...an extremely informative book ...a sound investment for any student who wants to improve their academic writing in English. EAP Foundation.com, April 2014 The author has attempted to put everything about writing academically into one, comprehensive volume and has done a sterling job. Peter Fullagar for English Teaching Professional, Issue 88, September 2013 Overall, I think this is a fantastic book and I recommend it to everyone who teaches IELTS, academic English or essay writing. Sandee Thompson for IATEFL Voices, Issue 238, May-June 2014 Many students learning academic writing skills would like to obtain an instant understanding and knowledge of the skills required for academic writing without having the bother of reading a book on the subject as well. This user-friendly and colourful study-guide could be a useful aid for such students looking for easily accessible, no nonsense information. 50 Steps to Improving Your Academic Writing is conveniently separated into ten units focusing on different aspects of academic writing and grammar. These units are then each divided into five steps presented as answers to questions such as Step 3 'What is plagiarism?' (a form of cheating and a serious academic offence...), Step 25 'How can I strengthen my argument?' (arguments must be analytical, thorough and persuasive...), through to Step 50 'What final checks do I need to make?', focusing on self-reflection and analysis of the essay draft. The structure of each of these steps has also been separated into different aspects on the topic under consideration, which have been divided into A: Reflection; B: Contextualization; C: Analysis; D: Activation, E: Personalization and F: Extension. Once the reader understands this format, they can gain the full benefit of the thinking behind each unit and how it is related to academic writing as a whole. Sowton successfully outlines the most important processes of understanding, drafting and finalising an essay ready for submission. Although the book is divided into ten units which can be read sequentially, it is probably best used as a reference guide depending on the type of information sought. This would be a useful guide for new students who want a general overview of the writing process, but it could also be used by teachers to discuss key points in a factual and accessible way. I would recommend using this book as a supplement and self-study guide for students new to academia and those wanting some insightful insider tips on the writing process. The elixir of true knowledge of the academic writing process may be hard to find but this is a good first step ... if not the first 50 of them. Christie Goodall for the ESP SIG Journal, Issue 41, April 2013 The book is compact, colourful, well laid out, easy to use, and additionally offers a glossary and fantastic appendixes... it is an excellent, up-to-date resource which should be considered if you teach academic writing, or writing for exams for that matter. There's something for everyone in it. Amy Jost for ETAS Journal, Vol. 31, Issue 2, Spring 2014 ... this is an excellent supplemental text for a course in English for Academic Purposes and a useful self-study text for students who learn well from reflection. Its thorough examination of the steps to successful academic writing makes it a helpful resource for teachers and students alike. Rachel Ishiguro for TESL Reporter, 2014
