Academic Style (Academic Writing)

The do's and don'ts of academic writing. 20 key points on how to write academically with practice activity for low-level academic international learners.
This video is for low-level International students learning how to write academically and is based on writing marking criteria on academic English courses in UK universities. More information go here: www.academic-e...
Disclaimer: There are many ways to write academically, this is just a basic overview. The best way is to check with what your department want. UK students are usually provided with a handbook at the beginning of their course and this will highlight the academic conventions for that particular course. It is also necessary to look closely at the language being used in the journals / books / papers you are being set to read on your course to help evaluate the academic style and language used in your discipline.
Academic Style worksheets / lessons.
1: Academic Style: 20 key features to writing
This lesson brainstorms academic style / formality in writing. Teacher conducts feedback by using visual highlighting and explaining the concepts. There are also 10x practice exercises from informal to formal
2. Academic Style 2: Paragraph analysis, comparison and discussion
This lesson compares two paragraphs on CSR (informal and formal), discusses the conventions of academic style and finishes with a sentence re-writing activity
3. Academic Style 3: Vocabulary (AWL & Nominalisation)
This lesson focuses on two key areas of academic writing: AWL and nominalisation. There are three worksheets comprising of a number of different activities to practice categorisation and reformulation at sentence and paragraph level.
To buy downloads go here: www.academic-e...
More on Academic Writing:
www.academic-e...
Book discussed in video is:
Academic Writing Book 4th ed by S.Bailey
www.routledge....

[@AcademicEnglishUK]

Hi, please read this before commenting. In the description of this video, it states that this lesson is for low-level international students and also includes a disclaimer (there is not one way to write academically). I’ve been an EAP teacher for 15 years, working at some of the top U.K. universities. We see that many of these students tend to write in spoken English when they first come to a U.K. university. Most universities ask academic English departments to teach academic style and highlight what is ‘generally’ acceptable for academic writing. Academic style is also part of the writing marking criteria and students need to understand what it is so they can do well in their summative tests. I think a common misconception lies in looking at a student’s academic writing journey from a bottom-up perspective; seeing the discrete taught items of academic style, passive grammar, hedging and the AWL as significant factors that influence a student’s writing. Naturally, this isn’t an accurate evaluation of a student’s evolution in academic writing. When you take a more top-down approach and focus on the student’s journey throughout their academic English course and university, you see that they have constant exposure to academic content and a range of academic writing styles. The academic style lessons are a stepping stone at the beginning of academic course to instil a sense of mindfulness towards academic language and activate an inquisitiveness towards noticing language being used in an academic context. This then becomes part of the students’ experience in growing and flourishing as an academic scholar and writer. Generally, when you take the top-down approach to look at the full process of how a student’s academic writing develops, then to make claims that by teaching the conventions of academic style (passive, personal pronouns, hedging, etc..) is wrong, seems slightly naive. Two more points: 1) We receive many comments that academic journals encourage active voice. Yes, that's true but this is a lesson for low-level international students writing academic essays not academic journals. 2) Some academic disciplines encourage the use of 'I' in writing. Yes this is true too especially the humanities & social sciences. However, the majority of international students who come to the UK to study at university study business and STEM courses who all advocate a reduced use of personal pronouns in students' writings. Thank you for reading this. AEUK

[@DorjiWangchuk101]

Thanks. This helped as I completed writing my dissertation

[@AcademicEnglishUK]

Great to know! Thanks

[@londonproofreaders-academi3402]

this is actually a great overview of academic writing...thanks!

[@AcademicEnglishUK]

You're welcome ✅

[@thinginground5179]

Question: some examples in this video use a lot of 'passive' writing styles, when I heard that in academic writing, you should try using 'active' writing as much as possible.

[@ispy1967]

Correct. The passive voice is increasingly considered outdated in academic writing and many journals ask authors to avoid it.

[@emilycarter8922]

You might want to check this out kzbin.info/www/bejne/mqvcXpSsYreLobc

[@emilycarter8922]

You might want to check this out kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z2O0qmlvr8dgnKs

[@AcademicEnglishUK]

Please read the description of the video for abetter understanding of academic style. Thanks

[@thinginground5179]

@@AcademicEnglishUK No, I don't think I will. :)

[@francessingson]

Thank you for this. I have learned so much just from watching this video.

[@francessingson]

Thank you for enlightening me regarding this video Sir

[@AcademicEnglishUK]

Glad it was helpful! 😀

[@kubradag6325]

This video is so helpful for a bachelor level student. May you prepare another video about "how to write a dissertation in advanced level ?" Because ı can not break my level from B2 toward C1. And, ı will write my thesis in english. If you do a video which in this context, ı would be grateful. Thank you so much !

[@AcademicEnglishUK]

Hi, thank you for your comment. We'll think about it and see what we can do? I suggest working through some of our reading to writing summary lessons. These are really helpful in improving level and also include critical thinking. Critical thinking is a huge part that prevents students from improving their writing ability. Go here: academic-englishuk.com/summary/

[@fan_juggler]

Passive voice and nominalisations are actually the opposite of what journals actually want. Read Nature style guides for example

[@AcademicEnglishUK]

Hi, thanks for your comment. If you read the description carefully, you would see that this is not about writing journals but helping lower-level English learners become more formal in their academic writing. The description states many points like 'there is no one way to write academically', you should 'consult your university department handbook on their expected writing conventions' and 'It is also necessary to look closely at the language in the journals / books / papers you are being set to read on your course to help evaluate the academic style used in your discipline.

[@sabuein]

Thank you, very helpful.

[@AcademicEnglishUK]

You're welcome!

[@Max-rg4ts]

Thank you for helping me write academically

[@AcademicEnglishUK]

Our pleasure!

[@shaniahflores9424]

Oh my gosh I like your content it will really help me to survive my college life.♥️

[@rosemarywacera2576]

Congrats to you and I wish you well. Which program are you doing if you don't mind me asking?

[@AcademicEnglishUK]

Great to hear. Thanks.😎

[@elverdad6805]

Thank you!

[@AcademicEnglishUK]

You're welcome!

[@tharindumadusanka6554]

It important to know the writing patterns because i took long effort to remove i,we from my vocabulary.

[@AcademicEnglishUK]

Great! Thank you.

[@anukunju465]

Sir, can we use punctuations like semicolon and colon?

[@AcademicEnglishUK]

yes, that's fine.

[@MuhammadUsman-cm4fu]

What should be the alternate word for "its good" in academic writing?

[@AcademicEnglishUK]

Hi, perhaps ‘it’s beneficial’. I suggest watching this video on useful writing websites especially the ‘synonyms’ part. kzbin.info/www/bejne/b5Wyc6RohayspKM

[@chrispinemukosha7279]

Thank you for the video,it is well explained.

[@AcademicEnglishUK]

Thank you😀

[@connoisseur6572]

Regarding punctuation also I need a video

[@AcademicEnglishUK]

ok, I'll do this soon (I know it's taken 4 years to respond)

[@arbitrarylib]

Great job on thw video

[@AcademicEnglishUK]

Glad you enjoyed it ✅

[@giovannimanuel8059]

EXCELLENT Video! very helpful

[@AcademicEnglishUK]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ramandeepsingh9763]

U said that it is inappropriate to use phrase and collocations in academic writing whereas the ielts discriper encourages to use the both for getting higher bands, could u plz elaborate

[@AcademicEnglishUK]

Hi, thank you for your comment. I suggest listening to the presentation again with the subtitles on as I do not say this. In fact, I have another video about academic writing websites that includes using phrases and collocations. kzbin.info/www/bejne/b5Wyc6RohayspKM

[@alessialazko3088]

What a voice! What an accent!😍

[@AcademicEnglishUK]

Hi, thanks but try to focus on the presentation :)

[@romanstaszak244]

I am very please for your marvoules work especially in British English language as I am interested in particular. Thank you for your time and every effort you take to make those videos. I do appreciate so much ❤️😃🌞 Have a great day 🌞😃❤️👍

[@AcademicEnglishUK]

Thank you too! 🙂

[@nashoushi]

thank you

[@AcademicEnglishUK]

You're welcome✅

[@azzamohsin1410]

Thanks

[@AcademicEnglishUK]

Welcome ✅

[@innojeanas8275]

But the sentences didn't mention year - why mention years in your paraphrasing?

[@AcademicEnglishUK]

Hi, thanks for commenting. In the presentation it says you should be more specific about dates. So you would need to research exactly when an event happened and provide the date. The example is ‘a few years ago’ but should be an exact date - when I made the video in 2015 ‘a few years ago’ was 2013. I hope this helps!

[@lividmatter4862]

"has been proposed that . . . will have possibly been . . . " What does one mean by beating around the bush....

[@AcademicEnglishUK]

Beating around the bush is considered an idiom and informal language. It would be better to use its true meaning 'to avoid giving a definite answer or position'.

[@tintin-rk7yf]

A) We need to take a closer look at the increasing crime rate. B) Uemployment has now become a trouble. C) Vaccine for malaria will soon be available. D) In recent past, the property rate in Japan decreased considerably. Please check my answers.

[@AcademicEnglishUK]

Thank you for writing some sentences. A) There is a need for a closer investigation into the increasing crime rate. (Try to avoid the subject ‘we’) B) unemployment has now become a serious issue. (Try to avoid the word ‘trouble’) C) ‘A’ vaccine D) is fine.

[@tintin-rk7yf]

@@AcademicEnglishUK Thank you for your corrections. 😊

[@saulmoncada8608]

Great information

[@AcademicEnglishUK]

Thank you ✅

[@abduraoofp7084]

Extremely helpful..!!

[@davismiles2765]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qKKapZugZqd_gJo

[@AcademicEnglishUK]

Glad to help!

[@aitorboadabenito1362]

Love this! Thank you so much!

[@AcademicEnglishUK]

You are so welcome!

[@dhyeymehta6826]

I am not getting first you changed only words and in 2 sentences you changed the whole sentence

[@AcademicEnglishUK]

Hi, yes that's correct. I firstly show a simplistic change and then go on to show a slightly more complex change.

[@disappointment00000]

NOTE: It has been is a passive voice I think this also not acceptable

[@mikeirving6192]

Your sentence is unacceptable!

[@AcademicEnglishUK]

'It has been discovered' is passive = has/have + been + past participle. ✅

[@giniwelle]

Thank you so much!

[@AcademicEnglishUK]

You're welcome!

[@heval9013]

Who came here from EFL C2.2?

[@xxwhatupxx1479]

Turn up Rojo

[@heval9013]

xXwhatUpXx who are you hahaha

[@AcademicEnglishUK]

Glad it's being used in the classroom! ✅

[@creationforoccasion_9022]

Thank you I understand

[@AcademicEnglishUK]

Great! Happy to help.

[@trucnguyen9527]

Thank you so much.

[@AcademicEnglishUK]

no problem ✅

[@fascynationfacts]

Task karne aya hun yaar..

[@davismiles2765]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qKKapZugZqd_gJo

[@AcademicEnglishUK]

Not sure what you mean???

[@rukh_iii]

if you want this book , I can give me .

[@AcademicEnglishUK]

If you want this book, I can give you it (correct structure). Perhaps, buy the book instead and support the author.

[@sarahalsakkaf9305]

Currently, the number of unemployed people is noticeably high .

[@AcademicEnglishUK]

Great work - perfect 👍

[@theo16s]

the content of this video is rather out-dated and far from what the academic world considers as good writing practice. There are other online resources that provide a better perspective on this issue. For examples, the "Stylish Academic Writing" by Helen Sword and Steven Pinker reflected a lot of misconceptions that were praised in this video.

[@AcademicEnglishUK]

Hi Theodore, thank you for you comment. Of course, academic style has many misconceptions and I'm sure there are much better perspectives too. However, this resource is aimed at lower-level English learners beginning their journey into academic writing at university NOT academics writing journals. Much of the content in the video is based around Academic English for university criteria and its necessary for students to become accustomed to how and what they are being marked on in regards to their writing. Is there one way to write academically? No. We could even debate 'what is academic English' too?. The bottom line is that students grow into writing through their research skills which leads into noticing what they read and finding their own style based around their own conception.

[@kiyoaki1985]

@@AcademicEnglishUK But why lead students down the wrong path, even if they are beginners? So much of terrible academic writing is a product of the way younger students are taught to write, which is ornate and bloated. This video encourages a writing style that is designed to merely disguise poorly-conceived academic writing behind a veneer of complex grammar and the AWL. Young students should be encouraged to write simply and plainly, but to be critical of the CONTENT of their writing, to think carefully about what it is they are actually saying and to confront this directly. What do you imagine a beginner stands to gain from advice like "use the passive voice"?

[@AcademicEnglishUK]

@@kiyoaki1985 Hi @kiyoaki1985, thank you for your critical engagement and passionate comment.I think a common misconception lies in looking at a student’s academic writing journey from a bottom-up perspective; seeing the discrete taught items of academic style, passive grammar, hedging and the AWL as significant factors that influence a student’s writing. Naturally, this isn’t an accurate evaluation of a student’s evolution in academic writing. When you take a more top-down approach and focus on the student’s journey throughout their academic English course and university, you see that they have constant exposure to academic content and a range of academic writing styles. It would be foolish to think that this doesn’t affect their writing. The academic style lessons are a stepping stone to instil a sense of mindfulness towards academic language and activate an inquisitiveness towards noticing language being used in an academic context. This then becomes part of the students’ experience in growing and flourishing as an academic scholar and writer. Generally, when you take the top-down approach to look at the full process of how a student’s academic writing develops , then to make the claim that by teaching the dos and don’ts of academic style is ‘leads students down the wrong path’ seems rather over-exaggerated and slightly naive.

[@alexrandom7770]

I need a pen friend from England, please . I want to chat with.

[@AcademicEnglishUK]

Try Facebook?

[@AJ-xv5xe]

If it's written if 1st person, why can't we use personal pronouns?

[@donabelroma1974]

Because that's the rule of academic writing

[@jerikoarwelarlegui7229]

Using 1st person or pronouns such as I or we is acceptable in academic writing if you are writing personal information, book or journal.

[@hassanrizvi2859]

Because academic writing deals with facts and figures, not with personal opinions

[@albinjohnsson2511]

I think that advice is rather outdated, and I personally can’t se how it’s any useful. Also, I read several academic articles on a daily basis, and “I” and personal pronounce is used in many fields (for instance in philosophy and more qualitative social science). Sometimes it’s just more transparent. There is absolutely no contradiction between writing in first person and being scientific. Rather, I would argue that there’s actually a contradiction between a scientific mindset and clinging to arbitrary writing rules in a dogmatic way.

[@AcademicEnglishUK]

Hi, please read the description to the video. The video is for low-level International students who often write in a spoken language. Of course, the use of 'I' depends on your specific discipline and is very common in humanities. The point of the video is make learners aware of the academic conventions connected to academic writing and to install a sense of inquisitiveness in noticing the language they are reading and studying on their courses.

[@xy1108]

This advice is actually to be avoided: passive voice; make the text sound more complicated than need be; never use I or We?? These are all things to be avoided. I am quite shocked. What is your source for these guidelines?

[@qwertykeyboard8563]

Actually, the purpose of academic writing is to assume an authoratative voice and the addition of a pronoun would detract from the writing's textual integrity. For example: "I yelled at Sally because she would not listen" gives the impression that the speaker could be in the wrong and may have been rash in their decision making. Whereas "As a result of her uncompliant behaviour, Sally was yelled at" portrays the speaker to be more correct, which as I previously stated, is the purpose of academic writing. By removing the pronouns the information seems more credible- readability is also important, however it can be achieved through methods that don't inhibit the text's apparent validity. Hope this helps!

[@raphaelkw7630]

@@qwertykeyboard8563 You're brilliant

[@g0801215]

I agree, the advice in this video is outdated and wrong.

[@AcademicEnglishUK]

This is a great example of poor academic style. The person put across a strong point BUT fails to support it with any evidence, facts or research.

[@AcademicEnglishUK]

thank you

[@coolguy7461]

thanks

[@AcademicEnglishUK]

Thank you!