BOOK REVIEW OF INTRODUCTION TO ACADEMIC WRITING (2007) BY ALICE OSHIMA & ANN HOGUE

Abstract

The book is a comprehensive and accessible guide designed to help students develop essential writing skills for academic purposes. The book focuses on fundamental writing techniques, such as paragraph structure, coherence, and clarity, providing a step-by-step approach to writing essays and other academic texts. The third edition has been updated with more practice exercises, examples, and a clear progression of skills to guide learners from simple paragraph writing to more complex essays. It is structured in a very cohesive and coherent manner.

The book is divided into chapters covering various writing forms, including descriptive, process, comparison/contrast, and opinion essays. Each chapter explains the type of writing and is followed by practical exercises to reinforce the skills taught. Special attention is given to paragraph structure, logical division of ideas, and the importance of clear thesis statements and topic sentences. This edition also introduces strategies for revising and editing and provides tips for improving overall writing fluency. Following is the part vise presentation of the key concepts in this valuable book in the academic world.