The aim of the study is to identify the characteristics of an academic text and consider its role as a component of professional communication of students of natural sciences. The research is specifically concerned with the ways of forming and developing the skills of the students who major in natural sciences to create effective academic text of different types. The paper makes an attempt to study and generalize the research of the national and foreign scientists and practitioners dealing with different aspects of an academic text: its organization, lexical and grammatical specific features and editing. The practical recommendations for students have been given and the effective techniques have been offered. Special attention has been paid to cross-cultural differences when it comes to writing essays by American and Ukrainian students. The role of reading, selecting, and citing scientific sources has been revealed. The examples given in the study have provided the support to the fact that the formation of the skills of academic writing is a necessary component of professional communication of students. It contributes greatly to development of scientific skills, creativity, critical thinking of students and their academic mobility.
