Academic Writing
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1 Chris Ebbert Academic Writing Styles
Transcript of Academic Writing
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Academic Writing Styles
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Overview of Features
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Basic Considerations for Academic Writing:
Linear Writing (one central theme everything contributes to)
No digressions
No repetitions
Inform, don’t entertain
Use language precisely and accurately
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Basic Considerations for Academic Writing:
Linear Writing (one central theme everything contributes to)
No digressions
No repetitions
Inform, don’t entertain
Use language precisely and accurately
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Basic Considerations for Academic Writing:
Linear Writing (one central theme everything contributes to)
No digressions
No repetitions
Inform, don’t entertain
Use language precisely and accurately
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Basic Considerations for Academic Writing:
Linear Writing (one central theme everything contributes to)
No digressions
No repetitions
Inform, don’t entertain
Use language precisely and accurately
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Basic Considerations for Academic Writing:
Linear Writing (one central theme everything contributes to)
No digressions
No repetitions
Inform, don’t entertain
Use language precisely and accurately
23,4.
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Basic Considerations for Academic Writing:
Linear Writing (one central theme everything contributes to)
No digressions
No repetitions
Inform, don’t entertain
Use language precisely and accurately
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More Considerations for Academic Writing
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Complexity
Writing is more complex than speechThe words may be longerVocabulary must be largerMore nouns, fewer verbs
More concise
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Complexity
Writing is more complex than speechThe words may be longerVocabulary must be largerMore nouns, fewer verbs
More concise
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MACCHIATO cgmpwioeurcm
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Writing Speech
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Complexity
Writing is more complex than speechThe words may be longerVocabulary must be largerMore nouns, fewer verbs
More concise
“Ummm…”“Subjects expressed
uncertainty about
the issue.”
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Complexity
Writing is more complex than speechThe words may be longer
Vocabulary must be largerMore nouns, fewer verbs
More concise
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Complexity
Writing is more complex than speechThe words may be longerVocabulary must be largerMore nouns, fewer verbs
More concise
saves space
“… and the patient felt really
miserable and couldn’t even get
up and was nauseous and didn’t
want to eat anything for
breakfast and just wanted to pull
a blanket over his head…” Migraine.
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Complexity
Writing is more complex than speechThe words may be longerVocabulary must be largerMore nouns, fewer verbs
More concise1 Doc
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Formality
Academic writing is formalAvoid colloquial words and expressions
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Precision
Facts and figures are given precisely.
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Objectivity
No personal viewsAvoid referring to yourself
Emphasis is on information and arguments
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Objectivity
No personal viewsAvoid referring to yourself
Emphasis is on information and arguments
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Objectivity
No personal viewsAvoid referring to yourself
Emphasis is on information and arguments
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Objectivity
No personal viewsAvoid referring to yourself
Emphasis is on information and arguments
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Explicitness
Explain relationships in the textUsing signalling words.
“… as shown in figure 12b, …”
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Accuracy
Use words with narrow specific meanings
phones mobile phones
schools primary schools
planes passenger jet airplanes
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Hedging
What is your stance on the subject? How strong will you make your claims?
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Responsibility
You are responsible for your claims;You must prove ownership of your claims;
You must convince that you understand the subject.
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Recipe“How To Write Academically”
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Write with confidence and objectivityHow do you need to sound to be believed?
Respect your audienceWho are the specialists in your field?
Stay clear and conciseHelp your readers understand.
Weigh your wordsTread carefully; you will be held responsible for every word.
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Write with confidence and objectivity Respect your audience
Stay clear and concise Weigh your words
Use the third person. Ways to start:•This essay discusses the importance of ...•This research shows that ...
Past or present tense? Decide.The present tense:•Robertson’s argument illustrates that ...•Einstein's theory supports the view that...
The past tense:•The Pony Express had an impact upon …•The surveys were conducted with a group of …
Use the full word form:'don't', 'can't', 'it's', 'should've', Instead use: 'do not', 'cannot', 'it is'Use the full forms of words'TV', 'memo', or 'quote‘; instead 'television', 'memorandum' or 'quotation'No informal wordsSmith's bit of research is ok. Smith's research is significant because ... 'get', 'got' or 'a lot' 'obtain', 'obtained' or 'many'
Keep it simple without coming across as a simpletonAvoid jargonGet your words exactly right•Example 1: Crusade against crime•Example 2: Campaign against crime The word 'crusade' has connotations of battle •Avoid embedded discoursesThat’s what your bibliography is forStay specificAvoid “them”, “they” “in the past”, etc. Name “them” instead.Avoid clichés.
No direct expression of opinionavoid words like: 'very', 'really', 'quite' and 'extremely'. Stay cautiousAny definitive statements you make may be challengedNo taboo languageNo stereotypes, no generalisation, no assumptionsAlways stay neutral, enabling civilized, further discussion. Think of yourself as a neutral talk show host.Your writing will form the basis of work done by others infuture, and you will be quoted, and may have to eat your words.
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Thank You.
