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Unpacking Enthymemes: The Persuasive Power of Missing Pieces
Have you ever found yourself convinced by an argument that left out a crucial piece of information? That missing piece might just be an enthymeme – a powerful rhetorical device…
Three rhetorical devices
The following post is a very lightly edited version of a piece by Štěpánka Máchová, a student in one of my English classes, written in response to being asked to…
Creating a clear structure 2
As detailed in the post Creating a clear structure 1, the structure of a text is extremely important in academic English writing because of its reader orientation. The previous post…
Creating a clear structure 1
Academic style in English is reader-oriented. This can be quite different than other styles of academic writing. In many continental European academic writing styles, for example, the key points tend…
Effective motivation letters II – a sample motivation letter
This post follows on from Effective motivation letters I – tips, approach and principles, by providing a sample motivation letter demonstrating the concepts outlined in the previous post. I look…
Effective motivation letters I – tips, approach and principles
Motivation letters are a key part of applications for academic programmes, study abroad, scholarships, internships, academic posts, projects, research proposals and other applications in academia. Many of the principles below…
Objectivity in academic writing
Expressing an opinion in an objective way The article Merkel legacy: EU’s queen with a tarnished crown is a superb example of objectivity and hedging in an opinion piece. Even…
What is academic writing?
While I am generally very sceptical about information on Wikipedia and would never recommend it as a source, I was surprised to find a rather useful description of academic writing…
Generic phrases in academic writing
Generic phrases are used extensively in English academic writing. They are an excellent tool for non-native speakers and even native speakers as generic phrases immediately create academic style, help structure…
Double negatives
In present-day English, closely placed self-cancelling negatives are eminently acceptable if they are not overused or too intricate: e.g. it has not gone unnoticed = it has been noticed; I…