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Academic Writing Skills SB 1
Academic Writing Skills SB 1
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www.cambridge.org
This is the revised and expanded edition of Academic Writing Skills and Strategies I,
ISBN 978-4-903049-14-4 first published in Japan by Waseda University International Co., Ltd. in 2007
© Cambridge University Press 2012
This publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception
and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements,
no reproduction of any part may take place without the written
permission of Cambridge University Press.
First published 2012
Third printing 2015
Printed in Singapore by Craft Print International Ltd
ISBN 978-1-107-63622-4 paperback Student’s Book 1
ISBN 978-1-107-64293-5 paperback Teacher’s Manual 1
Cambridge University Press has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of
URLs for external or third-party internet websites referred to in this publication,
and does not guarantee that any content on such websites is, or will remain, accurate
or appropriate.
References and information relating to people, bodies corporate, places, e-mail addresses
and website (with the exception of the Cambridge University Press Web site) in this
publication may be fictitious or have been fictionalised, are for illustrative purpose only,
are not intended to be factual and should not relied upon as factual.
Contributors: Joseph Garner, Adam Gyenes, Christopher Pellegrini, Dean Poland
Editor: Sean Wray
Cover photo: ©iStockphoto.com/pablohart
Academic Writing Skills has been developed by the Research and Development team
at Waseda University International Co., Ltd., Tokyo.
Contents
How this book is organized iv
Introduction to academic writing v
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The book also focuses on using sources and citation – one of the most
important skills in academic writing. The information and exercises presented
will help you learn how to:
• quote, paraphrase and summarize information from outside sources.
• effectively integrate this information in your essays.
• identify the sources of information in your essays using the appropriate
format.
Dedicated study of Academic Writing Skills 1 will prepare you with the basic
but necessary skills and strategies to successfully write academic essays.
iv
Introduction to
academic writing
What is academic writing?
Regardless of their major, university students are required to compose
different types of writing, such as term papers or exam answers, throughout
their studies. “Academic writing” is a general term that refers to all writing
created for the purpose of study. University students are evaluated largely
based on their writing, so writing skills are essential for academic success.
1. Purpose
The main purpose of academic writing is to demonstrate knowledge of a
topic. Certain writing tasks, however, have more specific purposes, such
as:
• to explain a subject.
• to report research findings.
• to analyze and evaluate a subject.
• to express an opinion about an issue and persuade the reader to
accept it.
2. Audience
“Audience” refers to the reader of your writing. In academic writing,
your audience is usually the instructor of the course, who reads your essay
and evaluates it. However, whenever you write, it is often useful to
imagine that you are writing for a larger audience. This audience might:
• not know about the topic as thoroughly as your teacher does.
• have a background different from yours (e.g., is from another country)
and thus not have the same values or experiences as you. Keeping this
audience in mind will help you write so that your message is
communicated clearly and powerfully.
3. Evidence
Evidence is an important feature of academic writing. Any claim or
opinion from the writer must be supported with evidence, such as:
• examples.
• statistics.
• experts’ opinions.
Without evidence, the writer’s ideas might be considered unreliable or
even biased.
4. Style
In academic writing, you are expected to write in a certain style, which
includes:
• presenting ideas clearly and logically.
• having organized paragraphs.
• writing from a third person’s point of view.
• using formal language.
Pre-writing
Writing
Editing
Rewriting
Becoming competent in each step of the writing process will lead to better
writing. In fact, many writers repeat the last two steps (editing and rewriting)
and write a third or fourth draft before completing the final version.
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