define academic essay

In this lesson, you'll learn what academic writing is and how to write an academic essay. You'll get to take a look at an example, and then test your knowledge with a quiz. What Is Academic Writing?Imagine someone starting a conversation about sports with questions like, 'So, what do you think Tiger Woods will wear in his next golf match?' or 'Which Raider do you think is the best father?' Sports fans know that sports is not a matter of wardrobe or good parenting; it's about plays, scores, contracts, winners and losers. This person is not asking the 'right' questions because he or she has not understood the terms, values and rules of sports talk. Likewise, there are terms, values and rules that you must know, accept and use in order to actively participate in the conversations, or discourse, of the academic community. Academic writing is the process of breaking down ideas and using deductive reasoning, formal voice and third person point-of-view. It is about what you think and what evidence has contributed to that thinking. MethodHow do you write academically? Start by introducing your topic. Try using a series of questions about the topic, using startling or unusual facts or figures, defining an important, subject-related term or quoting a well-known expert on your topic or a literary work. State your main idea clearly. This is your thesis statement. It contains the focus of your essay and tells your reader what the essay is going to be about. The thesis statement is usually located at the end of your introduction. State the main idea of each paragraph. These are the topic sentences. They contain the focus of your paragraphs and tell your reader what each paragraph is going to be about. Topic sentences are usually located at the beginning of each paragraph. Each paragraph should flow smoothly from one to the next (e.g. the first sentence in each new paragraph should.
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What is a Definition Essay? A definition essay is writing that explains what a term means. Some terms have definite, concrete meanings, such as glass, book, or tree. Terms such as honesty, honor, or love are abstract and depend more on a person's point of view. Three Steps to Effective Definition Tell readers what term is being defined. Present clear and basic information. Use facts, examples, or anecdotes that readers will understand. Choosing a Definition Choosing a definition is a key step in writing a definition essay. You need to understand the term before you can define it for others. Read the dictionary, but don't just copy the definition. Explain the term briefly in your own words. Also, it's important to limit your term before you start defining it. For example, you could write forever on the term love. To limit it, you would write about either romantic love, platonic love, or first love. Thesis Statement of a Definition Essay The thesis statement usually identifies the term being defined and provides a brief, basic definition. (term) (basic definition) Ex: Assertiveness is standing up for your rights. How To Write an Effective Definition Create a definition. There are several ways to define a term. Here are a few options. Define by function. Explain what something does or how something works. Define by structure. Tell how something is organized or put together. Define by analysis. Compare the term to other members of its class and then illustrate the differences. These differences are special characteristics that make the term stand out. For example, compare a Siberian husky to other dogs, such as lap dogs, mutts, or sporting dogs. (term) (precise definition) Ex: A Siberian husky is a dog reputed for its ability to tolerate cold, its distinctive features, and its keen strength and stamina. Define by what the term does not mean. This distinction can.
A clear sense of argument is essential to all forms of academic writing, for writing is thought made visible. Insights and ideas that occur to us when we encounter the raw material of the world—natural phenomena like the behavior of genes, or cultural phenomena, like texts, photographs and artifacts—must be ordered in some way so others can receive them and respond in turn. This give and take is at the heart of the scholarly enterprise, and makes possible that vast conversation known as civilization. Like all human ventures, the conventions of the academic essay are both logical and playful. They may vary in expression from discipline to discipline, but any good essay should show us a mind developing a thesis, supporting that thesis with evidence, deftly anticipating objections or counter-arguments, and maintaining the momentum of discovery. Motive and Idea An essay has to have a purpose or motive; the mere existence of an assignment or deadline is not sufficient. When you write an essay or research paper, you are never simply transferring information from one place to another, or showing that you have mastered a certain amount of material. That would be incredibly boring—and besides, it would be adding to the glut of pointless utterance. Instead, you should be trying to make the best possible case for an original idea you have arrived at after a period of research. Depending upon the field, your research may involve reading and rereading a text, performing an experiment, or carefully observing an object or behavior. By immersing yourself in the material, you begin to discover patterns and generate insights, guided by a series of unfolding questions. From a number of possibilities, one idea emerges as the most promising. You try to make sure it is original and of some importance; there is no point arguing for something already known, trivial, or widely accepted.