Overview
In order to be successful in college and in the career world, good writing is a required and necessary skill. In fact, in the online environment, the only way to communicate with your instructors and classmates is through written communication. It is how people get to know you, it is how you are seen and judged, and it is what you are graded on.
Your written work is a reflection of you. And because of that, it is of utmost importance that your work represents the true you. Take your time with your emails, projects, and discussion board postings. Use the spelling and grammar check in Microsoft Word, use the spell check in the discussion board, and proofread everything.
Good, clear writing not only helps us express our thoughts; it puts us in control of our lives and helps us become successful students and workers. Here at Kaplan, you will be asked to communicate your thoughts in the discussions, seminar, email, projects, and papers. To be able to express yourself successfully, and achieve good grades, you must learn good writing skills.
Three Choices All Writers Must Make
Authors are faced with many choices when going through the writing process. They must choose something to write about, which is called the topic. Then, they must determine how to write the piece, which is called language. And lastly, authors must figure a way to connect all of their thoughts to convey meaning, which is called organization.
Topic
What are you going to write about? The choice of topic may seem like the easiest choice an author has to make. But, sometimes it can be the hardest choice of all. Have you ever sat there staring at a blank screen or a blank piece of paper and just could not come up with a topic to write about? Well, it happens to many people. This is when reading the directions carefully, researching, and starting the brainstorming process comes into play. These three areas are critical when deciding upon a topic.
And, even