“Success is not final; failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” -Winston Churchill
Academic writing is not the same as other forms of writing. You may be a gifted with words but when it comes to academic writing, there are certain guidelines that you must follow. Don’t worry. It is not as scary as it sounds. You need to remember three simple things that will guide you to write your essay or paper well. The process of writing is pretty much the same as other forms of writing. The only difference is of the way these words are structured and, of course, the content.
A few things to remember while engaging in the process of academic writing are:
- Keep it formal
- Keep it precise and to the point
- Before you begin, research on the topic
- Keep it unbiased
- Stay true to facts
- Back up your work with genuine and strong sources
It is important to differentiate between academic writing and other forms of writing. Keep away from an emotive form of writing and a flowery, grandiose language. Remember, while engaging in academic writing, the focus must be on the authenticity and preciseness of the content. Keep away from ambiguous words like “perhaps”, and vague phrases like “a lot” or “a long time”.
Referencing, both in-text and reference lists, are essential to showcase the authenticity of your content. Make sure your sources are credible and authentic before picking up from them. Develop the habit of re-reading your work after you have written it. Create a checklist for yourself including all the dos and don’ts of academic writing and try to score as high on it as you can. It will help you get a feedback of your work and ensure that you are submitting a top quality assignment.
All the best!