Academic Writing

Contents Page:
Part I: The Writing “Method”
1. The Body Paragraph 3
a. The Topic Sentence
b. Supporting Sentences
c. Concluding Sentence

2. The Introduction Paragraph 6

a. The Hook
b. Background Information
c. Thesis Statement

3. The Concluding Paragraph 10

a. Restating the Thesis
b. Restating Topic, and Supporting Sentences
c. Concluding Strongly

4. Writing Strategies
a. The Brainstorm
b. The Outline
c. Editing
5.

Part II: Writing Style

Part III: Writing Forms

1. The Persuasive Essay
a.
2. The Narrative Essay
a.
3. The Classification Essay
a.
4. The Comparison Essay
a.
6. Literature Analysis
a.
7. The Debate

Part IV: Grammar for Writing

8. Conjunctive Adverbs (linking words) 15
9. Conjunctions
10. Parallelism
11. Phrases

Part I: The Writing Method

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The ability to write concisely and convincingly is undoubtedly a crucial skill. Whether
writing an essay for the SAT, a research project for a school assignment, an opening
statement for a model UN conference, or simply an email to a teacher, logical and clear
written expression is an essential skill that will set students on the path for success in
both academics and general life.

In an ideal world, all writing would be judged purely on the value of its content.
However, this is far from an ideal world, and the reality is that unless a writer’s thoughts
are organized in a manner that is both logical and persuasive, then the reader will
almost certainly dismiss it as poor and unconvincing, however unfair that judgement
may be.

The purpose of this text is to provide the reader with a proven writing structure which
can be adapted to almost any type of purpose. After learning the basic structure taught
in this text, students will possess the necessary skills to successfully persuade people in
almost any setting. The writing method that will be taught here will henceforth be
referred to as “The Method''.

1. The Body Paragraph

A body paragraph is a group of words about ONE topic. It can be found either on its own,
or in an essay where it can be found after the introduction paragraph and before the
concluding paragraph.

When written following the correct structure, a body paragraph can be used to strongly
argue almost any point, which is what makes it so powerful. For this reason, the body
paragraph is one of the most influential forms of writing in the English language. Its
general structure is as follows:

Topic sentence, including:

a. Main Topic
b. Topic Statement
c. (Optional) Number expression
Supporting sentences (+ details/examples)

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 Concluding sentence, which can be:
d. A restatement of the topic sentence, or
e. An opinion or suggestion, or
f. A prediction

Example Body Paragraph

Topic: Should Phones be Allowed in the Classroom?

Students should be allowed to use smartphones in the classroom for three key
reasons. Firstly, smartphones can be used to look up information. For example, a
student can use a phone to research their topic when writing a research assignment
without requiring the use of a personal computer. Secondly, phones can be used to
record key information during class time. In this way, when the teacher is explaining
a key piece of information, students can record it and listen to the recording at a later
date. Finally, smartphones can be used to call during an emergency. For instance, a
smartphone can be used to call the fire department in the case of a fire, or the police if
a stranger walks onto the school grounds. For all these reasons, smartphones are a
necessary tool that should be allowed in classrooms.

The Topic Sentence

The purpose of the topic sentence is to inform the reader the one thing this paragraph is
about. It must include a main topic and a topic statement, and may include a number
expression. The topic sentence is without a doubt the most important sentence in any
body paragraph. Get it right, and the rest of the paragraph will practically write itself.
Get it wrong and you are setting yourself up for unnecessary hardship. Below are the
three main components of the topic sentence.

1. Main Topic
The main topic is the central subject of the paragraph. It should only be one or two
words and is almost always a noun. If you are struggling to find the main topic, try and
find the subject in the sentence, as this is usually the main topic too. For example, if you
are writing a paragraph on “Why Snow Leopards are an Endangered Species”, then the
main topic would be “snow leopards” since that is the subject of the sentence. If you are

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writing an essay (with three or more body paragraphs), then every paragraph must be
about the same main topic.

2. Topic Statement
The topic statement is what the writer wishes to state about the main topic, or in other
words their “belief”. One paragraph should only allow for one statement. If there is more
that the author wishes to state about the main topic, then they need to write additional
paragraphs. As with all writing, the “Goldilocks Principle” applies when writing the
topic statement. This means the topic statement shouldn’t be too specific, but also
should not be too general (it needs to be just right). Too specific means that there won’t
be anything left to talk about. Too general and the reader won’t understand your main
point. Examples of each can be found below.

3. Number Expression (Optional)

In many cases, it is a good idea for a writer to include a number expression in their topic
sentence. The purpose of a number expression is to guide the structure of the paragraph
and to inform the reader of how many points to look out for. Generally speaking, the
best number of points to make in a paragraph is three. Most good number expressions
start with a preposition such as in , for or due to. Some common number expressions
are:
● For three key reasons
● In these main ways
● According to several sources
● Due to these three causes

Structure Examples

● Main Topic
The main subject of this
paragraph (Should be one or two
words - usually a noun).
● Topic Statement
Do
a. Students should be allowed to use smartphones
in the classroom for three key reasons.
b. Computers are a useful tool for people’s lives in
many ways.

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 The one thing that the writer
wishes to state about the main
topic.
● (OPTIONAL) Number
expression
The number of points that you will internet, and play video games. (Too specific)
make in this paragraph (usually
the best number is 3).
c. There are three must-see places to visit when
traveling in Japan.
Don’t
a. Smartphones are good for class. (Too general)
b. Computers can be used to send emails, surf the
c. Japan is nice to visit. (Too general, obvious
fact)

Teacher Tips:
● As you can see, it does not matter what the order is for the main idea,
controlling idea, and number expression, so long as it is clear.
● Don’t ever use the phrase “I believe” in a topic sentence, as it makes the topic
sentence sound weak. “I believe” is implied but never stated directly. State the
belief as if it were a fact.

Supporting Sentences
The purpose of supporting sentences is to give evidence to support your topic.
Therefore, they will always come after the topic sentence. Supporting sentences must be
related to the topic sentence. If they are not, they are “unrelated” and will not contribute
to the paragraph (no matter how well-written they are). Each supporting sentence
should be followed by one or more examples or “detail” sentence/s to give more
information and to help the reader better understand your central point.

Supporting sentences and example/detail sentences should almost always start with an
appropriate time order word or conjunctive adverb (linking word) to logically link the
sentence to the previous one. Also, it is highly recommended to separate an example
sentence from detail/example sentences with a period, as this will make the information
sound more logical.

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 Structure Examples*

1. Supporting Sentence Topic Sentence: Students should be allowed to

Gives evidence (supports) your use smartphones in the classroom for three key
topic. reasons.

Should start with a time order
expression (eg: firstly, secondly,
finally).
2. Detail/Example Sentence/s
Gives a detail/s or example/s about Secondly, phones can be used to record key
the supporting sentence.
Should usually start with a
suitable conjunctive adverb
(linking word) to start (eg: for
example, for instance, in this way,
specifically).
Repeat x 2
Firstly, smartphones can be used to look up
information. For example, a student can use the
phone to research their topic when writing a
research assignment.
information during class time. In this way, when
the teacher is explaining a key piece of
information, students can record it and listen to
the recording at a later date.
Finally, smartphones can be used to call during
an emergency. For instance, a smartphone can be
used to call the fire department in the case of a
fire, or the police if a stranger walks onto the
school grounds.
*Spaces have been added for readability

Teacher Tips:
● If you are struggling to think of what to write for a supporting sentence, try and
think of a question to answer about your topic using the 6 “Ws”
(who/what/when/where/why/how). For example:
○ What can a student use a smartphone for?
○ When is an appropriate time for a student to use a smartphone in class?

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The Concluding Sentence
The purpose of the concluding sentence is to summarize the paragraph and to remind
the reader of the main point of your paragraph (which you can find in your topic
sentence.) Because of this, it is often best to simply restate the topic sentence in a
slightly different way. However, there are two other common ways to conclude a
paragraph as explained below.

Concluding sentences should always start with a conjunctive adverb (linking word/s) to
inform the reader that you are about to conclude the paragraph. They must never
include any new information. Any new information should be written as a “supporting
sentence”.

Options Examples

● Option a: Restate the topic a. … Finally, smartphones can be used to call

sentence during an emergency. For instance, if there is a
Write the topic sentence but in a fire. For all these reasons, smartphones are a
different way. necessary tool that should be allowed in
classrooms.
An appropriate style of conclusion
for ALMOST ALL types of
academic writing.

● Option b: Give an b. … Finally, smartphones can be used to call

opinion/suggestion during an emergency. For instance, if there is a
fire. In conclusion, students should write to their
Write what you believe or give a principals and request that smartphones be
suggestion to the reader. allowed in their classrooms.

An appropriate style of conclusion

for MOST types of academic
writing.

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 ● Option c: Make a prediction c. … Finally, smartphones can be used to call
during an emergency. For instance, if there is a
Write a prediction for the future. fire. In summary, it won’t be long until all
schools allow smartphones in classrooms.
An appropriate style of conclusion
for SOME types of academic
writing.

2. The Introduction Paragraph

The introduction paragraph is a group of words designed to grab the reader's attention,
connect the reader to the main topic, and inform the reader of what the writer wishes to
state about the main topic (the writer's ‘thesis’). It should never be found on its own and
is only necessary when writing a group of paragraphs about one subject (such as in an
essay, report or debate). It must always be the first paragraph. Its structure is as follows:

● The hook
● Background information about the essay’s main topic
● The thesis statement (the author’s claim and why).

Example Introduction Paragraph

Topic: The Importance of Smartphones

Have you ever wondered what life would be like without smartphones? The first
smartphone was invented in 1994 by a company called IBM. Although it didn’t sell
well, it had many of the features of smartphones today such as a touchscreen and
email capability. These days, according to a recent study, most people spend 4-5 hours
a day using their smartphone, which means the average person spends about 20% of
their life looking at a phone screen. Around 1.6 billion smartphones were sold in 2020
alone, and there are over 3 billion smartphone users today. Smartphones are a crucial
part of modern society because they allow for instant communication, give convenient
access to the internet, and are helpful in an emergency.

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 1. The Hook
The purpose of the hook is to capture the reader's attention and get them interested in
the main topic of your essay. As always when writing, the hook must follow the
“Goldilocks Principle” (not too general, not too specific, just right). It can come in many
different forms but below are some common styles.

Essay topic: How smartphones have affected people’s lives

Options Examples

● Option a: Ask a Question a. Have you ever wondered what life would be like
(almost always without smartphones?
appropriate)

● Option b: Make a BOLD b. If smartphones disappeared tomorrow, society

statement as we know it would be destroyed.
(almost always
appropriate)

● Option c. Tell a shocking c. Over 1.5 billion smartphones were sold in 2019
statistic (sometimes alone.
appropriate)

● Option d: Give a definition d. A “smartphone” is defined as a phone with many

(sometimes appropriate) characteristics of a computer, usually featuring a
touchscreen.

● Option e: Write a famous e. “Today, Apple is reinventing the phone.” These

quote that is about the were the words of Steve Jobs in 2007 when he

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 topic. introduced what would become the world’s most
popular smartphone, the “iPhone”.

Background Information
Background information sentences are designed to give some related facts or details
about the main topic of the essay so that the reader can have the necessary information
to understand the author’s belief (as expressed in the thesis statement). This is not the
time for the writer to make a statement or express their beliefs about the main topic, as
they will have this chance when writing the thesis statement.

Interesting facts and figures are often used as background information. If you are
struggling to think of subjects for background information, try to brainstorm by thinking
of a question to answer about your main topic using the 6 “Ws”; who, what, when,
where, why, and how (see below for examples). Around 4-6 sentences of background
information are usually recommended for an introduction paragraph.

Topic: How smartphones have affected society. (Main Topic: smartphones)

Brainstorm Example Sentences

● What are smartphones? A “smartphone” is defined as a phone with many

characteristics of a computer, usually featuring a
touchscreen.

● When were smartphones The first smartphone was invented in 2002 by a

invented? company called IBM.

● How often do people use According to a recent study, the average person
smartphones?

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 spends 4-5 hours a day using their smartphone.

● How many smartphones

were sold in 2020? Around 1.6 billion smartphones were sold in 2020
alone.

Teacher Tips:
● Background information sentences generally need not be linked with
conjunctive adverbs (linking words) such as “firstly, lastly, additionally, etc”
○ Conjunctive adverbs such as these are used to link sentences in a body
paragraph and are typically not suited to introductions.
○ This also means that piece of background information doesn’t
necessarily need to share a strong connection to the previous one
(although it still needs to be arranged in a logical way.)

The Thesis Statement

The thesis statement is the most important sentence of the introduction, and arguably
the entire essay. In it, the writer states what they believe about the main topic and why
they believe it, all in one sentence! It is almost always found as the last sentence in the
introduction paragraph. Given that it is focused on the writer’s belief, it could easily be
considered a “belief statement”. Typically, a thesis statement should be structured as
follows:

Belief (because) reason 1, reason 2, (and) reason 3

When written correctly, a thesis statement will often not only state the author’s belief,
but it will tell the reader the general outline of the essay. This is because the “reasons”
for the author’s belief should form a part of the topic sentences for each body paragraph.

Essay Topics Thesis Statement Examples

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 ● Topic #1: Why 1. Smartphones are important for society because
Smartphones are they allow for instant communication, give
Important to Society. convenient access to the internet, and are helpful
in an emergency.

● Topic #2: Why Japan is 2. Japan is the best place to go on vacation because
the Best Place to Go on of its food, historical places, and unique
Vacation. architecture.

● Topic #3: How Video 3. Video games are good for kids because they help
Games are Good for Kids kids build social connections, learn new skills, and
destress after a long day.

Teacher Tips:
● Don’t ever start a thesis statement with the phrase “I believe”, as it makes the
thesis sound weak. “I believe” is implied but never stated directly. State the
belief as if it were a fact.

Using Parallel Structure

Parallel means “equal”. When writing a list, each part of the list should be of equal
grammatical form. For example:

Incorrect Parallel Structure Correct parallel structure

Video games are good for kids because
they help kids build social connections,
skills are learned, and kids can de-stress.
(verb + object, noun + verb phrase, noun +
verb)
Video games are good for kids because
they help them build social connections,
learn new skills, and de-stress after a long
day.
(verb + object, verb + object, verb + object)

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Thesis Statements for Different Forms of Writing
Depending on the style of essay, it is not always obvious how to structure a thesis
statement in the way described above as a belief statement. However, in most cases it
can be done with some creativity. Below are some examples.

Opinion essay: How to survive a covid-19 lockdown.

You can survive lockdown by subscribing to netflix, buying some home gym equipment
and downloading tiktok.

Narrative essay: My trip to the Netherlands.

My trip to the Netherlands was unforgettable because of the weather, the friendly locals
and the quaint villages.

Comparison essay: Going to the movies vs watching on Netflix.

Going to the cinema is different to watching on Netflix because of the atmosphere, the
sound quality, and the level of convenience.

Classification/research essay: What is kitesurfing?

Kite surfing is a unique water sport due to its creative use of wind power, its unique
board, and the special design of the kite.

4. The Concluding Paragraph

A concluding paragraph is a group of words designed to conclude the essay by

reminding the reader of the author’s claim and the key points that support that claim (as

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found in the thesis statement and the proceeding topic sentences). It is only necessary
as part of an academic composition that includes an introduction and body paragraphs,
and will always come last.

Since the purpose of the concluding paragraph is simply to remind the reader of what
has already been said, it should mostly be an exercise in restating, and should NEVER
include any new information. Assuming the other paragraphs have been written
correctly, it should be the simplest paragraph to write. Its structure is as follows:

1. Restate the thesis statement

2. Restate the topic sentence + at least one supporting detail from body paragraphs
one, two, and three
3. Conclude strongly with a suggestion, opinion, prediction or a bold statement
about the topic

Example Concluding Paragraph

Extracts from Original Text Concluding Paragraph

Introduction Paragraph (Thesis Statement)

… Video games are good for kids because
they help them build social connections,
learn new skills, and de-stress after a long
day.
Paragraph one:
Video games are good for kids because they
help build social skills in three key ways.
Firstly, kids will often play video games
with their real-life friends from school…
Paragraph two:
Secondly, video games are good for kids
because they help them learn a number of
different skills. One such skill is hand-eye
Video games are an important part
of kids’ lives. Firstly, they help kids
build social skills. Such as when a child
goes to a friend's house to play a video
game instead of staying at home.
Secondly, video games help kids learn
new skills. For example, hand-eye
coordination is improved when
children play ‘twitch’ style video games
like first-person shooters. Finally, video
games help kids by giving them an
opportunity to relax after a long and
hard day at school when they are
feeling too anxious to think clearly and
need to unwind. Considering all these

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 coordination... benefits, parents should actively
encourage their children to play video
Paragraph three: games in their free time.
Video games also help kids by providing
them with a way to de-stress. In this way,
video games can help kids process a long
and hard day at school by helping them
relax...

Restating the Thesis Statement

Restating the thesis statement helps to remind the reader what the author stated as their
belief about the main idea. Generally speaking, it is usually best to simply restate the
belief part of the thesis statement and not the reasons why. You will restate the reasons
why in the preceding section of the conclusion.

Thesis Statement Restatement of Thesis Statement

1. Smartphones should be allowed in 1. Smartphones are a crucial tool for

classrooms because they allow for students that should be allowed in
instant communication, give classrooms.
convenient access to the internet, and
are helpful in an emergency.

2. Japan is the best place to go on 2. Japan is an amazing place to visit on

vacation because of its food, historical vacation.
places, and its unique architecture.

3. Video games are good for kids 3. Video games are a vital part of kids’ lives.
because they help kids build social
connections, learn new skills, and
destress after a long day.

Restating the Previous Topic and Supporting Sentences

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Restating the previous topic sentences and key supporting sentences helps to remind
the reader why the author believes what they do, or in other words, the key points they
made in the essay.

Excerpt from Original Paragraphs Restatement*

Video games are good for kids because
they help build social skills in three key
ways. Firstly, kids will often play video
games with their real life friends from
school…
Firstly, they help kids build social skills.
Such as when a child goes to a friend's
house to play a video game instead of
staying at home.

Video games are also beneficial for kids
because they help them to learn a number
of different skills. One such skill is hand-
eye coordination.
Secondly, video games help kids learn
new skills. For example, hand-eye
coordination is improved when children
play ‘twitch’ style video games like first
person shooters.

One other way that video games help kids
is by providing them with a way to
destress. In this way, video games can
help kids process a long and hard day at
school by helping them relax and think
about the day in a more clear way.
Finally, video games help kids by giving
them an opportunity to destress, like after
a long and hard day at school when they
are feeling too anxious to think clearly.
*Spaces have been added for readability*

Concluding Strongly
The purpose of concluding strongly is to leave a deep impression on the mind of the
reader. What type of impression the author might want to leave depends on their style
and the main objective of the composition. For example, in a persuasive essay or debate,
an author is more likely to want to make a suggestion or a bold statement. In a narrative
essay, an author may be more likely to give an opinion. Below are some of the common
ways that an author might choose to ‘conclude strongly’. There is bound to be some
cross-over between each category.

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 Essay thesis: Video games are good for kids...

Options Examples

Suggestion With all these benefits, parents should be actively

encouraging their children to play video games in their
free time.

Prediction Since they are clearly so helpful for child development,

it won’t be long until the ability to play video games will
be considered an essential skill just like mental math or
reading.

Bold statement Considering their importance for mental and social

development, video games clearly play an essential role
in children’s lives.

Opinion Video games are a social phenomenon that have had a

huge impact on children’s lives.

5. Composition Strategies

Brainstorming
Brainstorming is a crucial skill and is in most cases a necessary stepping stone to
completing any academic composition. The point of brainstorming is to generate ideas
about a topic, with the eventual aim that the best of those ideas be converted into an
outline, or the first draft of a composition. The most important aspects of brainstorming
are as follows.

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There are no bad ideas
The point of brainstorming is to generate ideas, preferably using a method similar to
“stream of thought” (where any thought that comes up is written down). This means
that during this process, students should forego judgement of their thoughts and simply
write down as much as they can. Discerning which points are strongest or most
relevant to the topic can come at a later stage.

Staying on Topic (the “Thesis Statement”)

Whilst there are technically “no bad ideas in a brainstorm”, at the beginning of the
process, writers need to do their best to ensure that they have articulated the purpose of
the brainstorm correctly. This means that ideally the brainstorm should be structured
around a “belief”, with the objective of the brainstorm to give reasons for the belief. In
the end, the belief plus the reasons will form the essay’s “thesis statement”. For more
information on what belief statements are and how to generate them, see the section
titled “Thesis Statement”.

Below are some examples of brainstorming done correctly following two styles.
Traditionally, students have been taught to brainstorm using the “web” style, which
involves writing the main idea of a composition in the center, with each idea coming
from the center to give the final appearance of a web. However, this method is most
obviously suited to pen and paper, and also requires a large amount of space, making it
impractical at times. Therefore, an alternate “bullet point” method which is suitable for
almost any context will also be provided.

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Step 1: Brainstorming
In this stage the writer will convert the question or subject of the composition into a
“belief statement”, and write any ideas that come to their head that could provide
reasons for that belief.

Subject: Write a persuasive essay telling why you should / should not be allowed to
have your favorite subject twice in one day

Web Style Brainstorming Bullet Point Brainstorming

Belief Statement: We should be allowed to take gym Belief statement: We should

class twice in one day because: be allowed to take gym class
twice in one day because:

● It’s fun
● Stay healthy
● Can play with friends
● Play outside in the fresh
air
● Laugh with Mr. Rogers
● Learn new sports
● Talk with friends
● Good for heart
● Can relax after a long
day
● Easy to make friends
● Can play kickball

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Step 2: Grouping
In this stage the writer needs to try and group his ideas logically. They may also like to
take this time to cross out any ideas that are weak or unrelated. Doing so will make the
“outlining” stage considerably easier. A good aim is to try and arrange points into three
groups, since this is the ideal number of supporting sentences in a paragraph, or
paragraphs in an essay. But any logical grouping will do since they will likely be further
adjusted during the next stage of planning (outlining).

Belief statement: Students should be allowed to take Belief statement: Students

gym class twice in one day because: should be allowed to take gym
class twice in one day because:

● It’s fun (A)

● Stay healthy (B)
● Can play with friends
(C)
● Play outside in the fresh
air (B)
● Laugh with Mr. Rogers
● Learn new sports (A)
● Talk with friends (C)

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 ● Good for heart (B)
● Can relax after a long
day (A)
● Easy to make friends (C)
● Can play kickball

Making an Outline
After brainstorming, students need to create an outline that will help them to plan out
their composition. The purpose of the outline is to ensure that the writer stays on topic
throughout the entire composition. One of the worst mistakes a writer can make is to go
“off-topic”, which is when their writing is no longer helping to answer their belief
statement, or in other words, they are writing about something different than what they
planned. “Off-topic” sentences or paragraphs do not contribute to the overall
composition and are therefore wasted, no matter how well they are written. Going off-
topic is a surprisingly easy thing to do, even for experienced writers, and it is therefore a
good writer’s top priority to avoid this. A clear outline will help with this greatly.

If a writer has completed both steps of brainstorming, creating the outline should be
easy. It should be noted that a writer may not always have time to brainstorm, but they
should always make time to make an outline for the reason stated above. Whilst there is
room for personal preference and style, generally speaking, an outline should focus on
the body of the essay since this is the most important part of any composition. Ideally, it
will include the controlling idea of the topic sentence for each paragraph, as well as at
least 3 supporting details (usually written in dot-point form). An example of how one
might convert a brainstorm into an outline is below.

Topic Statement
Generally, during the outline stage the writer should also plan their “topic statement” or
what they wish to state about the main topic. The topic statements for each paragraph
can be found in numbers 1-3 below.

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 Bullet Point Brainstorm Outline

Belief statement: Students should be Outline: Students should be allowed to

allowed to take gym class twice in one
day because:
● It’s fun (A)
● Stay healthy (B)
● Can play with friends (C)
● Play outside in the fresh air (B)
● Laugh with Mr. Rogers
● Learn new sports (A)
● Talk with friends (C)
● Good for heart (B)
● Can relax after a long day (A)
● Easy to make friends (C)
● Can play kickball
take gym class twice in one day because...
1. Helps students stay physically
healthy
● Many opportunities to
exercise
● Good for heart
● Can play outside in the fresh
air
2. Helps students build social
connections
● Play together with friends
● Work as a team
● Easier to make friends

3. Helps students stay mentally

healthy
● It’s fun
● Relaxing after a long day
● Feel connected to
teammates

Teacher Tips
● Notice that not all of the points from the brainstorm made it into the outline.
Dropping points or adjusting them to fit the topic sentence of each paragraph is
a normal feature of the outlining stage and should be encouraged.

● Notice that some additional points were added which are written in blue. It is

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 expected that a writer may still need to generate extra ideas during the
outlining stage.

● In what order you choose to write your paragraphs is not usually very
important, the main thing is that a writer should always have their strongest
point as their first paragraph.

Part II: Writing Style

1. Formality

Academic writing requires a higher level of formality than most other writing
styles. There are many ways to improve the formality of writing but below are
some of the most common.

Removing personal pronouns

Avoiding exclamation points

It might sound depressing, but academic writing is meant to be neutral, which means that in
almost all cases it is best to avoid anything that might show the writer’s emotion. An exclamation
point typically shows excitement, which therefore makes it inappropriate for most forms of
academic writing. There are some rare exceptions where an exclamation point may be
appropriate to use in the last sentence of the conclusion paragraph such as when the writer is
giving an opinion or making a suggestion. However, for beginner writers, it is usually best to
simply avoid them completely.

Avoid conjunctions

Avoid passive voice

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 Part III: Writing Forms

Academic writing can take on many forms, however, its general structure is always
largely similar. When broken down, almost every form of writing involves the writer
trying to persuade a reader of something. The aim of the next section is to detail some of
the most common types of academic writing, and explain how the structure taught
above can be adapted to suit each one (if it needs to be adapted at all).

1. The Persuasive Essay

The persuasive essay is the bread and butter of all academic writing. It is generally the
most common style of academic writing and is the preferred style of composition for
testing middle and upper school student’s writing proficiency. In this style of essay, the
writer is tasked with persuading the reader of some general point.

Adapting “The Method”

“The Method” as described in part I is perfectly suited to this style of essay and
therefore generally needs no adaptation. Of course, as writers become more proficient
and experienced, they will find that the structure of “The Method” can be modified with
no negative effect on the clarity or logic of the academic piece. Furthermore, there is
always room for personal creativity and style.

2. The Narrative Essay

3. The Classification Essay

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 5. The Literature Analysis

6. The Debate

4. The Comparison Essay

The comparison essay is one of the most common styles of essay writing. In a
comparison essay the writer must compare two subjects. Even though it is called a
“comparison” essay, this style of essay can be written in three different ways:

● Comparison (the writer will ONLY discuss the similarities)

● Contrast (the writer will ONLY discuss differences), or
● Comparison-Contrast (the writer will discuss similarities AND differences)

For less experienced writers, it is generally advised to stick to either just comparison or
just contrast, as a comparison-contrast essay can be slightly confusing in structure.

Adapting “The Method” for Comparison Essays

Almost every aspect of “The Method” can be adapted to suit the structure of the
comparison essay. The main differences can be found when writing the topic sentences
and thesis statement. In a comparison essay, the writer simply believes that there are “a
number of similarities/differences” between the two subjects. Any opinion as to which
subject is “best” should generally be left for the concluding paragraph or concluding
sentences. Also, if organizing the essay “by subject” (see below), essays tend to be four
paragraphs long as opposed to the traditional five, since they will usually only require
two body paragraphs. Finally, comparison paragraphs do not always require a
concluding sentence, however, in most cases, they are still recommended. Every other
aspect of its structure is largely the same as other essay styles.

Picking Subjects and Topics to Compare

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Picking Subjects
In some cases, students will be provided with subjects to compare by someone else,
such as a teacher. Other times they will need to pick for themselves. In this case, it is
important to pick two subjects that belong to the same “main topic”. For example, Riding
Bicycles vs Driving a Car (Transportation), Wearing a Uniform VS Wearing Casual
Clothes at School (Clothes at School), Watching Movies at Home VS Going to the Movie
Theatre (Movies). Online Learning VS In Person Learning (Education). As always, when
writing the introduction paragraph for a comparison essay, remember that the
background information should be about the main topic.

Picking Topics
After a writer has picked a subject, they must now pick at least three topics of
discussion. The key here is that the topics must be broad enough that they are relevant
to both subjects. If they are not, it will be impossible to compare the two subjects fairly
as it will be like “comparing apples to oranges”. Generally, it is best to pick the topics
that you will discuss after the brainstorming phase by using the “grouping” method (see
brainstorming in section X”

Strong Subjects

G Going to the movies vs watching netflix at

home (category: watching movies)

Maintaining a Neutral Structure (Avoiding “Good vs Bad”)

Generally speaking, a strong writer will want to avoid becoming trapped in the “good vs
bad” or “pro vs con” structure (unless they have been asked to write in this way by a
teacher). Defining something as “good” or “bad” is very limiting. Take for example
something that might commonly be considered “bad”, such as waiting in a traffic jam.
Most people would agree that waiting in a traffic jam is unpleasant, but is it necessarily

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bad? Maybe while waiting in a traffic jam you hear your favorite song on the radio which
lifts your mood and gives you positive thoughts. Maybe waiting in a traffic jam gives you
an opportunity to have a meaningful conversation with a friend. If we make a value
judgment and define waiting in a traffic jam as “bad”, then aside from limiting our
perspective of the world, we also limit what we can discuss about the topic because now
we can only discuss the negative aspects. On the other hand, if we did not make a value
judgment and simply defined waiting in traffic as a “feature” of one of our subjects, then
we are free to discuss other features of that subject, whether they are good, bad, or
neutral. Below is an example of both styles of writing.

Topic: Riding a Bike vs Driving a Car

Good vs Bad Structure Neutral Structure

Taking a car is worse than riding a bike
because you might get stuck in a traffic
jam. In a traffic jam, you waste a lot of
time and it is very annoying.
One key difference between taking a car
and riding a bike is regarding traffic.
People who drive cars have a higher
likelihood of getting into a traffic jam.
Traffic jams can be an annoying
experience that can take up a lot of time.
On the other hand, traffic jams also give
opportunities for connection with other
people in the car, or to wind down by
listening to relaxing music.

Organization

There are two common methods for organizing a comparison-style essay. The first is to
compare and/or contrast by discussing one subject at a time, which is the “organized by
subject” method. Alternatively, a writer could organize a comparison essay by
discussing one topic at a time, which is the “organized by topic” method. Whether the

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essay is organized by subject or topic, the writer will still need to have at least three
topics to compare and/or contrast. Examples of both structures can be found below.
Organized by Subject
Going to the Movies VS Watching Netflix at Home (Contrast)
Main Topic: Movies
Subject 1: Going to the Movies
Subject 2: Watching Netflix at Home
Structure
1. Introduction Paragraph
a. Hook (Bold Statement)
b. Background Information
c. Thesis Statement
2. Body Paragraph I: Going to
the Movies
a. Topic Sentence
b. Topic #1: The
Atmosphere
c. Topic #2: Sound
d. Topic #3: Convenience
e. (Optional) Conclusion
Example
The invention of the “Moving Picture” or “Movie” for
short, was one of the most significant cultural
phenomenons of the past 100 years. The first movie
ever produced was… These days over 1 billion movie
tickets are sold every year, and there are over 1 billion
subscribers to movie streaming services. Whilst they
are similar in many ways, watching movies at the
theater or on netflix at home is clearly different due to
the atmosphere, the sound quality and the convenience.
Going to the movies is a unique experience in three
distinct ways. For starters, many would describe the
atmosphere at a movie theater to be incomparably
unique. Ask anybody to close their eyes and imagine a
movie theater, and they will undoubtedly tell you a
similar set of sensory details, such as… Secondly, the
sound quality of a movie theater is vastly superior to
anything that can be found in the average home… For
all these reasons, going to the movies is a distinct
experience that should be enjoyed semi-regularly by
any movie enthusiast.
Whilst in many ways similar to going to the movie
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 3. Body Paragraph II: Netflix at
Home
a. Topic Sentence
b. Point #1: Atmosphere
c. Point #2: Sound
d. Topic #3: Convenience
e. (Optional) Conclusion
4. Concluding Paragraph
a. Restate thesis statement
b. Restate topic #1
c. Restate topic #2
d. Restate topic #3
e. Conclude strongly
Organized by Topic
Going to the Movies VS Watching Netflix at Home (Contrast)
Main Topic: Movies
Topic 1: Atmosphere
Topic 2: Sound Quality
Topic 3: Convenience
Structure
1. Introduction Paragraph
a. Hook (Bold Statement)
theater, watching a movie on Netflix at home is distinct
in three key ways. In terms of atmosphere, what it’s like
watching at home varies from house to house, and
depends largely on the location of the viewing device,
and the composition of the household as being lived in
by a single person, a couple or a family. For example...
As for sound quality, this will also vary… Considering
all these distinctions, Netflix is a convenient method for
consuming video media for most often by the majority
of people.
Though they might both be “watching a movie”,
going to the theater or staying at home will result in a
vastly unique viewing experience. For one thing,
movie-goers can expect a distinctive atmosphere to
those who elect to stay at home. For example...
Additionally, the sound quality is experienced at home…
Lastly, there can be no comparison to the convenience
of watching… All these factors add up to why, despite
their many similarities, movie buffs should make a
point to visit a theater whenever they can, and watch at
home when time constraints do not allow for travel.
Example
The invention of the “Moving Picture” or “Movie” for
short, is one of the most significant cultural
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 b. Background Information
c. Thesis Statement
2. Body Paragraph I: Atmosphere
a. Topic Sentence
b. Supporting sentences
c. Conclusion
3. Body Paragraph II: Sound
Quality
a. Topic Sentence
b. Supporting sentences
c. Conclusion
4. Body Paragraph III:
Convenience (omitted)
5. Concluding Paragraph
a. Restate topic sentence
phenomenons of the past 100 years. The first movie
ever produced was… These days over 1 billion movie
tickets are sold every year, and there are over 1 billion
subscribers to movie streaming services. Whilst they
are similar in many ways, watching movies at the
theater or on netflix at home is clearly different due to
the atmosphere, the sound quality and the
convenience.
One distinctive feature of visiting a theater
compared to watching movies at home is the
atmosphere. For starters, many would describe the
atmosphere at a movie theater to be incomparably
unique. Ask anybody to close their eyes and imagine a
movie theater, and they will undoubtedly tell you a
similar set of sensory details, such as… In contrast, the
atmosphere when watching at home varies from house
to house, and depends largely on the location of the
viewing device, and the composition of the household
as being lived in by a single person, a couple or a
family. For example... In conclusion, the atmosphere is
just one way that going to the movies is distinct from
watching at home.
A second distinguishing feature of watching movies
at the theater is the sound. On the one hand, the sound
quality of a movie theater is vastly superior to anything
that can be found in the average home. For example…
In addition, you can control the volume of the movie at
home, but do not have control when at the theater. This
is an important distinction because... For all these
reasons, sound is a distinguishing factor between
watching movies at home or at the theater.
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 b. Restate Topic #1
c. Restate Topic #2
d. Restate Topic #3
e. Conclude strongly
Though they might both be “watching a movie”,
going to the theater or staying at home will result in a
vastly unique viewing experience. For one thing,
movie-goers can expect a distinctive atmosphere to
those who elect to stay at home. For example...
Additionally, the sound quality experienced at home…
Lastly, there can be no comparison to the convenience
of watching… All these factors add up to why, despite
their many similarities, movie buffs should make a
point to visit a theater whenever they can, and watch at
home when time constraints do not allow for travel.

Brainstorming for Comparison Essays

As you may have noticed, easily the most challenging aspect of writing a comparison
style essay is its structure. This section is designed to help students avoid the many
pitfalls that are often encountered attempting to write a comparison essay, by providing
a model for brainstorming.

One of the pitfalls for comparison essays is having too many topics to discuss. Ideally, a
comparison easy should only discuss a limited range of topics so to ensure a clear
structure and maximise the clarity of the composition.The main purpose of
brainstorming for comparison essays is to generate ideas that will later be grouped into
topics for discussion. An examples is provided below

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