Features of Academic Writing

Summary

In this Educatune lesson with Teacher Aya, viewers are introduced to the key characteristics of academic writing, emphasizing its formal and objective nature. The video outlines the types of documents that typically require this style and contrasts informal language with its formal equivalents. It also highlights the importance of avoiding colloquialisms, idiomatic expressions, and contractions for a more scholarly tone. Additionally, the lesson underscores the necessity of maintaining objectivity by basing arguments on facts and evidence, steering clear of personal pronouns and emotive language to ensure an unbiased presentation of information.

Takeaways

• 📘 Academic writing is a formal style used to present information clearly on a specific subject.
• 📚 Common documents that use academic writing include books, research papers, journals, conference papers, abstracts, theses, and news articles.
• 📝 It is crucial to use formal and objective language to maintain the tone of academic writing, avoiding casual or conversational expressions.
• 🚫 Avoid colloquial slang, idiomatic expressions, and contractions in favor of expanded forms for a more formal tone.
• 🔍 Examples of colloquial language are provided, with their formal equivalents, to illustrate the transition to a more academic tone.
• 🤔 Some colloquial language may be difficult to understand, leading to misinterpretation, so it's important to find formal alternatives.
• 📉 Objectivity is key in academic writing, which is based on facts and evidence without being influenced by personal emotions.
• 🙅‍♂️ Personal statements, judgments, and emotional language should be avoided to maintain an unbiased writing style.
• 🔬 In research reports, avoid personal pronouns like 'I', 'you', and 'we', and use the passive voice to present information objectively.
• 📈 Use facts and evidence to support points, rather than relying on emotional language, to strengthen the argument in academic writing.
• 📝 Practice rewriting sentences to use formal and objective language, as demonstrated in the lesson with examples provided.

Q & A

What is the primary purpose of academic writing?

The primary purpose of academic writing is to present information in a clear and formal manner to display a deep understanding of a particular subject.

What types of documents commonly use academic writing?

Academic writing is commonly used in documents such as books, research papers, journals, conference papers, abstracts, theses, and news articles.

Why is it important to maintain formality in academic writing?

Maintaining formality in academic writing is important to ensure that the tone does not sound casual or conversational, which helps in presenting the information in a serious and credible manner.

How can colloquial slang or idiomatic expressions affect academic writing?

Colloquial slang or idiomatic expressions can make academic writing seem less formal and may lead to misinterpretation, as they are not universally understood.

What is the difference between using contracted and expanded forms in academic writing?

Contracted forms combine two words into one with an apostrophe, while expanded forms spell out the words fully. Academic writing prefers expanded forms for their formality.

Why should personal pronouns like 'I', 'you', and 'we' be avoided in academic writing?

Personal pronouns should be avoided in academic writing to maintain an objective and unbiased tone, which is essential for credibility and persuasiveness.

What is the role of objectivity in academic writing?

Objectivity in academic writing ensures that the writing is based on facts and evidence rather than personal emotions or biases, thus enhancing the credibility of the work.

How can the use of the passive voice help in avoiding personal pronouns in academic writing?

The passive voice can help in avoiding personal pronouns by focusing on the action or subject rather than the person performing the action, thus maintaining an objective stance.

What is the significance of using facts and evidence in academic writing?

Facts and evidence are crucial in academic writing as they provide a solid foundation for arguments and help in proving points, thereby increasing the persuasiveness of the writing.

How can emotional language impact the objectivity of academic writing?

Emotional language can introduce biases and subjectivity into academic writing, which can undermine the objectivity and credibility of the work.

What are some strategies for rewriting sentences to be more formal and objective in academic writing?

Strategies include using expanded forms instead of contractions, avoiding personal pronouns and emotive language, and incorporating facts and evidence to support statements.