Introduction To Academic

Writing
Effective Academic Writing

Audience and Tone

Adapted from: Harris B Leonhard, Discoveries in Academic Writing, Thomson
Heinle Publishers, 2002

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 Learning Outcomes
By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

 define academic writing

 identify the differences between personal and
academic writing
 identify the characteristics of effective academic
writing
 apply appropriate tone for related audience

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 Academic Writing
 What is academic writing?
 Personal writing versus academic writing
 Effective academic writing
 Organization
 Audience and tone

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 What is Academic Writing?

 A generic term for all writing done in high

school and college classes.

 In academic writing, emphasis is placed on

formal structure and organization.

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 Academic Writing
 Academic writing is different from creative
writing used in stories.

 Academic writing also differs from writing

used in personal writing such as letters to
friends, family members.

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 Academic Writing
 In academic writing, the words and grammar
and the way of organizing ideas are probably
different from what you are used to in other
types of writing.

 Elements such and as format, sentence

structure and organization are essential in
academic writing.

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 Academic Writing vs Personal Writing

 In academic writing, formal sentences are

written. Abbreviations, slangs, contractions are
not allowed. Complete sentences are written in
an organized manner.

 However, in personal writing, sentences are

informal and abbreviations, slangs,
contractions and incomplete sentences are
allowed.
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PERSONAL WRITING vs ACADEMIC WRITING

Features of Personal Writing:

1. Purpose: communicate with close and personal

members on any issue/matter.
2. Your knowledge of topic: subjective depending
on the purpose of writing.
3. Audience: personal acquaintance who may have
varying degrees of knowledge on the topic.
4. Criteria for evaluation: informal, simple
sentences.
5. Statistical and graphic support: almost none.
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 PERSONAL WRITING vs ACADEMIC
WRITING
Features of Academic Writing:

1. Purpose: demonstrating what you know about

the topic, in a way that justifies a high grade.
2. Your knowledge of topic: less than the teacher
who evaluates the writing.
3. Audience: teacher who requests the assignment
and who will read it from beginning to the end.
4. Criteria for evaluation: organization, depth,
logic, clarity, unity and grammar.
5. Statistical and graphic support: Sometimes
used to explain and persuade.
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 Differences between Personal and Academic Writing
Personal Academic
(Informal/Colloquial) (Formal/Technical)
Audience close friends and family professors, lecturers

Tone informal, friendly formal, objective, serious

Vocabulary slang, idioms, contracted forms academic, wide range, concise, accurate

Style simple or compound sentences simple, compound, complex sentences,

sentence variety

Language fragments, run-on sentences, few, should have no errors

misspellings, punctuation errors

Content conversational, maybe repetitive depth of thought, unified

Organization maybe less structured than clear, coherent, well planned

formal writing
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 Effective Academic Writing
 Three major characteristics:
 convincing content

 clear organization

 effective use of the language

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 Effective Academic Writing:
Convincing Content
 The content is informative and thought-
provoking.
 use specific and logical details, examples, facts,
statistics and case studies to support generalizing.

 The support is relevant.

 the support relates directly to the thesis and should

not digress away from the main point.

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 Effective Academic Writing:
Convincing Content (cont’d)
 The content shows depth of thought.
 shows elements of critical thinking –
 analysis of information
 interpretation of facts

 making judgments

 drawing conclusions

 summarizing

 defending opinions

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 Effective Academic Writing:
Convincing Content (cont’d)

 The writer must have a clear purpose and strong

control over the content.
 the message is clear, logical and to the point.

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 Effective Academic Writing:
Clear Organization
Most academic writing in English is linear:
Preliminaries (introduction)
Main text (body)
End matter (conclusion)

 it starts at the beginning and finishes at the end, with every

part contributing to the main line of argument, without
digression or repetition.

 ensure clear argument and presentation of points so that

reader can follow the thoughts of the writer.

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 Effective Academic Writing:
Clear Organization
 Two approaches used in academic writing: deductive
and inductive approach

 Deductive: Generalization is stated first followed by

supporting details and facts.

 Inductive: Supporting details stated first followed

by generalization.

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 Effective Academic Writing:
Clear Organization
 Organization on the Rhetorical Level:
 narration
 description
 definition
 process
 classification
 comparison
 cause effect
 argumentation
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 Effective Academic Writing:
Effective Use of English Language
 Sentences must be clearly written.
 Include subject-verb agreement, spelling,

punctuation.
 Style
 Use complex and compound-complex sentences.

 Avoid too many simple sentences and frequent use of

conjunctions such as for, and, nor, but, or, yet and so.
 Use a wide vocabulary range.

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Effective Academic Writing

Audience and Tone

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 Effective Academic Writing:
Audience
 Importance of Audience
 In academic writing, writers need to consider who
their readers/audience are.
 An important feature is the control of audience and
tone (formality).
 Correct level of formality helps writers connect with
the audience.
(eg with friends – informal language – indicates close
relationship)
(eg with lecturers – formal language – indicates respect)

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 Effective Academic Writing:
Audience
 When planning to write, consider the following
factors:
1. Identify Audience
 Audience’s age, gender, social status, level of education,
special interest or needs, profession, cultural or racial
background, feelings and attitudes, or relationship.
2. Purpose/Occasion
 Fulfilling an academic assignment, completing essay test,
getting a scholarship

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 Effective Academic Writing:
Tone
 Importance of Tone
 Expression of an attitude in your writing
 Objective

 Persuasive

 Enthusiastic

 Serious

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 Effective Academic Writing:
Tone
Objective language: Language used in formal report
present data.

Example:
a. A hazard exists if contact is made with this part
while it is whirling.

b. Warning. Turn off all power before you remove

the cover. The blade underneath could slice off
your fingers!

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 Effective Academic Writing:
Tone
Persuasive language: Language used in formal proposal
for thesis or final year project.

Example:
The purpose of this study is to discover a more efficient
way to produce hydrocarbons. The financial support for
this study will benefit many users. The researchers will
be able to investigate the problems comprehensively…

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 Effective Academic Writing:
Tone
Enthusiastic language: Writing in favor of a particular
subject for possible recommendation or acceptance.
Example: sharing a new finding with intended readers

Example:
The discovery of medicinal properties in this bacteria
will eradicate Alzheimer’s Disease. This is a very
important and exciting discovery in the world of
medicine.

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 Effective Academic Writing:
Tone
Serious language: Language used to convey the
seriousness of an event/item or a discovery.

Example:
Our study has shown that if we do not recycle, natural
resources will be depleted in 2010 and planet Earth will
be barren. This will cause economic and environmental
disasters.

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The End

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