Structure

of
Academic
Text
Made by: Joshua Belulia
Groupmates: Cepe, Coral
Why do we need to know this?
• Structure is an important feature of
academic writing.
• A well-structured text enables the
reader to follow the argument and
navigate the text.
• In academic writing a clear structure
and a logical flow are imperative to a
cohesive text.
• Furthermore, in many university
assignments the correct use of
structure is part of the final
assessment.
What
makes a
structure?
Title Page

Provides information instantly to the reader regarding A good title is supposed to generate
the title, author and type of work. It is also to provide
information concerning your study program and the interest and, at the same time, describe
higher education institution you are attending. what the paper is about.
Abstract or summary
An abstract or summary provides a brief account of the main
content of an academic paper. The purpose of the summary is
partly to generate interest, and partly to present the main issue and
key results. Most importantly, the summary is to capture what the
paper is about. Shorter papers usually do not require a summary.

The summary is best written when you have almost completed your project.
Only then will you know what you have actually written. A good idea is to
work on a draft summary alongside your paper, and revise it as you go
along. The summary is a difficult text to write, as it is to cover a lot of
content in a small space. But, that is also why it is a useful text to work on –
it forces you to formulate what your project is about.
Table of contents

Gives the reader an idea of Most word-processing

May be what the text is about at an
early stage. This is done by
programs offer templates for
tables of contents, which the
required in formulating headings and
subheadings that briefly
program will subsequently
create for you. By using these,
longer texts. explain the content of each
chapter.
you ensure that the table is
correct and looks good.
Introduction
An introduction is necessary in
order to engage the reader and
acquaint them with the subject, as
a soft-start and orientation.
You can also provide a background
to the topic and an overview of
relevant published research in order
to place the topic in a wider context.
The aim of the academic paper
is usually included in the
introduction, but sometimes,
especially in more lengthy texts,
the aim has its own subheading.
The introduction is
intended to lead to the
research issue of the
paper.
Theory

In an academic paper, it is important to present the theoretical framework

and central concepts in the subject area you have chosen for your paper.
Sometimes this is done in a separate chapter; other times it is included in the
introduction or in the method chapter.

When presenting the theoretical framework you have applied, it is

important that you, with reference to your aim, justify why the
particular theories you selected are relevant.
Method

Describing your method is an important part of your paper, as this is where much
of your credibility is established. In the method chapter, you are to account for
what you have done, and explain why. You are also to describe how you
collected your material and how you will analyze it, as well as any delimitations
you have made.

The first thing to consider when writing the method chapter is whether the method you have
chosen reflects the aim of your text. You must therefore explain your choice of method, and
how you will apply it to address and answer your research issue or research question. You
are also to describe how the choices you made have affected the validity and reliability of
the study.
Results, Analysis, and Discussion
• One of the most central parts of an academic paper is the reporting of
results and subsequent discussion. This is where you present and
analyze your empirical material, that is, your results. This could
involve analyzing your results in relation to previous research or
reflecting on how well they relate to your theoretical framework.

• In the results section, you are to present, communicate, account for,

organize and categorize.

• In the analysis section, you are to interpret, compare, explain and

contrast, on the basis of the theories you have chosen.

• In the discussion section, you are to summarize, generalize, justify,

question, take a position and look to the future.
Closure – Conclusion or Summary

There are different Some papers require In some cases, the The research issue
ways of ending an concrete conclusions, summary and and research
academic paper while in others it is conclusions are part questions determine
more appropriate to of the discussion the appropriate way
and these endings
end with a summary. chapter. to end the paper.
may vary in length.
 Your
conclusion/s
ummary is to
be followed
by a list of
references.

List of
references
y ou Ma
t
d tha st of – ke
e ur li mes
n t h e s ur e
m sys cho that
e com d yo ral ti asily t e m s en y o
r ea v e e
con refe u ap
We roofr es se rs are sis ren ply
p e n c r r o ed . t en ce
er e ss
ref inor mi tly
.
m
 If your paper includes appendices,
they are to be placed at the very end
of your paper.

Appendices
If you have conducted a survey or
interviews, the questionnaire and
interview guide are to be included as
appendices. 
Common Structures
Thesis

Problem-and-Solution

Factual - Report

Three-Part Essay

IMRaD
Thesis Structure
Is what the writer presents
first by laying down their
Basic pattern in writing.
primary argument about an
important subject.

Composed of the Reasons and supporting

introduction, body, and details are presented as
conclusion. proof.
Problem-and-Solution Structure

Can be presented in different

ways, most commonly listing
Presents the overall solution Consists of an introduction,
the solution first before the
as the main argument. body, and conclusion.
problem or outing several
concerns before solving it.
Factual – Report Structure

Has no presented
Discusses a subject Includes facts and
problem or
objectively. figures.
argument.

Examples include Consists of an

newspaper reports introduction, body,
and research reports. and conclusion.
 The three-part
The introduction
essay structure is a
and the conclusion
basic structure that
should be shorter
consists of
than the body of the
introduction, body
text.
and conclusion.

Three-Part Essay
For shorter essays,
one or two For longer texts or
paragraphs for each theses, they may be
of these sections several pages long.
can be appropriate.
IMRaD

Acronym for
The acronym itself
“Introduction – Most commonly used
states the parts it
Method – Results – for scientific papers.
consists of.
and – Discussion”.
Glossary of Terms
• Introduction – places a topic in context
• Body – main section of text, should be the longest
• Conclusion – summarizes the given points
• Paragraph – group of sentences with a single idea, consists
of a topic sentence, supporting details and concluding
sentences.
• Topic sentence – first sentence in paragraph, conveys main
point of paragraph
• Thesis statement – short statement that summarizes the
claim of an essay
References
• Linnaeus University. The Structure of Academic Texts. [online] Available at:
https://lnu.se/en/library/Writing-and-referencing/the-structure-of-academic-texts/
[Accessed 29 June 2019]
• English for Academic and Professional Purposes. Module 4 - 6. [online] Available
through: AMA Education System website https://blended.amauonline.com [Accessed 29
June 2019]
• Writing Guide. [online] Available at:
http://writingguide.se/writing/the-structure-of-the-academic-text/ [Accessed 30 June
2019]
That’s all. See you next time.