Posted by College-level academic writing is a specialized form of writing that entails delivering formal tasks for educational purposes. College students are asked to write different assignments, from essays to dissertations. All these projects demand extensive planning and research and shape the student’s chances of academic success. In addition, the tasks help learners express complex concepts, theories, and research clearly to instructors and peers. However, academic writing comes with its own demands and challenges. This article simplifies everything you need to know about creating exceptional academic papers.
Characteristics of Academic Writing
When tasked with writing academic papers, students should stop and examine what they are asked to deliver. Understand that academic writing implies an approach to the expression used by researchers to define the intellectual boundaries of their disciplines. Here are some notable features that define academic writing.
- It Is Evidence-Based
You have probably been told that college-level academic writing needs to be original and plagiarism-free. This is true because any academic research paper or essay must include one main idea or original argument around which the entire document is designed. This idea is presented as a thesis statement and should be an original thought. However, effective academic writing demands that the thesis be supported using appropriate evidence throughout the paper. Without proper evidence, the thesis becomes just an unsupported assumption.
In academic writing, evidence implies proof that writers must provide to strengthen their claims and arguments. The evidence you present in your text will take many forms depending on the potential audience, your discipline, and the focus of your task. The underlying principle, however, is that evidence must be used to strengthen your argument by providing authority. It also allows readers to evaluate the basis of your claims and shows your grasp of fundamental issues and theories around the topic.
- It Is Formal
Academic writing ought to be written in a formal tone. This means that you shouldn’t use contractions, colloquialisms, or slang. Formal writing also implies that students should avoid using personal pronouns like ‘I.’ Instead, prioritize writing in the third person. Although you are encouraged to be passionate about your topic, you must write neutrally. Also, make sure your writing avoids making inflammatory or judgment-call statements.
Rather, it is important for your writing to sound like a rational exploration of the evidence and facts that support your conclusions. Find ways to eliminate bias from your writing and thoughtfully engage with the viewpoints of your opposition. Finally, don’t panic if you find scholarly writing a bit frustrating. You can always improve your skills by working with professional essay writers online.
- Is Properly Cited
As you present evidence and examples to support your arguments, ensure that every point you take from external sources is accurately cited. This means supporting every evidence and example you call on to defend your position should be supported with clear and orderly citations, followed by an accurate corresponding reference list entry. Accurate citations lend authority to your writing and allow readers to verify your points’ credibility. Remember, your citation and the general formatting used to organize your writing will vary depending on your discipline and the assignment instructions provided by your professor.
Insightful Tips for Academic Writing
As a college student, you will be asked to write many different types of assignments, including essays, lab reports, term papers, theses, book reports, dissertations, and research reports. Each task will have specific instructions and ask you to take a different path in writing. That said, some common elements exist across all academic papers. So here are some tips for acing this type of writing:
- Read and Understand the Instructions
Understand that writing a good academic paper is impossible if you don’t understand what the task entails. Fortunately, every project comes with a set of instructions outlined in the form of a prompt. These guidelines indicate what the student is expected to achieve by the end of the project. Before you start writing any paper, make sure you clarify expectations, including the assignment length, essay question, and formatting style. Read this essaywriter review for ideas on getting a professional to write your papers for you.
- Choose Topics Wisely
Topic selection is one of the most important elements of effective academic writing. A good topic considers your readers’ interests and is narrow enough for comprehensive analysis. Before picking your topic, understand the question and perform some preliminary research. Then, choose an area that interests you, but ensure it is appropriate for the task. Also, remember to narrow down your selection to something that can be adequately covered within the scope of the work.
- Use a Strong Structure
Having a good structure is a crucial component of effective academic writing. A logical structure helps you present your ideas and enhances the readability of your text. In most instances, academic papers begin with introductory sections, where the writer offers background information and prepares readers for the following analysis. The intro also includes a thesis statement, which covers the main argument in the paper. The second part of your academic paper will often be body paragraphs, organized into sections and subsections depending on the assignment type and length. You will mostly need two-to-three body paragraphs for short essays, followed by a conclusion.
This article simplifies a few insights on how to create exceptional academic papers. Once you have created an outline, prepared your outline, and gathered your sources, you need to start working on your draft. Remember that you will need to make multiple copies before your writing is ready to be presented to your professor. This means that each college paper must be carefully edited and proofread. So, during the first draft, don’t stress so much about grammar and syntax. You can create time to edit and proofread the text thoroughly later.
