Topic 1: Academic Writing
This topic addresses the following objectives:
Use academic texts as models for writing.
Estimated time to complete topic: 30 minutes
Identify and Explore: Common Academic Purposes
The purpose for a piece of writing identifies the reason for writing it, by basically answering the question-Why? For example, why write a play? To entertain a packed theater. Why write instructions to the babysitter? To inform him or her of the schedule and rules. Why write a letter to a congressman? To persuade him to address the community’s needs.
In academic settings, the reasons for writing typically fulfill four main purposes:
to summarize
to analyze
to synthesize
to evaluate
