Developing skill in Academic Writing

Developing skill in Academic Writing

nName

nInstitution

nCourse

nTutor

nDate

nStudent A: Hadeel Awadallah

nStudent B: Anonymous

nIntroduction

nStudent A and B discusses the advantages and disadvantages of carbon fiber as compared to other metals in manufacture of cars. Both essays are similar in terms of academic style, and discussion of topics. They have a better understanding of the assignment. Both essays are similar because they have discussed the same concepts. However, there are differences between student A and student B based on their depth of explanations, use of graphics, organization and language. The paper will analyze the two essays in order to understand the similarities and differences between them.

nSimilarities

nBoth students use academic style in organizing the paragraphs of the essay. The paper is organized into paragraphs and subheadings (Chin, 2013). Additionally, student A and B have the same concept on the advantages and disadvantages of carbon fiber over traditional metals in manufacturer of vehicles. Consequently, the essays conclude that carbon fibers lead to manufacture of vehicles with lighter body structures. In addition, according to both essays, the carbon fiber reinforced polymers are used in manufacture of racecars because they have a high resistance to deform during an impact of the vehicles. The carbon fiber has more advantages because they have zero thermal expansion as compared to metals hence they are beneficial since they offer thermal stability unlike metals. Most importantly, it is evident that both essays noted that carbon fibers minimizes cost in vehicles and offers durability. Similarly, these materials resist corrosion as compared to metals used to make the vehicles structures. Based on the argument of both students, carbon fiber improves the performance of vehicles because they reduce the weight and save fuel.

nMoreover, in terms of disadvantages of carbon fibers both students had similar arguments. For instance, it is evident that carbon composites are brittle due to their stiffness and in-plane strength. Therefore, these materials are unable to pick extra loads and lack ability to absorb energy. Carbon fiber usually fractures when they are impacted unlike metals.

nMost importantly, the discussion of both student A and B are similar because they noted that manufacturing vehicles using the carbon fiber is very high as compared to use of metals. It is actually ten times higher to use carbon fiber relative to metals. Carbon fibers are very costly because the process of manufacturing them needs various stages and polymers. Therefore, they cannot be used commercially in many manufacturing companies because firms compete on prices of vehicles. Another issue that is noted by both essays is that manufacturing cars using the carbon fibers will take a long period as compared to traditional metals.

nSince time of production is an important factor in this industry, use of these materials is uneconomical for manufacturers such as Toyota and Nissan. Consequently, the uses of carbon composite will not only increase cost of production but also it will reduce the profits of manufacturers. According to both students, the process of manufacture of carbon composite polymers is slow and it utilizes labor-intensive technologies. Ultimately, a manufacturer is only able to produce few cars per day against the demand. Therefore, they may not be able to satisfy the market demand.

nBoth essays are also similar because they discuss the benefits of aluminum relative to carbon fibers. Use of aluminum is beneficial in vehicle manufacturer because it helps to produce both cheaper and lighter vehicles. For instance, aluminum enables the manufacturer to reduce the weight of the vehicle by 50 percent. Aluminum also plays a major role in production of many car parts such as heat exchangers and car engines. Due to this fact, some manufacturers such as Niche Company have adopted the production of vehicles using aluminum as opposed to carbon fiber.

nDifferences

nBoth student A and B have some differences in terms of organization, in-depth discussion, use of graphics and academic style. In terms of organization and presentation of the assignment, student A delivers a well-organized paper as compared to student B (Chin, 2013). In this case, the paper presents the summary, introduction, body and conclusion. Additionally, student A provides various subheadings in the body of the paper, which makes the paper easier to follow. For instance, a subheading indicates the comparison between carbon fiber composite and metallic materials in manufacture of vehicles. Similar ideas are organized under a single subheading in relations to the topic.

nOn the other hand, student B does not organize the paper into subheadings covering various concepts in the paper. Additionally, the paper does not provide the conclusion although there is the introduction. The summary is also lacking. In terms of references, there is a difference in terms of in-text citation used in student A and B.

nMoreover, there are instances in which each student presents in-depth discussion of various concepts in the paper. For instance, when explaining that carbon fibers save fuel, student A gives specific example. In such case, a vehicles weighing 100 KGs less reduces 0.3 liters to 0.4 liters every 100 km. Similarly, this student gives examples of car manufacturers (Toyota and Nissan) that cannot embrace the carbon fiber composites because of their global demand as the materials tend to slower the rate of production.

nSimilarly, student A also provides examples of firms, which increases their production after abandoning carbon fibers in their production. The student pointed that Ferrari is able to produce 30 cars a day using metals as compared to 500 cars a year using carbon fibers. The use of real-life examples plays a major role in supporting the arguments in this essay.

nOn the other hand, student B is also thorough in describing the advantages and disadvantages of carbon fibers relative to tradition metals in vehicle manufacturing. The student explains explanations that are more detailed on carbon fiber composite polymers. Student B also supports the arguments using percentages unlike student A, which helps to understand the benefits or disadvantages of carbon fibers. For instance, the student noted that when carbon fibers are pre-impregnated with resins the cost of raw materials increases by 50 percent.

nAnother difference is evident on the use of graphics and image. Graphics are important because they provide a candid representation of data and information concerning a certain topic (Chin, 2013). Student A uses various graphics in the paper while student B does not use any graphics. The graphic representation in the essay of student A is placed in the Appendix part of the paper.

nConclusion

nBoth student A and B provide a comprehensive analysis of use of carbon fibers in the manufacture of vehicles. There are various similarities in the papers in terms of their organization, discussion of concepts and use of language. However, student A is different from student B with regard to use of graphics, in-depth discussion and presentation of the paper.

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nReferences

nChin, P. (2013). Academic writing skills. Singapore: Cambridge University Press.