University College – Senior Project
Academic Writing
What is academic writing?
Academic writing is a type of written expression used by scholars to convey structured research that answers research questions or solves academic or practical problems. Simply describing a topic does not qualify as academic writing.
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Characteristics of Academic Writing
Formal tone;
Clear concise writing style;
Use of the third person rather than the first (usually);
Thesis driven with a clear focus on the research questions or problems under investigation;
Reason dominates personal experience or perception;
The audience is rational and will form a rational response to the writing.
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Formal Tone
Use language appropriate for your purpose and audience.
Avoid slang, clichés, or informal language.
Instead of: The professor’s lecture was clear as mud.
Use: The professor’s lecture was difficult to understand.
Instead of: Smith’s research is OK.
Use: Smith’s research is significant because…
Do not use contractions or abbreviations.
Instead of : doesn’t, can’t, TV, quote
Use: does not, cannot, television, quotation
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Clear concise writing
Omit unnecessary words.
Combine short sentences.
Do not use phrases or sentences to express a word.
Use active voice.
Use active verbs.
Refer to Writing Concisely PowerPoint in this module for more information on writing concisely.
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Use third person rather than first
This is a convention of academic writing that gives the writer an authoritative voice. Rather than relying on one’s personal experience or opinion, one conveys the knowledge gained by performing the research. The research “speaks for itself.”
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Thesis driven
Academic writing does not just describe a topic. It has to have a point. That point is called the “thesis.” This thesis describes what research questions you are trying to answer or problems you are trying to solve.
For example, if you say you want to write a paper on “childhood obesity,” there is not clear thesis for that topic.
If you say you want to investigate the effects of physical activity at school on the childhood obesity rate, then you have a thesis ( lack of school activity has increased the obesity rate) with questions to answer and a problem to solve.
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Reason dominates personal opinion
Academic writing should convey the results of your research, regardless of how you feel about it. Your readers should be able to tell that from your writing. Your personal opinions and experiences are secondary to what the research tells you and your reader.
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Rational audience
In academic writing, we presume that a rational audience is reading our research for information and will form a rational response to that research.
For the purposes of this course, your primary audience is your instructor. When writing, it sometimes helps to consider a wider audience. Think of your “rational reader” as a college-educated individual who is generally sophisticated, but is not an expert in your field of research.
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Points to remember
Academic writing:
Uses a formal tone with clear concise writing;
Is thesis driven – it has a point;
Reason dominates over personal opinion or perception;
Ace my homework – Writes for a rational sophisticated audience.
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Sources used for this presentation
http ://www.library.dmu.ac.uk/Support/Heat/index.php?page=488
h ttp :// libguides.usc.edu/content.php?pid=83009&sid=645284
http:// twp.duke.edu/uploads/media_items/academic-style-guide.original.pdf
http:// writingspaces.org/essays/what-is-academic-writing
Booth, W., Colomb, G., & Williams, J. (2008 – Affordable Custom Essay Writing Service | Write My Essay from Pro Writers). The craft of research (Third ed.). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Strunk, W., & White, E. (2000). Elements of style (Fourth ed.). New York: Longman.
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