This indispensable guide shows students what successful academic writing involves and gives them the tools they will need to write successfully themselves. It separates fact from fiction and takes students through the five essential elements of academic writing: writing critically, using sources, developing your own voice, having a clear structure and style and editing drafts. This book is an essential resource for students making the transition to university-level study and a valuable reference point for all students doing academic study in English. It is suitable for students of all disciplines, from education and business through to social work and psychology. New to this Edition: - Updated and revised throughout, with new essay extracts and examples, including a new social science example - New guidance on report assignments