ACADEMIC WRITING
PRESENTED BY,
MADHUMITHA B
(22PCP010)
SAKTHI MADHUMITHAA
(22PCP013)
CONTENTS
Forms of academic writing
1. Reflective reports
2. Analytical reports and
3. Descriptive reports
4. Tables and graphs in academic courses
5. Experiential learning : Individual/ group presentations
6. Issues in academic writing
7. Classroom assignments generating in Abstracts, posters and reviews.
REFLECTIVE REPORTS
• A reflection report is an essay that requires one to express their opinion on a
topic. In the paper one will analyse and reflect upon how a book, experience
or academic lecture shaped one’s thoughts and opinions on a subject.
• It is one of the only academic essays where you get to discuss your own
opinion and the best part is, there is no wrong answer.
Types of reflective reports
• Experiential- It is an analyses of a personal experience or observation. In
the paper, one will summarise and highlight underlying principles that
support their analysis of the experience.
• Textual- This type of paper analyses a written text, which can be an article,
essay or book. One’s opinion, analysis and interpretation of the material will
be backed up using specific quotations.
Formatting reflective report
• Introduction- This is where one will state their subject of reflection
and thesis.
• Body paragraph- One will describe their subject including their
thoughts, feelings and how the material has affected them.
• Conclusion- A summary of what one have found out, bringing their
arguments and opinions together to restate their original thesis.
• References
ANALYTICAL REPORT
• An analytical report is a type of business report that relies on
qualitative and quantitative company data to analyse and evaluate your
business strategy or process while helping your team make data-
driven decisions.
• The writing style and insights that analytics reports generate depend
on the industry.
Formatting analytical report
• A title page
• Table of contents
• A clause
• The main discussion
• The conclusions
• The recommendations
• Sections of bibliography or appendices
DESCRIPTIVE REPORT
● The descriptive report is a pragmatic, empirical study that can
contribute to the literature. Descriptive reports describe an event
or situation in an education setting, the resulting outcomes, and
what new information can be learned.
● These reports may use quantitative, qualitative, or mixed
methods and may be from organizational, academic,
instructional, programmatic, or other educational perspectives.
DESCRIPTIVE REPORT FORMAT
● Title
● Abstract
● Introduction
● Method
● Results
● Discussion
● Limitations
● Conclusion
● Reference
Tables and Graphs in Academic
Effective Use of Tables and Figures in Research Papers
● Research papers are often based on copious amounts of data that can be summarized
and easily read through tables and graphs. When writing a research paper, it is
important for data to be presented to the reader in a visually appealing way.
● The data in figures and tables, however, should not be a repetition of the data found in
the text.
● There are many ways of presenting data in tables and figures, governed by a few
simple rules.
● An APA research paper and MLA research paper both require tables and figures, but
the rules around them are different.
TYPES OF DATA
• Categorical Data includes variables that fall into distinct
categories, such as gender, occupation, or marital status.
Tables are the most effective way to present categorical data as
you can list the categories in rows or columns.
• Numerical Data is data that is measured or counted, such as
age, height, or income. Tables and graphs can both be used to
present numerical data, with graphs more commonly used to
highlight the relationships between the data, while tables are
used to present the actual values in a clearer way.
Contents of table
• Title: Tables should have a clear, descriptive title, which
functions as the “topic sentence” of the table. The titles can
be lengthy or short, depending on the discipline
• Column Titles: The goal of these title headings is to simplify
the table. The reader’s attention moves from the title to the
column title sequentially. A good set of column titles will
allow the reader to quickly grasp what the table is about.
• Table Body: This is the main area of the table where
numerical or textual data is located. Construct your table so
that elements read from up to down, and not across
GRAPHS
Graphs are most effective when presenting numerical data as they
help to illustrate the relationships between the data points. Graphs
should be used when you want to:
Show Trends: Graphs are ideal for showing trends or patterns in
the data.
Compare Data: Graphs can be used to compare data points
visually.
Highlight Differences: Graphs make it easy to highlight
differences between data points.
TYPES OF GRAPHS
● Line Graphs – Shows trends over time
● Bar Graphs – compare data over categories
● Pie Charts - Show proportion of data in each category
● Scatter Plots – Show relationship between two variables
● Histograms – Show distribution of data
Experiential learning
• Experiential learning is an engaged learning process whereby students
“learn by doing” and by reflecting on the experience.
• Experiential learning activities can include, internships, practicums,
field exercises, study abroad, undergraduate research and studio
performances.
• Well-planned, supervised and assessed experiential learning programs
can stimulate academic inquiry by promoting interdisciplinary
learning, civic engagement, career development, cultural awareness,
leadership, and other professional and intellectual skills.
Kolb’s cycle of experiential learning
Individual/ Group presentations
Paper Presentation Poster Presentation
Format: A paper presentation is typically an Format: Poster presentations can be done
individual assignment. individually or in groups.
Preparation: Students are tasked with writing a Preparation: Students research a specific academic
research paper on a specific academic writing issue, writing issue and condense their findings into a visual
such as citation styles, research methodology, or the poster format.
structure of academic essays.
Presentation: During the presentation session,
Presentation: After writing the paper, students students display their posters and provide brief
present their findings, insights, and recommendations explanations to their classmates and instructors.
in front of the class.
Assessment Criteria: Evaluate the content and
Assessment Criteria: Evaluate the quality of their organization of the poster, the clarity of visual
research, the clarity of their arguments, the elements, the effectiveness of the oral presentation,
effectiveness of their presentation, and their ability to and the ability to answer questions.
answer questions from the audience.
Benefits: Poster presentations enhance students'
Benefits: Paper presentations require students to delve ability to convey complex information concisely and
deep into a particular academic writing issue, conduct visually, a skill that is valuable in both academic and
research, and communicate their findings effectively. professional settings.
Individual/ Group presentations
Reports
Format: Reports can be assigned to individuals or groups.
Preparation: Assign students a specific topic or issue related to academic
writing and ask them to investigate it thoroughly.
Presentation: Students compile their research into a formal report, complete
with an introduction, literature review, methodology (if applicable), findings,
conclusions, and recommendations.
Assessment Criteria: Evaluate the structure and organization of the report,
the quality of research and analysis, and the ability to communicate findings
in a written format.
Benefits: Reports assess students' research, analytical, and report-writing
skills, which are essential in academic and professional contexts.
Issue in academic writing
• Citation style and referencing
• Research methodology
• Avoiding plagiarism
• Essay structure and organisation
• Grammar and language usage
Classroom assignments in generating
abstracts , posters and reviews
• Classroom assignments involving the generation of abstracts, posters,
and reviews are common in academic settings, especially in fields like
research, science, and humanities.
• These assignments help students develop specific skills related to
summarizing research, presenting findings visually, and critically
evaluating scholarly work
ABSTRACT
• The term "abstract" originates from the Latin word "abstractum," which
denotes a concise representation of a longer written work.
• There exist two primary categories of abstracts: (1) Descriptive abstracts
and (2) Informative abstracts. The choice of which type to compose hinges
on your specific field of study.
Why do we write abstract?
• Abstracts play a significant role in reports, research papers, and
occasionally academic tasks. They typically serve as the final component to
be written, yet they are the initial section that individuals read when seeking
a rapid overview of the entire paper. We recommend postponing the creation
of the abstract until the end of your writing process since this approach
allows you to have a more comprehensive understanding of your findings
and conclusions.
What makes a good abstract?
• Paragraph structure • Consistent language
• Content completeness • Lack of citation
• Exclusivity • Placement
• Language clarity
• Passive voice
Descriptive abstract Informative abstract
• Informative abstracts are generally used for
science, engineering or psychology reports. You
• Descriptive abstracts are generally used for must
humanities and social science papers or
psychology essays. • Get the essence of what your report is about,
usually in about 200 words. Most informative
• This type of abstract is usually very short (50-
100 words). Most descriptive abstracts have • Abstracts also have key parts in common. Each
of these parts might consist of 1-2 sentences. The
• certain key parts in common. They are:
• Parts include:
1. Background
1. Background
2. Purpose
2. Aim or purpose of research
3. Particular interest/focus of paper 3. Method used
4. Overview of contents (not always included) 4. Findings/results
5. Conclusion
How is an abstract differ to an
introduction?
Abstract Introduction
• The essence of the whole paper. • Introduces the paper.
• Covers the following academic • Covers the following academic
elements: Background, purpose elements: Background, purpose,
& focus , methods, results, proposition, outline of key issues
conclusion and and scope .
recommendations . • Introduces the paper and
• Summarizes briefly the whole foregrounds issues for
paper including the conclusions. discussion.
POSTER PRESENTATION
• Creating and presenting academic posters is a valuable method for
presenting one’s research at conferences and meetings. These posters
not only work for presentations but also provide a concise overview of
one’s project.
• Academic posters serve as a concise and visually appealing method to
present your research at conferences and meetings.
• Just like oral presentations, effective posters can spark discussions
among audience members.
• Hence, it's vital to have a well-thought-out plan for what to convey
when you're standing beside your poster. In this article, we emphasize
the key elements of crafting an impactful academic poster.
Information to include in the format
Headings
• This should be clear in bold and grab the reader's attention. It is
recommended you use a short, sharp heading relevant to your study.
• Title: Largest font size of your entire poster to be eye catching. Keep the
title as short as possible – it doesn't need to be a paragraph long.
• Type of manuscript: whether systematic review, research article or another
manuscript type.
• Authors: include everyone who has contributed.
• Affiliations: should come directly under authors. This should show which
organizations are represented by the authors and/or where the research took
place and also contact details.
Main body
• Introduction
• Methods
• Results
• Conclusion
• Reference
Font size
The conference may specify this, however, generally for the main body, size
24 is used for text and size 32 for titles. The introduction section at the top of
the poster should have a larger font than this
REVIEWS
• A scholarly review involves a comprehensive assessment and analysis of a
work, which can be an article, book, film, or performance, with the aim of
placing it within its academic context, emphasizing its importance, and
evaluating its impact on the field.
• In academia, reviews are vital for fostering scholarly discussions, enabling
researchers to engage with and react to each other's work. They also provide
a current perspective on a particular academic area.
• Aspiring review writers should study reviews in contemporary scholarly
journals to understand recent research trends and review-writing
conventions.
• It's essential to remember that your review should reflect your own
evaluation of the work, rather than relying on assessments from others in
journals or blogs.
Preparation for the review
Understand and analyse the work
Achieving a clear and accurate understanding of a work involves suspending
judgment and concentrating on describing or outlining the text, akin to
listening to the author's voice rather than your own.
Read critically
It's a process where readers inquire about the text, the author, themselves, and
the broader context, aiming to understand the author's choices and intentions.
Consider contexts
To provide a fair assessment of a book, reviewers should explore its context,
which can encompass the scholarly conversation it addresses, the author's
motivations, contemporary societal influences, or the relevance to the course
that necessitates the review.
Writing the review
Introduction
Introduce the work, the author (or director/producer), and the points you intend to make
about this work. In addition, you should
• Give relevant bibliographic information. Give the reader a clear idea of the nature, scope,
and significance of the work. Indicate your evaluation of the work in a clear 1-2 sentence
thesis statement.
Summary
Keep the summary of the work short! A paragraph or two should be sufficient. Summarize its
contents very briefly.
Analysis and evaluation
Analyze and explain the significance of the main points of the work. Evaluate the work,
answering questions such as the following:
• Does the work do what its author claimed it would?
• Is the work valid and accurate?
• How does the work fit into scholarship in the field?
• What are your reasons for agreeing, disagreeing, liking, disliking, believing, disbelieving?
Body paragraph
• The paragraph begins with a clear topic sentence that connects directly to a
strength mentioned in the thesis of the review.
• The paragraph provides specific details and examples to support how and why
their methods are innovative.
• The direct quotations used are short and properly integrated into the sentences.
• The paragraph concludes by explaining the significance of the innovative methods
to the larger work.
Conclusions and recommendations
• Give your overall assessment of the work. Explain the larger significance of your
assessment. Consider who would benefit from engaging with this work.
REFERENCE
• Gundogan, B., Koshy, K., Kurar, L., & Whitehurst, K. (2016). How to make an academic poster. Annals of medicine and surgery
(2012), 11, 69–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amsu.2016.09.001
• University of Adelaide. (2014). Writing an abstract. Retrieved from
https://www.adelaide.edu.au/writingcentre/ua/media/26/learningguide-writinganabstract.pdf
• Experiential learning. (n.d.). Boston University. https://www.bu.edu/ctl/guides/experiential-learning/
• How to write academic reviews - Academic skills - Trent University. (n.d.). Trent University • Peterborough • Durham, Ontario,
Canada - Trent University. https://www.trentu.ca/academicskills/how-guides/how-write-university/how-approach-any-
assignment/how-write-academic-reviews
• Implementing experiential learning in writing class | Yulianti | Uad TEFL International Conference. (n.d.). Universitas Ahmad
Dahlan Seminar Management System. https://seminar.uad.ac.id/index.php/utic/article/view/199
• University of Queensland. (2015, March 23). Experiential learning: AN overview. Institute for Teaching and Learning Innovation
- University of Queensland. https://itali.uq.edu.au/files/1264/Discussion-paper-Experiential_learning_an_overview.pdf
• Johnson, C. D., & Green, B. N. (2022). Education Descriptive Reports: How to Publish Pragmatic
Studies in Education. Journal of chiropractic humanities, 29, 15–21.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.echu.2022.06.001
• Analytical report: A definition and how to create one? (2020, April 17). Marketing Data Platform
for Marketers & Agencies | Whatagraph. https://whatagraph.com/blog/articles/analytical-report
• Enago Academy. (2023, September 11). Effective use of tables and figures in research
papers. https://www.enago.com/academy/how-to-use-tables-and-figures-to-effectively-organize-
data-in-research-papers/
• How to properly use tables and graphs in research. (2023, March 31).
FirstEditing™. https://www.firstediting.com/how-to-properly-use-tables-and-graphs-in-research/
• How to write a reflection paper. (2023, February 27). Royal Holloway International Study
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