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Scientific research and

academic writing skill
CHAPTER 4
FUNDAMENTAL OF WRITING SKILL
FOR ACADEMIC PROJECTS

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

▪ To understand what academic writing is;

▪ To know expectations for writing assignments in post-secondary courses;
▪ To learn the characteristics of academic writing and ways to achieve them;
▪ To address some common misconceptions about writing;
▪ To recognize specific types of writing assignments frequently.

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LEARNING CONTENT

1. Introduction about Writing & Academic Writing

2. Role, Feature, Strategies of Academic Writing

3. Genre and Types of Academic Writing

4. Approach of Academic Writing

5. Process of Academic Writing

FIRSTLY, YOU SHOULD UNDERSTAND…

What is Writing? Writing is a visual form of communication

And why is Writing that involves conventions and rules
recognized and understood by both
so important? writers and readers.

In order to be a succesful writer,

learners need to master the language
they use in writing, master the accurate
writing stages such as planning,
writing, and reviewing, and adopt the
suitable writing approach to writing.

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FIRSTLY, YOU SHOULD UNDERSTAND…

* Writing is a Process

• Improvement takes time and effort – don’t be hard on

yourself, stay focused and keep practising!

• Make use of your feedback – implement the

necessary changes next time

• Re-read the essays you wrote last year. This will give
you a clear sense of how your writing has improved.

BASIC OF WRITING PROCESS

WHY DO WE WRITE? WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF CAN YOU THINK OF

ACADEMIC WRITING? FOUR REASONS?

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BASIC OF WRITING PROCESS (CONT.)

To report research done by writer SO WHY DO WE WRITE?

(trình bày kết quả nghiên cứu)
• Gain intellectual stimulation (gain knowledge)
• Share ideas
To answer a question writer was
COMMON given (trả lời một số vấn đề còn thắc mắc)
• Report research

REASONS • Express an opinion

FOR • Generate discussion

WRITING To give writer’s views on a topic • Advance one’s discipline

(nêu ra quan điểm về một chủ đề nào đó)
• Attain promotion/tenure
• Report a case
To synthesise research done by • Enhance one’s reputation
others (Để tổng hợp nghiên cứu được thực hiện bởi
người khác)

INTRODUCTION OF ACADEMIC WRITING

• Academic writing is part of a complex process of finding,

analyzing and evaluating information, planning,
structuring, editing and proofreading your work, and
reflecting on feedback that underpins written assessment
at university.
• Academic writing-related skills can help you succeed in
the workplace. Employers are often looking for candidates
who can communicate ideas clearly and concisely and
with confidence. Learning how to write academically as a
student can help you develop some of these skills.

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DEFINITIONS

(1)
Academic writing are the traits taught while writing essays for college or
university that can be useful in the workplace. Academic writing involves
communicating ideas clearly and concisely and conveying arguments in
a logical and convincing manner. The skills used in this kind of writing
are transferable to a range of workplace tasks, so many employers look
for these skills in candidates (Indeed UK, 2024).

(2)
Academic writing is writing which communicates ideas, information and research to
the wider academic community. It can be divided into 2 types: (i) student academic
writing, which is used as a form of assessment at university as preparation for
study; and (ii) expert academic writing, which is writing that is intended for
publication in an academic journal or book. Both types of academic writing (student
& expert) are expected to adhere to same standards (EAP Foundation, 2024).

ROLES OF ACADEMIC WRITING

▪ Students, professors, and researchers in every

discipline use academic writing to convey ideas, make
arguments, and engage in scholarly conversation.
▪ Academic writing is characterized by evidence-based
arguments, precise word choice, logical organization,
and an impersonal tone.
▪ Though sometimes thought of as long-winded or
inaccessible, strong academic writing is quite the
opposite: it informs, analyzes, & persuades in a
straightforward manner & enables the reader to
engage critically in a scholarly dialogue.

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STRATEGIES OF ACADEMIC WRITING

Your writing should be clearly related to your essay

• RELEVANT question; make frequent references to the question.

Develop a fluent narrative by linking the points you

• ORGANISED raise in a logically consistent way.

• FOLLOWS For essays: Introduction, middle section, conclusion.

Include a range of perspectives. Fully referenced.
ACADEMIC CONVENTIONS

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SOME DIFFERENCES BETWEEN

ACADEMIC WRITING & OTHER WRITING CONTEXTS

• Emails or messages to a friend; or

record and reflect on event and
situations that happened to you in
your personal diary.
• Some features:
o personal judgments and Interpersonal/
• Refers to all formal written pieces
evaluations/ personal stories and intrapersonal based on facts and reliable data.
reflections writings Academic
writing • Some features:
o measured by your feelings &
o the text should have a well-
thoughts
organized structure: introduction,
o can be written down immediately body, and conclusion
and spontaneously without
o cite the published works you
organization or planning
consulted
o no need to follow an organized
o be formal and follow rules of
structure or development of the
punctuation and grammar
text, be formal, or adhere to the
rules of punctuation & grammar

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FEATURES OF ACADEMIC WRITING

STRUCTURED EVIDENCED CRITICAL

Academic writing should have a Opinions and arguments in academic As an academic writer, you should not simply accept
clear and well-structured version. writing should be supported by evidence. everything you read as fact. You need to analyze and evaluate
Structure will often derive from Often the writing will be based on information you are writing about, in other words make
the genre of writing. The writing information from experts in the field, and judgements about it, before you decide whether and how to
should be coherent, with logical as such, it will be important integrate it into your own writing. This is known as critical
progression throughout, to reference the information appropriately, writing - requires a great deal of research in order for the writer
and cohesive, with the different parts for example via the use of in-text to develop a deep enough understanding of the topic to be
of the writing clearly connected. citations and a reference section. truly critical about it.

BALANCED PRECISE OBJECTIVE FORMAL

Academic writing should Academic writing should use clear It is objective. In other words, Academic writing is more formal than
be balanced. This means and precise language to ensure the emphasis is placed on the everyday writing. It tends to use longer
giving consideration to all reader understands the meaning. arguments and information, words and more complex sentences,
sides of the issue and This includes use of technical rather than on the writer. As a while avoiding contractions and colloquial
avoiding bias. As noted vocabulary, which should be used result, academic writing tends to or informal words or expressions that
above, all research, when it conveys the meaning more use nouns and noun phrases might be common in spoken English.
evidence and arguments precisely than a similar non- more than verbs and adverbs. It There are words and collocations which
can be challenged, and it technical term. Sometimes such also tends to use more passive are used in academic writing more
is important for the technical vocabulary may structures, rather than active frequently than in non-academic writing,
academic writer to show need defining, though only if the voice. For example: Water was and researchers have developed lists of
their stance on a particular term is not commonly used by heated rather than I heated these words and phrases to help students
topic, in other words how others in the same discipline and will water. of academic English
strong their claims are. not be readily understood by reader.
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COMMON MISTAKES TO AVOID IN ACADEMIC

WRITING
1. Wordiness. The goal of academic writing is to convey complex ideas in a clear, concise manner. Don’t
muddy the meaning of your argument by using confusing language. If you find yourself writing a sentence
over 25 words long, try to divide it into two or three separate sentences for improved readability.
2. A vague or missing thesis statement. Thesis statement is the single most important sentence in any
academic paper. Your thesis statement must be clear, and each body paragraph needs to tie into that
thesis.
3. Informal language. Academic writing is formal in tone and should not include slang, idioms, or
conversational language.
4. Description without analysis. Do not simply repeat the ideas or arguments from your source materials.
Rather, analyze those arguments and explain how they relate to your point.
5. Not citing sources. Keep track of your source materials throughout the research and writing process. Cite
them consistently using one style manual. Any ideas that are not your own need to be cited, whether they're
paraphrased or quoted directly, to avoid plagiarism.

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GENERAL REQUIREMENTS OF ACADEMIC WRITING

1. Arrange your points 2. Write in structured 3. Use formal 4. Be concise 5. Summarize work of
in logical order paragraphs language other writers
• Have a clear idea of what • Use paragraphs to • You are expected to use • You are expected to use • You are expected to use
you want to say structure your ideas formal language and not formal language and not formal language and not
confrontational or dismissive confrontational or dismissive confrontational or dismissive
• Create a list of your main • Each of the points or
language language language
points theme forms a different
paragraph • Each subject discipline has • Only include one main idea • Summary provides a
• Think about what the
certain writing styles and per sentence shortened version of someone
reader needs to know • From the 1st or 2nd
sentence make your point terms, that you will be used to • Keep your sentences to a else’s work. Make sure you:
• Once you have a clear as you progress with your
idea of what is required for clear so that a reader can reasonable length ✔ identify relevant points
degree
your project and you can follow the line of reasoning • Express precisely what you depending on your
start planning your • The rest of paragraph • Do not use of long sentences mean purpose
research and gathering should explain point/theme and complicated vocabulary ✔ Write a shortened version,
• Long sentences can be
evidence in detail and provide • Avoid using colloquialisms, difficult to follow and this in your own words, to show
• Find academic information relevant slang terms, regional dialects may distract from your point your understanding
from reliable, reviewed and evidence/references • Write words out in full rather ✔ Include an in-text citation
• Avoid repetition
published resources • Evidence can be data, than shortening them. Instead and reference to the
(journals, books, facts, quotations, of writing “can’t don't” or “isn't” • Avoid using redundant original author
conference proceedings). arguments, statistics, you are expected to write words
• Revise, edit and proofread
research and theories “cannot, do not” or “is not”
• Avoid publications from your work
predatory publishers • Do not use personal nouns
✔ Most writing will require
(e.g. I, me, you, us, we) may several drafts and
lead the reader to believe the
revisions to improve clarity
study was overly subjective and quality
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THE WRITING PROCESS

1/3 duration of time 1/3 duration of time 1/3 duration of time

Unpacking Literature Planning Integrating Editing

evidence &
the task search & Referencing
Drafting

The Writing Process • Who? Who for? 5 steps in writing process:

• What? What for? • Prewriting
• When? needs to be submitted? • Drafting
• Why? For what reason? • Revising
• Where? Where submitted? • Editing
• Presenting

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MAIN TYPES OF ACADEMIC WRITING

• There are (1) Essays
different types of Essays are normally written as continuous pieces of writing without headings and subheadings.
academic papers Diagrams and tables are not normally used in essays, neither are bullet points or numbered lists.
students are Words and sentences are used to show the structure.
expected to write. (2) Report
Report is usually result of some kind of investigation of a situation, event or series of events. It may
• They each serve a
be (i) an annual report from a company, documenting performance; (ii) a survey report, presenting
different purpose findings on opinions, preferences.
while helping
(3) Critique/review
students build
writing & analytical A critique (or review) is used to make a judgment about a book or article. It calls upon a number of
academic skills, including summary, analysis and evaluation
skills.
(4) Reflective
Reflective are characterized by a personal view of events, with an explanation of how the writer
reacted to and acted upon those events
(5) Case study
Case studies are frequently used to analyses a situation, place or organization in order to draw
some general conclusions that could then be applied elsewhere.

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The Process of Academic Writing

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VARIOUS WAYS TO DETERMINE THIS PROCESS

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THE PROCESS OF ACADEMIC WRITING

1. Decide on what you want to study: The first step involves choosing a subject,
find out an aspect or area within the subject to focus; and narrow down to
formulate your topic. Understand purpose and audience of your proposed work.
2. Collect information or expert sources: The second step is to identify the
There are three major
sources of information, take down notes and prepare a working bibliography or list
processes preceding the of works to be consulted or quoted.
submission of an academic
assignment. They are 3. Prepare a frame work or structure to work on: The third step comprises
prewriting, writing and finalizing the basic premises, key points, the organizational pattern of the work
and grouping of points for paragraphs.
revising. Each of these
processes involves certain 4. Start writing: Drafting begins as a fourth step. Here preparing the first draft, going
steps to be followed. through the draft to ensure there are no structural and thematic inconsistencies,
editing and revising the paper are the major steps involved. Language errors and
use of taboo/informal/ discriminatory words & expression are to be checked as a
part of editing.
5. Prepare the final draft & submit: It is always better to keep a checklist to verify if
anything important is left out, before submitting.

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Classification and Main types of Academic Writing

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GENRES AND TYPES OF ACADEMIC WRITING

1. Essay
2. Research Paper or Article
3. Dissertations / Theses
4. Research proposals
5. Literature Review
6. Lab report
7. Annotated bibliography
8. Case study

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Academic texts can be divided into 7 types: essay, research paper, thesis or dissertation,
research proposal, literature review, lab report and annotated bibliography.

Type Brief Description

Essay • A short piece of writing that focuses on a particular topic
• Written especially by students as part of the work for a course
Research paper • A piece of writing that provides analysis, interpretation and argument
• Written based on in-depth independent research
Thesis or dissertation • An extensive piece of writing that focuses on a particular topic
• Written especially for a higher college or university degree
Research proposal • A concise and coherent summary of a proposed research
• Includes central issue(s) or question(s) to be addressed and current state of knowledge and debates on selected topic
Literature review • An overview of the previously published works on a specific topic or research question
• Written as part of a thesis, dissertation or research paper
Lab report • A report that conveys the aim, methods, results and conclusion of a scientific experiment
• Commonly used in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields
Annotated bibliography • A list of source references with a short description or evaluation of each source

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ESSAY
A. Introduction

• Essay writing is one of the most

common assignment formats for
college students.
• The basic aim of an essay is to answer
a question through a set of paragraphs
structure in a logical manner.

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ESSAY
B. General Structure

An academic essay is typically structured in 3 types of paragraphs: an introductory

paragraph, a minimum of 3 body paragraphs and a concluding paragraph.

Paragraph Requirement
The first paragraph serves as introduction and the last paragraph, conclusion.
The introductory paragraph is the first paragraph of your essay. Introduction aims at grabbing the
attention of your reader and makes a few statements on background,
the main ideas and outline of your essay.
Body paragraph is the main paragraph of an essay. Each paragraph in an essay works
like a links in a chain, contributing to the wholeness of the work.
However paragraphs are to be written in such a way as to make them
stand independent of the totality of the essay.
Concluding paragraph is the last paragraph of the essay. You are expected to restate your
thesis statement given in the introduction, summarize the points
through which you explained your thesis statement in the body
paragraphs and finish your essay with a concluding remark.

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ESSAY
C. Detail Parts
1. Introduction
2. Literature Review
3. Methodology
4. Results
5. Discussion
6. Conclusion
7. References
8. Appendices

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ACADEMIC WRITING - ESSAY

* The three elements of the essay:

(1) the introduction;
• to present the topic of the text to the reader;
• to raise a question and present the claim that will be made in the essay = the
research question/the claim/ the thesis statement.
(2) the body;
• to present the results;
• to discuss the results.
(3) the conclusion.
• to sum up your argument;
• no new facts, results or ideas should be introduced at this stage;
• possible to point out topics or angles for further possible studies.

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ACADEMIC WRITING – ESSAY (CONT.)

TYPES OF ESSAY
• Expository Essay (luận thuyết minh) start by presenting your thesis – as a statement of the case you can make based on the evidence
and your arguments. This would be followed by the evidence to support your thesis.

• Discussion Essay (bài thảo luận) start by presenting the issue - the problem you have to solve then explain and discuss the evidence and
different points of view regarding the issue. You would finish by comparing and contrasting the different arguments and making a choice -
your final position.

• Challenge Essay (bài tranh luận) are challenging a given theory by showing where it is weak and proposing a better theory. Start by
introducing the theory you are challenging. You would then analyse and evaluate it to show where it is weak and propose a better
alternative.

• Factorial Essays (bài luận sự kiện) are organised around the facts that either lead to or are consequences of a state of affairs. Discuss
the facts that lead to or cause a state of affairs, start by describing the state of affairs you are interested in, then present the factors that led
to the state of affairs. These would be grouped in some way, analysed and evaluated. You would finish by concluding about, for example,
the importance of the factors you have discussed.

• Consequential Essay (luận tình huống) discuss the facts that result from a state of affairs. Start by describing the state of affairs you are
interested in. You would then present the factors that resulted from or were caused by the state of affairs. These would be grouped in some
way, analysed and evaluated. You would finish by concluding about, for example, the importance of the state of affairs in contributing to the
consequences you have discussed.

• Commentary Essays (bài bình luận) normally focus on texts. Your introduction would therefore introduce the text(s). You would then follow
this with a series of comments that analyse and evaluate the text(s) given. You may be required to compare and contrast the texts. You
would conclude by summarising your comments. 28

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ACADEMIC WRITING – ESSAY (CONT.)

* 5-paragraph essay
The classic so-called 5-paragraph essay consists of:
• 1 introductory paragraph;
• 3 body paragraphs;
• a concluding paragraph.

Longer essays, such as bachelor degree essays and masters

theses, use the extended version of this same format.

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Thank you for your studying this lesson.

Chapter 5. Fundamental of writing skill for academic projects

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