Tips for Academic Writing

This document outlines a comprehensive list of common issues observed in student academic writing, categorized into two main sections: form and content. The guidelines have been adapted from a list developed by James Bednar, a literature professor in England.

FORM

Document Appearance: It’s important to ensure that your document has a professional look.
- Readable Fonts: Use clear, readable fonts and maintain reasonable margins, adhering to formats typically used for similar documents.
- Spacing: Papers must be double-spaced.
- Header Information: Include your name, course name, and date in the upper-left hand corner, even for online submissions.
- Page Numbers: Page numbers are critical and should be included in your document.
- Text Justification: Do not double justify your text—keep alignment on the left side only. Professional publications utilize sophisticated programs for formatting, and most word processors, like Microsoft Word, do not function well for this purpose.
Spelling: Proper spelling is essential as errors can detract from the perceived seriousness of your work. Special attention should be paid to names and titles to ensure they are spelled correctly.
Referring to Authors: Always refer to authors by their last names rather than their first names to maintain a formal tone in your writing. For instance, you may say, "Shelley writes that Victor was lost," where Shelley refers to Mary Shelley, the author, and Victor is a character from the novel.

CONTENT

Five-Paragraph Style: Strongly discourage usage of the five-paragraph essay format.
- Understand that while this format may serve well as a learning tool, it isn’t suitable for writing sophisticated essays.
Formal Writing vs. Conversational Writing: Distinguish between formal writing and spoken conversation.
- In conversation, clarifications can be easily made, but formal writing must convey meaning comprehensively through well-constructed sentences and arguments relevant to a clearly defined thesis.
- Strive for being clear in your writing; the best formal writing may be challenging to create but should be easy to read. The effort invested into writing pays off for readers, freeing them from difficulties in comprehension.
Thesis Clarity: Ensure the main thesis of your paper is apparent from the introduction through to the conclusion.
- The thesis should distill into a single coherent point, even if it suggests a conjunction or contrast between two items. In shorter essays, this usually appears at the end of the introduction, while longer essays may include it at the conclusion of the introductory section.
- Provide reminders of your thesis throughout the work to maintain clarity.
Writing Recipe: Utilize the following format when writing:
- Introduce: Make the topic clear.
- Expand/Justify: Elaborate on the topic.
- Conclude: Summarize and tie back to the main topic.
- Every section should consist of a statement of intent, relevant material, and cohesive narratives that contribute to establishing your point.
Staying on Topic: Ensure your content is all related to your main thesis.
- Focus on what your reader seeks to learn about the main subject matter, without digressing into irrelevant topics or mentioning things you cannot substantiate.
Importance of Transitions: Strive for smooth transitions between sentences and paragraphs.
- Each sentence should logically follow from the previous, and each paragraph should transition easily from one to the next to guide the reader smoothly through your paper.
- Effective transitions prevent readers from backtracking, which can disrupt their flow and comprehension of your points.
- It’s a sign of poor transitions if reordering paragraphs doesn't necessitate significant rewriting. Aim for clear links within your narrative.
- Include transition phrases, such as "However, …", "As a result, …", or "For comparison, …" when switching topics to maintain coherence.
- If frequent transitions are needed at the sentence level, consider revising the overall organization to keep related ideas together, only switching topics as necessary. Frequent rereading and refining are essential to achieving smooth transitions throughout your text.