Academic Writing

Every kind of writing has its own rules

• For example, you probably would not write an email to your boss the same way you would text a friend

Conventions keep academic writing orderly and logical

A writer that follows the conventions=

• reader has a better chance of understanding the purpose of the text
• expected to follow certain conventions in writing
• you should learn these rules so you can be successful

Helpful guidelines to show you are part of an academic community

Although every instructor has individual preferences and the rules are not absolute, general expectations or customs in academic writing include

Key Features

• tone
• slang
• clichés
• point of view
• contractions

1. Tone

Tone

• can separate a writer from one who is taken seriously or not
• will differ with each writer's assignment

Academic vs. Casual

• Academic writing is more formal than tone in personal writing
• Casual written or spoken expressions are not used in formal academic writing

For example, a casual message like “Can’t wait to see ya later!” might be okay when writing to a friend, however, it is too informal for academic writing

Academic Writing

• Can be simple, clear, and engaging
• Understand your audience and what you are trying to achieve with yourwriting
• Read assignment guidelines
• Make sense of the essay’s purpose & audience

2. Slang

Slang

• does not usually have a place in academic writing
• for example, klutz, grub, cushy, and cool
• words are not terrible

+
appropriate in informal conversations

x
not appropriate for most academic writing

To Avoid Slang

• Try reading your writing aloud
• If your words sound conversational, replace them with more formal words

Slang: “The students caught cheating on the test were given the third degree by the principle”

Meaning: “third-degree” means “to be interrogated by"

Slang: “The kids were ready to bite my arm off just because I promised to take them to the candy store”

Meaning: “to bite my arm off” means to get overexcited

3. Clichés

Examples

• a waste of time
• time heals all wounds
• opposites attract
• find your way
• keep the faith
• all over the map

Clichés

• can be tough to identify
• unique words are far more powerful than a phrase overused by many every day

4. Point of View

First person I, me, we, and us

• appear too casual or biased to an academic reader
• exception...when you are asked to write a paper about your personal experiences= first person is acceptable

Example: “I believe the U.S. government needs to regulate businesses.”

Corrected: “The U.S. government needs to regulate businesses.”

Second-Person (You)

• is avoided in academic writing
• can sound informal
• accusatory to a reader
• is often used for instructional & technical manuals

Example: “If you learn how to write well, you will do better in school and earn better grades.”

Corrected: “Learning to write well in college helps students do better in
school and earn better grades.”

Third-person (he, she, they, and it)

• useful in all types of writing, including academic writing
• for example, “Grand Canyon University students succeed if they prepare thoroughly for quizzes and exams

Remember

• Academic essays should be written in the Third person
• Second person should be avoided
• First person should only be used if approved by a professor or when writing about a personal experience

Strategies...

• Track down second person point of view references and eliminate them
• Look for first person pronouns and remove them
• If you see 3rd person, give yourself a pat on the back!

5. Contractions

-Contractions are casual
-not often used in academic writing

Examples

• Don’t → do not
• Can’t → cannot
• Won’t → will not
• Shouldn’t → should not
• Isn’t → is not

Review

• Examine tone to remove casual writing
• Replace slang with intended meaning
• Eliminate clichés and add unique words
• Correct point of view
• Use both words and avoid contractions