Academic writing is a type of language that researchers employ to express the intellectual boundaries of their topics and areas of expertise. A formal tone, use of the third-person perspective rather than the first-person perspective (typically), a clear focus on the research subject under inquiry, and exact word choice are all characteristics of academic writing (Hartley & James, 2008). Academic writing, like speciality languages used in certain professions such as law or medicine, is meant to communicate to a society of scholarly specialists agreed meaning surrounding challenging ideas or concepts.
The Importance of a Professional Writing
Based on the methodological approach and the target audience, the recognized form of academic work in the social sciences might vary significantly. Most college-level research papers, on the other hand, necessitate close attention to the various stylistic elements:
- The Big Picture
Academic writing, unlike artistic, journalistic writing, or online dissertation writing services UK, has a formal and logical structure. It has to be cohesive and have a logically structured sharing of thoughts; this means that all of the elements must work together to create a united whole. So that the reader can follow your argument, there should be narrative ties between sentences and paragraphs. All sources should be correctly mentioned throughout the document, and the opening should give a summary of how the body of the research is organized.
- Tone
The attitude communicated in a piece of literature is referred to as the overall tone. It is critical that you express the arguments of others objectively and in a narrative tone throughout your paper. Be honest and avoid using biased or prejudiced terminology while expressing a perspective or argument in which you disagree. The author of an academic paper is supposed to study the research problem from an authorized standpoint. As a result, you should boldly express the advantages of your arguments while using neutral language that is neither confrontational nor dismissive.
- Diction
The word choice you choose is referred to as diction. It’s critical to pay attention to the words you use because keywords with very identical dictionary definitions can have entirely different implications inferred meanings. This is especially true in academic writing, where terms and terminology can take on a nuanced meaning that expresses a specific notion, concept, or occurrence drawn from the discipline’s epistemological culture [for example, the concept of the reasonable decision in political science].
As a response, use particular language that convey a definite meaning rather than generic terms. If you can’t do this without confounding the reader, you’ll have to explain what you’re talking about in the context of how the word or phrase is used in that discipline.
- Language
In the social sciences, research problems are frequently complex and multi-dimensional. As a result, you must utilize clear terminology. A reader can easily follow your path of thought thanks to well-structured sentences and clear topic phrases. Your words should be clear, official, and express exactly what you want to communicate. Use abbreviations like ‘i.e.’ [“in other words”], ‘e.g.’ [“for example”], or ‘a.k.a.’ [“also known as”], and avoid using nonspecific terms [“they,” “we,” “people,” “the organization,” etc.].
Acquiring a Basic Understanding of Academic Writing and Its Jargon
Jargon is defined as language that is specific to a small group of people. Jargon, then, is the specialized language and meaning attributed to phrases and words particular to a profession or area of study in modern university life. The concept of rationality, for example, may have the same basic meaning in political science and philosophy, but its implementation in explaining and understanding phenomena within each discipline’s research domain may differ slightly depending on how academics in that restraint adhere to the concept to their theories and practices.
Issues with Obscure Writing
You would notice if you take an MBA dissertation help that scholars are not uncommon in their use of unnecessarily complex syntax or opaque or ill-defined language. When writing, keep the following in mind to minimize problems linked with opaque writing:
- Excessive reliance on specialized jargon.
Yes, you should use expert terminology and a formal style of expression in academic writing, but this does not mean that you should use “big words” just for the sake of using them. The overuse of sophisticated or obscure vocabulary, as well as the usage of complicated sentence structures, gives the appearance that your paper is much more about style over substance, and it makes the reader wonder if you truly know what you’re talking about. Concentrate on writing clear, elegant text that avoids the use of specialist vocabulary.
- Use of technical terminology that isn’t appropriate.
Because you’re working with ideas, research, and data specific to your field, you’ll need to speak in the technical language of that field. Nothing, however, will detract from the credibility of your study faster than the misuse of a phrase or concept. Don’t use terms whose meanings you don’t understand; don’t presume or assume! Search the USC Libraries catalog or reference database for definitions of terms in specialized, discipline-specific dictionaries.
Additional Issues to Avert
There are additional features of academic work in the social sciences that you must be aware of in addition to knowing how to utilize specialist terminology. The following are some of the issues:
Directives: Do not give the reader instructions to “do this” or “do that.” Directives should be articulated as evidence-based goals or recommendations that lead to particular results.
Slang and idioms are used in an informal, conversational tone. Excellent grammar and exact word organization are essential in academic writing. Regional dialects and slang terminology should not be used in your narrative since they can be misinterpreted; instead, use standard English to be direct and concise.
Wordiness: Concentrate on being clear and succinct, as well as crafting a story that is free of ambiguous terminology. By doing so, you can reduce the chances of the reader misconstruing the study’s design and objective.
Ambiguous expressions: (e.g., “they,” “we,” “people,” “the company,” “that area,” etc.). Avoiding unclear references to people, places, or things is also part of being succinct in your writing. Look for and amend any ambiguous or imprecise phrases that lack context or detail while proofreading your writing.
References Academic Writing. Writing Center. Colorado Technical College; Hartley, James. Academic Writing and Publishing: A Practical Guide. New York: Routledge, 2008. https://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide/academicwriting
