The purpose of academic writing​

​Students should be clear why they are writing. The most common include:

1. ​to report on a piece of research the writer has conducted

2. to answer a question the writer has been given or chosen

3. to discuss a subject of common interest and give the writer's view

4. to synthesise research done by others on a topic​

CAN YOU SUGGEST ANY OTHER REASON???

• ​to inform

• to describe

• to explain

• to instruct

• to evaluate

• to recommend

• to persuade​

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​Here are some possible overall objectives for a report writer:

​​listen and note

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observe and describe​

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think and write​​

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read good prose​

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Introduction

Main body

Conclusion

Short essays (including exam answers) generally have this pattern:

Longer essays may include:

Abstract

List of contents

List of tables Introduction

Main body

Dissertations and journal articles may have:

The format of long and short writing tasks

Introduction

Main body

Literature review

Case study

Discussion​

References Conclusion

Appendices​

Literature review

Case study

Findings

Discussion

Conclusion Acknowledgements References

Appendices