writing in academia
There are many different writing styles that reflect the medium and function of communication. For example, email writing style is very brief and informal, English essays tend to be formal and expressive, and chat or instant messaging writing is heavily abbreviated and informal.
Academic papers, especially those of scientific nature, are always objective, concise and formal.
When we describe academic writing as objective, we mean that every statement or claim made by the author is supported by some empirical finding or theoretical premise. Objective writing is always free from influence by personal conviction, interpretation, or prejudice, and only provides information that is very impartial in nature.
Concise writing refers to a writing style that is absent of redundant, verbose, and figurative language and expressions. When writing is concise, it can express a large amount of material with relatively few words, excluding unnecessary details from a more wordy statement. The ability to write concisely requires a great deal of practise, but is generally most appreciated when it comes to scientific discussion.
Formal means that a writing sample conforms to specific rules. These rules, customarily known as style guides, govern the ways in which information is presented not only in terms of language and grammar use, but also in the way that the information is formatted (ie. margins, spacing, textual elements, paginations), and how outside sources are both cited and referenced. There are many styles that exist, but depending on the discipline for which you are writing, you may be required to use a specific set of guidelines.
The next section of this module will introduce you specifically to APA (American Psychological Association) style, which is most commonly used in the Social Sciences, in areas such as Psychology, Political Science, and Education, Sociology, Business and Nursing.
