1.1. Learning Goals

You will learn how to focus on a purpose for writing.

Sometimes narrowing down a purpose for writing can be the most difficult task to achieve. As a student, you might think that writing should come to you naturally, but nothing could be further from the truth. Writing can be a manageable (and maybe even rewarding) experience if it’s treated as a series of steps rather than a one and done exercise. Much like building a house, writing begins with a plan, a foundation, a frame, and so on (but not necessarily in that order).

You will learn how to approach writing as a process.

Think of this chapter as the first step to planning your writing and, in turn, drafting. If you work up an outline and then draft your paper, revise and polish it, then you might be surprised by the outcome. Each of these elements are described in some detail in this chapter. However, it is vital to understand that there is more than one way to plan and draft, and this chapter will help you discover your writing process. Please feel free to jump down to 1.8 Your Own Process to learn more.

You will learn why feedback is a crucial part of the writing process.

A major part of learning to write in academic settings is to get comfortable with having others read your work. In your academic and professional lives, you will be writing for an audience. We (in academia and beyond) often write within our own headspace, which means we may not recognize what works in our writing and what doesn’t. Another pair of eyes can help you recognize what you’re doing well and where you can improve. In turn, you can help others. You’ll discover that feedback is one of the most important aspects of the writing process.