Features of Academic Writing

Skills for Success

Workshop 3, 2011

Student Learning Outcomes

Make informed use of formal language choices Avoid use of personal, subjective or unsupported ideas and ambiguous language Recognise a range of generic terms that are frequently found in academic writing Use passive and active forms of expression as appropriate Develop a repertoire of connectives and other discourse markers that help to organise ideas within and between sentences and paragraphs

(cont.) Student Learning Outcomes

Exercise control in the use of pronouns Recognise the need to avoid making absolute claims in academic writing: understand the notion of modality

What is Academic Writing?

Audience Tone Purpose Involves a weighing up of evidence and ideas

Examples of academic writing

A: Not particularly good
Today I will discuss my position on Aboriginal health in 2009 and how history affected it. Different points will be discovered and taken into consideration.

B: Much better
This paper will discuss the current health status of Indigenous communities as a product of history. Three things will be emphasised: first, Aboriginal health is

Process of Academic Writing

I. Prewriting

II. Planning III. Drafting IV. Editing and revising

Common Task Words in Academic Writing

Analyse Apply Argue Compare/Contrast Define Describe Discuss Evaluate/Critique Interpret Summarise Synthesise

Features of Academic writing

1. Unity and cohesion within paragraphs
-unity: each paragraph deals with one idea

-cohesion: ideas and information relate to each other

smoothly and logically

2. Unity and cohesion in the whole essay

-unity: the whole paper explores one clearly stated central idea -cohesion: paragraphs are arranged in a logical order, developing the argument

unity + cohesion = clarity

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Unity in paragraphs: ideas show a thematic discussion achieved by PEA

Paragraphs frequently contain the following:

Point Evidence (or example) Analysis

Fish make excellent pets. A. Economical to feed B. Quiet C. Well-behaved Because of these three qualities alone, fish make outstanding pets (Bardos, 2009).

Unity through organisation

Possible models of text organisation:
A. chronology- paragraphs are arranged by the order of events in time. B. logical division- paragraphs with the same coverage stand close to each other. C. Order of importance most important ideas first, etc.

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Cohesion through correct use of punctuation marks

Comma
Before an introductory adverb or adverbial phrase: Recently, the government banned smoking in public. Before a subordinate clause: Many people opposed the law, but it finally passed. To bracket a phrase within a sentence: Smallpox, once a widespread disease, is now under control. Between items in a complex series I cannot decide which food I like best: pizza, especially from Dominos; or pasta, the one cooked by Romanos.

Semi colon
Between closely related sentences Tom is going to CSU; Bill will be attending Monash.

Colon
Preceding a list: I must buy the following at the shop: eggs, milk, and coffee. Introducing a quotation: We quote from the address: It now seems appropriate Preceding an explanation: There was a simple reason for her failure: he did not do enough study.

Quotation Marks
To identify a direct quotation I didnt do it, said O.J. Simpson. To identify words used in a special sense: Teachers often refer to artworks as texts to be analysed. To identify the title of a short work: In the article Symmetry is Beauty, Smith argues that . . .

To separate items in a list: I speak English, French, Spanish, and Italian.

To introduce a subtitle The name of an article for Sydney Morning Herald is Space Stations: Dream or Reality? 11

English
Cohesion: pronouns and referencing
English has almost become an international language . Except for Chinese, most people speak it more than any other language. Spanish is the official language of many countries in the world but more countries have it as their official or unofficial second language. More than 70 % of the worlds mail is written in it. In international business, it is used more than any other language and it is the language of airline pilots and air traffic controllers all over the world. Moreover, although French used to be the language of diplomacy, it has displaced it throughout the world. Therefore, unless you plan to sped your life alone on a desert island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, it is a useful language to know.

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Cohesion through the use of transitions (connectors)

Meaning To intro additional idea Opposite idea Example Restatement or explanation Conclusion or summary Chronological order Order of importance Connector and, another, also, too, moreover in contrast, nevertheless, nonetheless for example, for instance indeed in conclusion/summary , to conclude first of all, after that, since then above all, more importantly

Result or effect
Comparison Concession Strong contrast

accordingly, as a result, thus, hence

similarly, likewise despite, in spite of, though in contrast, in comparison, dissimilar 13

Common mistakes in sentences

1. Sentence fragments
Because the enzyme failed to bond.

2. Choppy text
E.g. We must find new sources of energy. The earth's natural sources are dwindling. Solar energy is promising to be a new source of energy. Solar energy is from the suns radiation.

3. Run-on sentences
Getting married is easy staying married is a different matter.

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Avoiding absolutism
Consider the following two arguments:
1. Everyone in Australia agrees that gay couples should have the right to get married. No-one can disagree with this argument because gay people are humans, like all of us. Therefore, the law has to change to allow for gay marriage. 2. According to a recent poll, 57% of Australians appear to be in favour of allowing gay couples to marry, which they are at present prevented from doing by law . One of the most potent arguments in favour of such a change in legislation is based on the right of every person to enjoy equality. Equality, it is argued, should and must extend to marriage and not just be limited to material issues such as property rights or inheritance.

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Active or passive?
The terms active or passive voice refer to the way ideas are organised grammatically to place the focus of responsibility for actions in language. Consider the two following examples: 1. (Active) We encourage students to develop their understanding of the role of grammar in the creation of more formal academic writing. 2. (Passive) Students are encouraged to develop their understanding of the role of grammar in the creation of more formal academic writing.

Question:
When should we use active or passive voice in our writing?
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Preserving the formal tone

Check with your lecturer about: Sub-headings Numbering Bullet points Avoid all: Colloquial words and expressions Abbreviations Contractions

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