Good academic writing

What is good academic writing?

In this section, you'll familiarise yourself with the key characteristics of good academic writing - which will also let you understand the criteria by which your work is being marked.

What makes a good piece of writing? If you have not done so already, add a post to the Padlet wall above and read what your classmates have written. The university defines good academic writing according to a set of assessment criteria, which it's important to understand.

Marking criteria

here.

Now have a look at the UG essay criteria here. There's no need to read them all at this point - focus on the headings. These headings tell you the key things that make for good academic writing (not just good undergraduate essays). All of them are covered in this foundation seminar course. Hover your mouse over the boxes for more.

Argument & Analysis

Knowledge & Understanding

Language & Expression

Scholarly Appartus

Stop and think: which of these aspects of academic writing do you feel most and least confident about? Which are areas of strength in the example you're looking at? The rest of this week's material focuses on argument & analysis.

Further resources

This video by Prof Alison Jack discusses the marking criteria in more detail - and has lots of good advice about how to write better essays.