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Academic writing: Home

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Academic writing is one of the most important skills to master at university. Good academic writing refines and focuses the writer's ideas through research and interrogation, then clearly states and properly supports those ideas with effective argumentation and adequate evidence. Achieving a clear, well-argued text requires the development of numerous sub-skills. Have a look at the factsheets in the "related resources" box on this page.

One-to-one writing support

The Writing Support service is for all students and researchers and can help you with 

  • Critical analysis 

  • Structure

  • Different assignment types and genres (reflective writing, dissertations, etc.)

  • Planning 

  • Writing styles

  • Understanding feedback

45 minute appointments are available to support you with your academic writing. Support tutorials are delivered using Microsoft Teams or you can reply to the email to request a face-to-face appointment. To check availability and book, please select Schedule Appointment below.  

schedule appointment - click here

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Image used: shutterstock_352880381. Image edited by Southampton University library.

Related resources:

Introduction to academic writing (PDF): Get started with the 6Cs of good academic writing.

Writing process (PDF): Refine your writing process.

Writing layers (PDF): Use a layered approach when editing your writing.

Writing critically (PDF): Become a master of analysis.

Academic Phrasebank by University of Manchester.  

English for Uni by The University of Adelaide. 

Writing Handouts by Queen's University. 

Writing Handouts by University of North Carolina. 

General Writing Resources by Purdue University Online Writing Lab.

Log in to Skills for Study and download the following titles:

Academic Keywords in Titles

Academic Writing FAQs

Critical and Analytical Thinking
 
Framework for an Argumentative Essay
 
Guidelines for Using Harvard Referencing System

Personalise Your Learning

Plagiarism FAQs

 

Planning and Structuring FAQs

 

Priority Organizer

 

Reading Effectively FAQs

 

Referencing FAQs

 

Selecting Your Reading

 

Working Backwards from Deadlines

 

 

The Assignment Planner is a step-by-step guide to help you manage the stages of your research, planning, drafting, and editing. You can save your work and return to the planner at any time.

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