Developing Academic Communication Skills: A Detailed Literature Review

This literature review delves into the concept of academic writing, highlighting its significance in enhancing critical thinking and knowledge. It differentiates academic writing from other forms by emphasizing formal style, impersonal language, and proper referencing. The review explores the key characteristics of academic writing, including accuracy, precision, objectivity, and formality, while also outlining essential rules such as clarity, concise language, and the use of active voice. The document references various books and journals to support its analysis, providing a comprehensive overview of the skills necessary for effective academic communication. Desklib provides this document as well as additional resources like past papers and solved assignments to aid students in their academic pursuits.

DEVELOPING ACADEMIC
COMMUNICATION
SKILLS

TABLE OF CONTENTS
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................1
Concept of academic writing.......................................................................................................1
Difference between academic and other writing.........................................................................2
Characteristics of academic writing.............................................................................................3
Rules of the academic writing.....................................................................................................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

LITERATURE REVIEW
Concept of academic writing
In general, Davidson (2019) stated that academic writing basically means a clear vision,
thought and structure in a written form which an individual can understand its meaning. In other
words, it is a part of academic sessions which includes all the activities such as abstract, reports,
essay, presentations and many more. The main purpose of the academic writing is to provide a
sense to explain the research or theory in a meaningful concept. It is a way or method of
communication from which a single person can interact with another one. People utilize this
function to improve their knowledge and learning which will drive them to development.
According to, the academic writing plays a vital role in the every individual life. It helps to
increase and enhance the critical thinking and knowledge from which a person can prepare
themselves for the future happenings. In this function there are some characteristics which
applied in all the writings. A written report can describe the person internal soul as what they
think of that only they can write out. The pattern of conveying the message and speech can
express the actual meaning and understanding. Writing a language requires a stable research and
thought process from which they can convey the address in a better objective. A written report
contains the different factors from which an individual can express their concept and
understanding in a simple method. Looking at an objective, which introduces the formal tone
term which defines as whenever a person wants to describe its speech in a written form they
should know that a formal tone of writing will express their personality and professional level.
On other hand, Nikoulina (2020) also supported the above mentioned concept and
detailed about the various functions of writing a speech. The writing process can be done in
segmentations. At first an individual should make an appropriate research which will make them
to improve their searching ability and enhance the critical thinking. Secondly, a person should
have knowledge and purpose of the topic to convert them into an accurate form. At last, a person
should have an idea of writing pattern which includes the introduction, main body, conclusion
and references if needed. A good academic writing can help an individual in its academic and
even at professional level which will directly impact the performance in the career planning. In
writing, tenses plays an important role and 98% of the verbs has been used to make a proper
sentences. A grammar is the function from which a sentence and speech can be made in the
1

meaningful form. At last, the academic writing is the important part of the literature or even for
every individual which helps them to enhance their skills and abilities so that they can obtain the
best results at both sides either academic sessions or at professional level as well. An
understandable written speech can only express the exact theory to others and can made them to
know the clear vision accordingly.
Difference between academic and other writing
In this regard Lee, E. and Canagarajah, (2019) stated that there is huge difference between
academic writing and other writing. One of the main key difference or factor on which basis, we
can differentiate between academic and other writing is: formal style. In academic writing,
students or people need to use only formal words. For example: They cannot write the word
“So”. In academic writing, they need to use Therefore, Moreover, hence all of these words
instead of using the word “So”. Hence, on the basis of this, it can be said that style of writing and
words used in writing can help people out in differentiating between academic and other writing.
Personal style cannot be used in academic writing as it does not show formal style and accuracy.
By making use of impersonal style, students can complete their projects in academic writing and
in an effective manner.
Arumugam and et.al., (2018) argued and said that as per them language is one of the main
factor that differentiate academic writing with non-academic writing. In academic writing,
students are not allowed to use first person as it does not show impersonal style. Academic
writing is the one that shows professionalism and making it professional, students are required
making use of appropriate language by using third person. There is some academic writing in
which students are asked to use first person as per their requirements. Otherwise, there is no
usage of first person and non-academic language. Demirci and Okur, (2021) supported this view
and said that referencing or bibliography is other main factor along with language that can also
help people out in differentiating the difference between academic and other writing. Academic
writing is not considered as complete when it is not referenced or cited. It is important for
students to give evidence in order to show that content, used by them is being sourced from
authenticate and reliable books and sources. It can protect them against plagiarism and copying
2

of other people’s or students’ content. Hence, it can be said that by viewing referencing and
citation, people can differentiate between academic and non-academic writing.
Characteristics of academic writing
There are number of benefits or characteristics of academic writing as compared to others.
Ansarifar, Shahriari and Pishghadam, (2018) stated that one of the main feature of academic
writing is: accuracy and precision. Students need to write specific content relevant to their topic.
They cannot write hypothetically. Content, used in academic writing must be referenced or
evidenced in order to maintain accuracy. When writing is being written in formal manner then it
increases its accuracy and relevancy with the topic. Hence, in this context, it can be said that
students must follow all factors that represent academic writing. Other main feature of academic
writing is: description. Academic writing is being written in descriptive manner as it gives in
depth insight and increase knowledge of students.
Major characteristics of the academic writing are as it is written in the organised manner
and in a precise manner. it involves the facts and other things which are written precisely so that
it can be easily understood. Objectivity is the major aspect of the academic writing as it present
and it helps to evaluate the problems at the objective position. as the position which mainly
involves the concentration and which is informed by the research instead of opinion and
emotions. In this the pronouns as “I, we, You” are avoided as these are majorly influenced by the
personal opinions. Formality in the academic writing define as it gives the proper information to
the reader so that they can easily understand the meaning and concept of the topic. As in which
there is no informal language which distract the focus from the topic. Academic writing are
written in the direct or precise manner so that it will not confuse the reader, it enables the reader
to focus on the subject and enhance their understanding over the topic. In which the content is
written in the order, or in a logical manner also give the point to point details so reader can easily
indulge with the topic.
Rules of the academic writing
According to the view of Donahue, (2018) academic writing has the certain rules in which it is
written, as first is to design the aim for the clarity, as for writing in this manner reader need to
simply clear their ideas, in this they need to ensure not to use the jargon words as this writing use
3

thee professional writing tone. To begin the work from the outline as to build the points to
outline the ideas which need to be include in the article, it is beneficial if the writer wants to
change the article therefore outlining is the best way to start with. Always right the things in a
precisely manner so that it can be easily understood by the reader, otherwise there is no point for
writing the article. As per the view of Akhtar, Hassan and Saidalvi, (2020) in academic writing
it is important to write the one idea in one paragraph which provide the information to the reader
about the topic as what it is about. Using more than one idea in one paragraph might confuse the
reader. In academic writing the sentences are written in the precise manner therefore writer
writes the short sentences so that it can be easily read by the reader to develop interest for them
to read whole article. In this writing pattern active voice is used as it easily explain as what are
actions in the sentences therefore passive voice should be avoided in this writing. Therefore in
the academic writing there is no complexity because the sentences are written in the short
manner and in this there is no use of the complicated vocabulary. Therefore it is able to enable
the reader to read the articles which are written in this tone and easily understand the language
which is written.
4

5

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Akhtar, R., Hassan, H. and Saidalvi, A., 2020. The effects of ESL student's attitude on academic
writing apprehensions and academic writing challenges. International Journal of
Psychosocial Rehabilitation. 24(05). pp.5404-5412.
Ansarifar, A., Shahriari, H. and Pishghadam, R., 2018. Phrasal complexity in academic writing:
A comparison of abstracts written by graduate students and expert writers in applied
linguistics. Journal of English for Academic Purposes. 31. pp.58-71.
Arumugam, N. and et.al., 2018. Prewriting discussion and academic writing. Advanced Science
Letters. 24(4). pp.2569-2572.
Davidson, P., 2019. What is Academic Writing?. Edited by: Wafa Zoghbor, Suhair Al Alami, &
Thomaï Alexiou.p.12.
Demirci, T. and Okur, S., 2021. The Effect of Teaching Science through Storytelling on
Students’ Academic Achievement, Story Writing Skills and Opinions about
Practice. Education Quarterly Reviews. 4(2).
Donahue, C., 2018. Rhetorical and linguistic flexibility: Valuing heterogeneity in academic
writing education. In Transnational Writing Education (pp. 21-40). Routledge.
Lee, E. and Canagarajah, S., 2019. The connection between transcultural dispositions and
translingual practices in academic writing. Journal of Multicultural Discourses, 14(1),
pp.14-28.
Nikoulina, A., 2020. An exploratory study of academic writing literacy and research skills of
graduate business students. Journal of Perspectives in Applied Academic Practice. Vol.8(1).
Online references
A, B., 2018. [Online]. Available through <>
6