When using the academic voice you won’t usually use first personal pronouns.
I think anyone who becomes a parent should have to take a parenting class.
Write:
Parenting classes should be mandatory for any biological or adoptive parents.
Avoid using second person pronouns.
When you read “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” you will realize that King was writing to people besides the ministers who criticized him.
Write:
Upon reading “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” readers will note that King was addressing a wider audience than the clergy who condemned his actions.
Avoid contractions in more formal writing.
It shouldn’t be difficult to record what we feel, but many of us just can’t get our feelings down on paper.
Write:
It should not be difficult to record feelings, but many people are unable to do so.
Avoid informal language.
It’s obvious that she’s a feminist because she makes a big deal about women who were into the suffrage movement.
Write:
Because of her focus on the suffragists, one can assume she is a feminist.
Abbreviations for common terms should not be used in academic writing
Smith was declared the official winner at the P.O. last Mon. on Jan. 6th.
Write:
Smith was declared the official winner at the post office last Monday, on January 6.