ACADEMIC WRITING

1. Academic Writing
Precious Chanaiwa

2. A duty that you are assigned to perform or a task that is
assigned or undertaken.
For example:
Research papers (most common), presentations, oral
reports,
posters, case study

3. Assignment Structure
• Title
• Introduction
• Body
• Conclusion
• References

4. Assignment structure
CONCLUSION
INTRODUCTION
GENERAL
SPECIFIC

5. Analyzing the title
• Key words in the topic help you to decide on the
approach you should take.
• Key words include:
Topic Words highlight the major concepts in the
assessment.
Directive words give directions to the approach
you should take, and the kind of response
required in the assignment (e.g. ‘examine’,
‘analyse’, ‘compare’).
Limiting words limit the scope of your research
and writing; set boundaries.

7. Analyzing the title
• Core questions:
Good essay titles usually contain one or tow
key questions which assignment should
answer.
Examples:
• Describe how you become an
effective group member?
• Explain how your study skills unit affects
your life in the college?
• Justify why it is important to avoid
plagiarism in writing your assignment?

8. Analyzing the title
• In order to answer the question, you will also
need to consider other questions.
Descriptive questions (where? when? who?
what?) provide background or contextual
information.
Analytical questions (how? why? to what
extent?) help to show a deeper understanding of
the topic, and generally assist you in developing
an analytical response to the assignment.

9. To illustrate how to turn an assignment into questions see
the example below.
Assignment Topic:
Discuss the environmental effects of the 2004 tsunami in Asia.
Question : What were the environmental effects of the 2004
tsunami in Asia?
Descriptive Questions
• What happened?
• Where did it happen (which countries)?
• What is meant by ‘environmental effects’?
• What environmental effects occurred?
Analytical Questions
• Why did these effects occur?
• To what extent were these effects experienced by all Asian countries?

11. Academic keywords used in titles
• Account for
Give reasons for; explain why something
happens.
• Analyse
Examine in very close detail; identify
important points and chief features.
• Comment on
Identify and write about the main issues
•

12. Academic keywords used in titles
• Compare
Show how two or more things are similar
Indicate the relevance or consequences
of these similarities.
• Contrast
set two or more items or arguments in
opposition so as to draw out difference.
Indicate whether the differences are
significant.

13. Academic keywords used in titles
• Critically evaluate
Weigh arguments for and against
something, assessing the strength of
the evidence on both side
Use criteria to guide your assessment of
which opinions, theories, models or
items are preferable.

14. • Define
Give the exact meaning of. Where
relevant, show that you understand why
the definition may be problematic
• Distinguish
Bring out the differences between two
items.

15. • Describe
Give the main characteristics or features
of something, or outline the main events
• Discuss
Write about the most important aspects
of; give arguments for and against;
consider the implications of

16. • Evaluate:
Assess the worth, importance or
usefulness of something, using evidence.
There will probably be made both for
and against.
• Examine:
Put the subject ‘under the microscope’
looking at it in detail.

17. • Explain:
Make clear why something happens, or
why something is the way it is.
• Illustrate:
Make something clear and explicit, giving
example or evidence

18. • Interpret:
Give the meaning and relevance of data or
other material presented.
• Justify
Give evidence which supports an argument
or idea;
Show why a decision or conclusions were
made

19. • Narrate
Concentrate on saying what happened,
telling it as story
• Outline
Give only the main points, showing thw
main structure.

20. • Summarise:
Draw out the main points only. Omitting
details or examples.
• Trace:
Follow the order of different stages in an
event or process.

21. Introduction
• Introducing the topic or subject area
The main aim of the first part of any introduction
is to introduce the topic and the most important
concept(s) relevant to answering the question.
• Aim or purpose
The introduction also needs to indicate your aim(s)
or purpose in the assignment.
• Structure or overall plan
You need to signal how you will present information in
the assignment. In what order will the key points
appear?
This gives the reader an indication of what to
expect.

22. Introduction
• Limits or scope of the assignment
You may want to include mention in your
introduction of any limits in your assignment. What
will you emphasize? Due to space, will you be
intentionally leaving anything out?
• Argument or thesis statement
The final part of the introduction needs to clearly
identify your argument or thesis statement.
Some useful ways to signal your argument include:
‘This paper argues that…’; This essay contends
that…’; ‘It will be argued that…’.

23. Body
Paragraphs are made of sentences, usually
they are several sentences long.
Each paragraph is organized around a
central idea or a theme, witch is usually
made clear in the first sentence of each
paragraph. All sentences relate to the
main idea of the paragraph .

24. Body
Paragraph 1:
- Covers the first thing your introduction
said you would address
- The first sentence introduce the main
idea of the paragraph (Topic sentense)

25. Body
• Paragraph 2 and other paragraph:
- The first sentence (opining sentence),
link the paragraph to the previous
paragraphs
then, introduce the main idea of the
paragraph
- Other sentences develop the
paragraph‘s topic

26. Body
Each paragraph will have a similar structure, and
functions like a ‘mini-essay’. It should have an
introduction (topic sentence), a body, and a concluding
sentence.
• A topic sentence (usually the first sentence of the paragraph) states
the key point of the paragraph. It is this point around which the rest
of the paragraph is organized.
• The topic sentence is followed by the ‘body’ of the paragraph. This
can contain explanations, evidence and examples to support the
key point of the paragraph. Supporting evidence is used to justify,
explain or develop your argument.
• A concluding sentence links the main idea of the paragraph back to
your argument, and therefore to the assignment topic/question

27. Conclusion
• The conclusion is simply a summary of all your
main points discussed in the essay.
• Importantly, your conclusion should:
• Contain no new ideas or information.
• List your key points, briefly.
• Relate key points directly back to the
question/your argument

28. Conclusion
- Summaries your argument and the main
themes
- Stat your general conclusion
- Make it clear why those conclusions are
important
- In your last sentence, sum up your
argument very briefly, linking it to the
title

29. Basic Rule
Introduction: State what you are going
to say
Body: Say it
Conclusion: Say what you have said

30. Checklist
• Have I answered the question?
• Do I discuss the material or merely report it?
• Have I argued my point, admitted alternatives,
and avoided bias?
• Do I apply theory to a situation?
• Have I considered implications for the future?
• Do I present a coherent and logical argument?
• Are the aspects covered complete, up to date and
relevant?
• Are main points supported by published sources,
acknowledged and referenced correctly?
• Have I avoided mistakes of spelling, grammar and
punctuation?
• Is the length and presentation appropriate?