Types of academic writing styles

Persuasive Writing Persuasive writing is used to argue a point of view or persuade the reader to accept a specific stance or conclusion. Exampl Example: An argumentative essay advocating for the implementation of renewable energy policies. Critical Writing Critical writing combines elements of both analysis and persuasion. Example: Critique a scientific theory by presenting evidence against it or proposing an alternative explanation.

Research Papers Research papers present the findings of original research conducted by the author. The purpose of a research paper is to contribute new knowledge to a specific field. Example: An empirical study examining the effects of a new drug on cancer treatment. Expository Writing Expository writing explains or informs the reader about a particular topic clearly and logically.

Example: A step-by-step guide explaining the procedure for conducting a chemical experiment. Reflective Writing Reflective writing is more personal and allows the writer to reflect on their experiences, thoughts, and emotions related to a specific academic task or process. It is often used in reflective essays and learning journals. Example: Reflecting on the challenges faced during a research project or coursework.

Report Writing Reports are structured pieces of writing used to present information clearly and concisely, often based on research or investigation. Reports are commonly used in the sciences, engineering, business, and other technical fields. Example: A lab report detailing the findings of an experiment conducted in a chemistry lab.

Literature Reviews Literature reviews in research summarize and synthesize existing research on a specific topic. Example: A PhD dissertation examining the role of artificial intelligence in modern medicine. Case Studies Case studies provide a detailed examination and analysis of a particular case or instance. Example: A case study analyzing the impact of a corporate merger on employee morale.

Conference Papers Conference papers are research papers or presentations given at academic conferences. They allow scholars to present their research findings to their peers and receive feedback. Example: A conference paper presented at an education summit discussing innovative teaching strategies. Copyright by Learning Development, University of Plymouth.

Types of academic writing styles

Ellis, M. McMillan, K. Pearson Education Limited. The Study Skills Book. Scribbr n. Surbhi, S. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Essay Essay writing is one of the most common forms of an assessment Burns and Sinfield, A traditional essay has three basic components: -Introduction: What is the essay going to be about?

Creme and Lea, ; McMillan and Weyers, 2. Report Report writing is commonly used within academia. A report generally has three main functions: - To explain why something was done - To describe how it was done - To summarise and conclude the outcome of a particular action, or set of actions Creme and Lea, The content and structure of your report will be determined by the assessment brief and module learning outcomes, which will identify a set of instructions and requirements for your research process Reid, The structure of a report follows: - Executive summary: A summary of the findings in your report to allow the reader to have an idea of what to expect.

Ellis, The differences between reports and essays It is important that you are able to distinguish the difference between an essay and a report, as you need to understand why you may need to write one and not the other. Descriptive Writing: Think of descriptions as the backbone of all academic assignments. Analytical Writing: The main purpose of analysing is to compare and contrast.

Reflective Writing: Reflection is a tool that encourages you to draw on prior experiences to improve your future performance. How to choose the correct writing style All academic writing styles serve a fundamental purpose, and must be used correctly according to assignment requirements. References: Burns, T. Reid, M. For example, advantages and disadvantages.

Persuasive In most academic writing, you are required to go at least one step further than analytical writing, to persuasive writing. To help reach your own point of view on the facts or ideas: read some other researchers' points of view on the topic. Who do you feel is the most convincing? Where is the evidence strongest? What are the real-life implications of each one?

Which ones are likely to be most useful or beneficial? Which ones have some problems? Do you agree with their point of view? To develop your argument: list the different reasons for your point of view think about the different types and sources of evidence which you can use to support your point of view consider different ways that your point of view is similar to, and different from, the points of view of other researchers look for various ways to break your point of view into parts.

For example, cost effectiveness, environmental sustainability, scope of real-world application. To present your argument, make sure: your text develops a coherent argument where all the individual claims work together to support your overall point of view your reasoning for each claim is clear to the reader your assumptions are valid you have evidence for every claim you make you use evidence that is convincing and directly relevant.

Critical Critical writing is common for research, postgraduate and advanced undergraduate writing. You need to: accurately summarise all or part of the work. This could include identifying the main interpretations, assumptions or methodology. Resources This material was developed by the Learning Hub Academic Language and Learning , which offers workshops, face-to-face consultations and resources to support your learning.

See our Writing skills handouts. Related links Learning Hub. Research skills for HDR students. Reading and note taking. Introduction to academic writing style Academic writing uses a very different style to other types of writing, which might need a bit of getting used to. The main aim is to be clear, concise and usually objective so that you can communicate your ideas effectively.

Compare these two sentences - they contain the same information, but the better style example is much shorter, simpler and easier to understand. Poor style: The primary ambition of expressing concepts in an academic fashion is to provide assistance for the audience of the piece in comprehending the information being conveyed in an expeditious and accessible manner.

Better style: Effective academic writing helps readers understand your points quickly and easily. Instead of being formal, academic writing uses neutral words and avoids informal, conversational or colloquial language. For example, 'many factors' is more academic than 'loads of things'. Also avoid personal language - you're not the focus of the work unless it's a reflective assignment.