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Module: Academic writing: an introduction
| Welcome | What is academic writing? | The writing process |
Welcome to Assignment A: an academic writing guide
Assignment A is a guide for students to use throughout the writing process, from the moment they receive an assignment until they submit it. The purpose of Assignment A is to:
- introduce students to the various components of the writing process
- discuss what academic writing is, and what it isn’t
- address questions and issues that often arise during the writing process
- provide tips and advice on how to become a successful writer
Supporting university scholars in producing well-written assignments of a high academic standard is the main purpose of this guide.
We have named this guide Assignment A to emphasize the degree to which academic writing contributes to a student’s academic success. After all, who wouldn’t want to get straight As? During the writing process, you will deepen your understanding of your field, develop and nurture your own viewpoints, and participate in academic discussions. In many ways, a written assignment represents an opportunity for you to document and communicate your knowledge on a subject.
How to use this guide
It is not necessary to follow Assignment A in chronological order. The guide is designed so that you can navigate to whichever module is relevant for you at the time, depending on where you are in the writing process. However, we recommend browsing through the entire guide – you may learn something new.
This resource is based on our broad, interdisciplinary expertise, in addition to useful literature. At the end of Assignment A you will find references to the resources we have used.
Who are we?
Assignment A has been developed by the University Library at Nord University. First written in Norwegian (Oppdrag A: en ressurs om akademisk skriving), the guide was subsequently translated into English. The authors play an active role in teaching and guiding university students and staff in literature research, critical reading, academic writing and publishing. Assignment A is part of a larger effort by the University Library to support the education of Nord University’s students. Reading, writing, and critical thinking are an integral part of university education, and represent important life-long skills.
Assignment A is under continual development and improvement. If you have comments or questions, contact the library at ub@nord.no.