts) and evidence to draw conclusions or make decisions. It relies on

principles of logic, such as identifying assumptions, evaluating evidence and

recognizing logical fallacies (a clearly defined error in reasoning used to support or

refute an argument, excluding simple unintended mistakes).

Logical thinking is your ability to think in a disciplined manner or base significant

thoughts on evidence and facts. The process involves incorporating logic into an

individual’s thinking abilities when analyzing a problem to devise a solution.

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For example, if the statement is everything outside is wet because it is raining and a person

realizes he left his shoes outside, logical reasoning would reach the conclusion that his shoes

are wet: his shoes are outside. Everything outside is wet due to the rain. Therefore, his shoes

are wet.

Critical thinking goes a step further by not only analyzing arguments and evidence but also

questioning assumptions, considering alternative viewpoints, and being open-minded to new

information. It involves evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of arguments, making

reasoned judgements, and applying skepticism (doubting beliefs, claims or plans that are

accepted by others as true or appropriate) to information and ideas.

Critical thinking is the ability to effectively analyze information and form a

judgement. It also involves being aware of your own biases.

For example, you are thinking about upgrading the security features of your home.

You want to install an alarm system but are unsure what brand is the most reliable.

You search home improvement websites and find a five-star review article of an

alarm system. The review is positive. The alarm seems easy to install and is reliable.

However, you decide to compare this review article with consumer reviews on a

different site, you find that these reviews are not as positive. Some customers have

had problems installing the alarm, and some have noted that it activates for no

apparent reason. You revisit the original review article. You notice the words

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‘sponsored content’ appear in a small print under the article title. Based on this, you

conclude that the review is advertising and is therefore not an unbiased source.

Poor critical thinking – you support a candidate in an upcoming election. You visit

an online news site affiliated with their political party and read an article that

criticizes their opponent. You accept this without evidence, because it fits your

preconceptions about the opponent. In this case, you failed to look critically at the

claims of the article and check whether they were backed up with evidence because

you were already inclined to believe them.

Logical thinking is about connecting one thing with another. Critical thinking is

about making sure the connections between those things are legitimate, and if not,

disconnecting them.

Reasoning methods include deductive reasoning, where conclusions are drawn from

general principles or premises, and inductive reasoning where conclusions are

inferred from specific observations or evidence. Critical thinking often involves both

deductive and inductive reasoning.

Deductive Reasoning: this method starts with a general principle or premise and then applies

it to a specific case to reach a conclusion. For example, “All humans are mortal. Socrates is

human. Therefore, Socrates is mortal.” Deductive reasoning guarantees the truth of the

conclusion if the premises are true.

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 1. Inductive Reasoning: here, specific observations or evidence are used to make

generalizations or predictions. Unlike deductive reasoning, inductive

reasoning does not guarantee the truth of the conclusion. For example, “Every

swan I’ve seen is white, so all swans are white.” While this statement might

be true based on available evidence, it is still possible that are non-white swans

somewhere.

LOGIC AND SYLLOGISM

Logic is the study of reasoning and the principles governing valid inference and

demonstration. It provides a systematic way to evaluate arguments and draw

conclusions based on evidence and principles. In essence, logic helps us

understand how to think and reason correctly.

A syllogism is a specific form of logical reasoning that consists of two premises

(to state or assume something as a proposition/suggestion of an argument) and a

conclusion. The premises are statements assumed to be true, and the conclusion

logically follows from these premises. It follows a structured format:

1. Major premise: this is a general statement or principle.

Minor premise: this is a specific statement related to the major premise.

2. Conclusion: this is the logical consequence drawn from the premises.

A classic example of syllogism is:

Minor premise: penguins are birds.

Conclusion: Therefore, penguins have feathers.

Syllogisms are often used to demonstrate deductive reasoning, where the conclusion

necessarily follows from the premises if they are true. They are foundational in logic and are

used to illustrate logical principles and argument structures.

ANALOGY, GENERALIZATION AND EXPLANATIONS

Analogy: this involves comparing two things that are similar in some respects to

draw conclusions about one based on the similarities with the other.

Example: just as plant needs sunlight to grow, a person needs knowledge to

develop.

Analogies rely on identifying similarities between two things to make inferences

or draw conclusions.

Generalization: this involves drawing a broad conclusion from specific

instances or examples.

Example: all the cats I’ve encountered are friendly. Therefore, cats are friendly

animals.

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Generalizations extend observations or experiences to a broader category or

group.

Explanations: explanations seek to clarify or provide reasons why something

occurs or is the way it is.

Example: the car won’t start because the battery is dead.

Explanations aim to make sense of phenomena by providing causal or contextual

information.

Summary

Deductive reasoning starts with general principles to draw specific conclusions,

while inductive reasoning involves making generalizations from specific

observations. Analogy compares two similar things to draw conclusions,

generalization broadens conclusions from specific instances, and explanations

provide reasons or causes for phenomena. Each method serves different purposes

and has its strengths and limitations.

ETHICAL CONSODERATIONS, COPYRIGHT RULES AND

INFRINGEMENTS

Ethical considerations in the context of copyright rules and infringements refer

to the moral principles and values that guide how individuals and organizations

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 interact with copyrighted material. This involves respecting the rights of creators

and owners, acknowledging their intellectual property and using copyrighted

works in a fair and responsible manner. Ethical considerations may include

obtaining proper permissions, giving credit to the original creator and adhering

to laws and regulations governing copyright, such as exclusive rights, duration,

fair use or fair dealing, public domain, moral rights.

Copyright rules are legal regulations that grant creators and owners exclusive

rights to their original works, such as literary, artistic, musical or other creative

expressions. These rules vary by country but generally include the right to

reproduce, distribute, perform, display, and create derivative works based on the

original content. Copyright infringement occurs when someone violates these

exclusive rights without authorization, such as by reproducing, distributing, or

publicly displaying copyrighted material without permission.

Infringements can take various forms, including unauthorized copying, or selling of

copyrighted content, using copyrighted material without proper attribution or permission,

and creating derivative works without the consent of the original copyright holder. It is

important to understand and abide by copyright rules to avoid legal consequences and uphold

ethical standards in the use of creative works.

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CURRICULUM VITAE

A curriculum vitae (CV) is an all-encompassing tool used to showcase academic,

research and professional accomplishments. This document may resemble a resume,

but is more comprehensive and typically used when applying for positions within

academic institutions or areas where field specific knowledge and expertise is

required. A more concise resume summarizes your skills and experience in relation

to a specific career objective.

A CV is usually a two page minimum detailed synopsis of a person's skills,

experience and education. A vitae includes a summary of a person's academic

background. It also should include any teaching or research experience, applicable

publications, presentations, honors, awards and other such related information. In

the U.S., CVs are primarily used for those applying within the academic, education,

scientific or research fields and will be asked for specifically as opposed to a one

page resume. Those who hold masters or doctoral degrees should submit a CV when

they apply for teaching or research positions at colleges, universities, or research

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institutions. Other industries and educational institutions, including public and

private schools, usually prefer a resume, so be sure to follow up on what is expected.

The terms curriculum and vitae are derived from Latin and mean "courses of my

life". In industry, both in and outside of the US, the term CV and resume may be

used interchangeably. When applying for a job, identify your audience and

understand which document they are requesting.

WHAT TO INCLUDE:

Your CV is your on-paper persona; it must be appealing and convince a search

committee of your qualifications. Include the following information (not necessarily

in this order):

1. Name, address, telephone number, and/or e-mail address

2. Degrees, institutions, and degree dates

3. Thesis title(s), names of advisor and committee members

4. Awards, fellowships, and grants

5. Publications and presentations

6. Teaching experience and interests

7. Research experience and interests

8. Related experience (for example, administrative or editorial experience)

9. Language, computer, and/or other skills

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 10.Activities and/or interests (optional)

11.Service and membership in professional associations

Different disciplines may warrant additional sections, such as Data Sets (sciences),

Performances (performing arts), etc.

HOW TO ORGANIZE:

Present your qualifications and achievements in a clear, concise, and organized

fashion. Use topical headings and consider their order; what comes first will receive

more emphasis. You typically start with academic preparation, drawing attention to

the degrees and writings.

Formatting should support and not obscure the content of your CV. Consider your

audience and make your CV easy to read. Names, titles, and dates should appear in

the same place within each entry. Be consistent in your use of punctuation, type face,

and indentation. Also, liberal use of white space and judicious use of bold type can

help make your CV a swift and pleasant read.

LENGTH:

Content determines the length of the CV. The CV of a student or early in career

professor may be two to four pages in length.

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