Since the word carries multiple meanings, as demonstrated by Jay Robinson, you will be called upon as you write to choose what meaning you will give it and to explain that meeting to your reader. To be a successful member of a group, we must acquire knowledge that allows us to appropriately interpret our experiences and to behave in appropriate ways. We see how it works in DeVault's study. This first paper will be formal in its approach because it is entering the conversation and must speak as the others who are involved in this conversation do. It will follow MLA conventions for format and documentation.
Academic culture has distinctive values and ways of speaking.
Entering the academic discussion requires more adjustment for some people than for others because the culture is biased in favor of the dominant cultures of our society. Maybe you have come to college with the expectation that you will change, with the desire to change and grow. Maybe you have not. I know that in my private conversations with students I'm more likely to find resistance to new ideas than openness. Even so, you are all changing very rapidly.