Academic writing

 On Monday I attended the academic writing discussion with Peter Thomas and by far it was the discussion that helped me most. 

Coming from all practical background the idea of academic writing is super scary to me. As you can probably tell by my previous blogs I like to put things in simple terms. I don't use fancy words or deep creative quotes and haven't written an essay since school. I like my words to be understood by all, hence why I write simply and in my opinion don't "sound smart". Starting this course and reading other people's blogs and some core texts listed in the handbooks I became even more anxious that I don't sound smart enough for this level of study.

However, what I gathered from the discussion is, it doesn't matter if my words are not fancy as long as I have something to say. As long as there is knowledge behind my writing I shall carry on and give it my best.

I liked how Peter explained the process of writing in three phases:

GENERATE                                     ORGANISE                                  PRESENT

write                                                  review                                             re-write

I was definitely too concerned with how my writing sounds straight away instead of just making a start. I realized at this stage I just have to give it a try: generate. I will probably learn most through the process of writing as it's how I generally learn best in life- by doing. 

I know I have a lot of knowledge to share even if I have never written it down before. I tend to ramble so putting words down shouldn't be a problem. I just need to have the courage to start. I worry about how it sounds towards the end. 

Peter mentioned a lot of very useful resources available to us all and I'm very grateful they're there. I still need to learn how to reference as I have never done it and that scares me too. So many aspects of writing all these essays scare me but the only way I'll get over that fear is by persevering and learning. 

Long time ago I read a book called "Feel the fear and do it anyway" by Susan Jefferers where she talks about letting yourself be scared and carrying on anyway. So that's what I will do. Hopefully next time I mention a book in my blog I will be able to reference it ;)

So if you're new to academic writing please comment your thoughts below. It's always nice to know there's someone else in the same boat as me. 

I've decided to attack this writing task head on and today I wrote the first paragraph of my first AOL! It might be all wrong  but that doesn't matter now. The organizing and presenting part of it will come but for now I'm just happy to have started.