Academic writing

Editing a paper

Image courtesy of Nic's events

Being able to express yourself clearly in writing and according to the conventions of the discipline you are studying is important to your success whether you are a student, academic, researcher or a practitioner.

As a student, not only will it assist you to obtain good marks, it is the method by which you confirm your entry into the research process. Writing allows you to share your thinking to external readers, and it provides a clear mechanism for both developing and demonstrating a critical argument.

• Writing helps you to clarify your thinking.
• Writing shows your thoughts to external readers.

Question

Does writing intimidate you?

Many people are fearful of writing. Some people worry that they just won't be able to put what they are thinking on paper and say "what they really mean." Others have bad memories of marks received in secondary school, and simply consider themselves to be "bad writers." However, writing is like building a table. There are fine artisans who can craft beautiful pieces of furniture, but in a wood-working class with a good instructor, most people can follow rules and use tools so as to produce a serviceable piece of furniture.

In this wiki, we will introduce a number of important writing rules and tools that most hesitant writers may not even know about, and we will discuss what your lecturers will expect from the written assignments you will hand in.

The process of writing

Writing is all about saying what you really mean, and knowing that your readers will understand what you intend them to. In order to be able to write well, you do need to have a good grasp of English.

This module is designed for students who can already use English well. Some students may require extra assistance with their language before beginning this module. If you have concerns about your English, such as your ability to write a complete sentence, you may wish to have your skills evaluated at the learning support centre.