Academic Writing

How to improve your academic writing
In a recent survey, academic staff at the University identified the interrelated skills of

writing

and reasoning as the two most important skills for

success

in higher education; when asked which skills students most often lacked, writing was again at the top of their list.

What is the purpose of this booklet?
Although the nature ofuniversitylevel study has changed in recent years, not least because of technology, one element has remained constant, guaranteeing success to students with a mastery of it: writing.
In a recent survey, academic staff at the University identified the interrelated skills of essay-writing and reasoning as the two most important skills for success in higher education; when asked which skills students mostoften lacked, essay-writing was again at the top of their list. Needless to say, writing ability is also highly prized by employers. The purpose of this booklet is to provide a reference guide to some of the most common mistakes in academic writing and to heighten your appreciation of the logic and beauty of language, a good command of which will help you to think more clearly and deeply, and have apositive impact on every aspect of your academic work, not just assignments. The examples that feature in this booklet are adapted from an analysis of first-year academic work, covering all faculties. The analysis found that most students are making the same mistakes. The good news is that these mistakes can be easily corrected by learning some simple rules, and it is never too late to learn.This booklet has been structured into two main sections: (i) Punctuation and Grammar, and (ii) Reasoning. These are preceded by sections on Structuring an Essay and Parts of Speech (essential reading if you have forgotten how to tell your noun from your verb). In addition there are also sections on Useful Tips, Commonly Confused Words, Writing Support at Essex, and Further Reading. It can be readfrom cover to cover, or can be dipped into with a specific problem in mind. If you want to be true to yourself – to be faithful to what you really think by expressing yourself clearly and precisely – then you should care about language… irrespective of the fact that it will improve your grades.

Writing is at the very heart of academic life. Good writing makes a good student. This bookletprovides useful guidance and helpful tips certain to set you on course to a clear expression of the plain sense of things, not only at university but in the outside world as well. An assimilation of its content will bring immediate benefits. I recommend that you read it carefully before you write your next essay! Dr Leon Burnett, Dean of Faculty of Humanities and Comparative Studies

1. Structuringan Essay 2. Parts of Speech 3. Punctuation and Grammar (the most common mistakes) 3.1 Bad syntax 3.2 Inappropriate use of tense 3.3 Incorrect use of prepositions 3.4 Incorrect use of colons and semi-colons 3.5 Incorrect use of apostrophes 3.6 Incorrect use of speech marks 3.7 Confusing singular and plural 3.8 Using unnecessary words 3.9 Using inappropriate or informal phrases 3.10 Not starting newsentences when appropriate 3.11 Incorrect use of commas 3.12 Mixing pronouns 3.13 Inappropriate use of definite article 3.14 Inappropriate or incorrect use of capital letters 3.15 Using ‘and’ instead of ‘to’ 3.16 Insufficient proof-reading 4. Reasoning (the most common mistakes) 4.1 Poor structure 4.2 Poor referencing techniques 4.3 Poor or unclear reasoning 4.4 Generalisations 4.5 Speculationsand assertions 4.6 Poor choice of vocabulary 4.7 Misusing or misquoting a well-known phrase 4.8 Making indirect assumptions 4.9 Inappropriate or inadvertent use of metaphor 5. Useful Tips 6. Commonly Confused Words 7. Writing Support at Essex 8. Further Reading

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1. Structuring an Essay
Before we...