Welcome, readers! Whether you're a student facing your first college essay or an enthusiast looking to polish your formal communication, academic writing is a key skill. It's more than just putting words on a page; it’s a specific style designed to clearly, convincingly, and credibly communicate research, analysis, and ideas.
This article breaks down the core components, structure, and
different forms of academic writing, using principles from the "Basics of
Academic Writing" presentation.
What Makes Writing Academic?
Academic writing must be:
- Clear
and concise.
- Focused
on a specific topic or argument.
- Structured
logically.
- Backed
up by evidence.
The main purpose of academic writing is to communicate information that you have researched, processed, discussed, and analyzed so that the reader can understand it and it meets the purpose for which it is being completed. Common reasons for this type of writing include:
- Reporting
on a piece of research you conducted.
- Answering
a specific question you've been given or chosen.
- Discussing
a subject of common interest and providing your viewpoint.
The Four Key Parts of a Basic Paragraph
A strong academic paper is built on strong, well-structured
paragraphs. A basic academic paragraph should have four key parts:
- Topic
Sentence: This is an extremely important sentence that introduces the
key topic and controlling idea for the entire paragraph.
- Development:
This section elaborates on the main idea or topic discussed in the topic
sentence, providing more detail.
- Example/Evidence:
This is the support. It includes evidence, data, statistics, or examples
that show your development is valid and credible, often using in-text
references to cite sources.
- Summary:
This concludes the paragraph by summarizing or evaluating the overall main
point.
Example of a Structured Paragraph
Consider this example paragraph on Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR):
- Topic
Sentence: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) can generate a
positive reputation for a company leading to possibly more sales and
growth.
- Development
& Evidence: A corporation that invests in the environmental and
ethical approaches of CSR will demonstrate to the public and the media
that they are a responsible company, which improves consumer sales as
customers tend to support ethical green business practice.
- Example:
For example, a yoghurt company called Yeo Valley has been investing in
making its products organic, creating fully recyclable packaging, and
reducing its CO2
output, which resulted in profits doubling within the last two years.
- Summary:
Overall, the evidence suggests that investing in CSR can improve brand
image and productivity.
Common Forms of Academic Writing
Academic writing takes various forms depending on its
purpose. Here are the definitions for some common types:
|
Term |
Definition |
|
Notes |
A written record of the main points of a text or lecture,
for a student's personal use. |
|
Report |
A description of something a student has done (e.g.,
conducting a survey or experiment). |
|
Project |
A piece of research, either individual or group work, with
the topic chosen by the student(s). |
|
Essay |
A general term for any academic essay, report,
presentation, or article. |
|
Paper |
The most common type of written work, with the title given
by the teacher, normally 1,000–5,000 words. |
|
Dissertation/Thesis |
The longest piece of writing normally done by a student
(20,000+ words) often for a higher degree, on a topic chosen by the student. |
Conclusion
Mastering academic writing means focusing on structure,
clarity, and most importantly, evidence. By ensuring your writing is
concise, focused, and that every point is supported, you not only fulfill the
requirements of your studies but also become a more persuasive and credible
communicator in any professional setting. Keep practicing those topic sentences
and citing your sources!
What are your biggest struggles with academic writing?
Let us know in the comments below!
No comments:
Post a Comment