academic writing course online

academic writing course online

The Importance of Academic Writing Skills

1. Introduction

The importance of academic writing lies in its ability to communicate complex information in a simple and clear manner. This is no easy task. During my years as a student, I have read many journal articles and reports written by academics. Some were very difficult to understand, and some were much easier. Those that were easy to understand were able to present complex information in a simple way. This is reflective of good writing, and it is a lot harder than people give credit for. By understanding what exactly is being said, students are able to learn from the information and understand it, rather than deciphering through ambiguity and speculation. Good writing is actually a learning tool.

My peers, we have been doing “writing” wrong all this time. When we think of “writing,” we always associate it with “stories.” Yes, stories are a form of written communication, but there is much more to writing than stories. Writing, or by its full name, “academic writing,” is a communication tool, something we use to communicate with others. Yes, stories are a form of written communication. But in educational settings, we use writing to communicate ideas, thoughts, and understanding using analytical and reflective writing, reports, critiques, etc. In its simplest form, academic writing is anything that uses writing as a tool of learning. So why is academic writing so important?

Nowadays, adults consider writing to be an important component of communication. They believe written communication to be the most prestigious and credible form of communication, eclipsing speech and non-verbal actions. In educational institutional settings, writing is seen as the most common method of communication between staff and students, and assessment is and always will be largely based on the written form of communication. In fact, it’s ironic that at this current moment I’m speaking to you and yet you are relying on the words I say in this speech instead of the spoken words themselves. Let’s face it; writing is important. But what exactly is “writing”?

2. Benefits of Academic Writing

There are many benefits to developing good academic writing skills. It will help open doors to future success and education. It will also help you communicate effectively with a wide variety of people, people who may have vastly different levels of education than yourself. Writing is an extremely important skill for success in the working world and academia. At its core, writing is communication. It is a way in which we prove we have knowledge to others. Your writing will be especially important if you are trying to secure your reputation in your chosen field. Publishing work and getting your name known will always be a vital exercise. Being known as a poor writer can prevent you from achieving many of your goals. Writing skills are cumulative and take years to develop. Starting to write early on will give you a leg up in the future. Finally, good writing will help you get ahead in school and the workplace. Professors and employers are looking for people who can write well and clearly. In both school and work, your ability has a large effect on getting the desired grade or being hired for the desired position.

3. Key Elements of Academic Writing

B) Incorporation of Research: This is the foremost element of academic writing and something that most students struggle with. Any assigned task will include instructions on how to complete the task and what the final product should look like. Many students will complete the task without truly understanding the instructions. This is because their understanding of the task derives from their personal experience and not the instructions given to them, and they have not been taught to distinguish between the two. To thoroughly understand the instructions, students must engage in reading and re-reading. It may also be beneficial to summarize the instructions in one’s own words and check with the instructor to ensure one’s interpretation is correct. Once the instructions are understood, the next step is to clarify the task and instructions in one’s own mind.

A) Academic assignments require formal writing, so you must avoid writing in the first person, using slang terms, clichés, abbreviations, and contractions. You also need to check for consistency in aspects such as plural and possessive ‘s’, and the inclusion of a serial comma. Bad: I always answer the phone when I’m studying physics, but the understanding of Sir Isaac Newton eludes me. Good: One answers the phone when one is studying physics, but one does not achieve an understanding of Sir Isaac Newton.

4. Strategies for Effective Academic Writing

Complete these questions to analyze your issue: – What reasonably task is it? (Essay? Report? Literature review? An analysis? Reflective piece? Annotated reference list? Analysis proposal? Thesis?) – What does your teacher truly want? (Odds are you may have to visit them and raise if this is not clear)

These days, the media (blogs, TV, internet, radio, magazines) influences people’s minds, not lecturers. Many believe that the sole way to convey any reasonably information is through simple writing. People often think that any writing that’s not simple, like “This book was written concerning the survival of the team within the mountains but little did they grasp he would only live after walking out by himself to alert the rescue team,” is tutorial so, should be faculty and high school students doing assignments. This is not the case, and academic writing is completely different from the writing you create for magazines and alternative media.

All throughout school and even college, students are asked to write academic papers or assignments. Students often feel tentative and disappointed when faced with an academic writing chore, mainly because they are doubtful concerning what it is and the way it should be done. Here’s an outline of the most typical sorts of pieces of writing and a few ways to induce yourself writing. This information on the types of writing was developed by Purdue OWL for AYUC course COM 300 (Duration: self-paced), researched out from.

5. Conclusion

To conclude, developing academic writing skills is not only beneficial to attaining good grades, but it also helps in the future. Having good skills helps in identifying a person as a writer or a student who can further develop. Stating that being able to write excellently gives an individual an upper hand in most of the things we do. During the school years, academic writing has been identified as an important set of skills, and one with lesser opportunities will still be able to deliver in time to come. Writing clear and concise reports or essays will help the many people of this profession in getting their message across. If your work reaches the intended audience and your knowledge is understood, success has been reached. Success can be in many forms, and academic writing skills can make it easier to achieve. Finally, in the Information Age, whether an essay is written to inform or persuade, it is essential to do it well. With the flood of writing all around us, a person can only distinguish themselves through clear and well-documented work.