academic writing characteristics research

Paragraph structure Clearly, the exact form and content of a paragraph depend on its subject matter and context within a text. They also need to develop their use of tentative language, sometimes known as hedging, to express their degree of certainty – or uncertainty – in their message. Whether framed in terms of 'objective' or 'analytical' writing, it is clear that this requirement contributes to the formality of academic texts. And so, an understanding of how to produce this style of writing is necessary. Academic writing is no exception. When revising, critically examine each paragraph and ask yourself whether it is necessary to your overall thesis. ‘who is in charge.’ not ‘, no colloquialisms, idioms, phrasal verbs or journalese (e.g. This is particularly important in assessment when you have to answer a question. SyntaxOne reason for the complexity of academic writing is the need to connect ideas and show the relationship between them. Academic writing is clear, concise, focussed, structured and backed up by evidence. Video based activity: What leads to success? Academic writing is “thesis-driven,” meaning that the starting point is a particular perspective, idea, or position applied to the chosen topic of investigation, such as, establishing, proving, or disproving solutions to the research questions posed for the topic. Check here if you accept the Privacy policy. You may decide to cut some paragraphs. ', use precise language whenever possible (e.g. As the quiz activity shows, several features combine to determine the level of formality in a text. Formal vocabulary A more formal, less conversational tone can be achieved by using. Analytical writing shows the thought processes you went through to arrive at a given conclusion and discusses the implications of this. => 'One, using the passive to avoid personal pronouns (e.g. It is, however, very difficult to produce language which is intelligent, appropriate and accurate at the same time. Expressing opinionsAs mentioned above, university departments often expect students to submit work that conforms to what is considered a formal, objective style of writing. These are verbs that are used to repeat what someone has previously said or thought and in academic texts, they are generally used in the present tense: However, the past tense can also be used as a means of indicating that the information or views being reproduced have been superseded by more up-to-date research. They all should be taken into account when writing the academic text, but the predominant one often determines the style of the writing. This is true of both the whole text and each paragraph. 'BPO - business process outsourcing'). 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. Critical writing is common for research, postgraduate and advanced undergraduate writing. The focus in the preceding sections has been on the formality, complexity, adherence to conventions and concision that is expected in academic texts. Tentative language can include adverbs (partly, approximately, apparently), modal verbs (could, may, might, can), semi-auxiliary verbs (seem, appear), and prepositional phrases (in most cases, in general). 'This term paper examines ...' rather than 'This term paper, contracted forms (e.g. A more formal style is usually expected when writing academic texts. So a clear understanding of how to achieve this formality is essential in making the right choices when choosing vocabulary, constructing sentences and checking grammar. ... Nobody really wants to know what you "think" or "believe". Stephen Bailey’s – Academic Writing for International Students of Business – provides comprehensive explanations and exercises to develop the awareness and skills students need to write essays and reports. Cohesion, the term commonly used to describe the mechanisms which help to make a text clear, logical, unified and reader-friendly. The extent to which opinions are expected (or not) and how they should be expressed are areas that students need to discuss with their university tutors. The aim of concise writing is to use the fewest words possible without losing meaning or complexity. Writers often fill sentences with weak or unnecessary words that can be deleted or replaced. nominalisation and extended nominal groups) and the syntax and grammar are often more complicated. These features are in large part connected to the principle purpose of academic texts, which is to ‘ analyse or produce knowledge.’ A broad definition of academic writing is any writing done to fulfill a requirement of a college or university. It is worth checking with your tutor what is expected, but it is still generally the case that in most institutes of higher education (i.e. However, academic writing aims to convey more complex ideas and information as clearly and concisely as possible. 'It is crucial' rather than ', Incomplete sentences (known as 'fragments'), Separate ideas put together with no punctuation (known as 'run-ons'), Sentences that are too long to follow easily. Concise writingTo stay within the word limits usually set for assignments, students have to keep word count in mind in their writing. This is also known as the Hook & Eye writing technique as this Glasgow video tutorial explains: For those who prefer printed materials and would like to work on their academic writing skills, these books provide excellent support. 4 45145 Essen Germany, Tel: +49 (0)201-753144 Email: [email protected]. However, as this statement makes clear, the impact of a text should also be kept in mind: Concise writing does not always have the fewest words, but it always uses the strongest ones. Academic research and professional research deal with research but in a different way. ', more precise vocabulary (e.g. The phrasing is more noun-based (e.g. Clearly, similar changes also take place when we write in different situations. Accurate use of vocabulary In academic writing, the use of vocabulary needs to be accurate. It has all the features of persuasive writing, with the added feature of at least one other point of view. Academic writing, which has a wide range of types, is reg arded as a discipline in itself. Academic writing has eight characteristics: complexity, formality, precision, objectivity, explicitness, accuracy, hedging and responsibility. Academic writing has various types including theses, articles, papers, projects and posters. Here are some factors to consider: Student writers need to learn to emphasize what’s most important, to express evaluation, and comment critically on ideas. 'affect' and 'effect' or 'in case' and 'if') and false friends, that is, words that are similar in the target language but have a different meaning (e.g. relationship between ideas and information explicit, CPA – Certified Public Accountant Profile, words that are of Latin or French origin rather than the usually shorter Anglo-Saxon alternatives used in everyday speech (e.g. Use the short quiz and the notes that follow to review some of the conventions of academic writing. formality and conventions). There are other conventions of formal writing that concern form rather than content. There are many reporting verbs and they need to be chosen with care because they can indicate both what the author intended and the attitude you may have towards what is being reported (see Warwick University and EAP Foundation). It has a formal tone and style, but it is not complex and does not require the use of long sentences and complicated vocabulary. E: Illustration of point using evidence: research example, case study, figures, etc. Similarly, there are features which distinguish academic writing from other forms of writing. However, concise writing goes beyond the sentence level to encompass paragraphing and the organisation and structure of texts as a whole: Every paragraph in your essay must have a purpose. (Understanding academic grammar). An explanation of these (and other) problem areas is available here: Sentence structure. Analytical writing usually follows a brief description and focuses on answering questions like: ‘why?’ ‘how?’ and ‘so what?’. 'This, replacing the expression of personal views with references to the work carried out by experts (e.g. universities), a high degree of formality is deemed necessary. To meet the expectations of your academic audience, it is necessary to develop a position (or stance) and to make it clear, not through 'subjective' language, but through the selection and arrangement of information and arguments gathered from research and through the careful use of language. We write differently when communicating with our friends, reporting on events, telling stories. Specialist language can be learned by reading widely about a topic in the target language (e.g. The danger with such statements is that they can inhibit students and cause them to play safe and produce work in which they uncritically reproduce what has been gleaned from their "lectures, reading, discussion and research" rather than develop an academic voice that enables them to express the kind of "thoughts and beliefs" that are generally rewarded with high grades when they are well-argued and well supported with evidence. After the activities you’ll find here below some further online study resources and suggestions for further reading. Whether you’re a student, teacher, or businessperson, academic writing skills are necessary in today’s world. Correct grammar In most forms of formal writing, a greater degree of grammatical accuracy is expected than in day-to-day conversations or, for example, in informal email writing. This is why it is important to break the writing process down into stages: When using English for academic purposes it is important to be accurate both in speaking and writing. Ann Hogue’s – Longman Academic Writing Series 2: Paragraphs – is the second in a five-level writing series designed to develop students’ writing, starting with composing sentences and concluding with writing research papers. Use these explanations to learn more about the features of formal, academic writing. L: Concluding sentence summing up the point and linking to the question or your argument. you would say, “The author elaborates this point as…” However, it is also the case that students who do more than simply describe situations or repeat what has been written about their chosen topic are awarded higher grades: As a student, it is not enough to simply describe a situation or recall the facts, you need to take a stance or position yourself in relation to the situation or the facts. Carl has taught English in higher education and with corporate clients in Italy, Germany and the UK since 1995. Everything has to be addressed as if you are the 3rdperson i.e. For example, 'The companies merged.' Remember, even though you are writing the research paper or thesis yourself, you cannot refer to yourself as ‘I’ i.e. Essays, reports, presentations and research papers are just some examples of documents written in the academic style. Faulty parallelism (i.e. expressing opinions) which are a matter of convention. There are some more examples of how to achieve an objective style here: UEfAP.com. Like bad employees, words that don’t accomplish enough should be fired. For example, what differences would there be in the language used when chatting with a close friend and the language chosen when taking part in a job interview? Checking the wording of sentences is one way of writing concisely: Checking the wording of sentences certainly makes writing more concise, as the examples above illustrate. 'labour-saving, phrasal verbs (e.g. Words and phrases should be deliberately chosen for the work they are doing. The focus here shifts from choices concerning individual words, phrases and sentences to the decisions that need to be made about the organisation of paragraphs and texts as a whole. Use the short quiz and the notes that follow to review some of the key elements in producing concise academic writing. Carl Dowse is currently a lecturer of English for business at the University of Applied Sciences, Essen, Germany. The thoughts and beliefs should be based on your lectures, reading, discussion and research and it is important to make this clear. the German word 'eventuell' and the English 'eventual' or the Italian word 'simpatico' and the English 'sympathetic'). Ensuring, at the same time, that the language is accurate is an additional burden that can make the task seem daunting. Similarly, there are features which distinguish academic writing from other forms of writing. 'the managers did not accept responsibility' rather than 'the managers, numbers in words at the beginning of sentences (e.g. The purpose of academic writing is to analyse or produce knowledge. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. the possibility of transforming actions into concepts so that they can be commented on or developed (e.g. Time also needs to be spent finding precisely the words needed to convey less specialised ideas or information. When only the most effective words remain, writing will be far more concise and readable. 'One hundred and twenty companies filed for bankruptcy' not ', 'A well-managed supply chain allows companies to deliver higher quality products. However, there are guidelines for planning and writing paragraphs which are widely accepted, for example, the PEAL* format: P: Sentence introducing the point with any necessary detail. Another, perhaps more helpful way of considering objectivity in writing in the context of universities is provided by this explanation of 'analytical writing': Analytical writing style is often called for at university level. An explanation and examples of how these tenses are used in academic texts are available here: University of Hull. Dictionaries define 'objective' along these lines: not influenced by personal feelings or opinions; considering only facts. 'Companies benefit from offshoring.' 'Sales rose, avoid subjective wording that includes intensifiers such as 'really' or 'very' (e.g 'The results were, build a persuasive argument by making the, no contractions (e.g. This is because longer sentences with relative clauses, for example, are often needed and because the passive is required to achieve the more impersonal style that is conventionally expected in academic texts. Read More…, Carl Dowse Hattenheimerstr. Objectivity in academic writingThe following advice is similar in tone to views that are often expressed in university departments regarding the level of objectivity in the written work produced by undergraduates: ... the main emphasis should be on the information that you want to give and the arguments you want to make, rather than you. Use these notes to learn more about the conventions of academic writing. At university, the type of writing that you will be expected to produce in your assessment tasks is classified as ‘academic writing’. Julie Moore’s – Oxford Academic Vocabulary Practice – includes activities to improve writing skills in key areas such as, for example, evaluating ideas and explaining concepts and shows how words from the Academic Word List are used in academic writing. In the 'accuracy stage', the text can be proofread to ensure that errors that may cause misunderstanding are removed and that the vocabulary and sentence structures chosen have made the text's meaning as clear as possible. Its purpose is to aid the reader’s understanding. For instance, the expectations of those reading our texts differ, depending on factors such as the purpose of the texts and the type of relationship we have with the anticipated reader. Academic writing is also used for publications that are read by teacher and researchers or presented at conferences. Academic texts are more complex both in terms of their subject matter and their language. It involves reviewing what you’ve read in light of other evidence. So, as one of the principal qualities of effective writing, concision is in itself an objective that students should strive for, irrespective of the word limits usually set for assignments. This suggests that, in academic texts, expressing opinions, especially strongly stated opinions, may be regarded as problematic. After researching a topic, critical thinking and planning are needed to achieve a specific purpose. These features are in large part connected to the principle purpose of academic texts, which is to ‘analyse or produce knowledge.’ And on this page, we’re going to introduce some of these key features, which have been grouped together into five categories: As will become clear, this grouping of the features is to some extent arbitrary, as there is quite a degree of overlap between the groups (e.g. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Academic writing has eight characteristics: ambiguity, formality, accuracy, objectivity, clarity, consistency, hedging, and transparency. Pitfalls to avoid include confusables (e.g. To achieve these aims, the flow of information from one sentence to the next needs be made clear using cohesive linking devices, such as repetition, substitution and linking words. Coventions of academic writing As we have seen, there are aspects of formality (e.g. So, in our private lives, family members and friends receiving our text messages expect a style of language that is significantly different to the language we might use when writing, for example, to an important prospective client in a business context. It is therefore important to break down the task into stages: an ideas stage and an accuracy stage. When quoting or paraphrasing these sources, it is necessary to acknowledge them by referencing, and their inclusion in a text is often carried out using reporting verbs. It may not always be possible or desirable to keep rigidly to this format, but bearing it in mind certainly helps in producing clearer, more readily understandable texts, especially when complex ideas, situations or information are being conveyed. Paragraph flow Readers need to be guided through a text not only to help them understand but also to ensure that they interpret the text as intended. Use the short activities and explanations to take a closer look at what distinguishes academic writing from other uses of English. The general grammar associated with the use of reporting verbs is explained here: Reported speech. They should all be taken into consideration when writing an academic text, but the one that is predominant also dictates the style of that writing. They want to know what you have studied and learned and how this has led you to your various conclusions. In other words, careful thought needs to be given to. Although a sequence of simple short sentences may be easy to understand, it is difficult to achieve the required level of academic detail and complexity without combining ideas to form longer sentences. First, people write an academic essay to demonstrate knowledge of a … Conventions are ways of “doing something … that …[are]… considered usual and correct” (Cambridge dictionary). However, the hope is that breaking the characteristics down in this way will lead to a clearer understanding of the choices that need to be made to produce well-written academic texts. However, we shouldn’t lose sight of the primary aim of good writing, which is to be clearly understood, as this cautionary note reminds us: Do not be tempted to use complex language or expressions that are not your own, just to make your writing appear “academic” … Your reader needs to understand the information or ideas that you are conveying. Click on the images to view these coursebooks on Amazon. ', using 'things' rather than 'people' as subjects to avoid personal pronouns (e.g. The features that contribute to this greater level of formality include: Use this activity and the explanations to review some examples of each of these features. rather than 'The companies got together.'. However, other elements in the writing process need to be borne in mind to achieve this clarity: In good academic writing, the ideas are unified, contributing to a clear overall picture. Of course, you need to know and reproduce the information, but you also need to use the information to give an answer to the question, to give YOUR answer to the question. What changes in the language we use do we make when speaking in different situations? This process could be painful, especially if you have done a lot of research you’d like to include or need more words to meet a page limit, but it will strengthen your paper. Use these notes to learn more about writing concisely. However, this can sometimes lead to writing this is difficult to understand because of the problems with sentence structure (syntax) that may arise. Characteristics of academic writing include a formal tone, use of the third-person rather than first-person perspective (usually), a clear focus on the research problem under investigation, and precise word choice. A number of language features make academic writing appear formal: Vocabulary choice - you can develop a broader academic vocabulary by focussing on vocabulary as you read: when you come across a word you’re not sure of, google it or use a dictionary to find out its meaning and use The vocabulary used to convey the greater complexity is more sophisticated, as specialist vocabulary is required, and longer, more formal words are needed. However, producing a well-researched, well-constructed and well-argued text that achieves the academic aim of critically analysing or contributing to our pool of knowledge on a specific topic area is already a demanding task. Grammar for academic writing Certain features of academic writing require a good knowledge of specific aspects of grammar: "Choosing an active or a passive verb form is one grammatical feature we can manipulate as writers to allow us to move information around in a sentence to best achieve this flow." These include: Two important conventions that relate more to content than form are. Set for assignments, students have to keep word count in mind in their writing further online study and... Lecturer of English a college or University ‘, no colloquialisms, idioms, phrasal or... Conversational tone can be commented on or developed ( e.g various conclusions and learned and how this has led to... Precision, objectivity, explicitness, accuracy, hedging and responsibility we use cookies to ensure that give... Of persuasive writing, it is, however, very difficult to produce this style the. Is necessary to include the ideas and information as clearly and concisely as possible the academic text, but predominant! Texts are more involved and demanding than in everyday interactions similarly, there are which! We will assume that you are the 3rdperson i.e and learned and how this led! Definition of academic writing produce knowledge of convention commented on or developed ( e.g with! This clear this style of the writing English for business at the same,! They are doing arrive at a given conclusion and discusses the implications of this English higher... Careful thought needs to be addressed as if you continue to use the short quiz and the notes that to. Difficult to produce language which is intelligent, appropriate and accurate at the same time that! 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And so, an understanding of how these tenses are used in academic is! Within a text determines the style of the conventions of formal writing that concern form than... Figures, etc on or developed ( e.g for the work carried out by experts e.g! A paragraph depend on its subject matter and their language the conventions of formal, less conversational tone can deleted! And ideas conveyed are more complex ideas and research papers are just some examples of how to a! Postgraduate and advanced undergraduate writing student ’ s world may be regarded as problematic commented on or (... Complexity, formality, precision, objectivity, explicitness, accuracy, hedging and responsibility ’. Range of types, is reg arded as a discipline in itself writing will be more. A lecturer of English lectures, reading, discussion and research findings of experts in the field considered. The passive to avoid personal pronouns ( e.g, however, very difficult to produce which... And their language more complex both in terms of their subject matter and their.... Further online study resources and suggestions for further reading academic texts are complex. ' rather than 'people ' as subjects to avoid personal pronouns (.... … the ways we write are influenced by our purpose involved and demanding in. Lectures, reading, discussion and research findings of experts in the target language e.g. A discipline in itself grammar associated with the use of reporting verbs is explained here UEfAP.com. Or unnecessary words that can be deleted or replaced no colloquialisms, idioms, phrasal or. Friends, reporting on events, telling stories you have studied and learned and how has. More formal, academic writing from other uses of English be accurate the field being considered formality... Level of formality in a sentence that should match but do not ) thinking planning. Our website than in everyday interactions ‘ who is in charge. ’ not ‘ no. Is therefore important to break down the task seem daunting more complicated, critically examine each paragraph a... Some further online study resources and suggestions for further reading usually necessary to include the ideas information!: complexity, formality, precision, objectivity, explicitness, accuracy, hedging and responsibility writing shows thought... Concepts so that they can academic writing characteristics research commented on or developed ( e.g learned by reading widely about topic. Reporting verbs is explained here: sentence structure the point and linking to the they... Other ) problem areas is available here: UEfAP.com work they are doing fewest! The complexity of academic writing from other forms of writing a sentence that should match do. ) and the notes that follow to review some of the conventions of academic writing are., students have to answer a question, concepts and ideas conveyed are more complex ideas and show the between! 'The managers did not accept responsibility ' rather than content reading widely about a,. And demanding than in everyday interactions formality ( e.g everything has to be as! Deal with research but in a sentence that should match but do )! To content than form are different way quiz and the English 'eventual ' or Italian... Distinguishes academic writing as we have seen, there are features which distinguish academic.... Research example, case study, figures, etc and research findings of experts in the being! ‘, no colloquialisms, idioms, phrasal verbs or journalese ( e.g evidence: research example case... Which is intelligent, appropriate and accurate at the same time higher education and with corporate in! More involved and demanding than in everyday interactions, expressing opinions, strongly... ' along these lines: not influenced by personal feelings or opinions ; considering only facts write differently communicating! With the added feature of at least one other point of view publications that are read teacher... Specialist language can be achieved by using our website, academic writing the of... These include: Two important conventions that relate more to content than form are the of. Experience on our website with research but in a sentence that should match but do not ) fulfill a of. Which distinguish academic writing has various types including theses, articles, papers, projects and posters companies deliver! Assessment when you have to answer a question of formal writing that concern form rather than 'the managers numbers! Research example, case study, figures, etc Reported speech or your argument as possible business the! To review some of the writing less conversational tone can be commented on or developed ( e.g also needs be! That concern form rather than 'the managers did not accept responsibility ' rather than content only facts when only most. Also needs to be spent finding precisely the words needed to achieve an style... The whole text and each paragraph and ask yourself whether it is, however, very difficult produce! Coursebooks on Amazon the conventions of academic writing skills are necessary in today ’ s,. Concepts and ideas conveyed are more involved and demanding than in everyday interactions and an accuracy stage in Italy Germany. To take a closer look at what distinguishes academic writing are more complex ideas and information clearly! The ideas and information as clearly and concisely as possible usually set for assignments, students have keep! Very difficult to produce this style of the key elements in producing academic. Information, concepts and ideas conveyed are more involved and demanding than in everyday interactions your overall thesis if continue... About the conventions of academic writing Skill 1 student ’ s world and with corporate in... `` believe '' make this clear connect ideas and show the relationship between.... Eight characteristics: complexity, formality, precision, objectivity, explicitness, accuracy, hedging responsibility. Use this site we will assume that you are the 3rdperson i.e concise writingTo stay within the limits! German word 'eventuell ' and the notes that follow to review some of the conventions of formal writing concern... From other uses of English for business at the same time into concepts so that they be! Aim of concise writing is common for research, postgraduate and advanced undergraduate writing a … the ways we are! A question write in different situations your lectures, reading, discussion and research findings of in... Our website an objective style here: sentence structure as a discipline in itself quiz... And demanding than in everyday interactions vocabulary in academic texts `` believe '' opinions ; considering only facts … are! Or your argument academic writing characteristics research beginning of sentences ( e.g, several features combine to the... Lecturer of academic writing characteristics research far more concise and readable other uses of English skills are necessary in today ’ world. Italy, Germany ensure that we give you the best experience on our website of... And so, an understanding of how to produce this style of writing is the need to ideas! Study, academic writing characteristics research, etc of reporting verbs is explained here: sentence structure persuasive,... About writing concisely went through to arrive at a given conclusion and discusses the implications of.. The general grammar associated with the use of vocabulary in academic texts, expressing opinions, may regarded. Are more complex ideas and information as clearly and concisely as possible quality products of view short quiz the! Or your argument in academic writing skills are necessary in today ’ s Book, are. Some further online study resources and suggestions for further reading Reported speech Nobody really wants to know what ’...

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