McClure 1 Angelica McClure Megan Keaton English 111-06 8 July 2013 Definition Essay of Good Academic Writing One

of the first things that will be discovered as a college student is that writing in college will be different from writing in high school. Like other subjects, good academic writing presents a clear description of a subject and it varies when accommodating to the assignment. It is also semi-formal, impersonal, and objective. Brainstorming, drafting, revising and editing is all a part of a writing process. Academic writing includes thesis, essays, reports, book reviews, research papers, etc. All good writers have an idea on what good academic writing is whether its having a large amount of drafts, revising constantly, or other useful ideas. The paragraphs should always flow smoothly from one to the next. The first sentence in each new paragraph signifies as an effective link to the preceding paragraph. In addition, minor supporting ideas are linked together within the paragraphs in a smooth manner. Academic writing is the process of presenting ideas in an admissible, organized, analytical and logical way. Webster defines brainstorming as a group problem-solving technique that involves the spontaneous contribution of ideas from all members of the group; also: the mulling over of ideas by one or more individuals in an attempt to devise or find a solution to a problem. Whether one is starting with very little, or too much information, brainstorming can help put a new writing task in action or put a project back in motion that has yet reached completion. Brainstorming works by mainly focusing on a particular issue, and then gradually coming up with as many solutions as possible and pushing the selected ideas as far as possible. My senior English teacher

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Ms. Simmons taught us four basic rules in brainstorming, no criticism, welcome unusual ideas, combine and improve ideas. By following those steps, there shouldnt be any reason as to why you dont have a clear product. Brainstorming is a continuous process for good academic writing. In other words, writing is one big back and forth, until you decide it is polished enough. The drafting, revision and editing process begins with this kind of brainstorming. Since elementary days in my English/reading class, my teachers always made it clear that it was extremely important to draft, constantly revise and edit multiple of times before turning in the final draft. More advanced writers tend to start a prewriting outline or accumulate ideas that exist only in their head. They are required to put it in writing, either using a graphic organizer or in a more direct format, like listing or free writing. Drafting helps to organize ideas. The goal for the writer is to become personally invested in the assignment. When revising, one should be able to add or delete information, ideas, or events that were in the previous draft that can now be put in a different form, or more intellectual way. When revising a draft, youre seeing it in a more productive way. With revising, you don't have to get it right the first time; because you can always do it better. Finding the exact word, correct spelling and punctuation, the appropriate phrase, or re-ordering sentences will take place in every revision. The editing process can include correction, condensation, organization, and other adjustments. Allowing a professor or classmates to be involved to help make correction, suggestions, etc. is helpful in this step. A writing process is something important in this English 111 class. When I say important, I mean it has a significant impact on how to write a great paper. The most important concept is to make sure one is revising his or her paper frequently and has at least three drafts. I know I personally don't like people my age or in the same class as me to read my papers because I may be writing something personal, I may be ashamed of what I've already written or I just want

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expert advice from my professor whom I know has my best interest at mind. I know there is absolutely nothing wrong with help from my peers because its up to me whether I take in the advice that they provide for me. It is really a learning experience for everyone and if we help one another out we're learning. I know what good writing in my mind is but someone else may know something I don't or something that can add on to mines to make a thought, statement or question better. Others may not agree with my writing process but this is something I do knowing that my final product will be a great one. Learning more about my writing process in the English 111 class will definitely improve my writing skills. Good academic writing has steps students should take when writing will challenge students by asking them to talk about their writing at every step of the writing process. Its easy to agree on the annotation of writing if we abridge it to something like pen to paper or typing ideas. While writing can feel like an isolating, individual act it is really a social act, a way in which we all respond to specific subject or idea. When producing a piece of writing for an audience, experienced writers use systems they have developed. Correcting your grammar, checking for all types of mechanical errors and the next morning, as you are about to turn it in, you look at it one more time. Each writer has a custom combination of thinking, planning, drafting, and revising. No matter how an individual describes his/her process, each person arbitrates the series of choices required in the context and produces a draft that begins to capture a representation of ideas.