Learning How to Write in My Subject Area

The term ‘academic writing’ is rather vague. For example, it can cover a first-year undergraduate essay as well as a textbook written by an expert. Differences in writer, reader, genre, discipline and purpose all lead to differences in the language choices that writers at Oxford make. This means that the writing described as ‘academic’ by one student may have very different characteristics from that considered ‘academic’ by another.

Throughout the Academic Writing Hub, we have attempted to highlight the different language approaches that are typically found in Medical Science, MPLS, Social Science and Humanities writing.  Below are the topics that you should begin with when looking to understand the conventional writing style within your subject area:

 

Exploring Disciplinary Writing in Your Field

It can be challenging (and time-consuming) for learners to read and analyse academic texts in their field. However, this is an essential aspect of becoming an expert writer. Put another way, all students entering the university are expected to be become "genre analysts" of sorts. Through their subject reading, they will not only come to learn the "content" of their field, but also the specific "language" of your subject area. In your role as genre analyst, you should give explicit consideration to the vocabulary, writing conventions and discourse style of the texts you read. The identification and subsequent reproduction of this subject-specific discourse and language in your own writing is central to becoming a successful participant in your disciplinary community.

Where, though, to begin. Many students believe that it is sufficient to read published articles in their field in order to learn the relevant writing conventions. While journal publications are an important 'genre' of writing for university (and particularly post-graduate) students, it is often more useful to consider examples of writing from previous students. This is because there are marked differences between journal articles and the types of writing students usually complete at Oxford (e.g. tutorial essays, exam writing, dissertations, theses).

Below are resources that students can use to access like-for-like student examples:

  • Textual Examples in this Hub
  • Departmental & Divisional Libraries
  • Tutors, Supervisors & Departmental Administrators
  • The Oxford Research Arching (ORA)

 

How do I use ORA?

The Oxford Research Archive, or ORA (https://ora.ox.ac.uk), is one of the most useful resources for accessing past Oxford students' work in your disciplinary area. It can help you consider both the language and style used in your disciplinary community, and the best way to organise your writing. The video below walks you through some of the ways of searching the ORA system in order to find examples of student writing that is relevant to you:

 

 

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