This document provides lecture notes on academic writing for a course. It begins with an introduction to academic writing and its key features and components. It explains that academic writing uses formal language and structure to objectively state and support viewpoints with evidence. The document then discusses the features of academic texts, including their organization, language, content and text types. It provides examples of academic and non-academic texts. The document also explains the components of academic essays, including the introductory paragraph, body paragraphs and concluding paragraph. It provides a sample academic text and analyzes its different parts. Finally, the document has exercises for students to practice writing thesis statements, topic sentences, and paragraphs for academic texts.

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BBI2424 ACADEMIC WRITING
SEMESTER 1, 2017/2018
LECTURE NOTES 1 (WEEK 1 - WEEK 2)
Topics:
1. Introduction to academic writing
2. Features and components of academic texts
3. Paragraph structure

2. 2
WHAT IS ACADEMIC WRITING?
Academic Writing refers to style of writing that follows a specific structure and uses
formal academic language. It involves stating writers’ viewpoints objectively and
supporting them using credible evidences and references. Academic writing must
demonstrate elements of unity, coherence and adhere to the formal conventions of
punctuation, spelling, grammar as well as citation and referencing style. Read the
two examples of texts below:
1. Which of the examples above contain lengthy sentences?
2. Which of the examples above use simple everyday words?
3. Which of the examples above is most likely found in academic journals?
Example of Academic Text
Several writers have drawn attention to the need for lecturers to make their
expectations explicit for a course, including assessment items and grading
procedures. A considerable number of participants in the present study
reported that they were uncertain of what lecturers expected of them as
graduate students. They also believed as non-native English speakers, they
needed very explicit directions and much more guidance than native English
speakers.
Example of Non-academic Text
Some writers think lecturers should tell students what they expect from a
course. Lecturers should tell students about things like assessment and
grading. Lots of students I’ve talked to think they don’t know what their
lecturers want. Also, because they aren’t native English speakers, they need
more help than other students.

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FEATURES OF ACADEMIC TEXTS
Features Descriptions
Organisation
Formal Organisation
 Introduction - includes thesis statement
 Body - well supported
 Conclusion - clear concluding sentence or paragraph
Language
 Complex and uses a variety of sentence types -
compound, complex, compound-complex sentences
 Language is more formal - no usage of colloquial words
and expressions, contraction, phrasal verbs, personal
pronoun
 Cohesion across sentences (e.g. use of transition
signals to show relationship between ideas in a text)
Content
 Addresses specific readers
 Has objective that is specific and not personal
 Contains precise facts and figures
 Incorporates ideas taken from various sources with
proper in-text citation and referencing
Text  Text types – informative, argumentative, comparison
and contrast

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COMPONENTS OF ACADEMIC TEXTS
An academic essay consists of three major components which are the introductory
paragraph, body paragraphs and a concluding paragraph. The chart below
shows the organisation and components of an academic essay.
ESSAY
I. Introductory paragraph
II. Body paragraphs
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 3
III. Concluding paragraph
General statements
Thesis statement
A. Topic sentence
1. Supporting sentence
2. Supporting sentence
3. Supporting sentence
(Concluding sentence)
B. Topic sentence
1. Supporting sentence
2. Supporting sentence
3. Supporting sentence
(Concluding sentence)
C. Topic sentence
1. Supporting sentence
2. Supporting sentence
3. Supporting sentence
(Concluding sentence)
Restatement or summary of the
main points; final comment

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Sample of an Academic Text
Read the following academic text. As you read it, notice the different parts of an
academic text.
In recent years, many people have become increasingly aware of the need
for physical fitness. Almost everywhere people turn, whether it is to a newsstand,
television or billboard, advice for guarding and improving health bombards them.
Although much of this advice is commercially motivated by those eager to sell
vitamins and natural foods, some of it, especially the ones that advocate a regular
exercise programme, merits serious attention. Such a programme, if it consists of
at least thirty minutes, three times a week and if a person's physician approves it,
provides numerous benefits. Regular exercise releases tension, improves
appearance and increases stamina.
The first benefit of regular exercise is the immediate release of tension.
Tension builds in the body because of an over-accumulation of adrenaline
produced by stress, anxiety or fear. Doctors agree that performing calisthenics or
participating in an active sport such as tennis or volleyball for thirty minutes
releases tension. If a person swims, jogs or rides a bicycle for half of that time, he
or she should sleep better at night and have a better temperament the next day. In
addition, after the release of tension, petty irritations and frustrations should be
less troubling. For example, Watanabe (2008) explains that an employee upset by
the day's work and by traffic congestion may rush home, argue with the family and
eat excessively. Taking about thirty minutes to release frustrations through
physical exercise could help him or her avoid this behaviour. Therefore, planned
physical exercise can eliminate or at least control tension.
The second benefit of regular exercise is that a person can have an improved
appearance. Exercise takes perhaps a month or longer to show its results in a
trimmer and firmer figure. For instance, research shows that a person who is ten
pounds overweight, may be able during this time to burn away most excess fat and
to tighten muscles, thereby reshaping the physique (Centre of Public Health,
2013). Having improved muscle tone and even posture, he or she will wear clothes
more attractively and comfortably. Combined with a sensible diet, an exercise
programme will also improve a person's skin tone. This improved appearance will
provide confidence and favourably impress others. Thus, regular exercise is
beneficial as it will help towards the betterment of one’s overall appearance.

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In addition to the self-confidence engendered by an improved appearance,
increased physical strength produces stamina. A stronger and healthier body is
obviously more capable of working harder and withstand normal fatigue than a
tense and weak one. Paisley (2002) states that “a worker who exercises should be
able to complete a forty-hour week and still retain enough energy for mowing the
grass, painting the garage or cleaning the windows” (p. 87). Similarly, a student
who goes to school, plays sport and perhaps works part time should accomplish
tasks efficiently. Equally important, this stamina helps to ward off illnesses such as
cold and influenza. Altogether, improved endurance is one of the most important
benefits of a regular exercise programme.
In conclusion, people can benefit immensely by exercising regularly. Although
easy solutions to the goals of losing weight and achieving an attractive and
energetic body saturate the media, acquiring these benefits is not easy. However,
the rewards are fully worth the effort of an established exercise programme that
makes a person feel relaxed, look healthy and have adequate strength for
strenuous as well as routine activities.
Adapted from Latta, B. (n.d.). The Benefits of Regular Exercise. Retrieved from
http://faculty.southwest.tn.edu/jfriedlander/sample_5-paragarph_theme.htm

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COMPONENT 1: INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH
An introductory paragraph introduces the topic of the academic text to the reader. It also
provides an overview to the content of the text. It consists of two parts which are general
statements and a thesis statement.
GENERAL STATEMENTS
General statements provide background information of the topic to the reader. It also
attracts readers’ attention to the topic of the text.
Read the introductory paragraph below:
1. Based on the general statements, what do you think is the topic of this text?
2. What information can you find in the general statements?
In recent years, many people have become increasingly
aware of the need for physical fitness. Almost everywhere
people turn, whether it is to a newsstand, television or billboard,
advice for guarding and improving health bombards them.
Although much of this advice is commercially motivated by
those eager to sell vitamins and natural foods, some of it,
especially the ones that advocate a regular exercise
programme, merits serious attention. Such a programme, if it
consists of at least thirty minutes, three times a week and if a
person's physician approves it, provides numerous benefits.
Regular exercise releases tension, improves appearance and
increases stamina.
GENERAL
STATEMENTS
THESIS
STATEMENT

8. 8
THESIS STATEMENT
A thesis statement states the main ideas that will be discussed in the body paragraphs.
The body paragraphs are written with reference to the thesis statement in the
introductory paragraph. A good thesis statement:
 focuses on a specific aspect of the topic
 may list subtopics of the main topic; sets the pattern for the paragraphs to follow by
indicating the main points that will be developed in the body paragraphs of an
academic text
 often appears as the last sentence of the introductory paragraph
Look at the examples of thesis statements below:
Topic: Advantages of Reading among Adults
Thesis statement 1:
Reading brings many advantages to adults as it can improve concentration,
reduce stress and provide tranquillity.
 This is a well written thesis statement as it provides readers with all the
main points that will be discussed in the body paragraphs. This style of
writing a thesis statement will allow readers to have a clear idea of
what to expect in the body paragraphs.
Thesis statement 2:
There are three advantages of reading for adults.
 This thesis statement states the number of advantages that will be
discussed but does not indicate the main points. It is an acceptable
style of writing a thesis statement in academic writing.
Thesis statement 3:
Reading is a popular hobby nowadays.
 This thesis statement is too general. It does not provide the specific
aspect of the topic (reading) or the main points that will be discussed.
You should avoid writing a thesis statement that is too general.

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COMPONENT 2: BODY PARAGRAPHS
A paragraph in the body of an academic text contains the discussion of the main points
mentioned in the thesis statement. This is where the topic is developed using facts,
examples and other details. A body paragraph consists of a clear topic sentence with
reference to the thesis statement, relevant supporting points and supporting details and
also a concluding sentence. Below is the structure of a body paragraph:
BODY PARAGRAPH
- has three parts
TOPIC SENTENCE
- states the topic and controlling idea
of the paragraph
SUPPORTING SENTENCES
- provide explanation, examples and
details about the topic
CONCLUDING SENTENCE
- summarises the main points or
restates the topic sentence in
different words

10. 10
Below is an example of an academic paragraph and all the components that exist in an academic paragraph.
The first benefit of regular exercise is the immediate release of
tension. Tension builds in the body because of an over-accumulation of
adrenaline produced by stress, anxiety or fear. Doctors agree that performing
calisthenics or participating in an active sport such as tennis or volleyball for
thirty minutes releases tension. If a person swims, jogs or rides a bicycle for
half of that time, he or she should sleep better at night and have a better
temperament the next day. In addition, after the release of tension, petty
irritations and frustrations should be less troubling. For example, Watanabe
(2008) explains that an employee upset by the day's work and by traffic
congestion may rush home, argue with the family and eat excessively. Taking
about thirty minutes to release frustrations through physical exercise could
help him or her to avoid this behaviour. Therefore, planned physical exercise
can eliminate or at least control tension.
TOPIC
SENTENCE
CONCLUDING
SENTENCE
SUPPORTING
SENTENCES
Transition signals to
show the connection
between ideas
In-text citation:
Author’s surname
and year of
publication
Reporting verb used
to introduce
borrowed
information
Paraphrase/
summary
(supporting detail):
Ideas from a
credible source
expressed in your
own words

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Example 1
a) Firstly, social media can negatively affect face-to-face communication.
b) Next, social media can also cause mental distress among its users.
Example 2
c) Understanding tourists’ behaviour is one of the ways to promote tourism.
d) Researching tourists’ demand is another way to market a tourist destination.
CONTROLLING IDEA
TOPIC T TOTHDHDFNBFDNDFBBBD TOPIC
PICTTYYY
OPIC
TOPIC SENTENCE
A topic sentence indicates the main idea of a paragraph. It provides an introduction
and focus for each paragraph. A good topic sentence:
 must be a complete sentence; not fragment
 has a clear topic and controlling idea
 usually appears in the first sentence of the paragraph
 signals readers where the paragraph has been and where it is headed using
transition signals such as first, second, finally
 uses keywords or phrases from the thesis statement to indicate the part of the
thesis that will be discussed
TOPIC CONTROLLING IDEA
TOPIC CONTROLLING IDEA
CONTROLLING IDEA TOPIC
TOPIC

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Example 3
Writing Topic Sentences with reference to Thesis Statement
Thesis Statement:
Emphasis on individualism, changes in family structure and overscheduled lifestyles
are three reasons for the generation gap between younger and older people.
Explanation:
This thesis statement tells us that the topic of the essay is the gap between younger
and older people and the focus is the causes of this gap.
We also know that the first paragraph of the essay will discuss how individualism can
create a difference between generations.
The second paragraph will discuss the changes in family structure and how it affects
family relationships while the third paragraph will discuss overscheduled lifestyles.
To establish this connection between the thesis statement and the paragraphs of the
academic text, the following topic sentences are used.
Topic Sentence 1:
Emphasis on individualism is one reason why younger and older people become
isolated from each other.
Topic Sentence 2:
Another reason for the generation gap between younger and older people is the
change in family structure from extended families to nuclear families.
Topic Sentence 3:
A third cause of the generation gap is due to overscheduled lifestyles.

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EXERCISE 1
Read the thesis statements below. For each thesis statement, decide if it is a good
thesis statement. If not, rewrite the thesis statement according to the qualities of a
good thesis statement.
Topic: Benefits of Social Media among Students
1. These days students spend a lot of time on social media.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
2. Social media has many benefits.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
3. Social media promotes critical thinking, encourages student-teacher
communication and creates varied learning environments for students.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
4. There are three benefits of social media for students.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
5. Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Instagram are popular social media sites
nowadays.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

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EXERCISE 2
Read the thesis statement and topic sentences in each question. For each topic
sentence, decide if it is a good topic sentence. If not, rewrite the topic sentence
according to the qualities of a good topic sentence.
1. Thesis Statement:
Social media in today’s society allows people to stay connected, to keep
abreast with the latest news and to communicate across borders.
Topic Sentence 1:
Social media allows people to stay connected.
Is the topic sentence appropriate. If not, what is the problem?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Topic Sentence 2:
A second advantage is that people are able to keep abreast with the latest
news around the world.
Is the topic sentence appropriate. If not, what is the problem?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Topic Sentence 3:
Is a communication tool.
Is the topic sentence appropriate. If not, what is the problem?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

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2. Thesis Statement:
Exposure to violence, an inadequate rating system and too little parental
supervision are three reasons why children should not play video games.
Topic Sentence 1:
Children in the United States love to play video games.
Is the topic sentence appropriate. If not, what is the problem?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Topic Sentence 2:
Inadequate rating system for evaluating video games is another reason why
children should avoid video games.
Is the topic sentence appropriate. If not, what is the problem?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Topic Sentence 3:
Next, there is too little parental supervision.
Is the topic sentence appropriate. If not, what is the problem?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

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EXERCISE 3
Write an appropriate topic sentence for each of the paragraphs below.
1.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Students who study abroad stand a chance to get better jobs when they return to
their home country. This is because their qualifications and experiences may allow
them to get jobs that are higher paid, and they have a better chance in getting a
promotion quickly. Another advantage of studying abroad is the independence
students’ gain being in a foreign country. For example, students have to cope with
the challenges of living alone and meeting new people from different cultures. This
will enable them to become more confident in their lives and relationships with
others. Thus, studying abroad is a very rewarding and beneficial experience for
students.
2.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
After-school programmes such as sports teams and games, art and music activities,
internships in local area businesses and professional organisations as well as
interesting volunteer activities in the community would help engage teens in
worthwhile pursuits outside of school hours. More job opportunities for teens,
especially those funded by state and local programmes, would offer income for teens
as well as productive work for the community. Outreach to families through schools,
community organisations and places of worship would help promote inter-
generational activities that could improve family ties, helping teens to work on their
problems at the family level instead of taking them to the streets. Therefore, the
problem of teen gang violence can be eliminated with the combined effort of the
community via numerous programmes.
3.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Assistive technology can be used to increase, maintain or improve the capabilities of
a student with a disability. For example, expert tutoring software presents instruction
in small, sequential steps, at varying levels of difficulty, and students can use the
software independently while working at their own pace. In addition, assistive
technology also includes computer programmes and tablet applications that provide
text-to-speech and speech-to-text application, word prediction capabilities and
graphic organisers to assist in speech and language learning. Hence, advances in

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technology such as assistive technology provide disabled students the opportunity to
learn and develop new skills.
SUPPORTING SENTENCES AND SUPPORTING DETAILS
Supporting Sentences
Supporting sentences explain and develop the idea expressed in the topic sentence.
These sentences must represent the writer’s point of view and voice.
EXERCISE 4
Read the topic sentences below. Write three supporting sentences that could be
included in the paragraph.
1. Topic Sentence:
One of the most important ways to become a successful university student is by
practising proper time management.
Supporting Sentence 1:
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Supporting Sentence 2:
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Supporting Sentence 3:
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

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2. Topic Sentence:
Another way to improve English language writing skills is by using online
resources.
Supporting Sentence 1:
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Supporting Sentence 2:
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Supporting Sentence 3:
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
3. Topic sentence:
Lack of communication skills is another reason why there is an increase of
unemployability among fresh graduates.
Supporting Sentence 1:
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Supporting Sentence 2:
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

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Supporting Sentence 3:
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Supporting Details
There are several kinds of supporting details such as examples, facts, statistics and
quotations. These supporting details are usually taken from other sources i.e.
journals, books and credible online sources.
Supporting details further develop the supporting points. They also add to the validity
of the main idea expressed in the topic sentence. This information however must be
carefully documented using proper citation method and referencing convention to
avoid plagiarism. You will learn further about citation and referencing in Chapter 2.
EXERCISE 5
Read the paragraphs below. Underline the supporting details and decide whether
they are examples, facts, statistics or quotations.
1. Wildlife tourism also has an implication on physiological changes in animals
subject to disturbance. Since animals are a regular subject to wildlife watching
activities, it gives an unpleasant impact to their behavioural responses. Getting too
close to animals can result in adverse effects on wildlife, even if they are not
apparent to the observer. Some animals may flee, others may be stressed and have
physiological responses. For example, animals in the Northern Territory in high
visitation areas have become accustomed to human presence, and visitors may
enjoy passive interactions with these animals through wildlife watching and
photography (Gross, 2012). This can cause prolonged stress in animals which may
lead to a decrease in weight, reduction in breeding success and increased
vulnerability to disease.
Supporting detail type: ____________________
2. For many working adults, online education has greatly enhanced the opportunity
to take classes and complete their studies. Research indicates that although most
online students successfully complete their degree programme, about forty percent
of them fail in their studies (Bates, 2010). Most online students pursue their study
online because they realise the many advantages of online education, nevertheless

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it can be a major issue if students do not put in sufficient effort and time in
completing their studies. In most cases, students can access their course at anytime
from anywhere. This means that parents, working students and professionals on the
move have the option of attending classes no matter how hectic their work schedule.
Students only need a computer and Internet access to take online classes.
Supporting detail type: ____________________
3. All languages change over time and vary from place to place. "Language is
subject to change and is not caused by unnecessary sloppiness, laziness or
ignorance" (Aitchison, 1981, p.67). Languages may change as a result of social or
political pressures such as invasion, colonisation and immigration. Language also
changes very subtly whenever speakers come into contact with each other. No two
individuals speak identically; people from different geographical places clearly speak
differently, but even within the same small community there are variations according
to a speaker’s age, gender, ethnicity as well as social and educational background.
Through interactions with different speakers, new words, expressions and
pronunciations are integrated into speech.
Supporting detail type: ____________________
4. One vital step in protecting the environment is by reducing the use of plastic bags.
Plastic bags cost the city of San Francisco 17 cents each to handle once discarded.
Over the state, California spends about 25 million dollars sending plastic bags to
landfills each year, and another 8.5 million dollars to remove littered bags from
streets. While a grocer pays next to nothing for plastic bags and gives them to
customers at no charge, the follow on cost to society is much higher. If customers
can be trained to bring their own reusable bags every time they shop, this will lead to
a reduction in one of the major polluting items in the environment. Paper bags are
biodegradable and make a good second option (Society for the Environment, 2013).
Grocery stores and other retail stores should be actively discouraged from giving out
plastic bags. There are numerous and various incentive systems employed in some
cities around the world in reducing the use of plastic bags to conserve the
environment.
Supporting detail type: ____________________

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CONCLUDING SENTENCES
A concluding sentence is the last sentence of a paragraph. It either restates the main
idea of the paragraph by repeating the topic sentence in different words or
summarises the main points of the paragraph. A concluding sentence begins with
suitable transition signals such as therefore, hence and thus.
EXERCISE 6
Write a suitable concluding sentence for each of the following paragraphs.
1. Choosing a college or university can be difficult for high school students. The
most difficult part is finding a university that prepares them well for their future
career. In order to get a good job, the curriculum that is taught must be thorough and
up-to-date. In addition, the educators must be highly qualified and respected in their
fields. Another difficulty in choosing a university or college is affordability. Students
need to be able to pay not only the tuition fees but also the living expenses.
Fortunately, some institutions might be able to offer scholarships if students cannot
afford the fees. Of course, a good location is also very important when choosing a
college or university. The environment should be safe and quiet to facilitate studying.
Moreover, there should be opportunities near the college or university for part time
jobs or internships to provide some work experience for students.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
2. The changes in roles of nurses through a university education have affected
their practice and their image among the community. Previously they were seen as
the doctor’s helper. “A good nurse was disciplined, sober, humble, obedient and
never complained about her work”(Stevens, 1992, p.202). Currently, the roles of
nurses as part of a team of health professionals have also expanded as a result of
university education. For example, nurses are required to explore different facets of
health and develop more specialised knowledge, giving them the ability to
collaborate effectively (Duffy et al., 1989). They also have had a more influential role
in diagnosis, treatment and prevention. This is due to the stronger theory base that is
taught at universities. __________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

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3. People need to continuously adjust their habits to bring an end to climate
change. Simple changes, like recycling and turning off the lights when people leave
a room are a good place to start, but they cannot stop there. For example, when
people are out shopping, they should carefully evaluate their purchases and buy
fewer items. When people buy things they do not need, the things quickly end up in
the landfill, which is a waste of resources. It is also important to look for ways to
further reduce consumption at home. For example, paper towels could easily be
replaced with cloth rags. People can also look for ways to minimise their use of other
valuable resources by shifting their daily habits towards more sustainable practices
such as taking shorter showers, eating less meat and walking to nearby locations
rather than driving. ____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________