discussion 2
Week 8: Assignment – CONCEPT WORKSHEET: Summarizing, Paraphrasing, and Quoting your Peers
As this week’s readings emphasize, summarizing, paraphrasing, and quoting are essential techniques for working with sources in academic writing. Mastering these techniques will not only help you avoid plagiarism but also generate stronger writing for research papers and many other kinds of writing.
For this concept worksheet, return to any discussion from a previous week in this class and find 2 posts from other learners that you admire or appreciate. Feel free to choose posts from a couple different past discussions.
Post 1
Feb 18 11:42pm| Last reply Feb 22 10:40pm
Academic writing and technical/professional writing share similarities, yet they differ in purpose, tone, and structure. Academic writing is primarily linear, formal, and evidence-based, with one central argument supported throughout the paper (UEfAP, n.d.). It is complex, objective, precise, and carefully organized. Features such as hedging, explicit transitions, and responsibility for citing sources are essential. In contrast, technical and professional writing focuses more on clarity, usability, and audience needs. For example, workplace documents such as reports or instructions prioritize brevity, visual design, and direct application rather than extended argumentation.
Nursing learners study academic writing because it strengthens critical thinking, research appraisal, and evidence-based practice skills. Writing academically teaches us to analyze scholarly sources, document evidence accurately, and communicate clinical reasoning clearly. These skills are essential for safe patient care and professional accountability.
Personally, I appreciate the organization and logical flow required in academic writing. The structured format helps me present complex healthcare topics clearly. I also value the responsibility of supporting claims with research. However, I sometimes find the formality and strict APA formatting challenging, especially ensuring precision and proper hedging. Despite this, mastering academic writing builds confidence and professionalism in nursing practice.
Reference
University of East Anglia. (n.d.).
Writing features: Introduction. UEfAP.
Post 2
Feb 15 6:51pm
1. How to Use an Incentive Spirometer After Surgery
2. How to Prevent Pressure Injuries (Bedsores) at Home
3. How to Recognize Early Signs of Dehydration in Older Adults
One strategy I would use is providing description. This means clearly describing what something looks like, feels like, or sounds like so the reader can recognize it. For example, if I wrote about preventing pressure injuries, I would describe what early redness looks like and explain that it may feel warm to the touch. Detailed description helps nonspecialists identify problems correctly.
Another important strategy would be explaining the importance or significance. This means telling the reader why the task matters. For example, I would explain that using an incentive spirometer helps prevent pneumonia after surgery. When readers understand the “why,” they are more likely to follow the instructions carefully.
A third helpful strategy would be providing examples and applications. This means giving real-life scenarios to make instructions practical. For instance, if explaining repositioning, I could say, “If your loved one has been lying on their back for two hours, help them turn onto their side using pillows for support.” Examples make abstract instructions easier to apply in real life.
Reference
McMurrey, D. A. (n.d.).
Online technical writing (Chapter 5.4).
In a document, provide the following:
1. The original post, followed by a full APA reference for the post. (See the tip below for how to do this.)
2. A short paragraph about the post that includes a summary, paraphrase, and quotation of the original.
Repeat the above for the 2nd post you chose.
Finally, write a paragraph evaluating the process of creating your summaries, paraphrases, and quotations.
· Which is one of these is easiest for you? Why?
· Which is most challenging? Why?
· Which of these techniques do you think you’ll use most frequently in your Persuasive Research Paper for this class?
Tips for this assignment:
Here’s how to create a full APA Reference for an online discussion post:
Lastname, F. [username]. (Year, Month Date).
Title of post [Online forum post]. Publisher. URL
Post with no title should be titled
Untitled post.
For the publisher, use Nightingale College.
Submit a
Microsoft Word document (.doc or .docx) only. Submissions in any other format, such as PDF, will not be accepted. Please ensure you use the correct file type before submitting.
