Academic writing as defined in Oxford Dictionary (Weiner, 1989) is a formal and factual style of writing that is used for essays, research papers and other academic texts. The most common purposes in academic writing are to persuade, analyse/synthesise, and inform. Academic writing is a means of producing, codifying, transmitting, evaluating, renovating, teaching, and learning knowledge and ideology in academic disciplines.

The English Academic Writing Purposes is relevant to student teachers of English as a Second Language as it provides an understanding of the fundamentals of using English for academic purposes in all the four skills in order to cope with the demands of an undergraduate study. Academic writing is clear, concise, focussed, structured and backed up by evidence. Its purpose is to aid the reader's understanding. It has a formal tone and style, but it is not complex and does not require the use of long sentences and complicated vocabulary. Writers may give specific examples as evidence to support their general claims or arguments. Examples can also be used to help the reader or listener understand unfamiliar or difficult concepts, and they tend to be easier to remember.

The simplest type of academic writing is descriptive. Its purpose is to provide facts or information. An example would be a summary of an article or a report of the results of an experiment. The kinds of instructions for a purely descriptive assignment include: 'identify', 'report', 'record', 'summarise' and 'define'.

Descriptive

It is one of the simplest types of academic writing.

The main objective of it is to give information or facts about the subject area.

An example of descriptive writing would be a summary of a study or a report of an experiment's results.

The other types of academic writing include scholarly essays, working papers, research reports, thesis and dissertations.

Scientific Essays

Refers to a short scholarly essay on a topic or problem based on data obtained through library references and / or fieldwork. The description is rational-empirical and objective. Consists of three parts, namely, introduction, content, and conclusion.

Paper work

Scholarly writing that displays a fact or problem based on fieldwork data and / or library references. The analysis in the paper is more serious as well as rational-empirical and objective in nature. Papers are usually written for publication in academic journals or presented in scholarly meetings such as seminars, workshops, conventions and so on.

Study Report

A study or research report is a scholarly writing that conveys information or facts about something to another party. The description is also based on scientific methodology and based on fieldwork data and / or library references.

Thesis

A thesis is a scholarly writing of a more in -depth nature. Express new knowledge gained from own observations or research. This scientific writing involves testing hypotheses to prove the truth. Theses are usually written by Bachelor and Master level students and need to be defended in front of a panel.

Dissertation

A dissertation is the highest level of scholarly writing in the hierarchy of academic achievement, which is to obtain the title of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D). The dissertation involves facts in the form of the author's own findings based on scientific methodology and detailed analysis. Like a thesis, a dissertation must also be presented and defended in front of a viva-voce panel or board.

Academic writers may cover a range of topics, but the academic writing form tends to exhibit certain identifiable characteristics. Academic writing often:

• Has an explicit (clearly stated ) thesis, a claim made or position taken by the writer.

• Has a formal tone, which enables the writer’s credibility or ethos as a scholar.

• Focuses on research and evidence that form the basis of support for the writer’s claim.

• Follows academic conventions, such as correct grammar, punctuation, and documentation.

• Presents a clear pattern of organization.

• Acknowledges counterarguments, especially to show how the writer’s own position may be strengthened by an opposing point of view.

• Established logical connections among parts through transitions.