本书编写的理论基础为英语过程写作理念和语篇及体裁分析，采取写作过程描述和语篇体裁分析相结合的原则，既为学生展示论文循序渐进的写作过程，又详细描述了与各环节相关的写作任务，并对相关部分进行语篇结构和语言特点分析，从而有助于学生从宏观和微观两个层面把握论文写作的方法及技巧。例如，在论文写作最初的选题阶段，介绍了选题的方法和原则、论文选题的特点、题目的写作及语言特点等，并结合英语专业的四个方向，提供了具体实例；学生也可结合自己的专业方向及学习兴趣，确定初步的选题。本书在论文正文写作过程中，根据体裁分析方法，详细描述了论文摘要、引言、文献回顾、讨论/分析、结语等主要部分的语篇主要构成部分，典型语篇结构以及语言特点等，并通过实例分析和练习，帮助学生完成各个部分的写作。另外，为真实体现本科生英语学术写作的特点，本教材的例子和范文大多出自学生实际完成的毕业论文，有些实例和练习选自母语学者所发表的研究论文。
本书的编者是多年从事英语本科毕业论文写作教学的一线教师，对论文写作课程的主要目的、教学内容及重点、论文写作过程及方法、论文的指导及答辩等具有较为全面和客观的认识。

Chapter 1 Introduction
Academic Writing
Academic Essay
Writing Guidelines
Reasoning Strategies
Organizing and Planning
Critical Reading Towards Critical Writing
Critical Thinking Skills in Academic Writing
Chapter 2 Definition
Definition and Definition Essay
Uses of Definitions
Types of Definitions
Developing Approaches for Definition Writing
Writing Procedures
Writing Guidelines
Organization Patterns
Sample Definitions
Chapter 3 Summary
Definition of Summary
Uses of Summaries
Types of Summaries
Features of Summary
Reading Strategies for Summary Writing
Writing Guidelines
Chapter 4 Critical Review
Definition of Critical Review
Uses of Critical Reviews
Critical Thinking
Critical Reading
Summarizing and Paraphrasing
Critical Review of One Text
Critical Review of More Than One Text
Kinds of Evidence to Use
Language Features
Sample Critical Reviews
Chapter 5 Synthesis
Definition of Synthesis
Uses of Synthesis
Features of Syntheses
Types of Syntheses
Writing Syntheses
Writing Procedures
Organization Patterns
Writing Guidelines
Chapter 6 Analysis
Definition of Analysis
Uses of Analysis
An Analysis Essay
Features of Analysis Essays
Essential Elements of an Analysis Essay
Writing Procedures
Organization Pattern
Sample Analysis
Types of Analyses
Rhetorical Analysis
Sample Rhetorical Analyses
Theoretical Analysis
Analytical Tool
Writing Guidelines
Sample Theoretical Analysis
Interpretive Analysis
Sample Interpretive Analyses
Process of Writing an Analysis
Chapter 7 Position Argument
Definition of Argument
Basic Features of Position Argument Essays
Essential Components of Argument Essays
Developing Strategies
Writing Procedures
Writing Guidelines
Organization Patterns
Sample Arguments
Chapter 8 Problem-Solution
Definition of a Problem-Solution Essay
Types of Proposals
Features of a Problem-Solution Essay
Special Demands of Proposal Arguments
Essential Components of a Proposal
Strategies for Writing a Problem-Solution Essay
Writing the Effective Justification Section
Process of Writing a Problem-Solution Essay
Organization Pattern
Writing Guidelines
Sample Proposal Essays
References