Content introduction chapter I. The importance of academic writing

Focused, clear, and logical

One of the first things we tell writers is that they need to STAY ON TOPIC. As a matter of fact, we literally scream that phrase in class because it is so central to the writing process.
Writing needs to be about a specific topic and only about that range. Furthermore, readers need to be able to understand not just the words and ideas, but how they connect to form a larger argument. In other words, academic writing needs to make sense.

• 
  Convincing and interesting
  

An idea might make sense to a reader, but that doesn’t mean they agree with it. Academic writing needs to go beyond logical and also be convincing – readers should come away thinking the author has a good point.
Furthermore, regardless of the topic, academic writing should be engaging. Yes, academia can be dry, but it is the writer’s job to make a topic interesting and worth reading. All of the essay examples in the section above are thought-provoking and compelling, even when some of their topics might be less than exciting to all readers.

• 
  Based on evidence
  

Finally, academic writing needs to be true. Narrative essays are rarely fiction because if they were they would just be short stories, which are a whole different animal. 
Writers of academic work should provide evidence for their claims and assertions, and academic thinking needs to be based on what is real and can be stated with confidence rather than conjecture or outright fabrication.

Being Analytical and Knowledgeable
Academic writing requires one to take some time, focus, and think about the topic at hand. It means that you can’t make do with the things that come to your head the moment you see the topic. Instead, students are expected to devote a significant amount of time to researching the subject, reading and analyzing the sources, and shaping and communicating their own ideas. Doing academic writing regularly develops this sort of attitude where one doesn’t jump to conclusions but always prefers to analyze the situation and find the best solution. As a bonus, academic writing enriches students with knowledge which, in its own right, alters their perspective on life and helps them evolve. Although academic writing is usually a temporary stage in one’s life, the skills it can help develop are valuable for the rest of one’s life.