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English•Academic and Professional Writing

Academic writing

University 5 questions
AI-drafted from platform data — specialist review scheduledBy DigiTransact Mastermind editorial teamLast updated
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What academic writing means

You learn how to use sources carefully, put ideas into your own words, and build a clear line of argument. This matters because it helps you show understanding, avoid plagiarism, and write work that is trusted in assignments and tests.

What you will practise

  • Identify when a source needs a citation.
  • Paraphrase a writer's idea without copying sentence structure.
  • Choose the right referencing style for a task.
  • Link evidence to a clear academic point.
  • Spot plagiarism in short written examples.

Before you start

You should already be able to write clear sentences and organise a short paragraph. It also helps to know how to read a source and pick out its main idea.

Worked example

One question from this skill's own question bank, shown with its full working.

Question

Using someone elses ideas without acknowledging them is called:

  • Paraphrasing
  • Plagiarism
  • Citation
  • Synthesis
Answer: Plagiarism

Working: Plagiarism is presenting another persons work or ideas as your own.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Copying too many words from the source. Change the wording and keep the meaning.
  • Leaving out the citation after a paraphrase. Always acknowledge the source.
  • Using a quote when a paraphrase is better. Restate the idea if it fits your writing.
  • Mixing up referencing styles. Follow one style consistently across the piece.

Curriculum and exam alignment

Tertiary foundation coursework

In university and tertiary foundation study, this usually appears in early academic writing work and study skills units. It supports coursework and professional entrance tests by helping you present sources clearly and avoid unacknowledged borrowing.

Curriculum notes are a general guide to where this work normally sits. Always check the syllabus your school or examination body is currently using.

Related skills

Other Academic and Professional Writing skills in English, at the same point in the course.

Other English topics

Letters and SoundsEarly Reading and WritingSHS English and LiteratureGrammarVocabularyReading Comprehension

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Exams that assess academic writing

University work on this skill feeds directly into these exam papers. Each page lists the English topics that appear on it.

BECEBECE practice questionsListed as a related subject on the BECE practice page.WASSCEWASSCE practice questionsListed as a related subject on the WASSCE practice page.GESGES practice questionsListed as a related subject on the GES practice page.

How this page was produced

This text was drafted with AI assistance from the questions and topics already stored on the platform. A subject-specialist review is scheduled but has not yet been recorded, so we do not claim it here.

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5 questions with a worked answer after every attempt, and a SmartScore that tracks how close you are to mastery.

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