TROVA GLI ERRORI. MY FIRST ENGLISH ESSAY!

Questo post lo dedico ad un mio carissimo amico,

curioso di sapere cosa gli riserva il suo Erasmus...

nell'attesa gli racconto (a lui, così come a chiunque avrà il piacere di leggere queste righe)

cosa Io ho imparato da questi primi mesi di Erasmus.

Trova gli errori :)

...non ti farà male ripassare un po' di inglese ;D

It's been only two and a half months since I commenced my studies at Christ Church University, and I can already declare that my cultural background has been enriched. Day by day I learn something new, not just because I have to study in a language other than my mother tongue, but mostly because I'm learning how to study, what resources are available to me to increase my studies and how to write a good essay.

It’s especially thanks to teachers Laura Cashman and Amelia Hadfield of “Introduction to Politics/Governance/IR" that I’m learning the main techniques to study at university.

Through lectures and seminars, I learned what resources are available to help me deepen my studies (newspapers, TV, radio , online resources , books), and to conduct a search in the library; what features an essay should have to be considered a good assessment; but still I learned to write an essay, accompanied by a bibliography; to reflect on the concept of "plagiarism" and finally to analyze the different styles of oral presentations.

This is done in stages and to be more precise thanks to 5 tasks.

The first task required an in-depth search through the many resources that the library has to offer, or through online resources, to give a comprehensive definition of politics.

Never before, in my university environment (in Italy), was I given a similar delivery. In fact, the university in Italy only provided written or oral examinations as assessments in two sessions throughout the year. These were based on lectures and on books that the lecturers would recommend. I had never before made a search in the library. Often I analyzed some topics, discussed them in class through internet sites, all too often Wikipedia, which in recent months I have learnt to never use, as it’s unreliable. In contrast with the careful advice of my English teachers, I now have a long list of the most reliable resources where I can deepen my studies. Among these, newspapers (The Guardian, The Times, The Economist), TV channels (BBC and Channel 4), radio stations (BBC), but also web resources (The UK Parliament 's website, Al Jazeera, Newsweek), and academic journals through e-library, where I can find quality news. In addition to these resources, of course the books, but also an internet portal, CLIC, where teachers upload lecture slides, seminars, and useful material for further study. Finally, I learnt that the library is one of the most important resources available to a university student.

For this first task I had to think about the word "Politics", and I have learnt that it is an "umbrella” term, many other words are linked to it, globalization, EU, Political systems, migrations, "good governance". This has also made it easier for me to understand why there are so many definitions of politics, one of the many "The art of government" (Bismarck).

I made many mistakes in this task and I realized only later. I had to write an essay of 250 words, with the central theme being the definition of “Politics”, and that included references. It’s necessary to be careful about the delivery. Personal considerations and life experiences are not to be included in these types of papers. It is wrong to speak in the first person and use the pronoun "I". But I wrote a text of 372 words, thinking perhaps to demonstrate to teachers that I’m particularly interested in the topic or that maybe I like to elaborate and write longer. No need to write anything more or less than what we are asked, it’s necessary do precisely follow what has been asked.

There are many other things that I had to focus my attention to and that are often overlooked: for example, the need to deliver the assessment on time and submit it in the required mode, via the drop box. It is important to organize time well and to have a map of the University to not commit these two errors.

It was not easy, however, to see how easy it is to make mistakes and feel defeated.

Everything is new and to understand what is required in a language different from mine, makes it more difficult. But fortunately, as the saying goes, 'Who wrong learns', it’s thanks to some errors, I'll know how to do better the next time.

The second task required that I look for an academic article entitled "The Clash of Globalisation" by Samuel Huntington. I had to locate the key topics and include two academic criticisms at the thought of the author quoted above. To summarize is not difficult for me, I have always been educated to this type of exercise. I find more complexity in the research of two academic critiques at the ideas of Huntington, and especially in their elaboration.

Plagiarism is a topic which is never spoken about in Italy, nor the severity of performing an action of this kind. Here, on the contrary, it is stressed heavily to students.

Still plagiarism was not exactly clear to me, and neither was the process of writing a bibliography. But now I know that if I put the thought of a particular author without the quotation marks, and I don’t accompany it with a reference within my bibliography, I can be accused of plagiarism. This means I pass for my works or parts work of others: I must always cite the source from which it was drawn.

Another novelty is the submission of assessments via Turnitin - an "anti-plagiarism software", unknown to my university in Italy. It’s designed to unmask the assessment copied from the Internet, through a cross-check with the data on the web. It also has an archive of periodicals, books and newspapers. I should also avoid accidental plagiarism, not only because it is wrong in terms of the rules of the University, but also to our moral code.

A clearly high percentage indicated that my text was not entirely original. It’s wrong to write the thought of an author passing it as my own, but it is not considered plagiarism if cited in the text and accompanied by an appropriate reference at the end of the essay.

I also had to read two different essays. I had to compare them and identify the strengths and weaknesses of each. This task appeared easier after having read the assessment criteria and feedback sheet, but in reality it was not. What might appear a good assessment to me, after the discussion in class, along with the teacher and with my colleagues, it proved not to be. The first of the two writings seemed clearer and more fluid than the second more complex and difficult to understand. After the explanation in class, I learned that I do not make a general summary of a given topic, but I must enrich reflections and critical arguments, supported by the thought of important authors. The paper must be analytical, not just descriptive. This means that I should not report the facts or ideas in a narrative way, but I have to explain why, the how and the consequences. This is completely absent in the first essay.

It was a lesson particularly useful because having understood what are the positive and negative elements of an essay, it will be easier for me to write a good text. There are so many factors to be taken into account. We must first analyze what is required of us, and respond to it not by summarizing the information found in the course of the research, but undertaking a critical study of the thoughts of some authors, comparing them, pointing out the strengths and weaknesses of each.

The language is also a key element; it must be clear, pure and academic. The text similarly must be well structured with an introduction, a body well developed and argued, and with a convincing conclusion, without bringing anything new.

Clearly, if these points are clear and complete, the feedback will be positive.

The writing continues to be a predominant form of communication in the modern world, especially in the work and university. For this reason it is necessary I acquire practical skill. I learned that there are different stages in the writing of an essay. First it’s necessary to plan it, reflecting about the central theme and the various topics and in which order to write them. Outside the topic, the structure is always the same: introduction, main body, conclusion and references. At this stage it is useful to use diagrams and concept maps (spider diagrams, mind maps, clustering). Very important, if not essential, are the successive two phases: the research and the draft, which require more time; and finally, equally important, are the latest two steps, the edit and the proof-read.

The fourth review included the writing of twelve bibliographies, all relating to a specific topic: "The challenges and dilemmas of intervention in other states". The difficulties were many, not only I had to make analyzed research to uncover 12 different texts which all somehow relate to this topic, but also learn how to write different types of bibliography, depending on the text in question. It is different if I read a book, rather than an article or even a relevant newspaper articles or finally a reliable internet sources. Each of these provides a bibliography different, but quite similar. The teacher gave us a photocopy with the scheme and the exact order of the information to be reported, and it was not that difficult. The key elements that can never fail are the author's last name followed by a comma and the initial of his/her name, year of publication in brackets, the title in italics, the edition if not the first. Then I need to write the place of publication and the publisher. This in particular regards to the publication of printed books. There are not many differences between writing a bibliography for a book or a newspaper or internet article, but these must not be forgotten. Some differences exist in the same category "books", the references are different depending on whether I’m examining a printed book, rather than an electronic books (e-books), or even if it is a chapter or sections of printed books or multi-volume works, etc.

The list of authors mentioned in the bibliography must also be in alphabetical order.

The fifth and final task focused on oral presentations. I had to think about the common mistakes during an oral presentation and instead understand how to prepare and to conduct one at best. An important element to be monitored is anxiety. To speak in front of an audience is not easy, it is a quality that is acquired only with time, after so much exercise, reflecting on the key elements that characterize a good oral presentation. As well as a written paper, an oral presentation also has a precise structure, consisting of introduction, main body and conclusion. This should also be supplemented with audio and visual aids. It is a good technique to draw the attention of the listeners, who will remember easily what they have heard when accompanied by slides and audio. Finally, the speaker should present the arguments in a clear and decided voice that, if accompanied by a relaxed posture, will prove his/her confidence and conviction in the arguments. I’m not yet able to make a ruling about the oral presentation I have listen, but neither to be a good speaker.

It is clear that every day I have learned and I will continue to learn something new.

I learned how to use the library and online resources; I have put to the test by writing some essays, reflecting on plagiarism and transcribing appropriate bibliographies. Before I start writing an essay, I learned the meaning of the term "critical" analysis, and how it is an important skill in the university. Now I can express my own ideas, but also interpret information, and give an good or bad judgment. Well-aware that I still have so much to analyze and learn, I am happy now to be able to apply the knowledge and skills acquired.

Canterbury, 11/12/2013

Cinzia