The term ‘good academic practice’ refers to all the things academics have to do to make sure their work is scholarly, ethical and honest. As a student you will be expected to present your academic work in an appropriate academic style using accurate referencing techniques to acknowledge all of the sources you use.
Watch this short video clip from Oxford University where some university students offer useful advice on how to achieve good academic practice. Make a note of their two top tips and try to implement them in your studies at Abertay.
In order to achieve good academic practice, you need to know the basics:
Know the referencing rules and make sure you cite all your sources. Bad academic practice or academic dishonesty (plagiarism, cheating) often occurs where students feel confused and insecure about what is expected from them. To help understand the basic rules, access the Abertay Study Skills page for our popular guide onReferencingto learn how to reference and avoid bad academic practice.
Develop your own voice. You do not need to express information in a better way if it is already clear and useful. All you need to do is to put it in your own words.
Watch the videoVoice in Academic Writing by University of Melbourne to understand more about different types of voice and how to use them in your writing at Abertay.
Form your own judgements and evaluations. Developing your own voice is not always easy but there are a number of skills you can learn and implement to ensure that you use sources properly. To get started on how to become a critical thinker and writer, consult the Abertay Study Skills page for our guide on Critical thinking and analysis.