Academic Writing First Or Third Person Text

Jonathan Friesen - Writing Coach

Some might require you to use the third person 'smith argues that ', or 'he said ' and to achieve a certain amount of distance from the arguments you are writing about. ' , for example, in the reports that you might write for a science or technology subject. Some assignments for example, some within health and social care require students to use their professional judgement to make an informed subjective comment. However, even though you are being asked for your subjective response to the topic, you are still be expected to provide evidence to support your position.

On many modules you may find that a part of your assignment is devoted to self reflection and your own view of how you've developed during your studies a little like a learning progress diary. The language you use in these self reflective parts of an assignment may be different from that in the academic part of the assignment. 'i think that', 'my analysis is' and you may well be encouraged to give your subjective feelings about your progress. Most assignments require you to demonstrate academic objectivity and a well argued approach to the subject matter, rather than an unthinking acceptance of it.

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Most importantly, throughout your studies you will develop your ability both to argue for something rigorously to and provide evidence for your argument. However, some simple language use can also demonstrate a measured and objective approach. For example, avoiding the first person except in reflective aspects of an assignment, mentioned above and by using 'hedging' language see below. Check your module materials to see if you are expected to use the third person or if you are allowed to use the first person.

Using the first person means writing: 'i think that ', 'my opinion is that ' if the assignment is asking you for your reflective opinion on a subject, using the first person is fine. However, many essay style assignments require you to avoid the first person and use the third person instead: 'he argues that ' 'smith's book overturned previous ideas on '. So, rather than saying 'parents have a greater influence over children's desire to. It might be preferable to say 'it can be argued that parents have a greater influence '. Passive language is often used in discursive, essay style assignments, whereas active language is more often used in report style assignments. However, that is not a hard and fast truth and you may find opportunities to change between the two in either type of assignment.

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Passive language de personalises the writing by avoiding personal pronouns and, if you don't know who is performing the action i.e. In grammatical terms, who is the 'subject' of the sentence , passive language allows you to avoid mentioning the 'who': the seed pods were counted instead of i/we the subject counted the seed pods. Active language allows you to be very clear about who is performing the action: 'i counted the seed pods'. Passive language places the emphasis upon the result of an action rather than who the subject performs it, as in: 'children are more likely to be hit by their parents the subject than their teachers' instead of 'parents subject are more likely to hit their children than are teachers'. Alternating between an active voice and a passive voice can provide variety and help you avoid repeating yourself.

Three different points of view exist: first person, second person and third person. First person reflects the writer's voice with pronouns such as i, me, we and us. Third person uses a more general voice that reflects neither the writer nor reader specifically, using words like students and participants and pronouns such as he, they and it. Good writing typically begins in one point of view and retains that perspective throughout in order to avoid confusion for the reader. Third person makes ideas sound less subjective since it removes direct reference to the writer.

For example, researchers first need to determine participants written in the third person conveys a more formal, objective tone than you first need to determine participants second person and i first needed to determine participants first person. Instructors, institutions and publishers generally require writing in the third person to maintain a more formal tone. The apa manual explains that third person may not always be appropriate in apa papers. When describing activities you performed in your research or when third person language may confuse the reader, use first person instead. For instance, after a reference to an outside source, if you then write, the author developed the program, your reader cannot be certain if the author refers to the referenced source or yourself.

One of the most significant grammatical issues involving the third person point of view is pronoun use. For instance, for the plural noun participants and the pronoun they agree in number while he does not. In the third person point of view, writers should use gender neutral pronouns when appropriate, such as they. Some writers consider the use of he or she awkward, but the use of they can lead to agreement issues. Personal writing, such as for a reflective essay, or a personal response discussion posting, can be written in the first person using i and me , and may use personal opinions and anecdotes as evidence for the point you are trying to make. All other ashford papers exposition, persuasion, and research papers should generally be written in third person, and should use only credible academic sources to support your argument.

first person example only acceptable for personal writing

i think shakespeare's play hamlet is about the relationships between family members. i really liked the play, and in some ways the characters reminded me of my own family.

third person correction appropriate for all other academic writing

shakespeare's play hamlet deals with the relationships between family members.

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