Academic Writing and Education
If we start with the most generic definition of this type of writing, it is basically any type of paper work conducted to satisfy the demands of a certain university or college. You can also utilize this type of writing in publications, academic presentations and conferences, where the broader definitions are displayed. To be more specific, academic writing is any kind of writing which has been given to a student in the form of assignment in class.
Academic writing is used to create book reports, translations, essays, custom papers and journals as well as dissertations and explications. Dissertations are works presented at the university to receive a relevant degree in the chosen discipline and reach an advanced level of knowledge in the specialization. Abstracts are also a part of the academic writing. They are summaries of the shorter papers and are written to obtain an understanding of a particular extract.
The Academic Writing Characteristics
Talking about academic writing as a whole, we should point out the key characteristics of this approach:
- Planning. Academic writing is impossible without a thought-out plan. Planning includes analyzing the sources of the work and organizing the structure so that it echoes with the general idea and the thesis of the paper.
- Outline. An appropriate outline is obligatory for academic papers. Without a suitable outline, you won’t be able to put your ideas into words correctly and will be confused by the number of passages, present in the work. Outlines are a must if you want to indicate the pertinent idea to your academic paper.
- Language. Academic writing presupposes using formal constructions only. You cannot include jargon, slang and informal expressions to enhance stylistic impression. The use of clichés is strictly regulated and can only be appropriate in case you research the topic.
- Point-of-view. You cannot use the first person writing in your papers, as the genre of academia is detached and remote in itself, and is aimed at narrating information, not voicing personal opinion on it.
- Approach. You have to be logical and consistent, otherwise your readers will be left wondering about the rational connections between the sentences.
Deduction and analysis are used to indicate the logical succession of an academic paper. A large amount of forethought is needed to complete an assignment, and the paper itself has to be organized and structured according to the requirements. Before you start research on the paper, make sure you know the rules and regulations at your college or university.
Structure of an Academic Work
You have to structure your paper according to the following standards: introduction, body and conclusion.
Introduction serves as a way to attract your teacher’s attention. You should outline the thesis and the main idea of the paper in your introductory paragraph. Make sure you cover the topic correctly – the content of the work depends on how well you understand the theme.
Body is the most important part of an academic paper as it consists of paragraphs and examples. You should link the preceding paragraph with an initial one, using logical connections. You also have to be careful with the information you use. Only relevant quotations are allowed, and the sections have to be coherent and clear.
You write essay conclusion to emphasize the importance of the research and recap the previous thoughts. Remember to include all the key points in the paragraph and bring the supporting arguments to illustrate your point. Whether it is a conference paper or a book report, you have to present a readable, clear writing and a careful structure. Your explanations should not be too confusing and the conclusions ought to summarize the whole paper.