DEFINE ACADEMIC WRITING

Academic Writing is defined as a form of writing which constructs the roles and relationships
which create academics and students and which sustain the universities, the disciplines and the
creation of knowledge” p. 1). Academic writing (Hyland, 2009,) Writing that
allows you to take on a particular role that others in an academic context recognise.
(Sakai.ug.edu.gh)

Academic writing is generally quite formal, objective

(impersonal) and technical. It is formal by avoiding casual or conversational
language, such as contractions or informal vocabulary. It is impersonal and
objective by avoiding direct reference to people or feelings, and instead
emphasising objects, facts and ideas. It is technical by using vocabulary
specific to the discipline. (Sydney.edu.au)

Academic writing is a formal style of writing used in universities and scholarly

publications. You’ll encounter it in journal articles and books on academic topics, and you’ll
be expected to write your essays, research papers, and dissertation in academic style.
(Scribbr.com)
Academic writing follows the same writing process as other types of texts, but it has specific
conventions in terms of content, structure and style. (Scribbr.com)

WHAT MAKES ACADEMIC WRITING DIFFERENT FROM OTHER FORMS OF WRITING

Formality

Academic writing should use formal language that minimizes the use of contractions and
colloquialisms and avoids slang terminology whenever possible. Casual language should only be used
for emphasis. (Scribendi.com)
Additionally, Academic writing generally does not employ first person pronouns like "I" or
"we," but different styles of writing do offer varying degrees of flexibility when it comes to the use of
language, with a diverse range of informal elements sanctioned among different styles of writing.
(Scribendi.com)
Style and Structure
Style guides like the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA)
and the Chicago Manual of Style are quintessential resources for scholars engaging in academic
writing, with different style guides used for different fields of academia. These style guides
standardize how references should be presented and how a document should be formatted,
considering things like the margins, headings, typeface, and a myriad of other elements; some guides
even prescribe the kind of language to be used for various circumstances encountered most frequently
within the field. (Scribendi.com)
All forms of academic writing will employ a structure that should allow the information presented to
flow logically from one section to the next, regardless of the segments or formatting details used
according to different styles of writing. For example, a scientific research article will typically include
sections for the abstract, introduction, methods, analysis, results, and conclusions, whereas a paper
written for the humanities will use a drastically different framework that can vary between artistic
disciplines. (Scribendi.com)
Objectivity and Tone
Academic writing must display objectivity. It's often best that academic writing avoids rhetorical
tactics, like sweeping generalizations and emotional arguments, as this will ensure the highest degree
of objectivity expected from academic writing. (Scribendi.com)

REFERENCES
Definitions of Academic writing
www.sakai.ug.edu.gh , UGRC 110 slide 1, 12th February 2023, 17:20pm

Academic Writing(Hyland 2009) p.1

www.Sydney.edu.au , 12th February 2023,17:25pm

www.scribbr.com , 12th February 2023, 17:28pm

Differences in academic writing

www.scribendi.com , 12th February 2023 17 :30pm