Academic writing is expected in virtually all college-level essays. Because we each have own voice, our own style, culture, perceptions, etc., our writing (specifically the choices we make when forming our ideas) shows parallels to the way we think. That is not a bad thing and is often useful in brainstorming and finding resources. Knowing our own thought patterns is crucial to writing. However, without a generalized structure, readers would have to learn more about the writer to understand how they have formed their argument and where to locate their argument and main points. Reading would be more time consuming and lead to readers misunderstanding, even misrepresenting, your work. Academic writing sets expectations based on audience, purpose, and accessibility, making the writing more digestible for a wider audience within academia.