1

UNIT 5:ACADEMIC WRITING

2

(i) Features

• Academic writing is:– Formal– Impersonal and objective– Cautious/tentative

• Academic writing also references other people’s work (i.e. documentation).

(ii) The Process

• Academic writing involves constructing an informed argument on a chosen topic. This involves various steps:– Reading (Literature Review)– Summarizing– Evaluation and Analysis– Synthesis– Writing

3

The Process (Cont’d)

• The first draft– This is a raw document– Do not hand it in for assessment

4

The Process (Cont’d)

• Revising the draft– Checking for any improvements to be made– May be done one or more times before a

final draft can be produced.– Typical things to check for include links,

logical flow, content, clarity, language, citation style, integrating tables/figures and text and referencing.

5

The Process (Cont’d)

• Proof-reading the draft– Checking your work for errors in

grammar, spelling, style, etc.– Checking that you have met the format

and other requirements of the School of Business (UoN).

6

7

(iii) Sentence/Paragraph Structure

• Structure your language formally using complete sentences and paragraphs.

– Avoid single sentence paragraphs– Avoid sections/subsections comprising single

paragraphs– Use prose format

* Proofread for writing style, grammar, spelling and punctuation.

8

(iv) Tables/Figures

• They should be self-explanatory

• Each table/figure should be given its own number and title.

• Sources of the tables/figures should appear underneath each table/figure.

• Sources should be given with full citation.

9

(v) Documentation

• In-text citation: Use parenthetical citation i.e. Author (Date) format. Follow the American Psychological Association (APA) guidelines on in-text citation.

• Referencing: Follow the APA guidelines on referencing.

• References are required. Bibliography is optional.

10

(vi) Numbering

• Number your chapters, sections and subsections.

– Avoid hanging (un-numbered) sections and subsections.

– Going beyond the third level can be confusing2; 2.1; 2.1.1; 2.1.1.3; 2.1.1.3.2