1. University College – Senior Project
University of Memphis

2.  Academic writing is a type of written expression used by
scholars to convey structured research that answers
research questions or solves academic or practical
problems. Simply describing a topic does not qualify as
academic writing.

3.  Formal tone
 Clear concise writing style
 Use of third person rather than first (usually)
 Thesis with a clear focus on the research questions
or problems under investigation
 Reason prioritized over personal experience or
perception
 Rational audience

4.  Use language appropriate for your purpose/audience.
 Avoid slang, clichés, or informal language.
◦ Instead of: The professor’s lecture was clear as mud.
◦ Use: The professor’s lecture was difficult to
understand.
◦ Instead of: Smith’s research is OK.
◦ Use: Smith’s research is significant because…

5.  Do not use contractions or abbreviations.
◦ Instead of : doesn’t, can’t, TV, quote
◦ Use: does not, cannot, television, quotation

6.  Omit unnecessary words.
 Combine short sentences.
 Do not use phrases or sentences to express a word.
 Use active voice.
 Use active verbs.
 Refer to Writing Concisely PowerPoint in this module
for more information on writing concisely.

7.  This is a convention of academic writing that gives
the writer an authoritative voice. Rather than
relying on one’s personal experience or opinion,
one conveys the knowledge gained by performing
the research. The research “speaks for itself.”

8.  Academic writing does not just describe a topic. It
has to have a point. That point is called the “thesis.”
This thesis describes what research questions you
are trying to answer or problems you are trying to
solve.

9.  For example, if you say you want to write a paper on
“childhood obesity,” there is not clear thesis for that
topic.
 If you say you want to investigate the effects of
physical activity at school on the childhood obesity
rate, then you have a thesis ( lack of school activity
has increased the obesity rate) with questions to
answer and a problem to solve.

10.  Academic writing should convey the results of your
research, regardless of how you feel about it. Your
readers should be able to tell that from your writing.
 Your personal opinions and experiences are
secondary to the what the research tells you and
your reader.

11.  In academic writing, we presume that a rational
audience is reading our research for information
and will form a rational response to that research.
 For the purposes of this course, your primary
audience is your instructor. When writing, it
sometimes helps to consider a wider audience.
Think of your “rational reader” as a college-
educated individual who is generally sophisticated,
but is not an expert in your field of research.

12. Academic writing:
 Uses a formal tone with clear concise writing;
 Is thesis driven – it has a point;
 Reason dominates over personal opinion or
perception;
 Writes for a rational sophisticated audience.

13.  http://www.library.dmu.ac.uk/Support/Heat/index.php?page=488
 http://libguides.usc.edu/content.php?pid=83009&sid=645284
 http://twp.duke.edu/uploads/media_items/academic-style-
guide.original.pdf
 http://writingspaces.org/essays/what-is-academic-writing
 Booth, W., Colomb, G., & Williams, J. (2008). The craft of
research (Third ed.). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
 Strunk, W., & White, E. (2000). Elements of style (Fourth ed.). New
York: Longman.