Academic Writing: A Handbook for International Students

by Stephen Bailey

Overview

Writing essays and dissertations can be a major concern for overseas students studying at English-medium colleges and universities. Virtually all courses contain a large degree of written assessment and it is essential to ensure that your writing skills meet the necessary standard. Academic Writing is a new kind of writing course for all international students who have to write exams or coursework in English. This practical book thoroughly explains the writing process and covers all the key writing skills.

Clearly organised into four parts, Academic Writing allows both teachers and students to quickly find the help they need with all writing tasks. Each part is split into short sections containing explanations, diagrams and practice exercises, for use in the classroom or self-study. Newly revised and updated, this second edition contains extra exercises and material - much of which has been suggested by teachers and students.

The text is complemented with cross-references and answers are provided to the exercises. Various writing models, such as CVs, letters and essays are also included. Thorough and authoritative, the book: Explains the writing process, from understanding the title to proofreading, Covers key writing skills such as referencing and paraphrasing, Contains twenty-three units on accuracy in writing, Is adaptable for both long and short courses. Any international student wishing to maximise his or her academic potential will find this practical and easy-to-use guide to writing in English a truly indispensable resource.

About the Author:
Stephen Bailey taught English to students in the Czech Republic, Spain, Japan and Malaysia

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781032834184
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	03/14/2025
Edition description:	6th ed.
Pages:	426
Product dimensions:	7.44(w) x 9.69(h) x (d)

About the Author

Stephen Bailey has taught English for Academic Purposes at the University of Nottingham and Derby University. Previously he taught students in Barcelona, Tokyo, Johor Bahru and Prague. He now lives in Derbyshire with his wife and daughter. His other books include Academic Writing for International Students of Business (Routledge) and The Essentials of Academic Writing for International Students (Routledge).

Table of Contents

Introduction     vii
Acknowledgements     ix
The Writing Process
Student Introduction     1
Background to Writing     3
Avoiding Plagiarism     7
From Titles to Outlines     9
Evaluating Texts     13
Understanding Purpose and Register     17
Selecting Key Points     21
Note-making     25
Paraphrasing     29
Summary Writing     32
Combining Sources     36
Planning Essays     39
Organising Paragraphs     43
Organising the Main Body     48
Introductions     52
Conclusions     56
Rewriting and Proof-reading     60
Elements of Writing
Student Introduction     65
Argument     67
Cause and Effect     70
Cohesion     73
Comparison     75
Definitions     79
Discussion     82
Examples     86
Generalisations     89
Numbers     92
Opening Paragraphs     96
References and Quotations     99
Restatement and Repetition     103
Style     105
Synonyms     109
Variation in Sentence Length     112
Visual Information     114
Accuracy in Writing
Student Introduction     119
Abbreviations     121
Academic Vocabulary     124
Adverbs     127
Articles     130
Caution     133
Confusing Pairs     136
Conjunctions     138
Nationality Language     142
Nouns and Adjectives     144
Nouns - Countable and Uncountable     147
Nouns - Umbrella     150
Prefixes and Suffixes     152
Prepositions     155
Punctuation     158
Relative Pronouns     161
Singular or Plural?     164
Time Words and Phrases     166
Verbs - Formality     169
Verbs - Modal     172
Verbs - Passives     175
Verbs and Prepositions     178
Verbs of Reference     180
Verbs - Tenses     182
Writing Models
Student Introduction     185
Formal Letters     187
CVs     189
Reporting and Designing Surveys      191
Taking Ideas from Sources     194
Comparison Essay     197
Discussion Essay     199
Writing Tests     201
Answers     204
Sources     259

Editorial Reviews

Academic Writing is organized in a way that makes sense for teaching writing skills. The content covers a diverse body of samples from various fields, so it works wonderfully for my undergrad or graduate students. I especially like the section on common language errors, which includes extra practice for students; there is a good balance between writing instruction and discrete skill practice. It isn’t easy to find a text that addresses plagiarism in a way that is clear for students to understand, and this text does the job!

Ixchell Reyes, University of Southern California, USA

This book is an excellent example of inclusive teaching. It is aimed primarily at international students, but reaches further, as it is equally useful for British students and students who come from a more practice-focused background. It is also a strong companion to books on research methods that need a solid basis for academic skills. The clear structure, accessible content, and well thought through activities in this book, all give students the confidence to write effective academic work without the fear of breaking rules of plagiarism or academic malpractice. This is the book I recommend to all my students at the beginning of each academic year, independent of the subject I teach and the composition of my cohort.

Maria Lonsdale, University of Leeds, UK

Academic Writing is simply organised, allowing ease of access for beginner writers and specifically introducing them to the language needed to enter the conversations on academic writing.

Djuddah Leijen, University of Tartu, Estonia

The 5th edition of Academic Writing includes many new features which are extremely useful for all university students who are inexperienced in writing for academic purposes. The book provides both information on important aspects of academic writing and practice exercises which all students will find invaluable. It is a useful book for anyone who is new to writing for academic purposes, regardless of her level of proficiency in English.

Radhika Jaidev, Singapore Institute of Technology, Singapore

An excellent book that, although aimed at international students, would also benefit UK students who come from a more practise-focused background. Study skills tutors can use it to strengthen particular issues or areas of study that students might be struggling with.

Jan Beechey, Dyslexia Review

From the Publisher