Academic writing

Abstract

These elements contribute to a text sounding informal, and they also result in the text sounding personal and subjective. This is because these elements make the reader aware of the writer’s presence in the text, and the writer’s opinions and attitudes. Academic language typically does not contain these elements, and as a result it is characterised as impersonal and objective. However, you have no doubt heard your lecturers and tutors say that they want to know what you think about a particular issue, event, or theory. In other words, your lectures want to know your opinion. This is evident in essay questions such as: