Academic Writing

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 

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. 

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

  Be careful with your word choice

  Use short paragraphs

  Edit several times

academic writing strategies

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

• 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