Academic writing review

Much of the research on academic writing has been based on specific features that the concept arises. According to this issue, Mac Donald (1994) asserts that “a general academic register, a formal style, a proficiency in language use, the ability to integrate information from other sources, and [knowledge of] the types of genres academic writing deals with” (as citied in Pintos & Crimi, 2010, p 10) are key characteristics to acknowledge academic writing.
In particular, journal entries, critical incidents, journal articles and vignettes among others, can be cited as examples of academic writing when they follow the conventions previously mentioned. Different types of expository texts in formal writing can be found in a variety of contexts, such as the Internet, books, magazines and so forth.
The role of citations is believed to perform a significant part as well. “[O]riginal ideas and expressions are the acknowledged property of their creators (as is the case with a patent for an invention).” (p. 125) (as cited in Pintos & Crimi, 2010, p. 18). Not only plagiarism is avoided but also ideas are supported by other author’s words, conferring value and status to thoughts and opinions.
Academic writing is closely related to professional growth. As Pintos and Crimi (2010) state, this type of writing is considered as a construction rather than a translation processs in which knowledge is generated and created through new concepts and ideas. Interaction between new specific content and formal schemas of academic discourse is a significant process to help people grow in their professions.





Reference

Pintos, V., & Crimi, Y. (2010). Unit 3: Academic writing. Retrieved September 2010, from
http://caece.campusuniversidad.com.ar/mod/resource/view.php?id=7392