What did you learn about Rhetoric and Academic Writing in this class?
In a typical college English course, you will learn about various elements of writing including grammar, punctuation, and sentence structuring. You will also learn about rhetorical figures and devices which are used to enhance the effectiveness of the writer’s argument. But what is really important is that you learn how to become a better writer. More specifically, you will learn how to become a successful Academic writer.
The most effective way of teaching academic writing is by using examples from real-life sources like newspaper articles, books, and websites. That is precisely what this section is designed to do. With a little bit of rewriting, these sample documents can be turned into successful academic papers.
Key Takeaways
Here are some of the key takeaways from this class:
1. You need to have a clear idea of what is required
One of the most important things which you need to learn is that you need to have a clear idea of what is required. You can’t just write something and hope that it will be accepted because you have been taught in class how to write a particular kind of paper. You need to follow the rules and regulations of your field which govern the use of source material.
You also need to learn to write according to the conventions and norms of your discipline. These are all aspects which you need to consider before you even start writing. If you do not have a clear idea of what is required, it will be very difficult for you to complete a successful academic paper. You will be tempted to cut corners and use shortcuts which may result in plagiarism.
2. Rhetorical figures are important
Another important thing which you need to learn is that rhetorical figures are important. You need to understand how they work and what purpose they serve. It is widely believed that skilled use of rhetorical figures can greatly enhance the effectiveness of the writer’s argument. Moreover, using figurative language can make your writing more interesting and engaging. But remember: only use these figures where they belong; never put in a paper a figure which does not flow naturally from your argument. For example, if you are writing an essay on the dangers of sugar overconsumption, using a figure of speech like hyperbole is acceptable. But in an analysis of the history of English literature, using rhetorical figures like antonyms and oxymorons would be overkill.
3. You need to learn how to structure your paper
You also need to learn how to structure your paper. That is, you need to learn how to organize your thoughts and ideas into a logical and cohesive form. When you write an academic paper, you are generally required to follow a certain format which governs the number of pages, the order of the paragraphs, and the like. Moreover, you need to learn how to use the appropriate headings and subheadings to guide the reader through your train of thought. With a bit of practice, you will become an expert at crafting an effective academic paper. You can also find many blogging platforms which allow you to practice putting your thoughts into writing and learning how to structure your paper. Just remember to use a word processor and not a cell phone or one of those online collaboration tools.
4. Grammar is important
Grammar is important. You need to learn how to use the correct grammar and syntax which are necessary for a clear and precise communication. Even if you are a native English speaker, there are certain rules which you must learn to avoid being accused or judged of plagiarism. In addition, you need to learn about the various parts of speech and their specific functions. For example, it is a common misconception that adjectives and adverbs have the same function in a sentence. While both types of words can modify a noun or pronoun, they have very different functions. Adjectives tend to describe or define a noun or pronoun. For example, imagine you are studying the Renaissance and you come across the following line in an article:
“The sixteenth century was a time when people began to experiment with different styles and approaches to art and beauty.”
In this case, the author is using the adjective ‘experimenting’ to modify the noun’style’ and ‘approach’. In doing so, the author is telling the reader what kind of style and approach the Renaissance had. This is how you would formally write this:
“The sixteenth century was a time when people began to experiment with a new style and approach to art and beauty.”
Now, if the author had written this:
“The sixteenth century was a time when people began to experiment with a new style. The approach was different from what it had been before.”
Then, the approach would have modified the style. This is how you would write it:
“The sixteenth century was a time when people began to experiment with a new style. The approach was different from what it had been before. “
As you can see, in the first example, the meaning is much clearer because the author has followed the correct order of modifying the noun and the adjective. Moreover, a stylistic analysis of this example reveals that it is much more effective than the second version. This is because the latter sounds like two unrelated ideas are being connected by using a conjunction like ‘and’. Finally, using a conjunction to connect two ideas leads to a kind of non-sequitur which makes the sentence harder to understand. These are all important rules which you must learn and follow if you want to write a successful academic paper. When in doubt, ask a trusted friend who is a professional to help you get it right.
5. Punctuation is important
Punctuation is important. You need to learn how to use proper punctuation and spelling which create a logical relationship between the various parts of the text. For example, when you are discussing the Renaissance, you would want to use a semicolon to separate the following ideas:
The sixteenth century was a time when people began to experiment with different styles and approaches to art and beauty; these styles and approaches were different from what they had been before.
As another example, consider the following statement:
“This piece will introduce you to the basics of academic writing and assist you in developing your skills.”
In this case, the author is notifying the reader that this will be an academic paper which provides the basics of academic writing and which will assist the reader in developing their skills.
When you write an academic paper, you must follow a specific format which governs the number of pages, the order of the paragraphs, and the like. Moreover, you need to learn how to use the appropriate headings and subheadings to guide the reader through your train of thought. With a little bit of practice, you will become an expert at structuring and punctuating your paper to effectively communicate your ideas.
6. Sentence structure is important
Sentence structure is important. You need to learn how to create sentences which are syntactically correct and which adhere to the conventions of your discipline. One of the most useful phrases in this area is “rule of thumb”, which simply means that this is an unwritten rule which must be followed. For example, in the English grammar rules published by the government, a guideline is given for the placement of adverbs: before the verb or after the verb. When you are writing an academic paper and use an adverb, you need to make sure that you follow this guideline. For example, if you want to use an adverb in the following way:
“Since it was first published in 1981, Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale has become a modern classic.”
You would need to place the adverb’since’ before the verb ‘first’ and after the verb ‘classic’. If you do not follow these six steps, your paper will likely fall foul of a good editor or a trained reading group.
There are many websites which allow you to practice writing your paper in the correct format. Just remember to use a word processor and not a cell phone or one of those online collaboration tools.
Conversely, a train of thought can be logically expressed in a linear fashion using the following format:
Introduction
Body
Conclusion