7.1: What Is Academic Writing?
Complete this chapter's self-assessments, titled "Where Are You Now?" and "Where Do You Want to Go?". Then, read the introduction to Chapter 8, titled "The Importance of Writing." Pause to consider your own writing skills and how often you use them. Jot down any reflections on your past writing in your notebook.
7.1.1: Differences between High School and College Writing
Read the first part of Section 8.1, focusing on the introduction and the section titled "Difference between High School and College Writing." Note that college writing assignments will likely ask you to use one or all of the higher-level thinking skills you learned about in Unit 5. As you read, make a list of the main differences between high school and college writing in your academic journal, and note the differences you may already have encountered in your own education thus far.
7.1.2: Types of Academic Writing Assignments
Read this webpage, beginning with the section titled "Understanding Writing Assignments" (click on the title to access the full webpage covering this topic). Then, click on the nine different types of writing assignments listed on the webpage. Read each section for an introduction to various types of writing assignments. In particular, note the different approaches suggested for each type of assignment. In some cases, an instructor will not be clear about which type of writing he or she wants; in this case, you can ask the instructor for clarification and use your critical thinking and problem solving skills to determine the best approach. In fact, it may be very helpful to you to bookmark this webpage for use throughout your college experience.