Importance Of Formality In Academic Writing

I would like to take this opportunity to express my thoughts, observations, and reflections on the academic writing that was presented within the Capella University writing course. The enclosed portfolio will provide additional detail to what I have learned throughout this course, and showcase my strengths and weaknesses.

In They Say/ I say, Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein informs the audience of the basic moves in academic writing through text, illustrations, and templates. Their main model in this book is they say/I say template, in which it helps writers to develop their arguments by paying attention to what others are saying, and engaging with a response. The authors goal is to demystify academic writing, and return it to its social and conversational roots. The authors want the writers to engage in the ideas of others. These concepts from this book, will help make a stronger, supportive argument. The book They Say/I say by Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein deserves a 4 out of five stars, because I believe these authors explain and illustrates the contents

“Should everybody write” is the question that is argued throughout the article Should Everybody Write by Dennis Baron. Baron, an English professor at the University of Illinois, incorporates essay styled writings in correspondence to English problems faced in today’s world. His main concern in this essay is to demonstrate to his audience a proper answer to the argued statement and uses rhetorical strategies throughout his article to support his claims. The use of tone is incorporated when he discusses the context of writing history. His purpose in this article is discussed using his strong sense of logic and he also conveys to his audience’s emotions to caution them on their own writing or writing fears. In this article, Dennis Baron expresses that not everyone

To begin, Pitts uses colloquial in all three of the articles. Using colloquial or informal language gives a conversational tone to the articles it also makes the reader feel more comfortable with the author. For example, in Don 't Lower the Bar on Education-- “So I’m in college, right?” Pitts is asking the rhetorical question as if he was there talking to the reader. This informality style of writing lifts the stress of the reader as if it’s a regular conversation. Another illustration of colloquial language is found in Torture Might

In the article, " What Is 'Academic ' Writing," the author gives the meaning of the academic writing style. L. Lennie Irvin speaks that this writing style is argumentative and analytical and states the three characteristics. Academic writing characteristics includes: having clear evidence, the importance of reason over emotions or sensual perception, and having an imaged reader. The purpose of an argumentative essay is to hold a discussion to gain a better understanding of the topic. I have learned that I need to have an organized presentation and have strong evidence to write this specific writing. Analytical writing identifies the true meaning of the subject, help find where the answer is located, and determines the relationship among

In her essay "Does Texting Affect Writing?", Michaela Cullington presents her argument that texting does not impact formal writing written by students. She discusses the concerns presented by many people about how texting language can transfer into writing, but through the use of personal experiences and credible sources she discusses how this is not true. Her use of multiple different studies and situations help boost her argument and allow the reader to truly see how students actually do formal writing. She presents a strong argument as to why those who believe students don't have the control and knowledge to write formally, instead of with text speak, are wrong.

After reading the first chapter, writing with Style, from “Thinking Well”, by John R. Trimble, he made it seem as if he was writing about my writing when he explained a novice writer. Trimble explains how a novice writer would write by giving examples of how their style of writing looks like. For example, Trimble explains how new writers unconsciously write and how they are not aware of their egocentrism. He states what a novice would have to achieve objectivity, empathy, courtesy and social sensitivity in order for him to have a readable style. Trimble then discusses what makes a veteran writer and how their thinking process reflects their writing situation. He lists four fundamentals that would help win the readers and the only way to win readers is by courteously serving them with their satisfying needs. There are five ways to serve the readers needs: Phrase your thoughts, speak to the point, anticipate their reactions, offer them variety and talk to them in warm manner. I found everything that he had to say about a beginner and veteran particularly true. From my personal experience, Trimble makes

“They’ll turn us into writing robots”, a student contends against the use templates influencing the structure of their essays. (10) In the book “They Say/ I Say”: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing, Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein insist that the use of their relevant templates provide tools that will enhance the readers writing skills. These templates provide an exemplary format that one can use when writing an essay. Graff and Birkenstein suggests that, “Instead of focusing solely on abstract principles of writing, then, this book offers model templates that help you put those principles directly into practice.” (2) In other words, Graff and Birkenstein reason that these templates are designed to provide beneficial formulas that

In this short passage by William Zinsser, Zinsser used compare and contrast to inform the readers about his personal opinions of being a writer. Due to different understandings and opinions on how to be a good writer, Zinsser decided to use compare and contrast in order to present a clean and detailed differences to the reader about how different people’s writing style can vary. By doing this, it would be extremely helpful for the readers to distinguish the differences of each writing style, see the benefits and disadvantages, and ultimately gather enough information to decide which style fits them the best. At the panel with Dr. Brock, Zinsser gave the audience a broader view of different writing styles and how they contribute differently.

Andrea Lunsford, who wrote “Our Semi-Literate Youth? Not So Fast”, conducts her own study with a few colleagues to take notes on how students writing skills are changing. She decides to conduct another one twenty five years later to see how much the writing skills have changed since technology has been updated and became more available to students. She found that “students today are writing more than ever before.” Although we still have the same amount of writing errors as before, the patterns of errors are different. Many people argue that technology is only making our writing skill worse, this study helps to prove a different theory. Most of the errors made are the use of a wrong word. Lunsford believes “these wrong words come from the advice given by the

Gee, James P. “Literary, Discourse, and Linguistics.” Writing About Writing, A College Reader. Ed. Elizabeth Wardle and Doug Downs. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2011. 481-495. Print.

The article by Donald Murray entitled, “The Maker’s Eye: Revising Your Own Manuscripts” provides readers a better understanding of the writing process and argues that writers learn to write, by writing and rewriting. Murray also contends that writers must learn to be their own best enemy. Well, I believe I have this trait covered! I will confess, that I purposely saved this course for last, due to the number of years between my last structured learning experience and returning to school to complete a BSN degree. After many years of writing as a nurse, using short, concise statements, academic writing was my greatest concern.

Basketball fans come from all walks of life flocking to their television sets as the game flashes on the screen. They ignore real life for those two hours to bask in the glory of their favorite players. LeBron James being the basketball superstar he is knows his audience and uses that to his advantage while writing his article for sports illustrated. LeBron used syntax and diction specific to his fan base to capture attention and create a believable piece of writing.

I have read Jimmie Hill`s article “Collocational competence” in your magazine, English teaching professional. Issue 11 April 1999. The reading was captivating, and it gave me a good thinking.

The difference between writing to certain things is the situation in which you are writing to. When writing to your friends, we tend to use slang and shorten words a lot to where we under stand them. When writing in school, we have to be professional but not to a strict limit with how things are wrote. When writing to a workplace, it needs to be very professional. You are showing them that you are really meaning what you are writing about and show them that you have respect in the paper. If I could write about anything it would about traveling. I haven't really done a lot of traveling and i would love to do more of it. Writing about traveling would probably calm me and put me in a "happy place". I have seen so many articles and pictures of