ACADEMIC WRITING

Structure
Title
Introduction
Transitions
Conclusion

Structure

Most academic writing (e.g. an essay, a report, a project) are organized in similar ways. Different parts of the writing are linked, arranged and organised together to build a clear, easily readable structure. This structure generally includes three main areas: an introduction, the development of main idea (s) or arguments, and a conclusion. Each part will include sentences and paragraphs that are linked together by words or phrases (connectors, linking words, transitional words).

A text is structured by its different paragraphs. However, it is important that the structure of the writing is outlined in the introduction part of the text and that the writing follows this outline. For each point stated in the outline there should be a corresponding paragraph in the text and vice versa. Each paragraph should be logically connected to the next, which then creates a smooth flow of reading from one part to the next. It is important that the outline in the introduction matches the body and conclusion of the text.