Academic writing

Question 1

Difference between academic and non-academic writing

Answer 1

AW:
- Style is formal + impersonal
- Structure can be rigid
- Based on evidence
- Citations and references used
Non AW:
- Style is personal + subjective
- no rigid structure
- Based on opinion and subjective views
- No citations or references

Question 2

Academic register

Answer 2

Characteristics of language that make it ‘academic’

Question 3

3 characteristic of descriptive writing

Answer 3

• Gives an overview of a particular topic
• Explains a theory
• States the 3 W’s (who, what, where) but not the ‘why’, ‘how’, or ‘so what’.

Question 4

3 purpose of descriptive writing:

Answer 4

• Informative: provides factual detail
• To provide context
• E.g. newspapers, summaries, popular journalism

Question 5

3 characteristics of analytical writing:

Answer 5

• Unpacks the significance of evidence
• Evaluates strengths and weakness of ideas
• Answers ‘why’, ‘how’, and ‘so what’

Question 6

3 purpose of analytical writing

Answer 6

• To uncover the deeper meaning of ideas
• Assesses the strengths and weakness of a particular issue
• E.g., Academic essays, scholarly articles and literature reviews

Question 7

Descriptive writing vs Critical analytical writing

Answer 7

• States what happened
• States opinion
• List details
• Gives information
• Identifies the significance
• Gives reasons for selecting each option
• Evaluates the links between pieces of information
• Draws a conclusions

Question 8

3 structure

Answer 8

• Introduction
• Main body
• Conclusion

Question 9

Introduction

Answer 9

• Grabs reader’s attention
• Gives context
• Contains thesis statement

Question 10

Purpose of an introduction

Answer 10

• Provide clear idea of what the essay will cover
• Provide background information + clearly outline answer
• Supporting argument are stated in introduction

Question 11

Introduction structure

Answer 11

• Hook
• Context
• General background, context, definitions for key terms
• Thesis statement

Question 12

Hook

Answer 12

• Definition
• Famous quote
• Strong statement

Question 13

General background, context, definitions for key terms

Answer 13

• Information the reader needs to understand
• Limit information to contextual information only

Question 14

Thesis statement

Answer 14

• Is a statement of belief
• Complete sentence
• Not a question

Question 15

Main body

Answer 15

• Builds argument
• Offers evidence and support
• Puts groups of ideas in a sequence

Question 16

Main body structure (TEEL)

Answer 16

• Topic sentence
• explanation
• Evidence
• Link back

Question 17

2 purpose of main body

Answer 17

• Each body paragraph should contain one key idea, supported by evidence (i.e. academic books).
• Each body of paragraph form the building blocks of the argument

Question 18

Conclusion

Answer 18

• Restates thesis
• Summaries main points

Question 19

2 purpose of a conclusion

Answer 19

• Make a prediction about what will happen
• Reflect on the broader significance of the topic