What Is an Academic Paper?

An academic paper is a document that critically analyzes a specific topic. It begins with general information about the topic and then moves into the specifics. The specifics are explained by answering the who, what, when, where, and why about the topic. Academic papers should be written in the third person and maintain an impersonal tone. This paper isn’t about your opinion and shouldn’t include words like I, me, we, or us.

Visit the following websites for additional information on writing and developing your academic paper.

• Penn Foster’s online writing center, The Writer’s Block
• Purdue’s Online Writing Lab