While academic writing means different things to different people, there are some common elements. We write to convince others that our position has validity. We write to discover new things about our world as well as ourselves. Learning to write requires writing.
Writing is a craft, and as a craft, writing can be learned and refined.
Ultimately, writing takes practice, and as a writer, you will have opportunities to write both in the classroom as well as outside. Also, you will develop a greater understanding of what you need to consider to continue to develop as writers. As we delve into this semester, I hope you will discover also that writing, reading, and learning are intricately intermeshed. Much of the readings, lectures, and discussions may challenge more commonly accepted assumptions and beliefs. One of the main goals for this class will be to try to understand how language informs and shapes our culture and society as well as our everyday lives.