ACADEMIC WRITING

WHAT IS ACADEMIC WRITING?

Academic writing is writing done by scholars for

other scholars— and that includes you!

TYPES OF ACADEMIC WRITING

• Dissertation; usually between 6,000 and 20,000 words in length.

• Essay; usually short, between 1,500 and 6,000 words in length.

• Explication; usually a short factual note explaining some obscure part

of a particular work; e.g. its terminology, dialect, allusions or coded

references.

• Proposals/Grants

• Research Paper; longer essay involving library research, 3000 to

6000 words in length.

• Thesis; completed over a number of years, often in excess of 20,000

words in length.

• Descriptive/Expository

• Compare/Contrast

• Classification

• Persuasive

• Personal Statements

-Used for applications

• Research

TYPES OF COLLEGE ESSAYS

MOST COMMON DURING

THE FIRST YEAR

• Descriptive/Expository

• Persuasive

• Compare/Contrast

• Research (often a final paper!)

THE PERSUASIVE ESSAY

THE COMPARE/CONTRAST ESSAY

THE DESCRIPTIVE/EXPOSITORY ESSAY

THE RESEARCH PAPER

THE WRITING PROCESS

THE WRITING PROCESS CONT.

I. Prewriting: • Understanding the assignment & writing specifics. Ask professor

to clarify details and expectations.

• Select a topic if not provided.

• Research topic by visiting the Salem State Library or the online

SSU library portal to scholarly article databases (No Wikipedia).

• Modify topic according to research if needed.

II. Drafting: • Create essay outline. Include thesis/introduction, body,

conclusion/summary, and reference/works cited page.

• Write draft. Write freely and worry about edits after completed.

THE WRITING PROCESS CONT.

III. Editing: • Review draft. Take a break and then reread paper!

• Have a peer, instructor, or parent read & provide feedback.

• Use “Track changes” under Microsoft word and check for

grammar, spelling, and style errors. Run spell check!

IV. Revision: • Utilize track changes but don’t accept all changes. Many edits are

due to personal style.

• Re-write problem areas and fix format errors.

V. Publish: • Submit paper and confirm with instructor!

* Repeat steps III & IV for a better final draft!

IF YOU GET STUCK…SSU Can Help

The Writing Center

Meier Hall 220 (978-542-6491)

Make an appointment and trained writers will help

you with the writing process!

The Center for Academic Excellence

Campus Center (978-542-6717)

Reading Center offers writing assistance.

Inquire about Peer tutoring!

Ask a Librarian

SSU library, South Campus (978-542-6766)

Make an appt. with a subject or research specialist.

RESEARCHING PAPERS

http://www.salemstate.edu/library/3829.php

http://www.salemstate.edu/library/6556.php

• Go to the Salem State Library - Always a good idea to look at sources in your textbooks!

- Utilize the “Ask a librarian” for help researching subjects!

• Utilize the online SSU library link for additional scholarly databases.

- Never cite Wikipedia in an academic or professional paper.

- Use reputable news sources like the NY Times or Boston Globe.

- Use .gov/.org/.edu websites!

- Use Google Scholar/JSTOR etc.

ESSAY FORMAT STYLES

I.MLA format: • Used for Liberal Arts & Humanities.

• Includes page numbers, class information, double spacing, and a

works cited page.

*See http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/

II. APA format: • Common for social sciences.

• Includes Title page, Abstract page, Body, and Reference page.

• Includes a running head, page numbers, hanging indents, and

specific spacing and citation rules.

*See http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/

COMMON GRAMMAR MISTAKES

• Missing comma after introductory phrases

• Using “to be” words instead of action verbs Example: “is, am, has” replace with active voice.

• Vague pronoun reference. “The boy and his father knew that he was in trouble.”

(Who is in trouble? The boy? His Father?

• Run-on, fused sentence. “Run-on sentences are sentences that run on forever, they are sentences

that ought to have been two or even three sentences but the writer

didn't stop to sort them out, leaving the reader feeling exhausted by the

sentence's end which is too long in coming.”

• Dangling, misplaced modifier. "The professor wrote a paper on sexual harassment in his office.”

PLAGIARISM

Definition: In an instructional setting, plagiarism occurs when a writer

deliberately uses someone else's language, ideas, or other original (not

common-knowledge) material without acknowledging its source.

Applies to texts published in print or online, manuscripts, and the work of other

student writers.

I. Intentional: Submitting someone else's text as one's own or

attempting to blur the line between one's own ideas or words and those

borrowed from another source, and

II. Unintentional: Carelessly or inadequately citing ideas and words

borrowed from another source.

*Professors now run papers through machines

that can automatically detect plagiarized work!

ACTIVITY

• Take 5 minutes and write a quick

introduction/thesis about what academic writing

as if you were writing a expository essay.

• Swap papers with a peer & edit work.

• Find examples of grammar mistakes or poor word

choices.

• Switch back, re-write & discuss!

Questions & Feedback?

Like our "First Year at Salem State” Facebook page for more tips and workshops!