Academic Writing Style
Organization:
Academic texts, such as lab reports, analytical essays, or research papers are all organized differently. Follow the instructions provided by the teacher or ask for help.
Evidence-based reasoning:
Any argument must be supported by evidence. You can use facts, quotations, arguments, research, theories and statistics to support your point. Make sure that you are not biased in your choice of evidence, and that your sources are reliable. Explain the connection between the evidence you are providing and your own point.
Academic integrity:
All evidence must be backed up with full information about the source. You will be required to follow one of the writing styles, such as MLA or APA. When referring to sources, you can quote, paraphrase, summarize or synthesize them; be careful not to misrepresent the ideas of the other authors. Make sure you know what plagiarism is, and how to avoid it.
Language:
- Formal level: tone and style must be appropriate for written, not spoken, English. Try to use objective, neutral tone, and avoid slang, jargon and emotional or judgmental language.
- Clarity and precision: you should use academic vocabulary to make the meaning more precise, not to impress the reader. Use words you understand, especially when choosing synonyms.
- Correct grammar and sentence structure: revising and editing can be done at the end. Use a checklist to make sure you don’t miss any details.
Additional Resources for JAC students:
