Academic Writing

What is Academic Writing?

• Academic writing is what scholars do to communicate ideas
effectively with other scholars in their field of study
• Our goal in this class is to learn how to:
• think
• read
• research
• write like an academic
 “Academics strive to go beyond what is quick, obvious, and
general” (ITAW, 2).
• Academics…
• Ask questions
• Make connections
• Do extensive research that includes different perspectives

All of this information is then used to write a cohesive, intellectual

paper that makes an argument to persuade your audience. This
argument must be based on reasoning and thoughtful insights.

You will learn…

 Good Habits of Mind
• Having good habits of mind teaches how to think critically as both a
reader and a writer. This gives us the ability to make our own
judgements about information presented to us.
• You already do this when you, for example, compare brands when
making a buying decision, or compare voting candidates. This is you
conducting an analysis.
• Analysis is the process of continually asking questions and looking for
answers, thus prompting a skeptical habit of mind.
4 Key Habits of Mind
• Inquiry
• Seeking and valuing complexity
• Understanding that academic writing is a conversation
• Understanding that writing is a process
 Mark Edmonson: “On the Uses of Liberal Education”

What are some key points in this essay and how are they used to
further his argument?