University assessments require a specific way of writing known as ‘academic style’, which is a more formal and structured writing method than others you may be familiar with. Learn to write in an academic style is important, as it will help you effectively communicate your ideas clearly and precisely, with authority and professionalism.
In brief, when writing in the academic style, you should:
Some of the key characteristics of academic style include:
Some more specific academic writing conventions include:
Understanding the difference between active and passive voice is fundamental to writing proficiency. Whether active or passive voice is most appropriate will depend on what you are trying to communicate.
Active voice highlights the person or entity responsible for the action, making it ideal for situations where you want to emphasise agency. Active voice is more direct and concise and is preferred for persuasive, argumentative writing, like essays and short answer questions.
Passive voice often downplays or omits the person or entity doing the action, which can be useful in cases where the entity is unknown, unimportant, or intentionally obscured. Passive voice is more suited to scientific writing, where you may need to emphasise the target of the action.
To understand the difference between active and passive voice, let’s look at sentences in more detail:
Simple sentences are made up of three different elements:
An active sentence is when the sentence focuses on the ‘doer’ of the action.
For example, “The storm(S) affected(V) crop growth(O).” Here, the reader’s focus is placed on the storm. We might expect to see a sentence like this in an essay or report about storms.
A passive sentence is when the sentence focuses on the receiver of the action.
For example, “Crop growth(O) was affected(V) by the storm(S).” Here, the reader’s focus is placed on the crop growth. We might expect to see a sentence like this in a report on crop growth.
To change between the forms, determine your sentence’s subject, verb and object, then restructure it so that the subject is the focus (active).
The passive sentence, “Society (O) has been significantly impacted (V) by artificial intelligence (S).”
becomes
“Artificial intelligence (S) has significantly impacted (V) society (O)”, an active sentence.
When revising or proofreading your assignment, it’s useful to identify places where you have inadvertently used passive voice where the active voice would make your writing more engaging, dynamic and reader-friendly.
Online tools such as Grammarly and Hemingway Editor can help you identify passive sentences and will provide tips on improving your writing.
Crafting well-structured sentences will help you communicate your ideas more effectively. It will enhance the clarity of your ideas and hopefully foster a connection with your reader. A well-constructed sentence will contribute to the logical flow of your argument and help the reader navigate your assignment easily.
Tips for writing effective sentences:
Simple sentences are like the building blocks of writing. They express one complete thought or idea.
How to make one:
Start with a subject (who or what the sentence is about). Add a verb (what the subject is doing). Make sure it forms a complete idea.
Example:
“The cat sleeps.”
Tip for understanding: Think of a simple sentence as a complete idea. It’s like one piece of a puzzle.
Compound sentences combine two simple sentences with a conjunction (like ‘and,’ ‘but,’ ‘or’).
How to make one:
Write a simple sentence. Use a conjunction to connect it to another simple sentence.
Example:
“The cat sleeps, and the dog barks.”
Tip for understanding: Picture two simple sentences holding hands. They are joined by a word like ‘and’ or ‘but’ to make a bigger, more interesting idea.
Complex sentences have one simple sentence (independent clause) and one or more additional parts that can’t stand alone (dependent clause).
How to make one:
Begin with a simple sentence (independent clause). Add a dependent clause that gives more information but can’t be a sentence on its own. Connect them with words like ‘because,’ ‘although,’ ‘if,’ etc.
Example:
“Although the dog barks, the cat sleeps.”
Tip for understanding: Imagine a main idea (simple sentence) with a helper idea (dependent clause) providing extra details. They work together to give you a full picture.
Periodic sentences begin with details and build up to the main point, which comes at the end.
How to make one:
Start with additional details or phrases. Delay the main idea until the end of the sentence.
Example:
“In the garden, with flowers blooming all around and the sun shining brightly in the clear blue sky, the cat sleeps and the dog barks.”
Tip for understanding: These sentences build up suspense and a sense of anticipation. They lead the reader through a journey of details, saving the punchline for the end. A periodic sentence is an effective way to write your thesis statement.
Linking words and phrases (often referred to as transition markers) connect your ideas within a paragraph and link paragraphs together. You can do this by highlighting similarities, contrasts or other relationships between the ideas or repeating key terms or concepts. This helps maintain coherence and flow in your writing and allows the reader to follow the direction of your argument.
Try using some of the following linking words to create more cohesion and flow in your writing. However, only use them when you need to!
Since the launch of Chat-GPT in 2022, significant attention has focused on gen-AI’s ability to increase productivity and efficiency, with early adoption industries like healthcare, communication and science freeing up human workers to focus on creation and innovation. However, with the global impact of the technology, evidence shows that developing countries and minority groups will be the least likely to reap benefits, as it is already enhancing existing disparities. Furthermore, there are significant concerns have been raised around privacy and exploitation, reinforcement of bias and prejudice, and job loss through automation.
Punctuation is a key part of assignment writing as it demonstrates attention to detail and increases readability.
It refers to all the marks and symbols used to structure your sentences appropriately, such as commas, semicolons and quotation marks. Correct punctuation is crucial in conveying the precise meaning of your words and preventing misinterpretation and confusion.
Important considerations of punctuation in academic style include using:
For a more in-depth explanation of using punctuation correctly, refer to the Australian Government Style Manual Grammar, punctuation conventions guide.
Using inclusive language is important not only in everyday life but also in your academic writing. Inclusive language can mean all the following:
Inclusive language is not about being politically correct or “woke”; it’s about making sure your writing is accessible and respectful to all.