The Improvement of Academic Writing - Essay Example

HOW MY ACADEMIC WRITING HAS IMPROVED Affiliation Academic writing is an important component in one’s learning, especially in higher education. The benefits of essay writing are numerous, and these benefits go beyond the school setting. During the writing course, I have been exposed to various essay writing strategies and approaches that have significantly improved my writing skills. As a student, I have learnt that essay writing is part of the learning process and applies to all disciplines. By taking the writing course, I have improved in all subjects. The course has helped me understand readings better and develop the skills needed to put ideas in writing in a coherent and organized manner. Before taking the writing course, I was poor at introducing essays. On many occasions, it was difficult to capture the attention of the reader from the introductory paragraph, and this often made my essays difficult to understand. However, after taking the course, I have learnt how to write better introductions. I have learnt how to analyze and breakdown a question in order to write a good introduction that can be understood by the readers. In particular, this course has taught me how to write thesis statements. This is the backbone of any essay and therefore provides the readers with the foundation on which the essay will be based (Perutz, 2010). I have learnt how to take a point of view in the introduction and defend it throughout the essay. This is the essence of writing a thesis statement. This way, readers know what the essay is about. In order to write an effective introduction, I have learnt the importance of analyzing the main question or topic. This allows the writer to understand the various parts of the topic, and how they relate to one another (Rao, et al, 2007). As a result, one is able to come up with a stand regarding the topic, allowing him to write the introduction. Another important aspect of writing is the use of paragraphs. Through this course, I have learnt how to organize ideas into paragraphs, each supporting the main thesis. I have learnt that each paragraph has to start with a topic sentence that introduces the main point of that paragraph. This makes the reader know exactly what that paragraph is talking about (Russell, (n.d)). I have also improved how I transition from one paragraph to the next by using sentences at either the end of a paragraph or at the beginning of the next. This allows for the two paragraphs to be connected. In addition, through this course, I have improved on the use of examples and evidence in the paragraphs. These examples help in persuading the reader and enhance his understanding of the main point or the argument (Rao, et al, 2007). Furthermore, I have learnt that it is important to organize the paragraphs based on the strengths of the points being argued. In many cases, it is usually important to start with the strongest arguments in the opening body paragraphs and finishing with the weakest points. In my opinion, I believe that one of my strengths as a writer is the ability to research and find supporting material and evidence. Research is one of the critical elements of writing an effective essay since it gives the writer the chance to consult other sources in order to support the ideas in the essay (Te Kawa a Māui, 2011). By using the library and online databases, I know how to find articles and other publications that help in writing the essay. I have perfected this skill by embracing the habit of reading wildly and undertaking thorough researches in order to identify materials that are needed to complete my essay. This allows me to pick only those materials that are authentic (Greetham, 2001). For example, I always make sure that I look at the author and source of a material before using it in my essay. The ability to make short notes out of the materials I have gathered makes it easy to use the supporting ideas from the materials in the essay. Therefore, even with large volumes of materials, I have developed the habit of picking those materials that only relate to my topic, and taking short notes from these materials. In addition, I have familiarized myself with the relevant citation styles, and this allows me to cite the sources I use in my essay. One of my major weaknesses is revising and proofreading essays. This is an important aspect of writing since it helps in reducing surface errors in writing (Te Kawa a Māui, 2011). Unfortunately, I always feel tired or bored to go over the text I have written. In most cases, I go over what I have written without posing to ask whether it is exactly what was intended. Because of this problem, I always end up with grammatical and spelling mistakes in my work. On many occasions, I often rely on Microsoft word to highlight those words that are wrongly spelt or those that are used out of context. Unluckily, this does not weed out all the mistakes in the writing. In addition, due to poor proofreading and editing skills, I often end up overusing certain words and phrases. This also leaves some of my ideas vaguely presented, making it difficult for the reader to fully understand the point being made. In future, I need to improve on how to revise essays purposively in order to limit these mistakes. I have noticed that after taking this course, I have improved on how I revise and write my exams in all subjects. One of the important skills taught in this course is the ability to plan and organize ideas in a manner that is understandable to the reader (Perutz, 2010). This has been one of the strategies applied when revising and writing my exams, and this has led to an improvement in my studies. By learning writing skills, I also understand the value of time management. This is also a critical aspect of academic writing that allows the writer to present his ideas within the required time (Greetham, 2001). Generally, I have observed that the writing course has shaped me to become a better student who is not only organized but also time cautious. In conclusion, it is obvious that academic writing is an important aspect of learning. The writing course has been of great importance to me as a student. The skills taught in this course have enabled me become a better student. There are other key areas that I need to address in order to become a competent writer. In order for one to become a good writer, it is important to exercise patience and persistence in order to learn all the necessary skills. References Greetham, B. (2001). How to write better essays. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave. Perutz, V (2010). A Helpful Guide to Essay Writing! Retrieved on 24 March 2015 from http://web.anglia.ac.uk/anet/students/documents/2010/helpful-guide-to-essay-writing.pdf Rao, V., Chanock, K., & Krishan, L. (2007). A visual guide to essay writing. Broadway, N.S.W.: Association for Academic Language and Learning. Russell, J.S (n.d).The Virtues and Craft of Being a Good Writer. Retrieved 24 March 2015 from http://langara.bc.ca/programs-and-courses/programs/philosophy/pdf/being-a-good-writer- john-russell.pdf Te Kawa a Māui (2011). Academic Writing Guide. The School of Māori Studies at Victoria University of Wellington Read More