What is academic writing?

Definition

Academic writing is a form of writing that allows the expert to fulfill the requirements of an
assessment that is provided by a college or a university for a particular course. To define it
broadly, it means any assignment given to the students in an academic institution. This is a form
of writing that requires more technical aspects and understanding rather than a creative bent. The
content is to be organized and structured keeping in mind the specific academic requirements.

Differences between Academic Writing and Content Writing

The points of distinctions between Academic and Content Writing are mentioned below:

Points of Academic Writing Content writing

Distinction

Promptness Academic Writing is based on Content Writing refers to an initiative

instructions given by the guide of the wherein, the organization expects the
student. content to describe the product that is
being sold by the company.

Purpose In Academic Writing, students write to
learn as well as demonstrate what they
know.
So the write up also has to convince the
assessor that they have done thorough
research from genuine sources to obtain
the materials.
Content Writing is concerned with the
digital promotion of a product or a
service. It is generally done with a view
that only the audience interested in the
product would read it and thus is to the
point and precise.
 Audience In Academic Writing, write-ups are
drafted for their instructors or university
guides.
Structure Academic Writing is based on the
requirements of the given topic, and
university instructor’s guidelines. Each
and every requirement has a different set
of structures. No changes in the expected
format would be entertained in any case.
Style and In academic writing, the style and
Language language are strictly formal. There is no
scope for the usage of first or second
person tone of language except when the
student specifically asks for reflective
writings.
Analysis and In academic writing, the writer has to
factual adhere to the sources while referring to
information the information. The writer can put in a
personal view only if that can be
substantiated with a relevant argument.
Dos and Don’ts:
While drafting academic write-ups one needs to be careful about the given topic and subject
concerned. The following account lists Dos and Don’ts about academic writing:
Dos Don’ts
Content, The audience is generally the
people who are looking to buy that
particular product.
In Content Writing, the structure is
decided based on the requirements of
the product and the marketers. Here
innovative ideas would be welcome to
make the presentation of the content
look better.
In content writing, the language can be
casual and even colloquial, if the topic
demands it.
In content writing, the writer has the
liberty to be creative, and can even
discuss his or her own views, if
required.
  One should execute the write-up
informal language. (Example: The
doctor examined the patient’s history
to establish which treatments had
formerly been implemented).
 Write in plain language and the style of
writing should be clear in the
perspective.
 An active voice should be used in the
sentences. This means the verbs to
work and the use of direct sentences is
advised. (Eg: The fire destroyed the
entire region).
 Always try to keep the sentences as
coherent as possible. The writer should
try to express his ideas in a brief and
comprehensive manner.
 Use of consistent tense: Well, in this
perspective, the present tense is the
most common regarding academic
papers.
 The sentences should be devoid of any
misplaced or dangling modifiers
because they can confuse the readers.
Example:
Correct: wearing a puma sweatshirt,
Michael ate a cookie
Incorrect: Michael ate a cookie wearing
a puma sweatshirt.
 Be meticulous regarding grammar,
spelling, and punctuation.
Gradation criteria what is academic writing?
Definition
 Do not input jargon, slang, and wacky languages or for
that matter sexist language.
 Usage of a shortened verb form is a strict no-no. Example:
Correct: I am an early riser. Incorrect: I’m an early
riser.
 One should not use a common vocabulary, the likes of, the
other thing, have got, etc.
 Do not use first or second person tone of language ever in
an academic assignment. Exceptions are in the case of
reflective writings, where the writer is expected to
incorporate his views.
 Avoid being repetitive and waffling. Try to write as
precisely as possible. The flow of content should be
smooth.
 One should avoid making assumptions and
recommendations of your own unless mentioned in the
academic work.
 Do not mix numbers and words in an unsystematic manner
which ruins the flow of writing.
 Finally, there should not be an iota of plagiarism in the
entire write-up.
 Do not exaggerate the same idea in the paper.
 Do not provide generalized content. For example, if you
are asked to perform a SWOT analysis on TESCO, then
you are not expected to explain what a SWOT means?
You can directly start performing a swot analysis on the
said company with the assumption that the reader already
knows what a SWOT is?
Academic writing is a form of writing that allows the expert to fulfill the requirements of an
assessment that is provided by a college or a university for a particular course. To define it
broadly, it means any assignment given to the students in an academic institution. This is a form
of writing that requires more technical aspects and understanding rather than a creative bent. The
content is to be organized and structured keeping in mind the specific academic requirements.

Differences between Academic Writing and Content Writing

The points of distinctions between Academic and Content Writing are mentioned below:

Points of Academic Writing Content writing

Distinction

Promptness Academic Writing is based on Content Writing refers to an initiative

instructions given by the guide of the wherein, the organization expects the
student. content to describe the product that is
being sold by the company.

Purpose In Academic Writing, students write to
learn as well as demonstrate what they
know.
So the write up also has to convince the
assessor that they have done thorough
research from genuine sources to obtain
the materials.
Content Writing is concerned with the
digital promotion of a product or a
service. It is generally done with a view
that only the audience interested in the
product would read it and thus is to the
point and precise.

Audience In Academic Writing, write-ups are Content, The audience is generally the
drafted for their instructors or university people who are looking to buy that
guides. particular product.
 Structure Academic Writing is based on the
requirements of the given topic, and
university instructor’s guidelines. Each
and every requirement has a different set
of structures. No changes in the expected
format would be entertained in any case.
In Content Writing, the structure is
decided based on the requirements of
the product and the marketers. Here
innovative ideas would be welcome to
make the presentation of the content
look better.

Style and In academic writing, the style and In content writing, the language can be
Language language are strictly formal. There is no casual and even colloquial, if the topic
scope for the usage of first or second demands it.
person tone of language except when the
student specifically asks for reflective
writings.

Analysis and In academic writing, the writer has to
factual adhere to the sources while referring to
information the information. The writer can put in a
personal view only if that can be
substantiated with a relevant argument.
In content writing, the writer has the
liberty to be creative, and can even
discuss his or her own views, if
required.

Dos and Don’ts:

While drafting academic write-ups one needs to be careful about the given topic and subject
concerned. The following account lists Dos and Don’ts about academic writing:

Dos Don’ts

 One should execute the write-up
informal language. (Example: The
doctor examined the patient’s history
to establish which treatments had
formerly been implemented).
 Do not input jargon, slang, and wacky languages or for
that matter sexist language.
 Usage of a shortened verb form is a strict no-no. Example:
  Write in plain language and the style of
writing should be clear in the
perspective.
 An active voice should be used in the
sentences. This means the verbs to
work and the use of direct sentences is
advised. (Eg: The fire destroyed the
entire region).
 Always try to keep the sentences as
coherent as possible. The writer should
try to express his ideas in a brief and
comprehensive manner.
 Use of consistent tense: Well, in this
perspective, the present tense is the
most common regarding academic
papers.
 The sentences should be devoid of any
misplaced or dangling modifiers
because they can confuse the readers.
Example:
Correct: wearing a puma sweatshirt,
Michael ate a cookie
Incorrect: Michael ate a cookie wearing
a puma sweatshirt.
 Be meticulous regarding grammar,
spelling, and punctuation.
Grading criteria
The academic writing calls for stringent criteria for gradation which is listed below. Here,
qualifiers mean the parameters which form the essential part of the graduation criteria without
which the paper would fail to get any grade from the assessor.
a Content Relevance
Correct: I am an early riser. Incorrect: I’m an early
riser.
 One should not use a common vocabulary, the likes of, the
other thing, have got, etc.
 Do not use first or second person tone of language ever in
an academic assignment. Exceptions are in the case of
reflective writings, where the writer is expected to
incorporate his views.
 Avoid being repetitive and waffling. Try to write as
precisely as possible. The flow of content should be
smooth.
 One should avoid making assumptions and
recommendations of your own unless mentioned in the
academic work.
 Do not mix numbers and words in an unsystematic manner
which ruins the flow of writing.
 Finally, there should not be an iota of plagiarism in the
entire write-up.
 Do not exaggerate the same idea in the paper.
 Do not provide generalized content. For example, if you
are asked to perform a SWOT analysis on TESCO, then
you are not expected to explain what a SWOT means?
You can directly start performing a swot analysis on the
said company with the assumption that the reader already
knows what a SWOT is?
Use of Source Material Accuracy and Language
Excellent We would consider a The sources are thoroughly Very fewer language flaws,
write-up excellent incorporated, along with an clear and concise
should the topic be appropriate citation. The conforming to the desired
well supported with sources used are scholarly standards.
arguments and the articles or books.
wide scope of critical
analysis.

Very Good Appears focused Relatively good inclusion No specific issues in terms
relating to the task and of references with lesser of appropriate usage of
thorough coverage inconsistencies or faults in language and maintaining of
with minor aspects citation and bibliography. main criteria of the
missing. assignment.

Satisfactory Different aspects are Several types of errors Various problems relating to
missing in terms of including, limited the following of appropriate
task and the topic is bibliography, clumsy style and grammatical
given; representation of basic errors.
ideas and references to
source material
inappropriate.

Poor Difficulty in dealing Issues in terms of Total inappropriate style of

with the topic clearly paraphrasing and possible writing and consistent
and write-up being plagiarism. Inability to grammatical errors thereby
unfocused and too incorporate source material making the entire article
precise, lacking etc. incomprehensible.
critical analysis and
arguments.