ACADEMIC

WRITING
 ACADEMIC WRITING
Academic writing is clear, concise, focussed,
structured and backed up by evidence. Its
purpose is to aid the reader's understanding. It
has a formal tone and style, but it is not
complex and does not require the use of long
sentences and complicated vocabulary.
Library.leeds.ac.uk
 ACADEMIC WRITING
Academic Writing is an objective, factual, and
formal type of writing on a specific body of
knowledge done by students or researchers
(Cequena, Canlas, De Vera, 2017).
Academic writing is a special genre of writing
that prescribes its own set of rules and
practices (Bowker, 2007).
Three Concepts associated with Academic
Writing
AW is devoted
AW is done by to topics and AW should present
scholars for questions that readers with
other scholars informed
are of interest arguments with
to the academic evidence.
community

Source: Odegaard Writing and Research Center

 The Writing Process

Source: The Writing Process. (n.d.) Retrieved from

https://owl.excelsior.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/03/writing-process-2.jpg
Pre-writing
Reading
Outlining
Generation of ideas
Conditioning Stage
Planning
Researching
Interviewing
Brainstorming
Free-writing
 OUTLINING
I- Introduction
a. Personal Information
b. Family Background
c. School Background

II
DRAFTING First Draft
Self edit
Second Draft
Peer Evaluate
Third Draft
Teacher evaluation
Final Draft
REVISING THE DRAFT
1. ORGANIZATION
Introduction
Is the opening grabber catchy?
Is the background clear?
Is the thesis statement clear with supporting points?
Body
Are the body paragraphs directed by the points in the thesis statements. Do
all have topic sentences.
Conclusion
Does it have a clear summary, restatement of the thesis, and concluding
grabber?
REVISING THE DRAFT
2. MESSAGE CONTENT
Are all information correct and well-researched? 5.DOCUMENTATI
Are all the points well-argued or well expressed? ON. Did you
Do you have enough support for each point? document your
Are the ideas logically arranged? sources?
3. VOCABULARY/WORD CHOICE
Did you use appropriate and formal language?
4. SENTENCE STRUCTURE
Did you vary the way you use your sentences to avoid choppy, stringy, or
very long sentences?
EDITING
Conventions of writing

Proofreading
Publishing
• Final copy for submission to the teacher
• Online copy in digital portfolio
• Facebook page
• Personal blogs
 A writer should
concentrate when
writing but the mind
should run wild with
thoughts.
 Features of Academic Writing
Complexity Formality Precision Explicitness

Accuracy Hedging Organization Planning

Responsibility

Source: Features of Academic Writing: (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.york.ac.uk/media/study/schoolsandcollege

s/sixth-form-resources/features-of-academic-writing.pdf
Features of Academic Writing
Complexity
• more complex than spoken language.
• longer words-- it is lexically more dense and
it has a more varied vocabulary.
• has more grammatical complexity
Features of Academic Writing
Formality
• Academic writing is relatively formal.
• In general this means that in an essay you
should avoid informal words and expressions.
•  Avoid informal words associated with
casual conversation
Features of Academic Writing
Formal Language

Informal Vocabulary Formal Vocabulary

used in writing friendly
letters and informal used in formal writing
essay; used in informal and in formal speech
speeches, conversations,
discussions
INFORMAL FORMAL
ask inquire
ask for Request
book Reserve
check Verify
get Receive
give Provide
help Assist
need Request
say sorry Apologize
say hello to Give my regards to
Tell inform
INFORMAL FORMAL
Don’t Do not
A lot of Much/many
Bad point Disadvantage
Besides Furthermore/ moreover/in addition to
Good point Advantage
Get better Recover/improve
Just Simply/merely
Kids Children
Kind of/sort of Rather/somewhat
Nowadays/those days Currently/presently
Okay/OK Reasonable/acceptable
Cute/pretty Appealing/Attractive
Really Very
Till Until
Couldn't Could not
I’d I had
Features of Academic Writing
Precision
• In academic writing, facts and figures are
given precisely.
Features of Academic Writing
.
Explicitness
1. Signposts the organization of the text to show relationships
in the text.
Writing is the most difficult language skill to learn. However,
with proper instruction, AW can be mastered by students.

2. Acknowledges Sources.
Gustilo and Dino (2018 in press) claims that Digitalk can be an
authentic resource in teaching language.
Features of Academic Writing
Accuracy
• Accurate words
• Accurate grammar usage
• Accurate facts
Features of Academic Writing
Responsibility
• be able to provide evidence and justification for
any claims you make.
• demonstrate understanding of the facts
communicated and sources of information
* Avoid Plagiarism
Features of Academic Writing
Organization
• Academic writing is well organised.
• Smooth flow of ideas from one section to another.
• Logically arranged.
• Appropriate according to genre conventions
Features of Academic Writing
Planning
•Academic writing is well planned.
• It usually takes place after research
and evaluation, according to a
specific purpose and plan
SOURCE: Features of Acadeic Writing. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.uefap.com/writing/feature/featfram.htm
Types of Academic Writing
• a) Information writing g) Book report
assignment h) Critical
• b) ‘Extended’ analysis/critique
assignment
i) Bibliography
• c) Case study
j) Annotated
• d) Review
bibliography
• e) Technical report k) Literature review
• f) Lab report
Types of Academic Writing (2007). Retrieved from
http://www2.indstate.edu/academicintegrity/docs/writingcategories.pdf
 TYPES OF ACADEMIC
WRITING
l) Term paper u) Web writing
m) Research paper v) Oral presentation of
n) Position/opinion written report
paper w) power point
o) Essay presentation
p) Subject outline x) Historical research
q) Statistical summary Y) Examination essays
r) Senior thesis z) Resume & other
t) E-mail ‘business’ writing
Types of Academic Writing (2007). Retrieved from
http://www2.indstate.edu/academicintegrity/docs/writingcategories.pdf
TYPES OF ACADEMIC WRITING

r iptive l y tical
De sc An a

su asi ve iti cal

Per Cr
Descriptive
• The simplest type of academic writing.
• to provide facts or information.
• Examples: a summary of an article or a report of the
results of an experiment.
• Example instructions: identify, report, record,
summarise and define.

Source: Types of Academic Writing (n.d.) Retrieved from https://sydney.edu.au/students/writing/types-of-

academic-writing.html
ANALYTICAL
• Analytical writing includes descriptive writing
• Reorganizes facts and information you describe into
categories, groups, parts, types or relationships.
• Examples: comparing two stories/
• The kinds of instructions for an analytical assignment
include: analyse, compare, contrast, relate, examine.

Source: Types of Academic Writing (n.d.) Retrieved from https://sydney.edu.au/students/writing/types-of-

academic-writing.html
Analytical
• To make your writing more analytical:
• Try different ways of grouping ideas, according to patterns, parts,
similarities and differences.
• You could use colour-coding, flow charts, tree diagrams or tables.
• create a name for the relationships and categories you find. For example,
advantages and disadvantages.
• build each section and paragraph around one of the analytical categories.
• make the structure of your paper clear to your reader, by using topic
sentences and a clear introduction.

Source: Types of Academic Writing (n.d.) Retrieved from https://sydney.edu.au/students/writing/types-of-

academic-writing.html
Persuasive
• Combination of analytical writing plus your own point of view.
 
• Points of view in academic writing can include an argument, a
recommendation, interpretation of findings or evaluation of
the work of others.
• Each claim is supported by evidence (e.g. findings, studies,
experts’ opinion)
• The kinds of instructions for a persuasive assignment include:
argue, evaluate, discuss, take a position.
Source: Types of Academic Writing (n.d.) Retrieved from https://sydney.edu.au/students/writing/types-of-
academic-writing.html
Persuasive
• To present your argument, make sure:
• all the individual claims work together to support your
overall point of view
• your reasoning for each claim is clear to the reader
• your assumptions are valid
• you have evidence for every claim you make
• you use evidence that is convincing and directly relevant.
Source: Types of Academic Writing (n.d.) Retrieved from https://sydney.edu.au/students/writing/types-of-
academic-writing.html
Critical
• Critical writing is common for research, postgraduate and advanced
undergraduate writing.
• It has all the features of persuasive writing, with the added feature of at least
one other point of view.
• While persuasive writing requires you to have your own point of view on an issue
or topic, critical writing requires you to consider at least two points of view,
including your own.
• For example, you may explain a researcher's interpretation or argument and then
evaluate the merits of the argument, or give your own alternative interpretation.
• The kinds of instructions for critical writing include: critique, debate, disagree,
evaluate.

Source: Types of Academic Writing (n.d.) Retrieved from https://sydney.edu.au/students/writing/types-of-

academic-writing.html
Critical
Critical writing requires strong writing skills. You
need to thoroughly understand the topic and the
issues. You need to develop an essay with a
paragraph structure that allows you to analyse
different interpretations and develop your own
argument, supported by evidence.

Source: Types of Academic Writing (n.d.) Retrieved from https://sydney.edu.au/students/writing/types-of-

academic-writing.html
 Summary
Literary Writing Academic Writing
• Inspired, artistic • Rigid
• Entertaining • Procedural
• With word pictures • Conveys knowledge,
• Enjoyable to read data and information
• Art form/artistic • Orderly
• Subjective- based on opinions • Organized
rather than facts • Objective/Subjective
 TOO INFORMAL
Check this out! – Please see the information below.
Do it asap. – If you could finish it by the end of today, that would allow me to forward it
to my boss before the weekend.
Help! – Could you give me a hand (with…)?
I can’t make it then. – I can’t make it at 9, but I’m free from 11.
I expect action now – Your rapid response would be greatly appreciated.
I need it right away. – Could you let me have it in the next couple of days?
I want you to… - Would you mind…?/ Could you…?
It wasn’t our fault – This was due to circumstances beyond our control.
I’m too busy. - I’m afraid I have another appointment at that time.
I’m waiting impatiently for your reply – I’m looking forward to your quick reply.
Please let me know by tomorrow. – Can you let me know by tomorrow, because I need to
check the details with my boss?
 TOO FORMAL
If you need any further information, please do not have the slightest hesitation in contacting me
at any time at all – If you need any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me
I am very grateful to you for responding to my email so quickly. – Thank you for your quick
reply.
We deeply regret any inconvenience we might have caused any of you in any way. – We would
like to apologise for any inconvenience caused.
It was a pleasure to meet you yesterday/ Thank you for making the time to meet me yesterday-
It was an honour to meet you yesterday
Thank you in advance for all and any help you are able to offer me on this matter. – Thank you in
advance/ Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated.
You have my eternal gratitude for helping me. – Thank you very much for all your help.
Could you possibly have a little look at the attached document, if it’s not too much trouble? –
Any feedback you can give me on the attached document would be gratefully received.