• ...is an important factor/concept/idea/ to consider because...
• … will be argued/outlined in this paper.
Once you have finished writing your first draft it is recommended that you spend time revising your work. Proofreading and editing are two different stages of the revision process.
As can be seen in the figure above there are four main areas that you should review during the editing phase of the revision process. The main things to consider when editing include content, structure, style, and sources. It is important to check that all the content relates to the assignment task, the structure is appropriate for the purposes of the assignment, the writing is academic in style, and that sources have been adequately acknowledged. Use the checklist below when editing your work.
Editing checklist
There are also several key things to look out for during the proofreading phase of the revision process. In this stage it is important to check your work for word choice, grammar and spelling, punctuation and referencing errors. It can be easy to mis-type words like ‘from’ and ‘form’ or mix up words like ‘trail’ and ‘trial’ when writing about research, apply American rather than Australian spelling, include unnecessary commas or incorrectly format your references list. The checklist below is a useful guide that you can use when proofreading your work.
Proofreading checklist
This chapter has examined the experience of writing assignments. It began by focusing on how to read and break down an assignment question, then highlighted the key components of essays. Next, it examined some techniques for paraphrasing and summarising, and how to build an argument. It concluded with a discussion on planning and structuring your assignment and giving it that essential polish with editing and proof-reading. Combining these skills and practising them, can greatly improve your success with this very common form of assessment.
Academic Skills Centre. (2013). Writing an introduction and conclusion . University of Canberra, accessed 13 August, 2013, http://www.canberra.edu.au/studyskills/writing/conclusions
Balkis, M., & Duru, E. (2016). Procrastination, self-regulation failure, academic life satisfaction, and affective well-being: underregulation or misregulation form. European Journal of Psychology of Education, 31 (3), 439-459.
Custer, N. (2018). Test anxiety and academic procrastination among prelicensure nursing students. Nursing education perspectives, 39 (3), 162-163.
Yerdelen, S., McCaffrey, A., & Klassen, R. M. (2016). Longitudinal examination of procrastination and anxiety, and their relation to self-efficacy for self-regulated learning: Latent growth curve modeling. Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice, 16 (1).
Writing Assignments Copyright © 2021 by Kate Derrington; Cristy Bartlett; and Sarah Irvine is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.
Writing assignments are a cornerstone of your academic journey, and honing your assignment writing skills is paramount for your success. Whether you're embarking on your first year or a seasoned academic, the art of effective assignment writing can wield significant influence over your grades and overall educational voyage. In this comprehensive guide, we'll offer you ten invaluable tips to elevate your assignment writing prowess. These strategies, along with expert guidance from our specialized assignment help website writemyessays.com/do-my-assignment.html , will empower you to enhance your writing skills and chart a course towards academic triumph.
The first rule of successful assignment writing is to start early. Procrastination is the enemy of quality work. By initiating your assignments as soon as you receive them, you'll have ample time for essential steps such as research, planning, drafting, and revisions. Starting early allows you to manage your time effectively and produce well-crafted assignments.
Before you begin writing, it's essential to thoroughly understand the assignment instructions. Take the time to read and analyze what is expected of you. If any aspects are unclear, don't hesitate to seek clarification from your instructor. Understanding the assignment's requirements is fundamental to meeting them successfully.
Effective planning is a cornerstone of assignment writing. Develop a structured plan that includes creating a timeline for your assignment. Break down the work into smaller tasks, allocate sufficient time for research, outlining, drafting, and proofreading. A well-organized plan will keep you on track and reduce stress.
Your university offers a wealth of resources to support your writing endeavors. Take advantage of writing centers, libraries, and academic advisors who can provide guidance and feedback on your assignments. These resources are valuable assets that can significantly improve the quality of your work.
High-quality assignments require thorough research. Dive deeply into your chosen topic, utilizing a variety of credible sources such as academic journals, books, and reputable websites. Ensure that you cite your sources correctly to provide evidence for your arguments and maintain academic integrity.
Developing and maintaining a clear and concise writing style is essential for effective communication in your assignments. Avoid overly complex language and prioritize clarity. Ensure that your assignments have a logical structure with a clear flow of ideas. Your goal is to make your writing accessible and easy for your reader to understand.
If you ever find yourself struggling with assignment writing, don't hesitate to seek writing assistance. Many universities offer writing assistance programs staffed by experienced tutors who can provide guidance and feedback on your work. These services are designed to help you refine your writing skills and produce higher-quality assignments.
The importance of proofreading and editing cannot be overstated. After completing your initial draft, take the time to review and edit your work. Check for grammar and punctuation errors, ensure proper formatting, and verify that your assignment aligns with the assignment guidelines. Effective editing will polish your work and enhance its overall quality.
When conducting online research for your assignments, it's essential to prioritize online safety. Use reliable sources and be cautious of plagiarism. Properly cite all your references to maintain academic integrity and avoid unintentional academic misconduct.
Lastly, don't forget to celebrate your achievements in assignment writing. Completing assignments is a significant accomplishment on your academic journey. Reward yourself for your hard work and dedication, and acknowledge your successes. Recognizing your achievements can motivate you to excel in future assignments.
To summarize, here are some dos and don'ts for successful assignment writing:
Here are some common questions related to assignment writing:
Improving your writing style is a gradual process. Consider taking writing courses, seeking feedback from professors or writing tutors, and practicing regularly to refine your skills.
Yes, it's acceptable to use online sources for research, but ensure that they are reliable and properly cited in your assignments to maintain academic credibility.
Writing assignments may seem challenging at times, but with the right approach and these ten tips, you can excel in your academic journey. Remember that assignment writing is a skill that improves with practice and dedication. By following these guidelines and continuously honing your writing skills, you'll be well-equipped to tackle assignments successfully and achieve academic excellence. Go to website
By Mrs Hazar Korkmazoglu , Lecturer in Business, LSST Elephant and Castle campus and Fatma Hazal Sari , Lecturer in Health, LSST Elephan t and Castle campus
Academic writing is a formal style of writing used in professional settings such as university and scholarly publications , whi ch must be grammatically correct, clear and simple ( Scribbr , n.d . ; McMillan and Weyers, 2011 ) . There are certain do ’ s and don’ts in academic writing , learning these is a gradual process and a skill you will develop over practice .
It is important that you are careful and follow the professional advice , here are some introductory guidance:
Assignments at university challenge you to write in different forms ( McMillan and Weyers, 2012 ). Y ou are required to read books, journals, articles and other academic publications to complete your assignments which can be in the form of an essay, report, presentation, case study and dissertation. T his blog focus es on the two main structures of ac ademic writing that you will most frequently need to use throughout your academic journey.
What are the two different s tructures of academic writing ?
Essay writing is one of the most common forms of an assessment (Burns and Sinfield, 2016). It usually requires you to answer a question, discuss concepts and issues in depth. When writing an essay, you will be required to be analytical and think critically. Which gives you a flexibility in the way you produce arguments, using evidence, analysis and interpretation to support your argument.
A traditional essay has three basic components:
-Introduction: What is the essay going to be about? Provide the reader with some background information.
-Main body: Present the information, the argument or key points of your response in greater detail.
-Conclusion: What are the consequences of your findings? Sum up your answer, reinforce the position outlined in the introduction, and summarise your findings.
(Creme and Lea, 2008; McMillan and Weyers, 2012)
2. Report
Report writing is commonly used within academia. During your academic journey, you may be required to write many different types of reports, such as business reports, lab reports, research reports or maybe other types. A report is a formally structured set of findings of an investigation that is set in a clear and logical way, which also communicates with the reader in a professional manner.
A report generally has three main functions:
- To explain why something was done
- To describe how it was done
- To summarise and conclude the outcome of a particular action, or set of actions
(Creme and Lea, 2008)
The content and structure of your report will be determined by the assessment brief and module learning outcomes, which will identify a set of instructions and requirements for your research process (Reid, 2018). At this stage, you should start planning how you will structure your report to meet the assessment requirements.
The structure of a report follows:
- Executive summary: A summary of the findings in your report to allow the reader to have an idea of what to expect.
- Introduction: An explanation of what you will discuss and any background information you think the reader must know.
- Main body: Explains all of your findings under a variety of headings and sub-headings. The main body makes up a majority of the report and may take up pages, whereas the introduction and conclusion may only be a few paragraphs.
- Conclusion: Where you bring together all the findings of your report and come to a definitive interpretation.
(Ellis, 2021)
The differences between reports and essays
It is important that you are able to distinguish the difference between an essay and a report, as you need to understand why you may need to write one and not the other.
In summary, essays are more descriptive, subjective and evaluative, whereas, a report is descriptive, objective and analytical (Surbhi, 2020). Sadly, you cannot choose which structure you want to write your assessment in. This is decided by the awarding body, which is the university you are studying at. However, you need to develop strong writing skills within both structures, as both essays and reports will be mandatory within your academic and professional career.
The purpose of both structures is to give you the opportunity to demonstrate:
- Your knowledge and understanding
- Your ability to research a specific topic to meet the assessment criteria
- Your ability to use references and evidence to support your arguments/findings
- Your ability use the correct structure of academic writing
(McMillan and Weyers, 2012)
The Different Academic Writing Styles
Now that we’ve gone over the different structures of academic writing, let’s dive into the different writing styles that you will need to use in your assignments.
Descriptive , analytical, critical/evaluative and reflective writing are the four essential elements of academic writing. What writing style you should mainly use will depend on the nature and context of each assignment. Assignment guidelines will typically define how to address a topic, and may specify the appropriate writing style. However, generally, there needs to a balanced use of the different writing styles. In a successful academic assignment, you will need to include a certain amount of description, but the majority of your writing will need to be analytical and critical .
In order to successfully meet the assessment criteria, it is very important that you know the key differences between the different writing styles and understand how to use them correctly.
Descriptive Writing:
Think of descriptions as the backbone of all academic assignments. Descriptions convey information about a subject, however, they do not engage in any kind of analysis or reasoning, nor do they make judgements or draw conclusions about the information they contain. When you write descriptively, you present background information that is necessary for the reader to understand what they are reading, and you support your arguments rather than develop new ideas.
Analytical Writing:
The main purpose of analysing is to compare and contrast. To be able to present the full picture of any chosen subject, you must try and find information from more than one source. By compiling results from previously published studies, you will be able to identify frequent patterns and contrasts, explore relationships, and potentially provide new responses to the subject in question.
Critical Writing:
Throughout your studies, you will come across the term “critical” quite frequently, for example critical thinking, critical writing or critical review. Critical writing entails constructing a reasoned argument or point of view that is supported by credible evidence. In other words, you are not only gathering existing information, but you are also developing your own argument and incorporating your understanding of the subject at issue, therefore participating in academic literature.
Reflective Writing:
Reflection is a tool that encourages you to draw on prior experiences to improve your future performance. When you write a reflective account, you analyse “ what, why and how” something happened, aiming to identify how you can achieve better outcomes in the future.
Although you have been advised not to write in the first person in academic assignments, this style of writing is more “personal”, and frequently requires you to write in the first person. If you have been asked to write a reflection or personal narrative, you can use phrases like “I had the experience of …”, “I learned …”, “In my future encounters, I will pay more attention to …”. However, please note that although you can use personal pronouns like "I" and "we" when discussing your opinions and feelings, you still need to use formal academic language in reflective writing.
How to choose the correct writing style
All academic writing styles serve a fundamental purpose, and must be used correctly according to assignment requirements. If you're unsure whether you have used the appropriate writing style or not, below are some questions you can ask to guide you to observe your writing to ensure it is in the right style, and if it is not, to transition your writing from one style to another.
For example, if you only rely on providing facts about a topic when you are asked to write a reflective account, you may get feedback from your lecturer informing you that your writing is too descriptive and not critical enough. In this case, try asking questions like “What did I notice or realise?”, “How can I deduce from the information I have gathered?” to modify your writing to meet the assessment criteria. Likewise, when you are working on a literature review, if you find that your writing seems very opinionated and persuasive, you may want to ask questions such as “How do the parts fit into the whole?”, “What is the main point?” to help you objectify your writing.
It would be a mistake to assume that a guidance on academic writing is irrelevant to you. Regardless of field of study, academic interests, or level, you’ll be required to complete a variety of different assignments, such as reports, critical reviews, or reflective essays - which will all call for different structures and writing styles.
If you are interested in reading further about how to manage your studies and how you can improve your academic writing skills, you can find a range of resources here at LSST, such as library, one-on-one support from your lecturers, and academic support.
References:
Burns, T. and Sinfield, S. (2016). Essential Study Skills: The Complete Guide to Success at University. SAGE Publications Ltd. 6 th edition. London.
Crème, P. and Lea, M. R. (2008). Writing at University: A guide for students. Open UP Study Skills. 3 rd edition, England.
Critical Thinking, by Learning Development with Plymouth University, 2010 ( https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/student- life/services/student-services/learning-development). Copyright 2006 by Learning Development, University of Plymouth.
Ellis, M. (2021). ‘How to Write a Report: A Guide’. Available at: https://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-write-a-report/ [Accessed on 30 th September 2022].
McMillan, K. and Weyers, J. (2011). How to Write Essays & Assignments. Pearson Education Limited. 3 rd edition. England.
McMillan, K. and Weyers, J. (2012). The Study Skills Book. Pearson Education Limited. 3 rd edition. England.
Reid, M. (2018). Report Writing. Palgrave. 2 nd edition. United Kingdom.
Scribbr (n.d.). ‘What is Academic Writing Do’s and Don’ts for Student’ . Available at: https://www.scribbr.com/category/academic-writing/ [Accessed on 27 th September 2022].
Surbhi, S. (2020). ‘Difference Between Essay and Report’. Available at: https://keydifferences.com/difference-between-essay-and-report.html#google_vignette [Accessed on 30 th September 2022].
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ThinkWritten
Understanding the 4 main types of writing styles can help you grow as a writer and attract an audience for your written work. Here’s how to identify each style of writing and tips for using each of the 4 common writing styles to develop your written skills.
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One of the things that can help you grow as a writer is to learn the 4 main types of writing styles and use the characteristics of each to further develop your own personal voice as a writer.
By learning how to use the different writing styles in your work, you will not only improve your skills as writer, but also learn ways to better connect with your audience of readers.
In this post we’ll cover the 4 main types of writing styles and how to use them as a writer to create compelling books, stories, essays, poetry, articles and more.
Writing styles are basically another way of saying the form or type of written work you are creating. Think of it as a classification for being able to identify what kind of writing you are creating.
For example, if you are writing a cookbook, that is a completely different style of writing than if you were writing a steamy romance novel!
Each writing style has a different purpose – and therefore, different characteristics are present when you are writing each type of different work.
Now that we understand what a writing style is – let’s talk about the 4 main writing styles which are commonly talked about amongst writers and literary educators.
The four main writing styles which are commonly recognized are expository , descriptive , narrative , and persuasive .
The definition of expository is this: “intended to explain or describe something.”
Most types of written work that fall into this category explain something in more detail, or provide insight and instruction in regards to a particular topic.
What types of writing fall into this category of expository writing style?
While there are many different types of written work which can be categorized as expository style of writing, you can often identify this type of writing by noticing the purpose of the work.
Here are some examples of the different types of writing pieces which can fall into the category of expository writing:
When you write expository style pieces, your main goal as a writer is to inform your readers with insight and facts that pertain to the subject of your piece.
For example, if you are writing about the history of ice cream, you would be including a lot of research and fun facts into your piece.
Note that this type of writing style is not intended to persuade or influence your audience. In writing your piece on the history of ice cream, you would NOT be trying to persuade your readers.
You would not want to say things like “Everybody should eat ice cream!” and “These 5 reasons will convince you forever to choose strawberry swirl flavored ice cream as your favorite flavor.”
Sometimes it can be confusing on whether an article is expository or persuasive. For example, an article called “The 5 Unexpected Health Benefits of Ice Cream” – would not fall into expository writing, even though it is providing information.
The word “benefits” has a positive connotation to the title. If you were to be writing an article on possible health benefits on ice cream, it would be very important that you as the writer keep your opinion separated from the facts and information if you plan for it to be an expository style piece. To be expository in nature, you would want to use a title such as “Scientists Research The Health Effects of Ice Cream.”
Books and articles that explain how to do something are also very popular examples of expository writing. Cookbooks are very popular, as they explain to others the tips, techniques, and recipes on how to cook something. How-to books for hobbies and crafts are also a good example of this type of writing.
Descriptive writing goes deeper than expository writing. While expository writing might have some descriptive details and factual information, descriptive writing will make use of many writing elements and literary devices such as metaphors and similes.
The purpose and goal of descriptive writing is to bring your reader into the written work as if the reader were to be experiencing it first hand.
Most fictional pieces fall under the category of descriptive writing, and even some non-fiction pieces such as memoirs and creative non-fiction can fall under the category of a descriptive writing style.
If you are writing fiction, the more descriptive you can be with your words, the more relatable your story will be to the reader.
For example, we recommend that writers ask their characters questions as one way to really intimately understand the details about a character. Details about the setting, events, and people present in a story will help your readers be able to imagine and understand the piece.
This style also includes poetry. If you browse through some of our poetry writing prompts , you will see there is a lot of attention put on using details to create a scene or feeling in writing a poem!
Here are some examples of types of descriptive writing pieces:
Most pieces using only a descriptive writing style are not very long. It is uncommon for a fictional novel to be 100% fully descriptive without getting into our next writing style, which is narrative writing.
Narrative writing is far more complex that simple descriptive writing.
While a poem for example may describe a scene or even events or people – generally you do not get into the deep inner thoughts of the characters or even get a full story with a clear middle, beginning, and end complete with conflict and dialogue.
Nearly all fiction novels fall into the case of narrative writing, as well as longer epic poems and sagas.
In narrative writing, there is a story to be told – a clear plot complete with setting, characters, dialogue, conflict and resolution. A narrative piece often has a timeline or sequence of events which further build to the point of conflict and resolution.
Here are some examples of the works which would be considered to have a narrative writing style:
Narrative writing pieces are generally easy to identify, although sometimes it can be confused with descriptive writing styles. The key difference in determining which one a written work might be is whether or not there is a developed storyline or plot.
If there is a well developed plot and storyline, you are most likely reading narrative writing.
Persuasive writing is a type of writing style where the purpose is to influence someone into believing or doing something. As the word “persuasive” suggests – your goal is to persuade someone’s actions or thoughts to align with your own goals as the writer.
The persuasive writing essay is a popular homework assignment for many kids. For example, a student might be assigned to write an essay to convince their parents of something. “Why We Should Get a Pet Rabbit” and “5 Reasons You Should Not Make Me Clean My Room”.
Persuasive writing is intended to convince someone of something, and so it usually needs to have a good bit of research and logical analysis – but also should attempt to make an emotional connection to the desired audience as well.
A classic piece of writing which serves as an example of persuasive writing is Thomas Paine’s book Common Sense , which was written in the Colonial times of the American Revolutionary War, urging citizens that separating from England was of utmost importance.
Here are some examples of types of writing which are persuasive writing:
When the intention of the work is to convince the audience of something – this falls into persuasive writing.
Now that we know the different types of writing styles, you may be wondering how do you use each style?
The first thing to do is think about what you are planning to write and what the intention is. What is your goal and what type of message are you trying to communicate to your readers?
In this type of writing your goal is to inform your readers about research or data.
When writing expository style pieces, follow these guidelines:
This type of writing has the goal to describe something and bring into your reader’s imaginations
Here are some tips for writing with descriptive writing styles:
In narrative writing style, your goal is to convey a storyline to your readers.
Here is how to achieve this type of writing style:
When you are writing to persuade, your intention is to convince your readers to side with you. This can be as simple as convincing them to buy your latest new product, or even writing about important social and humanitarian issues.
Here are some tips for writing persuasively:
No matter what type of writing you enjoy creating – understanding the basic main 4 types of writing styles can help you become a better writer.
If you are writing a how-to article for example, you will be able to understand what types of elements to ensure your piece of work includes. If you’re writing a descriptive poem, knowing what type of language to use can help convey your message for abstract concepts.
Even if you typically only write for one style, it can be a lot of fun to push yourself to try to write for the different types of styles. For example, try writing a persuasive essay, and then a descriptive essay on the same topic. It can also be fun to write a descriptive poem and then turn it into a narrative essay or short story.
Not sure what to write about using these different writing styles? We have TONS of ideas for you with many different writing prompts! Check out our list of 365 writing prompts ideas which are sure to inspire your creative muse!
Using prompts is a great way to help you start writing in different writing styles and push yourself to a new exciting challenge for your writing skills!
I hope this article about the different writing styles and how you can use them as a writer will be helpful for you in building and developing your written skillset.
What types of writing styles do you enjoy writing the most? Have any tips for writing in expository, descriptive, narrative or persuasive styles of writing? We’d love to hear your ideas and experiences in the comments section below!
Chelle Stein wrote her first embarrassingly bad novel at the age of 14 and hasn't stopped writing since. As the founder of ThinkWritten, she enjoys encouraging writers and creatives of all types.
Methodology
By Christina Desouza
Writing an effective assignment is more of an art than a science. It demands critical thinking, thorough research, organized planning, and polished execution. As a professional academic writer with over four years of experience, I've honed these skills and discovered proven strategies for creating standout assignments.
In this article, I will delve into the four key steps of assignment writing, offering detailed advice and actionable tips to help students master this craft.
In-depth research is the cornerstone of any high-quality assignment. It allows you to gain a profound understanding of your topic and equip yourself with relevant data, compelling arguments, and unique insights.
Here's how to do it right:
Don't limit yourself to the first page of Google results. Make use of academic databases like JSTOR , Google Scholar , PubMed , or your school's online library. These resources house a plethora of scholarly articles, research papers, and academic books that can provide you with valuable information.
Remember, not all information is created equal. Cross-check facts and data from multiple reliable sources to ensure accuracy. Look for consensus among experts on contentious issues.
Keep track of your resources as you go. Tools like Zotero or Mendeley can help you organize your references and generate citations in various formats. This will save you from scrambling to find sources when you're wrapping up your assignment.
Creating a well-planned structure for your assignment is akin to drawing a roadmap. It helps you stay on track and ensures that your ideas flow logically. Here's what to consider:
The basic structure of an assignment includes an introduction, body, and conclusion. The introduction should present the topic and establish the purpose of your assignment. The body should delve into the topic in detail, backed by your research. The conclusion should summarize your findings or arguments without introducing new ideas.
Subheadings make your assignment easier to read and follow. They allow you to break down complex ideas into manageable sections. As a rule of thumb, each paragraph should cover one idea or argument.
Assignments often come with word limits. Allocate word count for each section of your assignment based on its importance to avoid overwriting or underwriting any part.
Writing your assignment is where your research and planning come to fruition. You now have a robust foundation to build upon, and it's time to craft a compelling narrative.
Here's how to accomplish this:
Your introduction is the gateway to your assignment. Make it captivating. Start with a hook—a surprising fact, an interesting quote, or a thought-provoking question—to grab your readers' attention. Provide an overview of what your assignment is about and the purpose it serves. A well-crafted introduction sets the tone for the rest of the assignment and motivates your readers to delve deeper into your work.
The body of your assignment is where you delve into the details. Develop your arguments, present your data, and discuss your findings. Use clear and concise language. Avoid jargon unless necessary. Each paragraph should cover one idea or argument to maintain readability.
Your conclusion is your final chance to leave an impression on your reader. Summarize your key findings or arguments without introducing new ideas. Reinforce the purpose of your assignment and provide a clear answer to the question or problem you addressed in the introduction. A strong conclusion leaves your readers with a sense of closure and a full understanding of your topic.
Use straightforward sentences and avoid jargon. Your goal is to communicate, not to confuse. Tools like Hemingway Editor can help ensure your writing is clear and concise.
Paraphrasingtool.ai is an AI-powered tool that can enhance your assignment writing. It reformulates your sentences while preserving their meaning. It not only helps you avoid plagiarism but also enhances the readability of your work.
Citations are a critical part of assignment writing. They acknowledge the work of others you've built upon and demonstrate the depth of your research. Always include in-text citations and a bibliography at the end. This not only maintains academic integrity but also gives your readers resources to delve deeper into the topic if they wish.
Reviewing and proofreading are the final but critical steps in assignment writing. They ensure your assignment is free from errors and that your ideas are coherently presented. Here's how to do it effectively:
After you finish writing, take a break before you start proofreading. Fresh eyes are more likely to spot mistakes and inconsistencies.
Reading your work aloud can help you identify awkward phrasing, run-on sentences, and typos. You're more likely to catch errors when you hear them, as it requires a different type of processing than reading silently.
Digital tools like Grammarly can be your second pair of eyes, helping you spot grammatical errors, typos, and even issues with sentence structure. However, don't rely solely on these tools—make sure to manually review your work as well.
Effective assignment writing is a skill that takes practice to master. It requires meticulous research, organized planning, clear writing, and careful proofreading. The steps and tips outlined in this article are by no means exhaustive, but they provide a solid framework to start from.
Remember, there is always room for improvement. Don't be disheartened by initial challenges. Each assignment is an opportunity to learn, grow, and sharpen your writing skills. So, be persistent, stay curious, and keep refining your craft. With time and practice, you will find yourself writing assignments that are not just excellent, but truly outstanding.
Get an insight into the minds of our academics and team of educational creatives here at Oxbridge Essays. From expert guidance and practical advice on essay and dissertation writing, to commentary on current academic affairs, our blog covers all things student-related, with the goal of helping you do better during your time at university.
There are plenty of different essay writing styles depending on your subject and your college. Assignment questions can be rather different from essay questions. This can be an opportunity for the tutor to break a task into several pieces, for example, your instructor may devise a Business Studies assignment which asks you to write a mission statement, prepare business promotional material and write a business plan. The instructions for the assignment may be spread over several pages.
To tackle this type of homework, first you need to read the assignment carefully. If there is anything you don’t understand, ask the tutor. If the answer makes no sense – ask again! Without understanding the question it’s going to be hard for you to succeed. Assignment questions often include the following sections:-
Other points to remember with assignment writing:-
Academic Writing Although the assignment question can look very different from an essay question, you are still being asked to think carefully about a topic, read widely and construct an argument. This means that you still need to look for evidence to support what you say and that you should reference the books you read. Writing style – Assignments may not be as strictly formal as essays, but that does not mean that you can write slang, informal language or leave errors in the text. Proofread carefully, just as you would for any other formal, academic work. Take a look at essay examples to see the style of writing you need in your assignments.
Which style do you prefer – essays or assignments? Let us know! Post a comment below.
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If you’re a new or developing writer, finding your writing style can unlock your creativity, help you define your writing process, and even get you a writing career. Landing on your personal style can take a little exploration time, but the effort is well worth it.
I’m a former English teacher with a specialism in teaching creative writing, as well as a copywriter and award-winning novelist. In this article, I’ll help you to understand how to find your writing style and get started on your writing journey. This will be helpful for anyone who is interested in writing, whether you are pursuing it professionally, or as a personal passion.
First, let’s break down what writing style actually means.
Writing style encompasses a range of writing features. Essentially, it’s the voice and tone of your writing. These are made up of word choice, sentence structure, syntax, grammatical variations, literary or rhetorical techniques, rhythm — and more.
In general, writing style conforms to four categories:
However, these categories are hugely generalized. In reality, each writer will have their own distinct style that reflects their personality as well as the aims of their writing.
So, how can you find and develop your writing style? This is a great opportunity to do a deep dive into your own work so far, and the work of others you admire. It’s also a chance for self-reflection and considering your own personality as an artist and human being.
An important first step is to consider why you write. What do you want to put across? What effect(s) do you want to create?
Some writers will be highly motivated by a desire to inform and educate. This may apply particularly to those working in an academic field, journalists, or those with a passionate interest they want to convey, like specialist bloggers.
Others might have an artistic motivation. Creating a work of beauty can be a driver in itself, but many writers also want to evoke strong emotions like fear, pity, or desire. Poetry is a natural example of this, but writers pursuing an artistic motive might also be interested in writing plays, novels, or narrative nonfiction like memoir.
Your writing style should reflect what you want others to take away from your work.
Your writing “why” might come from some of your real life experiences. Whether you are writing about your own life or not, your past can have a huge influence on what and how you create.
Writing about your own life in the form of journal entries or memoir can be hugely beneficial here. Let your writing flow as you write about places and people that are familiar to you, or experiences that really stand out in your mind.
Pay attention to the kind of language you choose to describe your personal experiences as you tap into your core personality. Is it irreverent? Casual/informal? Highly descriptive? This writing style could be an important building block of your overall writer’s voice.
You probably have a few authors whom you really admire. It’s time to consider why they make such an impact on you!
The purpose of this exercise is not to highlight weaknesses in your own work, or set up an unattainable goal (we can’t all be Ernest Hemingway). But looking closely at the types of writing styles that appeal to you can add a lot to your own writing voice.
Try to find a selection of passages or short texts that you really like, ideally across your desired genre. Look at how the writers have used descriptive language for effect, for example. Or, explore how sentence structure creates clarity and emphasis in expository writing.
You can also do this exercise with examples of narrative writing. For example, look at how different writers have opened or closed their stories, or described landscapes or characters. Again, you can compare linguistic techniques, sentence structure, and vocabulary choices.
Now look at a similar piece from your own work. Do you use any similar techniques? Could you introduce any of these to your piece? Conversely, there may be things in your own writing that are unique to you. These might be expressions, turns of phrase, or grammatical twists that are personal to you. Or, perhaps you come back to certain imagery or vocabulary on a regular basis. Identifying these can give you a stronger sense of your personal voice.
You can apply a similar method to other pieces of your existing creative writing or nonfiction work. Select some passages from things you have written already. This might work better if you compare like for like, e.g. opening paragraphs, descriptive passages, or short examples of persuasive writing.
Now look across these extracts and see if you can spot any similarities. Which techniques do you use the most often? Do your sentences follow a similar pattern?
Equally, you might also find places where your writing differs. What impact does that have on you as a reader? Which word choices really stand out?
Understanding your existing style can give you a basis from which to further develop your personal writing voice.
At the end of the day, when it comes to writing, there is no substitute for actually sitting down and doing it. The more you write, the more comfortable you will become with your personal style. As you create, take time to mindfully consider the style choices you are making, and how they reflect your aims and personality as a writer.
For example, notice the length of your sentences. Are you creating a fast or slow pace with your sentence structure? Pay attention to the imagery that comes up in your choice of language, too. Would this stand out when placed alongside other pieces of writing?
It’s also important to leave your comfort zone. Consistently writing in just one genre or form can leave you on autopilot. Trying something new can generate new aspects of style that you can incorporate into your overall writing voice.
To get started with stretching your writing style, why not brainstorm some ideas for new creative projects? Try to come up with ideas across all four general categories listed above; this will really challenge you to grow as a writer.
We have given some ideas below, but you could also ask an AI tool to generate some ideas for you! Using a Generative AI tool, you can use a prompt like “Give three new briefs for writing [whatever form you wish], including a theme, title, and five key words to include.” This could be an interesting challenge to see if you can meet new and diverse writing briefs.
Whether you normally write in a narrative style, or something more factual, it’s useful to develop your descriptive writing skills. Being able to describe something vividly can be useful for a variety of aims, including writing more narrative fiction or nonfiction, using your writing for persuasive purposes like sales, or becoming a blogger or reviewer.
You could try simply picking something from your day and describing it in as much detail as possible. Or, how about describing your dream travel destination? Focus on using a descriptive writing style with plenty of imagery (metaphors and similes, for example) and well-chosen vocabulary.
If you need support with building your skill in descriptive styles, consider using an AI writing tool like Wordtune . Wordtune can help you upgrade your writing by suggesting synonyms that make your vocabulary more effective.
Another great writing challenge to push you out of your comfort zone could be to try some technical writing. For example, write a blog post detailing how to use your favourite app, or a section for a user manual for your phone.
When writing for precision and clarity, it’s important to write in shorter sentences, avoiding the passive voice. You should also avoid abstract imagery and use scientific or official terminology where appropriate. If you usually write in a more imaginative, descriptive way, it can be quite an adjustment to reign in your style.
You could also challenge yourself to make your writing more precise by summarizing an existing text, like a scientific paper. You could then run the same paper through Wordtune’s summarizing tool, Read . Comparing the two pieces could show you how to make your writing even more concise when needed.
If you normally write nonfiction, challenge yourself to write narrative fiction for a change. Prompts could include images or text prompts/titles you find online, or you could use an existing poem or a line from another story to spark your own.
Or, if your focus is normally the narrative writing style, try switching to engaging but informative nonfiction for a business audience. For example, try writing a blog post for your existing or dream employer, or put together a report on a subject you know well.
Wordtune’s tone feature could help here. Input a base text like an existing blog and change the tone on Wordtune to something more casual by using the “casual” tone button. Now, rewrite it on your own to suit a formal, business context.
Now, it’s time to put all your learning together and actually practice your writing style. With a little effort, you can enhance your writing skills and you’ll begin to write instinctively in your upgraded personal voice. There are a few key ways to achieve this, including:
Continue to read widely to build your exposure to the type of writing styles you want to emulate, as well as other kinds of writing beyond that. As you read, you could keep a note of particularly effective passages or sentences.
You could also read books on the craft of writing, for example those by authors Stephen King, Kurt Vonnegut, or Toni Morrison. These can help you hone your technique with specific advice and creative exercises from professional and successful authors.
As with any skill, practice becomes effective when it’s regular. Try to build a daily habit of writing, even if it’s something small like a journal entry. The more you write, the more confident you’ll become in your own abilities.
It’s also a good idea to practice editing your own work. This can be tricky if you’re not used to looking at your own writing with a critical eye. Wordtune can help you identify spelling, punctuation, and grammar mistakes in moments. It can also suggest ways to expand on your work, and upgrade your vocabulary using effective synonyms. Editing your own work is a vital part of developing as a writer and you may need support to get there.
There are loads of courses and workshops you can find to help you develop your writing skills. Some will focus on a specific style, such as narrative writing, while others might be thematic (nature writing) or more general.
It’s important to consider the format of the course before you begin. Some might have opportunities for peer or teacher feedback, which could be invaluable. Double-check if you will be able to interact with others in your class, or if the course is asynchronous. Of course, if you want to follow the sessions at your own pace, a totally self-studied course could be better for you.
Starting to explore how to find your writing style can build your confidence and creativity as a writer. Whether you are writing from your own life experience, creating new worlds, or informing your readers about important information, you can do this in your own distinct voice. Taking time to build and enhance your personal style will make your writing more memorable and original. Don’t forget that there are many resources out there to help you!
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Various formats for writing essays – tips and guidelines.
Welcome to the comprehensive guide that will enhance your understanding of various essay writing formats. Crafting a well-structured and organized essay is a crucial skill for students and professionals alike. Different types of essays require adherence to specific formatting guidelines to effectively communicate ideas and arguments.
Whether you are writing a persuasive essay, analytical essay, narrative essay, or any other type, this guide will provide you with valuable insights into the key elements of each format. By mastering the nuances of essay writing formats, you will be able to express your thoughts clearly, logically, and persuasively, captivating your readers and achieving your communication goals.
Through this comprehensive guide, you will learn about the essential components of various essay formats, including thesis statements, introductions, body paragraphs, supporting evidence, and conclusions. By understanding the specific requirements of each format, you can tailor your writing style to meet the expectations of your audience and effectively convey your message.
Understanding the proper essay format is essential for writing effective essays. Whether you are a student or a professional writer, knowing how to structure your essays can greatly impact the clarity and coherence of your writing. In this guide, we will walk you through the essential elements of essay formats and provide tips on how to structure your essays effectively.
By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your essays are well-structured and easy to read. Remember to revise and edit your essays carefully to ensure that they are well-written and coherent.
When it comes to writing an essay, understanding the basic structure is essential. A typical essay consists of three main parts: an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each of these sections serves a specific purpose and contributes to the overall coherence of the essay.
By following this basic structure, you can ensure that your essay is well-organized and easy for readers to follow. Remember to use transitions between paragraphs to help connect your ideas and create a smooth flow of information throughout the essay.
When it comes to writing essays, there are several different formats that you may encounter. Each format has its own unique structure and requirements. Here are some of the most common types of essay formats:
It’s important to understand the requirements of each essay format and tailor your writing style accordingly to effectively convey your ideas and arguments.
When it comes to writing essays, there are several common styles that you may encounter. Understanding the different types of essays can help you determine the best approach for your writing task. Here are some of the most common essay styles that you may come across:
1. Narrative Essays: These essays tell a story or recount an event. They often include personal anecdotes and can be quite engaging for the reader.
2. Descriptive Essays: In a descriptive essay, the writer paints a vivid picture of a person, place, object, or event. These essays appeal to the reader’s senses and emotions.
3. Expository Essays: Expository essays provide information, explain a topic, or analyze a concept. They are typically objective and present facts or opinions in a logical manner.
4. Persuasive Essays: Persuasive essays are meant to convince the reader of a particular point of view or argument. They often use evidence and reasoning to support a specific position.
5. Argumentative Essays: Similar to persuasive essays, argumentative essays present a claim or thesis and support it with evidence and analysis. However, argumentative essays also address counterarguments and refute opposing viewpoints.
By familiarizing yourself with these common essay styles, you can better tailor your writing to meet the requirements of your assignment and effectively communicate your ideas to your audience.
When it comes to essay writing, two common types of essays are argumentative and narrative essays. While they both aim to convey a message or argument, they differ in their purpose and structure.
While argumentative essays rely on facts and evidence to support a specific viewpoint, narrative essays rely on personal experiences and storytelling to draw the reader in. It’s essential to understand the differences between these two essay formats to effectively convey your message and engage your audience.
Introduction : The introduction sets the stage for your essay, providing an overview of the topic and presenting the thesis statement.
Body Paragraphs : The body of the essay presents your arguments and evidence in support of the thesis statement. Each paragraph should focus on a single idea and provide clear evidence to support it.
Transitions : Transitions help to smoothly move from one idea to the next, connecting paragraphs and ensuring the essay flows logically.
Conclusion : The conclusion restates the thesis statement and summarizes the main points of the essay. It may also provide insights or recommendations based on the arguments presented.
Citations : Proper citations are essential in academic writing to give credit to the sources used and avoid plagiarism. Use the appropriate citation style required by your instructor.
Formatting : Pay attention to formatting elements such as font size, margins, spacing, and referencing style. Consistent formatting enhances readability and professionalism of your essay.
When crafting a strong essay, there are several key components that you should consider to ensure that your writing is clear, coherent, and effective. These key components include:
1. A clear and concise thesis statement that presents the main argument or point of your essay.
2. Well-developed paragraphs that support and expand upon your thesis statement with relevant evidence and analysis.
3. Smooth transitions between paragraphs and ideas to guide the reader through your essay and maintain coherence.
4. Proper organization and structure, including an introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion that effectively communicate your ideas.
5. Attention to detail, including grammar, punctuation, and spelling to ensure that your writing is polished and professional.
By incorporating these key components into your essay writing, you can create a strong and compelling piece that effectively conveys your message to your audience.
When it comes to writing an essay, choosing the right format is crucial for effectively communicating your ideas and arguments. There are several different essay formats to choose from, each with its own unique structure and guidelines. Here are some tips to help you select the best format for your essay:
1. Consider your audience: Think about who will be reading your essay and what format would be most appropriate for them. For example, a formal academic essay might require a more structured format, while a personal essay could be more freeform.
2. Determine your purpose: Consider the purpose of your essay and choose a format that will best suit your goals. If you’re trying to persuade your reader, a persuasive essay format might be most effective. If you’re analyzing a topic, an analytical essay format could be more suitable.
3. Follow guidelines: If you’re writing an essay for a class or publication, make sure to follow any specific guidelines provided. This could include requirements for formatting, citation style, and overall structure.
4. Experiment and revise: Don’t be afraid to experiment with different formats to see what works best for your essay. Once you’ve written a draft, revise and refine your work to ensure that the format enhances your message.
By taking these factors into account, you can choose the right format for your essay and ensure that your ideas are conveyed effectively to your readers.
When selecting an essay style, consider the purpose of your essay. Are you trying to persuade, inform, or analyze? The style you choose should align with your overall goal and message.
Think about your target audience. Are you writing for a scholarly audience, a general audience, or a specific group of readers? The style of your essay should be tailored to resonate with your intended readers.
Consider the requirements of your assignment. Does your instructor specify a particular style or format to follow? Make sure to adhere to any guidelines provided to ensure you meet the expectations of the assignment.
Reflect on your own writing strengths and weaknesses. Are you more comfortable with a formal, structured style, or do you excel in a more creative, narrative format? Choose a style that plays to your strengths as a writer.
Lastly, consider the conventions of the discipline or field you are writing in. Different subjects may have specific expectations for essay styles, so make sure to research and understand the norms of your field.
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The telltale words that could identify generative ai text, new paper counts "excess words" that started appearing more often in the post-llm era..
Kyle Orland - Jul 1, 2024 11:30 am UTC
To measure these vocabulary changes, the researchers analyzed 14 million paper abstracts published on PubMed between 2010 and 2024, tracking the relative frequency of each word as it appeared across each year. They then compared the expected frequency of those words (based on the pre-2023 trendline) to the actual frequency of those words in abstracts from 2023 and 2024, when LLMs were in widespread use.
The results found a number of words that were extremely uncommon in these scientific abstracts before 2023 that suddenly surged in popularity after LLMs were introduced. The word "delves," for instance, shows up in 25 times as many 2024 papers as the pre-LLM trend would expect; words like "showcasing" and "underscores" increased in usage by nine times as well. Other previously common words became notably more common in post-LLM abstracts: the frequency of "potential" increased 4.1 percentage points; "findings" by 2.7 percentage points; and "crucial" by 2.6 percentage points, for instance.
These kinds of changes in word use could happen independently of LLM usage, of course—the natural evolution of language means words sometimes go in and out of style. However, the researchers found that, in the pre-LLM era, such massive and sudden year-over-year increases were only seen for words related to major world health events: "ebola" in 2015; "zika" in 2017; and words like "coronavirus," "lockdown" and "pandemic" in the 2020 to 2022 period.
In the post-LLM period, though, the researchers found hundreds of words with sudden, pronounced increases in scientific usage that had no common link to world events. In fact, while the excess words during the COVID pandemic were overwhelmingly nouns, the researchers found that the words with a post-LLM frequency bump were overwhelmingly "style words" like verbs, adjectives, and adverbs (a small sampling: "across, additionally, comprehensive, crucial, enhancing, exhibited, insights, notably, particularly, within").
This isn't a completely new finding—the increased prevalence of "delve" in scientific papers has been widely noted in the recent past , for instance. But previous studies generally relied on comparisons with "ground truth" human writing samples or lists of pre-defined LLM markers obtained from outside the study. Here, the pre-2023 set of abstracts acts as its own effective control group to show how vocabulary choice has changed overall in the post-LLM era.
By highlighting hundreds of so-called "marker words" that became significantly more common in the post-LLM era, the telltale signs of LLM use can sometimes be easy to pick out. Take this example abstract line called out by the researchers, with the marker words highlighted: "A comprehensive grasp of the intricate interplay between [...] and [...] is pivotal for effective therapeutic strategies."
After doing some statistical measures of marker word appearance across individual papers, the researchers estimate that at least 10 percent of the post-2022 papers in the PubMed corpus were written with at least some LLM assistance. The number could be even higher, the researchers say, because their set could be missing LLM-assisted abstracts that don't include any of the marker words they identified.
Those measured percentages can vary a lot across different subsets of papers, too. The researchers found that papers authored in countries like China, South Korea, and Taiwan showed LLM marker words 15 percent of the time, suggesting "LLMs might... help non-natives with editing English texts, which could justify their extensive use." On the other hand, the researchers offer that native English speakers "may [just] be better at noticing and actively removing unnatural style words from LLM outputs," thus hiding their LLM usage from this kind of analysis.
Detecting LLM use is important, the researchers note, because "LLMs are infamous for making up references, providing inaccurate summaries, and making false claims that sound authoritative and convincing." But as knowledge of LLMs' telltale marker words starts to spread, human editors may get better at taking those words out of generated text before it's shared with the world.
Who knows, maybe future large language models will do this kind of frequency analysis themselves, lowering the weight of marker words to better mask their outputs as human-like. Before long, we may need to call in some Blade Runners to pick out the generative AI text hiding in our midst.
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DES MOINES, Iowa — While the majority of the Iowa Supreme Court ruled in favor of letting a 2023 law banning most abortions take effect, the court's Chief Justice, Susan Christensen , dissented.
A 4-to-3 decision Friday by the court overturned a district court's injunction on House File 732 , which was passed by a special legislative session last summer and signed into law by Gov. Kim Reynolds . Republicans wrote the legislation to ban most abortions if there is a "detectable fetal heartbeat."
Reynolds nominated Christensen to the Iowa Supreme Court in 2018 , and she became the Chief Justice in 2020 following the passing of Chief Justice Mark Cady in November 2019.
In the introduction to her dissent, Christensen wrote:
"Today, our court’s majority strips Iowa women of their bodily autonomy by holding that there is no fundamental right to terminate a pregnancy under our state constitution. I cannot stand by this decision. The majority’s rigid approach relies heavily on the male-dominated history and traditions of the 1800s, all the while ignoring how far women’s rights have come since the Civil War era. It is a bold assumption to think that the drafters of our state constitution intended for their interpretation to stand still while we move forward as a society. Instead, we should interpret our constitution through a modern lens that recognizes how our lives have changed with the passage of time."
The majority's opinion said that the case must be assessed under the rational basis approach, not the undue burden test.
Rational basis means that courts must determine the constitutionality of something if it is "a reasonable fit between the government and interest and the means utilized to advance that interest." In short, laws like HF 732 are "presumed constitutional," as Justice Matthew McDermott wrote, and it must be proven that a statute clearly violates someone's constitutional rights.
On the other hand, an undue burden exists "if the purpose or effect of the state restriction on abortion has placed a substantial obstacle on a smoeone seeking an abortion of a non-viable fetus," according to Cornell Law School.
Justices Edwards Mansfield and Thomas Waterman joined Christensen in her dissent.
"It is painfully apparent to me that the majority misapprehends the nature of the liberty at issue here," Christensen wrote in her dissent. "It is not whether abortion, with the polarizing reactions it evokes, is a fundamental right but rather whether individuals have the fundamental right to make medical decisions affecting their health and bodyily integrity in partnership with their healthcare provider free from government interference."
When the Iowa Supreme Court released a split 3-3 decision las tyear on a 2019 abortion law, Christensen did not write a dissent but rather joined one written by Justice Thomas Waterman .
Waterman's opinion in part, said that the court was asked, "to do something that has never happened in Iowa history: to simultaneously bypass the legislature and change the law, to adopt rational basis review, and then to dissolve an injunction to put a statute into effect for the first time in the same case in which that very enactment was declared unconstitutional years earlier."
Michael Streit , a former Iowa Supreme Court Justice who was voted off the court in 2010 after they overturned a ban on same-sex marriage in the state, told Local 5 dissents are published in "probably less than 20%" of Iowa Supreme Court cases.
And while Christensen herself writing the dissenting opinion was likely done via a random selection, therefore not personally picking this case to write about, Streit said her words hold weight.
"There is increased credibility with the Chief Justice writing opinions," Streit said. "If you read her dissent today, it's very practical, very straightforward."
The Associated Press contributed to this report
***Christensen's remarks begin on page 25
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7 chatgpt prompts to improve your writing.
Photo by NICOLAS MAETERLINCK/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images
On writing , author David Sedaris once said, “You need to do the best that you can do, and then you need to take the best that you can do and you need to rewrite it, and rewrite it, and rewrite it.” That’s the dynamic essence of the writing process. Writers refine their drafts, just like they continually refine their craft. I didn’t study writing or literature, so I was intimidated when I began contributing to major publications. But my confidence grew with each byline, and I began to find my voice.
While ChatGPT can be an impressive imitator, it can never generate your unique voice and perspective. It can, however, be a powerful tool for improving your writing, whether you’re penning business articles or important emails. It all starts with the right prompts.
Here are seven that you can use to level up your writing skills.
There are no shortcuts to becoming a better writer. The prolific author Stephen King once said, “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.” That said, you can use AI tools to eliminate some of the tedious tasks involved in writing and leave more time for honing your craft. Here are some prompts to delegate your writing “busywork” to ChatGPT.
AI shouldn’t do your writing for you. It lacks the necessary human context and isn’t immune to errors. But it can be a powerful writing partner. As Wharton professor Christian Terwiesch (who challenged ChatGPT to come up with product ideas and compared those ideas to student ideas —ChatGPT won), has said , “Everybody should be using ChatGPT to help them generate ideas.” At worst, you reject all of them. At best, you enrich your pool of ideas.
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Here is a prompt you can use to help get the idea wheels turning:
"I'm an [role/title] writing for [outlet description] targeting [target audience]. Can you suggest some fresh and engaging topics that would appeal to this audience?"
If you’d like ideas related to a certain topic or tailored to a specific style (e.g., a “hot take” versus a personal essay), remember: the more context you provide, the more concise the results.
Whether you’re sending an email or publishing an article on a high-traffic website, typos are an embarrassing—and avoidable—faux pas. In today’s world, where internet content exists in perpetuity, anything attached to your name should be error-free. ChatGPT can be a near-instantaneous proofreader. Test out the following prompt:
"Can you proofread this [content] for grammar, punctuation, and style consistency? The intended audience is [audience/recipient]. Please provide a list of any suggested improvements.”
Spelling and grammar are a crucial part of editing, but they’re relatively objective. Perfecting the tone is more subjective and sometimes more challenging—but just as crucial.
The proper tone can ensure that your text is engaging. It can foster trust and understanding with colleagues and business partners. It can persuade your audience to get on board with your viewpoint. Writing that misses the mark on tone, however, can cause misunderstandings, hurt feelings, damage your credibility, and lose your reader’s interest.
With that in mind, here’s a prompt that can help you achieve the right tone in your writing:
"Can you help me rewrite this [content] for [audience], ensuring it maintains a [describe the desired tone]?
Add context to make ChatGPT’s reply more helpful. For example, if your content should show sensitivity to a certain issue or audience, add it to the prompt.
One lesson I’ve learned from contributing to Forbes and other widely-read publications is that my word alone is rarely enough. I can share my personal experiences, but research and data can strengthen any piece of writing.
Instead of researching the traditional way—reviewing your writing and identifying facts that need outside sourcing, then Googling for relevant insight—ChatGPT can speed up the process, leaving you more time to polish those personal anecdotes. Try this prompt:
"I’m writing [describe the content and subject matter] for [target audience] and want to include relevant data and research. Can you review the following text and provide researched-backed statistics and insights on this topic?"
Importantly, always check the sources that ChatGPT generates. It will almost certainly come up with helpful results but they’re not always accurate—that’s where you, human editor, come into play.
To continually improve your writing skills, you can take a page from the habits of professional writers. The following prompts can help you develop practices to become a stronger writer.
I’ve written before about my morning pages . It’s a great way to clear my head before the day begins and to practice fluidly translating my thoughts into words on paper. If a blank page feels intimidating, writing prompts are a great way to get started. ChatGPT can generate writing prompts in an instant. You can keep it general:
“Can you suggest a couple of writing prompts that I can use to practice the craft of writing?”
Or, if you have a goal in mind, add more context. For example:
“I'm trying to improve engagement with my readers. Can you generate a couple of writing prompts to practice writing engaging content?”
If you call your grandmother on the telephone, I’d bet your voice and speaking style sound vastly different from when you’re chatting with your best friend. Writing is the same.
ChatGPT can help you practice toggling between different styles and voices, and in doing so, help you find yours. You can ask ChatGPT for writing prompts to practice a certain style. For example:
“Can you generate three short exercises to help me practice writing in different voices and styles?”
ChatGPT will not only generate exercises, it will also break down the structure and elements of different writing styles and specify the tone.
Or, you can submit text to ChatGPT and ask it to analyze the style and voice. Try this prompt:
“Can you analyze the voice and style of the following text: [insert text].”
I used this prompt to assess the introduction to one of my recent Forbes stories, and ChatGPT said it was “Conversational and Relatable,” “Encouraging and Reassuring,” and “Informative and Practical”—encouraging feedback from my AI editor.
In A Moveable Feast , Ernest Hemingway wrote, “The only kind of writing is rewriting.”
If you want to become a writer, you have to embrace rewriting, whether you’re retyping every word or pouring over (and over) a Google Doc draft. Here are a couple of prompts you can use so that ChatGPT can assist in the rewriting process, one excerpt at a time:
“Rewrite this paragraph in the style of [Ernest Hemingway or any other author]."
“Rewrite this introduction so that it sounds like a story in [publication]”
“Rewrite this email so that it will resonate with [audience].”
“Rewrite this paragraph for clarity and concision.”
Importantly, ChatGPT only does part of the work. It falls to the writer to analyze the results, apply those lessons in future drafts, and, of course, to keep writing.
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Guest Essay
By Hillary Rodham Clinton
Mrs. Clinton was the Democratic nominee for president in 2016.
Last week I had the time of my life at the Tony Awards introducing a song from “Suffs,” the Broadway musical I co-produced about the suffragists who won women the right to vote. I was thrilled when the show took home the awards for best original score and best book.
From “Suffs” to “Hamilton,” I love theater about politics. But not the other way around. Too often we approach pivotal moments like this week’s debate between President Biden and Donald Trump like drama critics. We’re picking a president, not the best actor.
I am the only person to have debated both men (Mr. Trump in 2016 and, in the 2008 Democratic presidential primary race, Mr. Biden). I know the excruciating pressure of walking onto that stage and that it is nearly impossible to focus on substance when Mr. Trump is involved. In our three debates in 2016, he unleashed a blizzard of interruptions, insults and lies that overwhelmed the moderators and did a disservice to the voters who tuned in to learn about our visions for the country — including a record 84 million viewers for our first debate.
It is a waste of time to try to refute Mr. Trump’s arguments like in a normal debate. It’s nearly impossible to identify what his arguments even are. He starts with nonsense and then digresses into blather. This has gotten only worse in the years since we debated. I was not surprised that after a recent meeting, several chief executives said that Mr. Trump, as one journalist described it, “could not keep a straight thought” and was “all over the map.” Yet expectations for him are so low that if he doesn’t literally light himself on fire on Thursday evening, some will say he was downright presidential.
Mr. Trump may rant and rave in part because he wants to avoid giving straight answers about his unpopular positions, like restrictions on abortion, giving tax breaks to billionaires and selling out our planet to big oil companies in return for campaign donations. He interrupts and bullies — he even stalked me around the stage at one point — because he wants to appear dominant and throw his opponent off balance.
These ploys will fall flat if Mr. Biden is as direct and forceful as he was when engaging Republican hecklers at the State of the Union address in March. The president also has facts and truth on his side. He led America’s comeback from a historic health and economic crisis, with more than 15 million jobs created so far, incomes for working families rising, inflation slowing and investments in clean energy and advanced manufacturing soaring. He’ll win if that story comes through.
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Common Writing Assignments. These OWL resources will help you understand and complete specific types of writing assignments, such as annotated bibliographies, book reports, and research papers. This section also includes resources on writing academic proposals for conference presentations, journal articles, and books.
We've written this pamphlet in a chatty, friendly style, hoping that you'll read it and think, "This isn't such a painful way to learn about style.". This may not be the appropriate style for every academic paper. Some instructors may invite slang and colloquialisms in their assignments, but most won't.
Academic writing refers to the writing style that researchers, educators, and students use in scholarly publications and school assignments. An academic writing style refers to the semantic and textual features that characterize academic writing and distinguish it from other discourses, such as professional writing, workplace writing, fiction, or creative nonfiction.
Assignment Writing • The information in this guide outlines some important academic writing conventions. Information regarding a tutor's specific preference or expectation relating to presentation o f your work should be sought from the tutor. • Clarification of points in this guide can be sought from Academic Learning Advisors. To
Harvard College Writing Center 2 Tips for Reading an Assignment Prompt When you receive a paper assignment, your first step should be to read the assignment prompt carefully to make sure you understand what you are being asked to do. Sometimes your assignment will be open-ended ("write a paper about anything in the course that interests you").
Remember that instructors' guidelines supersede APA Style. Students should check their assignment guidelines or rubric for specific content to include in their papers and to make sure they are meeting assignment requirements. Tips for better writing. Ask for feedback on your paper from a classmate, writing center tutor, or instructor.
Step 1: Prewriting. Step 2: Planning and outlining. Step 3: Writing a first draft. Step 4: Redrafting and revising. Step 5: Editing and proofreading. Other interesting articles. Frequently asked questions about the writing process.
Many instructors write their assignment prompts differently. By following a few steps, you can better understand the requirements for the assignment. The best way, as always, is to ask the instructor about anything confusing. Read the prompt the entire way through once. This gives you an overall view of what is going on.
Academic writing refers to a style of expression that researchers use to define the intellectual boundaries of their disciplines and specific areas of expertise. Characteristics of academic writing include a formal tone, use of the third-person rather than first-person perspective (usually), a clear focus on the research problem under ...
The assignment might not tell you that your writing will be persuasive or evaluative, but if you know your relationship to your audience, you can determine if you need to persuade them with evidence and analysis, help them make their own decision by providing pros and cons for a project, or energize them by helping them imagine the benefits and ...
What this handout is about. The first step in any successful college writing venture is reading the assignment. While this sounds like a simple task, it can be a tough one. This handout will help you unravel your assignment and begin to craft an effective response. Much of the following advice will involve translating typical assignment terms ...
5. Creative writing style. Creative writing's purpose is to entertain, provoke thought, express feelings, and stretch the imagination of the reader. It's a way for writers to express themselves creatively by talking about all sorts of human experiences, like wild adventures, deep thoughts, or trying out new ideas.
Writing Assignments Kate Derrington; Cristy Bartlett; and Sarah Irvine. Figure 19.1 Assignments are a common method of assessment at university and require careful planning and good quality research. ... Many of the assessment pieces you prepare will require an academic writing style. This is sometimes called 'academic tone' or 'academic ...
Tip 3: Plan Your Work. Effective planning is a cornerstone of assignment writing. Develop a structured plan that includes creating a timeline for your assignment. Break down the work into smaller tasks, allocate sufficient time for research, outlining, drafting, and proofreading. A well-organized plan will keep you on track and reduce stress.
Descriptive, analytical, critical/evaluative and reflective writing are the four essential elements of academic writing. What writing style you should mainly use will depend on the nature and context of each assignment. Assignment guidelines will typically define how to address a topic, and may specify the appropriate writing style. However ...
Here are some tips for writing with descriptive writing styles: Use literary devices such as metaphors and similes. Use well thought out adjectives and adverbs to describe nouns and verbs. Bring attention to small details. Use the 6 senses: sight, touch, taste, smell, sound, and feeling.
The basic structure of an assignment includes an introduction, body, and conclusion. The introduction should present the topic and establish the purpose of your assignment. The body should delve into the topic in detail, backed by your research. The conclusion should summarize your findings or arguments without introducing new ideas.
Each one serves a different purpose and employs different techniques to accomplish it. Knowing how and when to use the appropriate style—or in many cases, how to combine them—will help you better engage your readers and convey your ideas more effectively. Expository Writing. Persuasive Writing. Narrative Writing.
There are plenty of different essay writing styles depending on your subject and your college. Assignment questions can be rather different from essay questions. This can be an opportunity for the tutor to break a task into several pieces, for example, your instructor may devise a Business Studies assignment which asks you to write a mission statement, prepare business promotional material and ...
A person's writing style is how the narrative of the writing appears to the readers, including: Change of words. Syntactical structure. Parsing prose. Adding diction. Tone or mood. Organizing ...
Your writing style should reflect what you want others to take away from your work. 1. Reflect on life experiences. . Your writing "why" might come from some of your real life experiences. Whether you are writing about your own life or not, your past can have a huge influence on what and how you create.
uctions from your professor. Also be aware that these types of essays may. verlap for some assignments. Always make sure that you understand your particular assignment before starting the writing process; this can sa. ample 1: Argumentative EssayThe Basics: An argumentative, or position, assignment asks you to argue for a particular point of v.
By familiarizing yourself with these common essay styles, you can better tailor your writing to meet the requirements of your assignment and effectively communicate your ideas to your audience. Comparing Argumentative and Narrative Essays. When it comes to essay writing, two common types of essays are argumentative and narrative essays.
Thus far, even AI companies have had trouble coming up with tools that can reliably detect when a piece of writing was generated using a large language model.Now, a group of researchers has ...
While the assignment of writing an opinion on a specific case is random, Chief Justice Susan Christensen wrote that "bodily autonomy" has been taken from Iowa women. Chief Justice Susan Christensen penned the dissent in Planned Parenthood et al v. Kim Reynolds. She was joined by Edwards Mansfield and Thomas Waterman.
1. Generating Ideas And Topics. AI shouldn't do your writing for you. It lacks the necessary human context and isn't immune to errors. But it can be a powerful writing partner.
5. Make Assignments Personal. Having students reflect on material in their own lives can be a good way to prevent AI writing. In-person teachers can get to know their students well enough to know ...
Last week I had the time of my life at the Tony Awards introducing a song from "Suffs," the Broadway musical I co-produced about the suffragists who won women the right to vote.