Presently I am working with a group of Indonesian college professionals at Kapiolani Community College in Honolulu. The have asked me about what is commonly referred to as 'academic writing.' I often encounter faculty and staff who express a desire to be published. Indeed, many colleges and universities in the USA do not hire faculty unless those individuals have been published in a professional journal.
What is academic writing? This is a style of written communication that focuses on the process of analytical thinking. Such written work is intended to increase an understanding of a particular topic.
According to Rosemary Jones there are three elements of academic writing:
- Use of deductive reasoning - Stating the thesis (main idea) early and then following with supporting examples and details make complicated ideas easier to understand.
- Semiformal voice - This means no slang, colloquialism (common expressions of ordinary speech), contractions of nouns and verbs, etc.
- Third person point-of-view - Third person points-of-view (e.g., he, she, it, and they as well as their accusative, dative, and possessive forms) should be used. No first and second person points-of-view (e.g., I, you, we) are used in academic writing.
Going through various resources and summarizing it all in my own words would take a great deal of time. Why reinvent the wheel, so to speak? Instead, I'm going to refer you to a series of online-based resources you can familiarize yourself with.
Click this link for an online-based PowerPoint presentation entitled Purpose and Strategy on Academic Writing.
This is a link to another online slideshow entitled Writing for Academic Journals. The slideshow's author, Jack Dempsey, is a Fulbright scholar with Multimedia University, associated with the University of South Alabama.
Writing for Academic Journals: Format, Language Guidelines provides readers with a summary of the various elements of English-language academic writing, including some helpful hints on those who are new to this experience.
Advice on Academic Writing is sponsored by the University of Toronto, Canada. On this site you will find items on such important elements as planning and organizing; reading and researching; style and editing; English as a Second Language, and much, much more.
National Louis University offers its Center for Academic Development. Go to this resource entitled Features of Academic Writing from UEFAP (Using English for Academic Purposes).
I hope my comments and links featured here have been helpful! Good luck on your adventures in academic writing and publishing!
Jeffrey Bingham Mead
National Louis University offers its Center for Academic Development. Go to this resource entitled Features of Academic Writing from UEFAP (Using English for Academic Purposes).
Dartmouth University is considered one of the best institutions of higher learning in the USA. The Dartmouth Writing Program features this resource with links entitled ‘What is an Academic Paper?’ Highly recommended.
I conclude with three important comments on getting yourself published in an academic journal.
1. Proofreading before submission is critical to getting published. Not everything that is submitted gets published. The main reasons some submissions are turned away concerns errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, citation of sources, and so on. Do not take such refusals personally. Remember that the work you submit reflects on your professional image. In our globalized world where communication is instantaneous and available 24/7, your work will be read, reviewed and critiqued from all corners of the academic universe. Yes, there are people who offer their services on a fee-basis. You can go to this link for a list of recommended proofreading practices. However, have someone else read and review your work. Be prepared for honest and critical feedback -and be ready to act on it.
2. Be sure the check with the publishers regarding academic citation styles. There are standard formats such as those of the Modern Language Association (MLA) and the American Psychological Association (APA). Yet there are publications that have their own unique style and citation requirements. Those are often presented on their web sites, along with submission instructions.
3. Sad to say, plagiarism is a huge problem in academic writing. By definition, plagiarism is the practice of taking someone else's work or ideas and passing them off as one's own. To avoid personal and professional embarrassment make sure you have not accidentally committed an act of plagiarism. One online service that comes highly recommended is TurnItIn.com. See my comments above on proofreading practices, too. I also recommend this podcast from Grammar Girl (written text included).
Keep track of your resources as you go through the research process. A bibliography will be vital, but be sure to consider an annotated bibliography.
I conclude with three important comments on getting yourself published in an academic journal.
1. Proofreading before submission is critical to getting published. Not everything that is submitted gets published. The main reasons some submissions are turned away concerns errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, citation of sources, and so on. Do not take such refusals personally. Remember that the work you submit reflects on your professional image. In our globalized world where communication is instantaneous and available 24/7, your work will be read, reviewed and critiqued from all corners of the academic universe. Yes, there are people who offer their services on a fee-basis. You can go to this link for a list of recommended proofreading practices. However, have someone else read and review your work. Be prepared for honest and critical feedback -and be ready to act on it.
2. Be sure the check with the publishers regarding academic citation styles. There are standard formats such as those of the Modern Language Association (MLA) and the American Psychological Association (APA). Yet there are publications that have their own unique style and citation requirements. Those are often presented on their web sites, along with submission instructions.
3. Sad to say, plagiarism is a huge problem in academic writing. By definition, plagiarism is the practice of taking someone else's work or ideas and passing them off as one's own. To avoid personal and professional embarrassment make sure you have not accidentally committed an act of plagiarism. One online service that comes highly recommended is TurnItIn.com. See my comments above on proofreading practices, too. I also recommend this podcast from Grammar Girl (written text included).
Keep track of your resources as you go through the research process. A bibliography will be vital, but be sure to consider an annotated bibliography.
I hope my comments and links featured here have been helpful! Good luck on your adventures in academic writing and publishing!
Jeffrey Bingham Mead
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