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Your purpose for your writing may be to:
- show that you understand certain theories
- show that you can do independent research
- apply a specific theory to a new topic
- provide information
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Length:
Before you start writing, you will need to think about the length of
the assignment in relation to the time available.
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Tone:
In everyday writing to friends, you probably use a casual tone, but
academic writing including essays and reports, a more formal tone should
be used. If your instructor asks you to express yourself freely,
you may be able to use an informal style.
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1st Person:
Since a formal essay is not a personal outpouring, you should try to
keep it from becoming "I-centered." Occasionally, you
may use the first-person pronoun to express your opinion, as long as it
is backed with evidence. If an argument is clear and self-supporting,
however, there is no need to use such phrases as "In my view."
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