Scholarly writing

Scholarly writing is the genre of writing used in colleges and universities by students and professors to report and share knowledge.

Characteristics

It consists of certain conventions that can vary between disciplines, but always involves:

• An argument or interpretation
• Data and evidence that is reliable and verifiable
• Citations and bibliography or works cited

Other characteristics include:

• Research--a review of scholarly literature peer reviewed by scholars
• An introductory paragraph, body paragraphs supported with evidence, and a conclusion
• Strong thesis and topic sentences
• Strong organization
• Demonstrates clear, critical thinking
• A comparison of claims to the claims of others
• Peer review

Purpose of and Viewpoints on Scholarly (Academic) Writing

Typically scholarly writing has an objective stance, clearly states the significance of the topic, and is organized with adequate detail so that other scholars could try to reproduce the results. Strong papers are not overly general and correctly utilize formal academic rhetoric.

In "They Say, I Say," academic writing is stated as having "one underlying feature: it is deeply engaged in some way with other people's views" (Graff/Birkenstein, 3). Academic writing is the challenging ability to incorporate another’s ideas in balance with your ideas and make the transition seamless, while also writing effectively and meaningfully. Therefore when it comes to constructing an argument...remember that you are entering a conversation and therefore need to start with "what others are saying"...(18)

"In the real world, we make arguments because someone has said or done something (or perhaps not said or done something) and we need to respond" (3). Academic writing is often based off of human emotion and contradicting action or behavior, thus the importance of this notion of academic writing.

Academic writing does not simply have to be a lethal combination of confusing words and complicated sentences. Instead, it can and often is a completely different form of writing as considered in the book. "Academic writing can - and in our world should - be relaxed, easy to follow, and even a little bit fun," the authors write (115). Now this isn't to say the book discourages or frowns upon using big words and phrases - because it doesn't - but the message is clear; we absolutely do not have to in order to be effective, academic writers.

References

• Graff, Gerald, & Birkenstein, Cathy. "They Say, I Say; The Moves that Matter in Academic Writing." W. W. Norton & Company, New York, 2006. -Jordan Schultz and Aaron Steinberg
• Occidental College Center for Academic Excellence

See also

• Related to "Composition Studies": Composition studies