'NOT I?' CREATING A PERSONA IN ACADEMIC WRITING

Abstract

This paper focuses on the question of narrative voice in academic writing, particularly in the field of English Literature, although other subjects (in both the physical and human sciences) are referred to. Several issues are addressed. First, different types of persona are appropriate to different academic disciplines, and so overseas students must learn to create a persona appropriate to his or her chosen subject (s). Secondly, certain disciplines may send extremely confusing signals to learners who are unfamiliar with the academic culture (e.g. English Literature students are expected to master the impersonal construction of a "personal response"). This confusion is in part related to the nature of the academic community. Thirdly, academic writing instruction neglects the development of a "voice" which is acceptable to one's assessors. In this article, the nature of academic "voices" is discussed and tasks suggested.