11 October 2016

The Process of Academic Writing


Essential Features of Academic Writing

There are a few essential items to remember when we try to improve the quality of academic writing.

1. Planning

There is a certain amount of planning before you start writing. It does not matter what you write – an essay, a letter, or a simple paragraph- you must be organized.

2. Outline 

A good outline is a must. It will help you formulate your thoughts and understand various connections between different subject matters. It will enable you to decide what kind of facts to include in your piece of writing.

3. Language

The language in your paper needs to be precise and formal. Words and phrases have to be selected carefully. You should not use jargon, complicated terminology, slang words, acronyms, or numerous idioms. The thesaurus is a valuable tool. It can help you to select the correct words or phrases.

4. Approach

Deductive reasoning is a big part of academic writing: in this way you will guide your reader to your conclusion. 

5. Third Person

If you express your point of view in the third person, you will meet one of the basic requirements of academic writing:  you will focus on the facts, not on the support of your attitude or opinion.

6. Three Distinct Sections

A text usually has three sections: the introduction, body, and conclusion. In the introduction, you explain some valuable and interesting facts or information. The body must be clearly written and arranged logically: cohesion is realized by reiterating keywords, using synonyms and transitional words, such as however, such as, therefore, etc. In the conclusion, you emphasize the main points and give your recommendations.

7. Common Errors

There is a comprehensive list of common errors and commonly confused words here.



No comments:

Post a Comment