Features of academic writing enhance intellectual research capabilities in students in a logical manner. They help students in developing focus and interest while writing for their readers. Are you looking for features of academic writing that every new writer must know? This article is going to assist you in this regard.
What is academic writing?
Academic writing refers to a clear, structured and focused phenomenon of writing backed up through facts and evidence. This phenomenon of writing uses a formal tone and style while communicating the information to the reader. The structure of academic writing is consistent with a logical order. It requires claims and viewpoints that should be supported with facts and evidence.What are the five types of academic writing?
Following are the five types of academic writing;Descriptive
Descriptive academic writing focuses on describing the information. For instance, providing a summary of an article or a result of an experiment is descriptive writing. The instructions for descriptive writing entail identifying, defining, describing, and reporting. Moreover, they summarise the phenomenon in a meaningful way by keeping in view the findings.Critical
This academic writing involves clear and confident acceptance or refusal of points of view while inferring a conclusion. It includes considering two points of view about an idea or a subject under study. The writer may consider their own opinion as well. Also, the writer may gather all the scientific information about a subject under study. They frame a statement, identify its pros and cons and evaluate it through evidence. One opinion is accepted, and the other is rejected from the two opinions.Argumentative
This academic writing style allows the writer to investigate a topic by gathering evidence and facts to establish an argument in a definite manner. The structure of argumentative writing is similar to the persuasive, analytical and critical style of writing. But the difference lies in the writer’s prime focus on presenting claims and arguments. The writer presents arguments and then justify each of them with facts and evidence. Importantly, the writer presents underlying arguments without losing the structure of the writing.Analytical
This academic writing is backed up by a descriptive writing style. But the writer has to rearrange and organise the underlying facts into specific sections. These sections entail groups, types, categories, and parts. Writers analyse the phenomenon under these sections and present reliable findings. The instructions for an analytical assignment consists of analysis and examination. They involve comparing and contrasting the subjects under study.Persuasive
This writing style is a blend of descriptive and analytical academic writing. The only addition to this type of academic writing is making the writing phenomenon persuasive. The aim is to inspire the readers and let them think. It entails considering the writer’s point of view about an idea or a subject under study only.Five purposes of Academic Writing
The key five purposes of academic writing are as follows;Clearness
Academic writing needs to be clear in delivering the meaning. Writers should avoid the use of conflicting words.Accuracy
The writer needs to opt for accurate and authentic information in academic writing. They cannot use vivid or ambiguous information. Moreover, they cannot use information that carries no evidence or does not fall under credible sources. So, the writers should provide correct and accurate information with proper referencing of facts and evidences.Density
The focus of academic writing is to use accurate language. Accurate language entails correct viewpoints, grammar, structure, and adjectives as well.Correctness
Academic writing should be correct and free from personal biases. Moreover, it should be in a formal tone with proper use of grammar.Detachment
In academic writing, writers tend to focus on the topic’s objective. They should not consider what the target audience thinks about the topic or the variables of the study. Above all, this personal opinions should not indulge in academic writing. The writer should focus on the main themes of the study. So, gathering facts and evidence without considering personal opinions is detachment.What are the four features of academic writing?
The four key features of academic writing are as follows;Precision
Academic writing demands precision. To meet this feature of academic writing, writers should use specific information by avoiding unnecessary details. They should include sufficient details and specialties. They should express sentences in a clear manner without leaving room for ambiguity. Also, they should opt for verbs that present precise meaning as well.Objectivity
Academic writing justifies an argument and evaluates it to form an objective opinion. Objective opinion means a well-structured, concise statement on the basis of research as well as reasoning. It prohibits details either in the form of personal feelings or opinions of others. The writer cannot tend to detach themselves from the main theme of the topic. Moreover, it does not use personal pronouns such as ‘I’, ‘We’, and ‘You’. Hence, this feature of academic writing demands the use of the objective concept by the writers.Hedging
Another feature of academic writing is hedging. Academic writing employs hedging to avoid presenting strong and conflicting statements. Moreover, it involves hedging to express caution that gets disapproval. For this, writers should avoid generalisations. A new academic writer can avoid them by using the following tactics:- Use a quantifier word such as many, few or some.
- Opt for adverbs or adverbial phrases such as usually or intentionally.
- Use model verbs such as might, could and will.
Formal Style
Writing in a formal style is the backbone of academic writing. This feature of academic writing requires each phenomenon of writing is in a formal style and tone. It demands exact and up to date information from its writers. Writers should avoid informality in academic writing by following tips under mentioned:- Avoid using informal language in academic writing.
- Using full words instead of short forms such as wasn’t or shouldn’t.
- Do not use colloquial language.
- Do not use rhetoric questions that are difficult to answer.
- Avoid using emotional language.
- Use cautious evaluations such as less generalising or strong convincing.
Final thoughts
Features of academic writing provide direction to the students in writing. They provide them with what is the best use of academic writing and what is not. Hence, writers should learn to use features of academic writing for their effective use.
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