Strategies for Becoming an Effective Academic Writer
Strategies for Becoming an Effective Academic Writer
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Strategies for Becoming an Effective Academic Writer
The Writing Processes
Success in Academic Writing is very much dependent on getting the right combination of techniques and the adherence to the procedurals (Björk, 2003). The ability to comprehensively analyze a topic and project ideas in a presentable and convincing manner requires a mind that gives attention to every writing detail (Colonna, Gilbert, Miller & Cohen, 2006). Comparatively, the writing process learned in class bears some difference from my traditional procedurals, the most significant being the steps that I have always muddled. For instance, when writing an essay, I have always had the preference of starting with the thesis statement as I reasoned that it made the foundation for the entire assignment. Also, I had the tendency of editing my work before revising as I felt that the revision should be the final engagement to ensure that there are clarity and fluency in my work. However, following the procedures equips a writer with clarity and persuasion ability so to always make written pieces understood with ease.
The Easiest Writing Step
After the presentation of ideas and following the first and second steps, it is much easier to engage in revision of the assignment. The reason being, visualized clarity has already been established by the stage, the order and connection of ideas and formation of the entire assignment have already been mentally built. Therefore, the task at hand is to ensure that the plan of the assignment has been adhered to. According to Colonna et al., (2006), the stage comes as the final tool that can be used to dissuade readers and convince them to the belief in projected ideas.
The Most Difficult Step
Prewriting is the most challenging step as it forms the foundation for the entire assignment. Brainstorming and building a perfect and original idea that has the capacity of captivating and convincing any reader requires more than pen and paper. That is because an evaluation of the target recipients and a proper judgment of what level of satisfaction can be drawn from them is required. Moreover, attention and detail should be given to the awarding points. The foundation, therefore, determines just how well the assignment can be done and how well it will be awarded points (Björk, 2003).
Strategies to Overcome the Prewriting Challenges
The first strategy is to read the instructions entirely and give attention to every detail (Colonna et al., 2006). Reading the instructions multiple times oft do help with comprehending the requirements. Once the requirements have been understood, it becomes easier to understand the ‘what’ in the assignment. The next strategy is to read and analyze all the articles that are of relevance to the topic in question. The strategy would build an understanding on the ‘how’ of the assignment (Björk, 2003). It also makes it easy to list the ideas and main points to be covered in the assignment. The last strategy especially when the assignment is mentally challenging is to get other related articles to the assignment. Reading related articles presents an individual with ideas on the approaches that have been used by other writers and thus making it easier to develop an idea for the entire assignment (Colonna et al., 2006).
References
Björk, L. A. (2003). Teaching academic writing in European higher education. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic.
Colonna, M. R., Gilbert, J. E., Miller, J. L., & Cohen, R. F. (2006). Reason to write: Strategies for success in academic writing : advanced. New York: Oxford University Press.
