Here at topcorrect, we’re going to help you out with your academic writing.
You could have all the knowledge in the world, but if you don’t present your argument in a clear and logical way, your academic writing will fall flat. If you want your academic writing to make the impact it deserves, here at topcorrect, we have generously compiled some tips to help improve your academic writing style.
Structure
The structure of your academic writing will make or break your argument. This is why it is vital that you write a comprehensive plan, before even thinking about writing your essay. The structure of the argument will be dictated by two factors:
- The assignment title
- How you are going to address the title, based on how you have introduced it
The points you are going to address will be grouped in categories. Once you’ve grouped all of your points of discussion into categories, you can strategically organise the structure to develop and build your reasoning.
If your essay is full of spelling and grammatical mistakes, your argument is not going to give a good first impression. It is all about legibility when it comes to academic writing. If your reader has to make an effort to understand your essay, it could hinder your argument. To avoid the most common grammatical errors, check out this infographic.
If you don’t feel at ease with spelling and grammar, give it to a colleague or classmate to proofread. You could even enlist the services of topcorrect to help you out with your academic writing. Spelling and grammar issues are easily avoided, especially if you get the right people to help you out. What’s more is that it will improve your writing tenfold.
Referencing
If you want to avoid plagiarism, correct referencing is essential for any academic writing. Every time you introduce or go back to a theory or work by another academic, or even your previous work, you must cite it.
There are several different ways you can reference and it will depend on your tutor’s or your preference. The most popular system is the Havard Referencing System. After the direct or indirect quote, you put the author’s surname, a colon and date of publication in brackets eg. (Jones:2000). Readers can refer to the bibliography for the full details of the work such as name of publication, full name of the author and method of publication for more information.
Regardless of which referencing system you choose, you must be consistent. Pick one referencing system and use it throughout your essay or thesis.
Language
Academic language needs to be precise, so be economic with your wording, avoid vague expressions and stay on point. Ensure a clinical tone is maintained throughout the thesis. Academic writing maintains a formal tone, so avoid colloquialisms and contractions such as won’t, don’t, can’t etc.
Remember to summarise introduced theories and addressed points throughout your essay. This will reinforce your argument, condense your writing and keep it concise. Use of appropriate academic language will help the readability and strength of your argument. This means you will keep on point and the use of precise language will aid your reader.
Academic writing is no walk in the park. But with the above tips to improve your academic writing, you can improve your academic writing to present your argument in a slick, efficient and effective style. Be prepared to wow your tutors, readers and academics alike!
