Attention in research and practice on academic literacy in English has been aroused as English exerts a continuous extensive influence in the world,especially in the field of academic activities.In this paper,I would clarify the necessity of generic and discipline specific support by reviewing studies related to academic writing from some researchers and linguists,such as George C.Bunch,Judith Rochecouste,Ken Hyland and Liz Hamp-Lyons,etc.,and interpret their ideas from a functional linguistic perspective. Attention in research and practice on academic literacy in English has been aroused as English exerts a continuous extensive influence in the world, especially in the field of academic activities. This paper, I would clarify the necessity of generic and discipline specific support by reviewing studies related to academic writing from some researchers and linguists, such as George C. Bunch, Judith Rochecouste, Ken Hyland and Liz Hamp-Lyons, etc., and interpret their ideas from a functional linguistic perspective.