Definition of Academic Writing

A simple definition of academic writing is hard to come by because it refers to writing done for several reasons. Also, academic writing is used in many different forms.  Following are characteristics, explanations, examples, and a list of works where academic writing is used.

Definition of Academic Writing

A broad definition of academic writing is any writing done to fulfill a requirement of a college or university. Academic writing is also used for publications that are read by teacher and researchers or presented at conferences. A very broad definition of academic writing could include any writing assignment given in an academic setting.

Here is a list of documents where academic writing is used. Some are self-explanatory and some have a brief explanation.

• Books and book reports
• Translations
• Essays
• Research paper or research article
• Conference paper
• Dissertation and Thesis - These are written to obtaining an advanced degree at a college or university.
• Abstract - This is a short summary of a long document.
• Explication - This is a work which explains part of a particular work.

Tips on Academic Writing

Now that you have a definition of academic writing, here are some things to remember about academic writing skills. Deductive reasoning and an analytical approach are important in academic writing. Much planning and forethought are needed to have a well organized paper. An outline is a good tool to use to help you plan out the paper.

The style is formal and the point of view is in the third person. You need to find your personal style of writing and stick with it all the way through. The focus is on the facts and not the writer’s opinions. The language must not contain abbreviations, slang words, or jargon. Always check to see if the school you are writing for has a preferred format and style.  

Academic Writing Structure

Now we will look at the introduction, body, conclusion, and the overall development in writing an academic paper.  

• INTRODUCTION:  In the introduction, you must grab the reader’s attention and identify the thesis of the paper. You can do this by starting with several questions or a quote from a famous work or person to pique the reader’s interest. You could also start with some interesting information or a definition of an important term related to the work. 
• BODY: This is the main part of the work and the paragraphs must be clearly written and be arranged in a logical order, like chronologically or in order of importance. Each initial sentence links the preceding paragraph and the whole section flows smoothly.
• CONCLUSION: In the conclusion, you re-emphasize the thesis and summarize all the main points. The conclusion consists of one paragraph which shows the final conclusion to the reader.

The paragraphs in the body of the work need to begin with a topic sentence and all the sentences after that need to be coherent. This is established by repeating important words, using synonyms and substitutions for the main subject, and using words that make a transition between sentences, like: however, for example, or therefore.  

The body of the work needs to have paragraphs that are coherent just like sentences. The topic sentence of each paragraph should link the paragraph with the preceding one or the thesis statement. You link paragraphs by repeating key words, referring to ideas from the previous paragraph, and using transitional words and sentences.  

Whether you are writing a research paper, a thesis, or a paper for a conference, these tips should help your paper be authoritative and coherent. Your thesis will be substantiated and explanations clear. Readers of your paper will follow your reasoning and understand your conclusion.