No doubt about it: there are lots of different ideas about what academic writing should be like. For this post, please discuss Sword’s chapters about academic writing. You may address anything in these three chapters that captures your interest, but you should be sure to include at least some of the following topics:
In your classes, in other books, and in writing projects of your own, what have you learned about what college writing is supposed to be like?
What are some of the rules you tend to follow when it comes to college writing?
What is most interesting to you about what you read in these chapters?
What are some common mistakes made by academic writers?
What does good academic writing look like? What does good academic writing do?
Which qualities of style do you want to develop in your writing?
Which of Sword’s suggestions are you most likely to implement? What “tips” are you going to try?
Length Requirement: 250 words minimum
Quotes Required: 2. Your response should include direct quotes from at least two of the required chapters. You may quote Sword and/or any of the authors she cites. After each quote, use parenthetical citations of the MLA variety. For example, after quoting a passage from the chapter, “your parenthetical citation should look like this” (Sword 44). This basic citation includes the author’s last name and the page number (no commas or abbreviations here). If you are quoting one of Sword’s examples, “it should look like this” (Stevenson qtd. in Sword 44). Here, we include the original author’s name and the abbreviation “qtd. in” as shorthand for “quoted in.”
For a handy guide to MLA citations and MLA format in general, see the Online Writing Lab
Conversation Requirement: At least 1 response to another student within 24 hours of the deadline (e.g., if the post is due Monday at 11:59pm, be sure to respond to another student by Tuesday at 11:59pm). Not responding to another student results in a reduction of 2 points. Responses need not be lengthy (i.e., not more than 75 words), but should be substantive and thoughtful. Affirm the quality of the post, relate additional ideas to the post, and/or expand upon the post.
