academic writing skills

academic writing skills

The Importance of Academic Writing Skills

1. Introduction to Academic Writing

Academic writing is an essential communication tool in the higher education setting. It is a way of presenting information, research, and findings, etc. It is a style of writing that students and researchers use to define a specific issue or concept in a more convincing and logical way that could actually convince the reader. Its primary purpose is to let the reader know about the writer’s purpose and to provide explanation and understanding of the issues at hand, taking into consideration the knowledge the audience has about the certain topic. Through explaining, it can push the readers to learn more and think deeper about the issues. This style is also analytical in a way that it takes written work and breaks it down to understand if there are other issues involved. The importance of academic writing is very many, such as: academic writing is the required process in completing a degree in a particular field of study. Without it, there’s a possibility that there are no written records for future generations to come. Findings or knowledge will not be passed and lost forever. Paid intellectuals for teaching and investigating might not get the recognition they deserve. Written work provides a report to share findings or ideas, and it is also a solid form of communication amongst scholars and academics. Even though there are many documented definitions of academic writing by many educational scholars.

2. Developing a Strong Thesis Statement

Thesis statements are the foundation of the academic paper. A thesis statement is the essence of a paper. Based on this statement, the paper is concluded and its direction is determined. It is essential for the writer to understand the importance of the thesis statement in the paper. The thesis statement that a writer chooses must be specific and proven. A vague thesis statement is a sign of an unprepared writer. If your initial thesis is too broad, it will be necessary to limit it in order to get to the meat of the paper. This is a final, fatalistic move. A thesis statement must always be a statement; do not use questions. Your thesis should be focused and clearly convey the focus of the paper. A vague thesis statement is incomprehensible to readers, rendering the remainder of the paper irrelevant. Often, a thesis statement will be expressed in a declarative sentence. A single or two different sentences that define the full, complete essay. The thesis statement normally appears near the beginning of a paper. It can be the first or the last sentence of the introduction paragraph.

3. Structuring Your Academic Paper

For many assignments, you are required to provide a structured, easily recognizable format for your paper. This is an academically acceptable approach, typically incorporating an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. Whether your paper is required to be formatted using the American Psychological Association’s Publication Manual, Modern Language Association’s Handbook, or Today’s Chicago Manual of Style, a clear and concise manner always provides an easier read. The structure is simple; your goal is to make it explicit. Typically, requiring an in-text citation of how and why you have chosen to present an idea the way you have, and perhaps a source or reference, this is essential in critically presenting the source in comparing and contrasting to your own idea. An often overlooked but incredibly useful part in solidifying your paper’s structure is outlining. With this available time you have now granted yourself through sustaining less time inefficiently writing, you are able to process your ideas further with greater complexity and deeper understanding than before. This easier manipulation and alteration of more localized parts of your paper will provide greater ease in reorganization of your paper’s structure.

4. Using Proper Citation and Referencing

Citing the sources that you use is a critical component of successful academic writing. The South African Journal of Psychology provides students with the opportunity to complete their writing assignments in a way that will both satisfy the requirements of academic writing and cultivate in them good habits in regard to knowing what they know. Proper citation is not simply a matter of mechanics, like spelling or capitalization; it is the intellectually honest means by which to tell your readers exactly where you got your information and how you arrived at your unique analysis or interpretation. In addition, it is a way to avoid plagiarism, defined as using others’ ideas or words without clearly acknowledging the source of that information. When you write for your professors, you are not simply proving that you have understood a particular issue and its relevant data; you are attempting to construct informed and insightful assessment on that issue, and demonstrating to your readers that you have put in the effort to know what you know. In this way, citation and informed analysis are intimately connected. Without the citation, informed analysis can appear to be ungrounded opinion. In sum, the seriousness with which you engage in proper citation is reflected in the quality of your argument and analysis that follows from it.

5. Editing and Proofreading Your Work

Firstly, always keep your audience in mind. Ensure that your paper reflects the needs, experience, and expertise of the reader. If you are at university, familiar with the subject matter but addressing your paper to colleagues in a profession, your style might be too dense and technical. You might need to simplify and explain more. Similarly, sophistication might be required if you are a student trying to gain a high grade for a paper written for your tutor.

Before making specific suggestions for editing and proofreading, consider the following sweep of your draft with these in mind. This will give you a springboard from which to make those crucial additional marks.

In academic writing, the need for proper editing and proofreading is fundamental. With the advent of word processors, “writing” has transformed from generation of an unreadable script into production of well-organized, coherent text. The ability to cut and paste is both a powerful tool and a potential danger! It has never been easier to implement changes in your draft. Bear in mind though that a poor representation of your final draft or a too hasty submission might mean that you miss out on valuable marks. So it is important to go through the process of editing and proofreading, and for that we are providing our online course attendees with this guide.