What is academic writing?
Academic writing refers to the ability to understand
certain words in a text. Characteristics of academic writing include formal
tone, use of the third-person rather than first-person perspective, a clear
focus on the research problem under investigation and precise word of choice.
Types of academic writing
There are four main types of academic writing
- Descriptive
It is the simplest type of
academic writing. It purpose is to provide facts or information. An example
would be a summary of an article or a report of the results of an experiment.
- Analytical
Analytical writing includes
descriptive writing, but you also re-organize the facts and information you
describe into categories, groups, parts or types.
- Persuasive
In most academic writing, you
are required to go at least one step further than analytical writing, to
persuasive writing. Persuasive writing has all the features of analytical
writing with the addition of your own point of view. Most essays are persuasive
and there is a persuasive element in at least the discussion and conclusion of
a research article
- Critical
Critical writing is common for
research, postgraduate and advanced undergraduate writing. It has all the
features of persuasive writing, with the added feature of at least one other
point of view. While persuasive writing requires you to have your own point of
view on an issue or topic, critical writing requires you to consider at least
two points of view, including your own.
types of academic writing |
Academic writing skills
Writers seeking to improve their academic
writing skills should focus their effort on three key areas:
1.Strong
writing
Thinking precedes writing.
Good writers spend time distilling information from their sources and reviewing
major points before creating their work. Writing detailed outlines helps many
authors organize their thoughts. Strong academic writing begins with solid
planning.
2.Excellent grammar
2.Excellent grammar
Learn the major and minor
points of grammar. Spend time practicing writing and seek detailed feedback
from teachers, professors or writers you respect. English grammar can be
detailed and complex, but strong writers command the major points after many
years of study and practice. Using a good writing reference, such as your
dictionary, can provide advice on the more troublesome points of grammar.
3. Consistent stylistic approach
A person must choose one style
and stick to it. Each style provides guidance on how to write out numbers,
references, citations and more.
Features of academic writing
academic writing skills |
Features of academic writing
- Complexity
Written language is relatively
more complex than spoken language. Written language has longer words, it is
lexical denser and it has a more varied vocabulary.
- Formality
Academic writing is relatively
formal. In general, this means that in an essay you should avoid colloquial
words and expressions.
- Precision
In academic writing, facts and
figures are given precisely.
- Objectivity
Written language is in general
objective rather than personal. It therefore has fewer words that refer to the
writer or the reader.
- Explicitness
Academic writing is explicit
about the relationship into the text. Furthermore, it is the responsibility of
the writer in English to make it clear to the reader how the various parts of
the text are related.
Strategies for academic writing
Start
as soon as possible
Focus on the task at hand
Focus on the task at hand
Be
careful with your word choice
Use
short paragraphs
The writing process
Prewriting-
prewriting is anything you do before you write a draft of your document.
Drafting
– it occurs when you put your ideas into paragraphs and sentences.
Revising-
here you think deeply about your readers needs and expectation.
Editing-
check for things as grammar, mechanics and spelling.
Academic writing deals with how you structure, understand and analyse the text. In academic writing a person need to have the ability to write and read effectively and you have to follow all the rules of academic writing.
References
References
- Hartley, James Academic writing and publishing: A Practical Guide. New York: Routledge, 2008.
- Christopher. Academic wriring step-by-step.Bristol, CT:Enquinox Publishing Ltd, 2016
- http://grammar.yourdictionary.com/style-and-usage/academic-writing-skills.html
- www.uefap.com/writing/feature/featfram.htm
- https://www.careeraddict.com/strategies-academic-writing