Michael_Academic Writing_W2012

Dear all!

Welcome to my personal Academic Writing blog!

First of all I have to admit that I’ve never blogged anywhere. So this is my first experience with blogging and I hope it is somehow interesting for you as well!

Concerning my instruction in writing in English and my experience with English papers I have to mention that one of my majors is International Management. As this is a major in which students are expected to write several English seminar papers each semester, I have already had the possibility to collect considerable experience with academic research and writing. Furthermore I have already received a very good instruction in several English courses at university, where we also had to write papers and case analysis.

For me the two most important things in writing in English are to distinguish between the language, which is used in everyday life and a more academic English as well as the fact that a good structure is essential for the quality of a paper or an analysis.

Outside the university I have to use English when I am writing emails and on Facebook as well as when I have to work with my colleagues at Siemens VAI, where I am currently writing my diploma thesis.

Concerning several teachers’ responses to my writing in English I can tell you that it was often positive but also critical in some way as I often get in troubles with mixing “day- to- day language” and academic English. In general I have to say that I’m glad about the fact that all teachers I’ve ever had in English responded to my writings in a critical but constructive way. So in fact I feel pretty confident about writing in English but I worry a bit about mixing the “two types” of language. Will I be able to write a truly academic paper? To answer this question I am looking forward to work on my paper for this course!

These thoughts also concern the question about the time spent for writing. I think I should use more time for reflecting about the topic and after that I should go into deeper literature research. Maybe this is one of my biggest mistakes while writing a paper. I do too much literature research prior to the personal reflection about the topic.

So I expect to improve all these areas I’m worrying about during this semester and I am really looking forward to an interesting semester with a lot of discussions with and feedback from you!

Michael

Dear Michael

I would like to accentuate the point that we must distinguish between language we use in everyday life and formal English. It is essential to use appropriate vocabulary as well as construct sentences that are linked logically. That is a good way to write an academical paper, I suppose.

I would also like to add that discussions and feedback could be very important for all of us to see our mistakes and become better in writing academically.

Best regards,

Zhuldyz