Writing for the Academic Audience 

To Your Instructor... (and beyond)

Your primary audience for most writing assignments is your instructor.  In many cases, he or she is both the source and the recipient of your words.  

You know your instructor's expectations through the syllabus, instructions, or lectures.  You know what parts of the course material seem particularly important or interesting to him or her.  Listening in class on a regular basis also shows you their personal interests, preferences, and biases. 

Your writing becomes part of a formal conversation between you and your professor.  It's your opportunity to show that you have internalized aspects of the course material and can communicate on its topics.  You contribute insights and perspectives.  In academic writing, this is all done using standard English and proper grammar and conventions.

Here are some values held by the academic audience:

- respectful tone
- supported arguments
- careful research
- insightful analysis
- clear sentences
- accurate grammar
- careful proofreading
- source documentation

These practices translate into powerful communication in careers too. 

 

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Writing for an academic audience involves respectfully exchanging ideas.  

Practice it with your instructor, but use it for life.