Questions and Answers
What is the primary goal of academic writing?
Informal writing follows a strict structure and uses formal language.
False
What are the three main sections of an academic text?
Introduction, Body, Conclusion
In academic writing, evidence-based arguments require ______ to support opinions.
Signup and view all the answers
Match the following components of academic writing with their descriptions:
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is a characteristic of formal writing?
Signup and view all the answers
A thesis statement is an idea that summarizes the whole paper.
Signup and view all the answers
Identify one purpose of reading academic texts.
Signup and view all the answers
What does a thesis statement do in an academic text?
Signup and view all the answers
A topic sentence can often be found at the beginning, middle, or end of a paragraph.
Signup and view all the answers
What is the typical word count range for a research abstract?
Signup and view all the answers
The section of a research paper where materials the author cited are listed is called the ________.
Signup and view all the answers
Match the components of a research paper with their descriptions:
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is NOT a strategy for locating a thesis statement?
Signup and view all the answers
Hedging or cautious language is avoided in objective writing.
Signup and view all the answers
What is a critical aspect to consider when writing a summary or precis?
Signup and view all the answers
What percentage of a writing piece typically comprises the major findings section?
Signup and view all the answers
In a precis, it is acceptable to paraphrase the original text.
Signup and view all the answers
What should be included in the first sentence of a precis?
Signup and view all the answers
One should refrain from adding __________ comments when writing a precis.
Signup and view all the answers
Match the following steps with their purpose in writing a precis:
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Formal vs Informal Writing
- Formal writing follows a structured format, while informal writing allows for flexibility.
- Formal language is used in academic contexts; informal may include slang and personal style.
- Academic texts are specialized, authored by professionals for scholarly audiences, and include formal jargon and valid references.
- Goals of academic writing include informing without bias and avoiding plagiarism.
Nature and Characteristics of Academic Writing
- Structure is formal, logical (I.B.C.), cohesive, and has an organized flow.
- Tone conveys appropriate attitudes, is fairly presented, and utilizes a narrative style.
- Language in academic texts is unambiguous, clear, formal, and typically written in third-person perspective.
- Evidence-based arguments are crucial, requiring that opinions be backed by other studies, with a driving thesis statement.
Reading Goals
- Understand existing data and enhance comprehension.
- Ideas support assignments, identify gaps in research, and connect new thoughts with existing literature.
Structure of Academic Texts
- Introduction outlines topic and purpose, orienting the reader with a thesis statement.
- Body consists of several paragraphs providing detailed information, examples like statistics and graphs, and evidence analysis.
- Conclusion restates the thesis, summarizes main points, and offers final insights or recommendations.
- IMRaD structure includes Title, Author, Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion/Conclusion, and References for clarity and organization.
Content and Style
- Academic writing adopts an objective viewpoint to avoid personal biases.
- Raises critical questions, provides credible facts and evidence.
- Utilizes precise wording for clarity and avoids colloquial expressions.
Locating Main Ideas
- A thesis statement articulates the main idea and guides the content of the writing.
- Strategies for finding the thesis include evaluating the site for purpose, reading early paragraphs, or examining conclusions.
- Topic sentences summarize the main idea of paragraphs and can be found at various points in the text.
Summary, Precis, and Research Abstracts
- Summaries condense larger works into key ideas without personal commentary.
- Research abstracts are 150-300 words long, don't include citations or specific results, and are structured with distinct sections (Rationale, Problems, Methodology, Findings, Conclusion).
- Writing effective summaries involves multiple readings, highlighting key ideas, and synthesizing without copying.
Writing an Effective Summary
- Read the text multiple times to grasp key concepts.
- Highlight and annotate significant phrases.
- Include the author's name and title at the beginning of the summary, followed by the main ideas using original wording.
- Avoid personal comments, synthesize ideas, and revise drafts for consistency with the original text.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
This quiz explores the differences between formal and informal writing styles. It covers aspects such as structure, language use, and the target audience for academic texts. Ideal for students looking to enhance their writing skills.