Academic writing versus essay

• Academic writing and essay writing

have some differences, although they
are closely related and share some
similarities. Here are a few key
differences between the two:
• 1. Purpose: Academic writing is primarily
focused on conveying knowledge and
information to an academic audience. It aims
to present research findings, analyze theories,
and contribute to the existing body of
knowledge in a specific field. On the other
hand, essay writing is more flexible and can
have various purposes, such as persuading,
informing, or entertaining the readers.
 Received 13 May 2024, Accepted 27 Sep
2024, Published online: 12 Oct 2024
• This work studies the possibility of reducing the toxicity of water laden with 2,4-
dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) using a commercial activated carbon (AC).
Multiple structural and textural characterization techniques including Fourier
transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM/EDS),
point of zero charge (pHzpc) determination, Boehm titration, iodine number,
Methylene blue index, and BET analysis measurements were performed on the
commercial AC. Various parameters affecting adsorption were studied and well-
known isotherms models in their linear and non-linear forms were applied for
fitting equilibrium data. The kinetic data was analyzed using intraparticle diffusion,
pseudo-first and second-order kinetic models. Density functional modeling (DFT) of
2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid was used to investigate the origin of the reactivity.
The AC surface area was found to be 1017 m2⋅g−1. A contact time of 30 min, an AC
dose of 4 g⋅L−1 and a pH of 6.2 resulted in a maximum adsorption capacity of
235.55 ± 6.43 mg⋅g−1. The thermodynamic study revealed that the adsorption
process was physical, spontaneous and endothermic. The adsorption process was
governed by second-order kinetics and controlled by intraparticle diffusion
• 2. Structure: Academic writing follows a specific
structure that includes an introduction, literature
review, methodology, results, discussion, and
conclusion. The structure is typically more formal
and structured. In contrast, essay writing can
have different structures based on the topic and
purpose. It may include an introduction, body
paragraphs, and a conclusion, but the
organization can be more flexible and creative.
• 3. Tone and style: Academic writing tends to have
a more formal tone and style. It avoids personal
pronouns, slang, and colloquial language. The
focus is on presenting objective information and
evidence-based arguments. Essay writing, on the
other hand, can be more personal and subjective.
It allows the use of personal pronouns and a
more conversational tone, depending on the type
of essay and its intended audience.
• 4. References and citations: Academic writing
heavily relies on external sources and requires
proper referencing and citation of all the
sources used. It must follow a specific citation
style, such as APA, MLA, or Chicago. Essay
writing, while also benefiting from external
sources, may not require as strict referencing
or citation guidelines, especially in more
creative or personal essays.
• 5. Audience: Academic writing is mainly
directed towards an academic or specialized
audience, such as researchers, scholars, or
students in the same field. It assumes a certain
level of knowledge and familiarity with the
topic. In contrast, essay writing can target a
broader audience, including general readers or
individuals with varying levels of expertise on
the subject.
• It is important to note that these differences
are not always absolute, as academic writing
can sometimes incorporate elements of essay
writing, and vice versa. The specific
requirements and expectations of each writing
task may vary depending on the educational
institution, discipline, or assignment
guidelines.
 Why bother with prewriting?
• 1. To find a definite direction for your writing assignment
• 2. To help organize your ideas before trying to write your first
draft
• 3. To build off of ideas and think of new ones
• Questions to ask yourself when beginning a writing
assignment:
• 1. Were you given a topic, or can you choose one?
• 2. What is the purpose of this assignment? Are you informing,
persuading, analyzing, entertaining, or summarizing for your
readers?
• 3. What are the five W’s of the assignment? Who? What?
When? Where? Why?
Six steps of the writing process
 PREWRITING STRATEGIES

• Pre-writing strategies use writing to generate

and clarify ideas. While many writers have
traditionally created outlines before beginning
writing, there are other possible prewriting
activities. Five useful strategies are
brainstorming, clustering, free writing,
looping, and asking questions.
• Brainstorming, also called listing, is a process of
generating a lot of information within a short time by
building on the association of previous terms you have
mentioned.
• Jot down all the possible terms that emerge from the
general topic you are thinking about. This procedure
works especially well if you work in a team. All team
members can generate ideas, with one member acting
as scribe. Don't worry about editing or throwing out
what might not be a good idea. Simply write down a lot
of possibilities.
Group the items that you have listed according
to arrangements that make sense to you.
Give each group a label. Now you have a topic
with possible points of development.
Write a sentence about the label you have
given the group of ideas. Now you have a topic
sentence or possibly a thesis statement.
 CLUSTERING

• Clustering is also called mind mapping or idea

mapping. It is a strategy that allows you to
explore the relationships between ideas.
• Put the subject in the center of a page. Circle or
underline it.
• As you think of other ideas, link the new ideas
to the central circle with lines.
• As you think of ideas that relate to the new
ideas, add to those in the same way
• The result will look like a web on your page. Locate
clusters of interest to you, and use the terms you
attached to the key ideas as departure points for your
paper.
• Clustering is especially useful in determining the
relationship between ideas. You will be able to
distinguish how the ideas fit together, especially where
there is an abundance of ideas. Clustering your ideas
lets you see them visually in a different way, so that you
can more readily understand possible directions your
paper may take.
 FREEWRITING
• Free-writing is a process of generating a lot of
information by writing non-stop. It allows you
to focus on a specific topic, but forces you to
write so quickly that you are unable to edit
any of your ideas.
• Free-write on the assignment or general topic for several
5-10 minutes non-stop. Force yourself to continue writing
even if nothing specific comes to mind. This free-writing
will include many ideas; at this point, generating ideas is
what is important, not the grammar or the spelling.
• After you've finished free-writing, look back over what
you have written and highlight the most prominent and
interesting ideas; then you can begin all over again, with
a tighter focus. You will narrow your topic and, in the
process, you will generate several relevant points about
the topic.
 LOOPING

• Looping is a free-writing technique that allows you to

increasingly focus your ideas in trying to discover a writing
topic. You loop one 5-10 minute free-writing after another,
so you have a sequence of free-writings, each more specific
than the other. The same rules that apply to free-writing
apply to looping: write quickly, do not edit, and do not stop.
• Free-write on an assignment for 5-10 minutes. Then, read
through your free-writing, looking for interesting topics,
ideas, phrases, or sentences. Circle those you find
interesting. A variation on looping is to have a classmate
circle ideas in your free-writing that interests him or her.
• Then free-write again for 5-10 minutes on one of the
circled topics. You should end up with a more specific
free-writing about a particular topic.
• Loop your free-writing again, circling another
interesting topic, idea, phrase, or sentence. When you
have finished four or five rounds of looping, you will
begin to have specific information that indicates what
you are thinking about a particular topic. You may even
have the basis for a tentative thesis or an improved idea
for an approach to your assignment when you have
finished.
 BRAINSTORMING:

• 1. Use a blank paper or computer screen and

set a time limit of 2-4 minutes
• 2. Summarize the topic in a phrase or
sentence;
• Generate a free flow of thought
• 3. Write down everything that comes to mind
to generate a free flow of thought:
• Think of ideas related to this topic, the crazier the
better: be wild and amuse yourself; eliminate
nothing
• 4. Make up questions and answers about the topic,
no matter how strange: Why am I doing this? What
could be interesting about this to me?
• 5. Review:
• Are there words or ideas you can grab onto for the
topic?
• Is there a main idea within this sequence of ideas?
 FOCUSED FREE WRITING
• 1. Use a blank paper or computer screen and set a time
limit of 2 - 4 minutes
• 2. Summarize the topic in a phrase or sentence; generate a
free flow of thought
• 3. Write anything that comes to mind, whether on topic
or off, for the period of time you chose,
• 4. Don’t pause, don't stop.
• don't rush; work quickly
• 5. Don’t review...
• ...what you have written until you have finished
• 6. At the end of your time, refer back to the beginning:
• o Rephrase the initial topic
• o Repeat a word, phrase, or important
thought or emotion that makes sense.
• 7. Review:
• o Are there words or ideas you can grab onto
for the topic?
• o Is there a main idea to this sequence of
ideas?
 Examples of writing using clustering
• 1. The impact of Technology on Society
• 2. Impact of Climate Change on Our Planet (country)
• 3. Mental Health Awareness Among Youth
• 4. Artificial Intelligence: Boon or Bane?
• 5. Sustainable Living and Environmental Conservation
• 6. The Influence of Social Media on Teenagers
• 7. Equality and Diversity in the 21 st Century
• 8. The Future of Work Post-Pandemia
• 9. Space Exploration and Its Importance
• 10. Renewable Energy