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What is academic writing?
No matter if you are a college student, planning to become one, or just by curiosity, knowing the difference between academic writing and something you write every day is always useful.
Academic writing is usually connected to many pages and universities and scientific institutions.
This type of writing is also different from the one you come across in blogs, newspapers, or letters.
Is that all? Are there any particular features or types of academic writing?
And how do you know when your writing crosses the line and stays for academic writing?
Let’s find out.
What Is Academic Writing?
Academic writing, as we’ve mentioned, is all types of writing you would do in the university, no matter if it’s some scientific research or writing an essay.
Therefore, the rules of writing this way are a bit different than writing, letters, or blogs.
The academic language you use in these documents usually doesn’t include some informal words or expressions, particularly slang words or colloquialisms.
Skills you acquire in order to write something academically later help you in your career, and also in your ability to better express yourself.
If you are thinking about academic writing and how to achieve that level of language skills, as a first step, we recommend learning English at a more proficient level with English tutors.
But don’t let that discourage you if your English knowledge isn’t at that good level of proficiency. You can keep reading and being informed about academic writing, and practice your language skills at the same time so that you can also improve your writing skills. The important thing is your will and determination to succeed.
What Are The Features of Academic Writing?
Academic writing in English is quite strict and with concrete rules to follow.
From the font size to the formality, there are many guidelines and rules one has to stick to in order to write a proper academic document.
The main features of academic writing are the following:
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The beginning, middle, and conclusion.
The beginning has to be a clear introduction to the essay.
The middle of the essay has to be formal and specific, able to explain or describe the reason it is written about.
The conclusion, or the end, has to be clear and specific, concluding the whole point of the writing.
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Font and size required are Times New Roman, 12, and double-spaced, too.
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The writing has to be formal and objective, without the words ‘me,’ ‘mine,’ or ‘I.’
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Clear evidence of the subject is also required.
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One of the essentials is a strong point of the topic of what the whole document is about.
These are the essentials when it comes to academic writing so you should pay attention to them.
Types of Academic Writing
There are four types of academic writing.
Depending on your topic and the main point, you choose one of them and follow the guidelines in that particular type.
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Descriptive
Analytical
Persuasive
Critical
Descriptive Type
Many consider this type the most simple one.
Its main point is to provide particular information or give concrete facts about the given topic.
In other words, this type of academic writing has to give the reader all the things that can help him visualize.
This type can be found in diaries, fictional writings, poetry, even in advertising and journals.
Analytical Type
Analytical type of academic writing is partly descriptive but with facts and information categorized into groups, categories, parts, or types, for example.
For this type of writing, a person first has to analyze, compare, relate, and examine all the necessary facts and information about the topic.
The main difference between this and the previous type of writing is that for the analytical type you have to plan every single detail so that you can sort them into groups or categories.
The introduction has to be very clear and specific, and the sentences precise and with useful facts and information.
Persuasive Type
The persuasive type includes part of the analytical writing because it usually consists of clear information categorized into parts, groups, or categories, but with your point of view.
Point of view usually consists of arguments, recommendations,s or evaluations of some of the similar works of others.
Like in the previous two, in this type of academic writing you also have to have clear evidence and particular information about the thing you write about. That evidence can be references or published sources.
The point of this type of academic writing is to make the reader see the author’s point of view but with clear proof, he can rely on.
Persuasive writing is usually used in reviews, job applications, or advertising opinions.
Critical Type
Sometimes the most demanding, critical type of writing consists of one part of persuasive type combined with at least one point of view.
The difference between persuasive and this type of academic writing is in the point of view. While in persuasive writing you have to have your point of view, here, you have to include at least two different points of view, including your own.
If you consider using this type of writing, you have to summarize all the work about the related topic. You also have to be objective and honest, to point out some disadvantages if there are any as well as to mention the benefits. You mustn’t forget about the relevant sources and research data.
This type of academic writing is usually used as a critique in journal articles or literature reviews.
Final Thoughts
If you are a bit scared after reading this post, take a minute break and take a big breath.
It isn’t as hard as it seems.
Sure, you will need practice, to expand your vocabulary and practice a lot with English tutors, but everything is a matter of practice.
When you stand where all those people who wrote dozens of academic writings, you will see that your fear at your beginnings was unreal.
This way, you will also fully immerse yourself in the language quickly because the whole you will be in that world.
In the meantime, practice your English skills every day, make a schedule, and don’t think about failures.
Think positively and in no time, you will be a master of academic writing.
