Introduction
Academic writing is a formal style of writing which works as a medium of relaying research findings,new contributions to ongoing intellectual conversations as well as propose arguments on existing works. Academic writing as a formal style has a rigid structure and provides emphasis on facts rather than opinions, hence, having just subject knowledge is not sufficient. If anyone is aspiring to write academic content, one needs to take a more polished and disciplined approach to language as well as give logic/facts the utmost importance. In this blog post, we will look into the strategies prospective writers can take up to considerably improve their academic writing skills.
Different Types of Academic Writing
Let’s have a brief look into the primary types of Academic Writings out there –
Thesis or Dissertation:
A thesis or dissertation is an in-depth research submitted as a part of graduation or post-graduation degree. It is lengthy in nature and includes a very elaborate analysis of the chosen topic.
Research Papers:
This is a common form of academic content that focuses on answering a research question and is based on data and evidence collected.
Literature Reviews:
Literature reviews examine existing research works on a specific topic and go through the findings of previous studies to find similarities, patterns, gaps, etc.
Essays:
Essays are academic writings usually shorter in length, wherein writers present either an argument or a finding on the selected topic.
Case Studies
Case studies involve meticulous study of a particular event, organisation, or individual. The writings pinpoint on looking into specific instances exhaustively to draw broader conclusions or understand phenomena.
Strategies to Improve Academic Writing Style
Each type of Academic writing may have a specific style or structure but all-in-all to write a good academic writing piece, certain strategies will help. In this blog post, we will look into the strategies prospective writers can take up to considerably improve their academic writing skills.
1. Having a grasp on the ‘Goal’ of Academic Writing
First and foremost, it is crucial to understand the primary goal of Academic writing. Unlike any other forms of writing, academic writing stands by the three Cs – Communicate, Contend, and Contribute to a field of study.The writing style is characterised by its formal tone, objectiveness, and use of evidence based data. Getting a grip on this will help writers to avoid using subjective information or a persuasive language commonly seen in other forms of writing.
2. Keeping it Concise
It is recommended that academic writing should be brief, to the point and without any irrelevant elaboration. This does not promote oversimplification of information/facts that needs to be put in there but more like avoiding redundancy or filler words. Repetitiveness may break the flow of readers and make the writing look unprofessional. It may reflect that the writer may not hold a strong command over the language. The goal of the writer should be to make every sentence add value to the overall idea being conveyed.
3. Apply a Formal Tone –
Now, when we say to use formal tone, we are not asking the writers to be overly stiff with their writings. We suggest avoiding contractions and informal expressions. Here, we need to maintain professionalism in our writing hence, the sentence construction should also reflect that. Formality in the tone will ultimately upheld objectivity that will lead to credibility. A simple example will be to use complete words, instead of using ‘can’t’, use ‘cannot’.
4. Clarity is Crucial
To make the academic writing piece look sophisticated,clarity should prevail over complexities.Using complex sentences or technical jargon will only scare readers away from an already complicated topic. Sour best bet will be to explain the complex topics in the most straightforward and simplest manner possible. Writers should break down the complex ideas into easily manageable parts and provide explanations wherever deemed necessary. We need to keep this at the back of our minds that our readers may not be completely familiar with our proposed work and hence are reading in to gather more knowledge on it. So if only our writing makes them feel welcomed
5. Establish a Coherent and Organized Structure
A very important part of Academic writing is an organized structure. Having a set format will help with the flow of reading. For example, having a good introduction outlining the idea you are presenting will capture the readers and prepare them for what’s coming in the subsequent lines. Likewise, the body provides an in-depth analysis of the topic plus your findings, and the summary tying up the whole writing helps readers to follow along. It is also recommended to make a table of content with precise information so as for readers to go back to a specific part in the write-up with ease. In addition to this, transitions and linking words between paragraphs should be given attention to as well so that the logical flow is maintained.
6. Work on Your Vocabulary
In order to express your ideas more precisely, a rich vocabulary always comes in handy. When explaining complex parts of your Academic writing, only a vast knowledge of words and their usage in the correct context can help you make the knowledge come across to your readers as accessible. This also includes reading a lot of academic papers, articles, etc in the respective field so as to expand a writer’s vocabulary. And this should be done on a regular basis so as you are up-to-date with the recent discussions on your field of study as well as the phrasing, citation format, etc being followed by your fellow writers. As Academic writing is evidence-based, following the proper citation style and being consistent in using it is imperative. It is recommended that if possible avoid using direct quotations and try to paraphrase it in your own words. This ensures that your work does not come across as a replica and your own voice is maintained throughout your work.
7. Be Critical, Be Objective
The main characteristic of Academic writing style is that it is not opinionated and critical in nature. The findings should be disclosed in an objective manner and usage of personal opinion statements like -’ I believe’, I think’ should be avoided as it will make the writing seem less authoritative. However, the facts presented should always be backed by critical analysis. Engage with the sources used, check for gaps in the existing research and explore if your findings are bridging the gaps or not. Question and compare different perspectives presented to you in your field of study and draw your conclusions based on the evidence you have collected. This will demonstrate that the writing as well as the writer coming across as someone capable of having an independent mind.
8. Proofread Profusely
Proofreading and editing your work extensively will only help you polish your Academic writing. After drafting, take some time before revisiting your work so that you have a fresh set of eyes. Look for every minor detail, ranging from using active voice wherever possible to punctuations. Usually while writing for topics including in-depth research and complex ideas, minor details like Grammer, sentence construction is more often than not overlooked. Hence, it should be a routine practise to get your writing revised as many times as possible. We also recommend getting your work reviewed by your mentors or peers, as different sets of eyes will catch ambiguities you may have missed and provide constructive feedback.
Wrapping Up
To improve the academic writing style, one should comprehend the demands of this formal writing form. One needs to have an in-depth insight on the requirements of a disciplined and thoughtful approach to the work. By keeping in mind the goal of Academic writing and mastering the above given strategies, you will be able to provide your valuable contributions to the academic discourse. In short, continuous practice and consistent use of these strategies will get you to the point where you can comfortably write your own compelling, authoritative Academic writings.