What is good writing?

Get started

When you write down an account of your ideas for other people to read, you have to explain yourself particularly carefully. You cannot make the mental leaps you do when you talk with others or think about things by yourself. This makes writing probably the most challenging aspect of studying. This unit will help you to think about the basic skills you need and will build the confidence required for writing by explaining what is involved in good writing and why it is so important.

Try this:

What is the point of writing essays and assignments when you are studying? Is it a form of torture devised by the tutors to stress out students? No, of course it’s not! Write down in one or two sentences why you think written assignments are an integral part of all academic courses.

Why write?

Of all aspects of studying, writing is probably the most challenging. That is because when you write down an account of your ideas for other people to read you have to explain yourself particularly carefully. To make your meaning clear, using only words on a page, you have to work out exactly what you think about the subject. You come to understand it for yourself in the process of explaining it to others. So writing makes you really grapple with what you are studying. In other words, it forces you into a very deep and powerful kind of learning. That is what makes it so demanding. When you write you are really putting ideas to use. This activity will help you think about and practice ‘good writing’ To find out more click on Try this: Write it down!

To save or view your choices and results you must sign in or register (takes 1 minute).

Sign in Register