Chapter 1 Intro to AcademicWriting

7/25/2019 Chapter 1 Intro to AcademicWriting

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Introduction To Academic

Writing

Effective Academic Writing

Audience and Tone

Adapted from: Harris B Leonhard, Discover ies in Academic Wr iting,Thomson Heinle Publishers, 2002


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Learning Outcomes

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

define academic writing

identify the differences between personal andacademic writing

identify the characteristics of effective academic

writing

apply appropriate tone for related audience


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Academic Writing

What is academic writing?

Personal writing versus academic writing

Effective academic writing

Organization

Audience and tone


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What is Academic Writing?

A generic term for all writing done in high

school and college classes.

In academic writing, emphasis is placed on

formal structure and organization.


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Academic Writing

Academic writing is different from creative

writing used in stories.

Academic writing also differs from writing

used in personal writing such as letters to

friends, family members.


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Academic Writing

In academic writing, the words and grammarand the way of organizing ideas are probably

different from what you are used to in other

types of writing.

Elements such and as format, sentence

structure and organization are essential inacademic writing.


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Academic Writing vs Personal Writing

In academic writing, formal sentences arewritten. Abbreviations, slangs, contractions arenot allowed. Complete sentences are written in

an organized manner.

However, in personal writing, sentences are

informal and abbreviations, slangs,contractions and incomplete sentences areallowed.


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PERSONAL WRITING vs ACADEMIC WRITING

Features of Personal Writing:

1. Purpose: communicate with close and personalmembers on any issue/matter.

2. Your knowledge of topic: subjective dependingon the purpose of writing.

3. Audience: personal acquaintance who may have

varying degrees of knowledge on the topic.4. Criteria for evaluation: informal, simple

sentences.

5. Statistical and graphic support: almost none.


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PERSONAL WRITING vs ACADEMIC

WRITING

Features of Academic Writing:

1. Purpose: demonstrating what you know aboutthe topic, in a way that justifies a high grade.

2. Your knowledge of topic: less than the teacherwho evaluates the writing.

3. Audience: teacher who requests the assignmentand who will read it from beginning to the end.

4. Criteria for evaluation: organization, depth,logic, clarity, unity and grammar.

5. Statistical and graphic support: Sometimesused to explain and persuade.


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Differences between Personal and Academic Writing

Personal

(Informal/Colloquial)

Academic

(Formal/Technical)

Audience close friends and family professors, lecturers

Tone informal, friendly formal, objective, serious

Vocabulary slang, idioms, contracted forms academic, wide range, concise, accurate

Style simple or compound sentences simple, compound, complex sentences,sentence variety

Language fragments, run-on sentences,misspellings, punctuation errors

few, should have no errors

Content conversational, maybe repetitive depth of thought, unified

Organization maybe less structured thanformal writing

clear, coherent, well planned


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Three major characteristics:

convincing content

clear organization

effective use of the language


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Effective Academic Writing:

Convincing Content

The content is informative and thought-

provoking.

use specific and logical details, examples, facts,

statistics and case studies to support generalizing.

The support is relevant.

the support relates directly to the thesis and should

not digress away from the main point.


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Convincing Content (contd)

The content shows depth of thought.

shows elements of critical thinking

analysis of information

interpretation of facts

making judgments

drawing conclusions

summarizing

defending opinions


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Convincing Content (contd)

The writer must have a clear purpose and strong

control over the content. the message is clear, logical and to the point.


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Clear Organization

it starts at the beginning and finishes at the end,with every part contributing to the main line ofargument, without digression or repetition.

ensure clear argument and presentation of pointsso that reader can follow the thoughts of the writer.

Preliminaries (introduction)

Main text (body)

End matter (conclusion)

Most academic writing in English is linear:


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Clear Organization

Two approaches used in academic writing: deductiveand inductive approach

Deductive: Generalization is stated first followed bysupporting details and facts.

Inductive: Supporting details stated first followedby generalization.


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Clear Organization

Organization on the Rhetorical Level:

narration

description

definitionprocess

classification

comparison cause effect

argumentation


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Effective Use of English Language

Sentences must be clearly written.

Include subject-verb agreement, spelling,

punctuation.

Style

Use complex and compound-complex sentences.

Avoid too many simple sentences and frequent use

of conjunctions such asfor, and, nor, but, or, yetand

so.

Use a wide vocabulary range.


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Audience and Tone


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Audience

Importance of Audience In academic writing, writers need to consider who

their readers/audience are.

An important feature is the control of audience andtone (formality).

Correct level of formality helps writers connect withthe audience.

(eg with friendsinformal languageindicates closerelationship)

(eg with lecturersformal languageindicates respect)


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Audience

When planning to write, consider the followingfactors:

1. Identify Audience Audiences age, gender, social status, level of education,

special interest or needs, profession, cultural or racialbackground, feelings and attitudes, or relationship.

2. Purpose/Occasion Fulfilling an academic assignment, completing essay test,

getting a scholarship


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Tone Importance of Tone

Expression of an attitude in your writing

Objective

Persuasive

Enthusiastic

Serious


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ToneObjective language: Language used in formal report

present data.

Example:

a. A hazard exists if contact is made with this part

while it is whirling.

b. Warning. Turn off all power before you removethe cover. The blade underneath could slice off

your fingers!


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Tone

Persuasive language:Language used in formal proposal

for thesis or final year project.

Example:

The purpose of this study is to discover a more efficient

way to produce hydrocarbons. The financial support for

this study will benefit many users.The researchers willbe able to investigate the problems comprehensively


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Tone

Enthusiastic language: Writing in favor of a particularsubject for possible recommendation or acceptance.Example: sharing a new finding with intended readers

Example:

The discovery of medicinal properties in this bacteriawill eradicate Alzheimers Disease. This is a very

important and exciting discovery in the world ofmedicine.


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Tone

Serious language: Language used to convey the

seriousness of an event/item or a discovery.

Example:

Our study has shown that if we do not recycle, natural

resources will be depleted in 2010 and planet Earth will

be barren. This will cause economic and environmentaldisasters.


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Chapter 1 Intro to AcademicWriting

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