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Academic writing

Key Features of good academic writing

  • It is objective - based on facts and research rather than your feelings and opinions.  
  • It uses formal language – making points clearly and accurately without waffling.
  • It should avoid using personal pronouns, ( I, we, me, our). Unless of course,  you are asked to write a reflection.
  • It should be structured - you will need to plan your work so that it guides the reader step by step from the introduction, through your argument supported by evidence, to the conclusion.
  • It must Include evidence which is properly referenced  - in text quotations or citations are key to proving and supporting your point and are an essential part of academic writing. You'll need to provide a list of the references you used. 

Acting on feedback

Effective feedback is designed to meet your needs and should be used to improve your confidence and grades.

Positive feedback can be an endorsement of hard work whereas negative comments can initially feel discouraging. You need time to analyse your feedback in order to reflect on how to adapt your approach in the future.

Put simply you need to carry on doing (and develop) what went well and change what didn’t.

Note taking

Taking effective notes will help you to remember information and make sense of it. This will help you to get the most from your virtual or actual lectures and workshops, as well as making good use of printed or online resources.

Planning and organising your time

Make the most of your time and energy in order to:-

  • feel confident in your ability to get things done
  • achieve a balance in your life
  • be more productive
  • reduce stress
  • improve self-esteem
  • avoid meltdowns
  • reach your goals

For hints and tips on how to achieve this please read the presentation.

Reading effectively

Take some time to learn how to read academic texts in the most effective way.  Look at the guide to find out how you can make better use of your study time by understanding how to read the books and articles you've been recommended to read more effectively.