In this essay, I will discuss the academic writing points from the Chapter One reading. The main focus of these three points is to provide students with the difference between academic writing, expectations of academic writing and your role as an academic writer. The first point mentioned spoke about moving between social and academic writing. Social writing would include Twitter and Facebook posts. These types of writing are trying to reach a different audience using informal writing; while academic writing is not only important to school but it is also essential for most jobs. Informal writing is utilized by many students but it is not the only skill that will need to be mastered. Students will need to be able to utilize both informal social writing as well as formal academic writing and they should be able to write about different topics.
In preparing to meet expectations for U.S. academic writing, some students have written formal academic papers but not in excess of five pages before even deciding to enroll in college. Instructors assume that college students have some type of familiarity of how college papers should be written. They feel the students should be able to research, write or even construct a presentation using computer software, such as PowerPoint.
In order to find your position as an academic writer, you will need to become your own critic. This will allow you to critique the writings of other students as well as strengthen your skill of constructive criticism. You should always assume that your opinions count, be able to draw conclusions based around what you have observed and read and also help other students by checking their work in order to build your skills to critique your peers. Peer editing is one of the ways that you will not only help yourself but your classmates as well as you both become great academic writers.