Academic Writing

Analyse
Give examples
Assess/Evaluate
Deal with a complex subject by reducing it to the main
elements
Describe
Divide into section and discuss each critically
Discuss
Break down into the various parts and their relationships
Examine/Explore
Make a proposal and support it
Illustrate
Look at various aspects of a topic, compare benefits and
drawbacks
Outline/Trace
Give a detailed account of something
Suggest
Explain a topic briefly and clearly
Summarise
Decide the value or worth of a subject

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(d) What are the most significant sources of renewable energy? Evaluate their

contribution to the reduction of carbon emissions.
(e) Discuss the response of buildings and soil to earthquakes, indicating what
measures can be used to ensure structural stability.
4 Brainstorming
It is often helpful to start thinking about a topic by writing down the ideas you have, in any
order. Taking the example from 3(a), you might collect the following points:
Growth of e-commerce – likely results
Main reasons
•
Businesses can offer a wider range of products via Internet
•
More convenient for customers than travelling to shops
•
Businesses can reduce overheads by centralising distribution centres
•
Prices can often be lower
Likely results
•
Decline in conventional shops
•
Growth in delivery businesses
•
Shopping centres become entertainment areas
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Working with a partner, brainstorm ideas for the title below.
1.5: From Understanding Titles to Planning
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What are the benefits of learning a second language at primary school (age
6–10)? Are there any drawbacks to early language learning?

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5 Essay length
Coursework essays usually have a required length, normally between 1,000 and 5,000 words.
You must keep to this limit, although 5 per cent more or less is generally acceptable. However,
at the planning stage, you need to consider what proportion of the essay to give to each part
of the question.
As a basic guide, 20 per cent is usually sufficient for the introduction and conclusion together
(references are not included in the word count). Therefore, in a 2,000-word essay, the
introduction and conclusion would have 400 words and the main body 1,600 words.
If this was the length given for title 3(a) above, you might decide on the following allocation:
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