How to Improve College Writing Skills

by David Rom online courses

Whether its assignments, essays, or tests, today’s college students are overwhelmed by the vast number of tasks that require them to exhibit good writing skills.

To help students improve their college writing skills, here is a list of 8 tips to follow.

1. Read to improve your writing. The majority of good writers are also avid readers. Reading daily helps you build familiarity with various writing styles, improves your sentence construction and word choice, and ensures clarity and thought flow in your writing.

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2. Seek and incorporate feedback. Ask your mentors, professors, or peers to offer feedback on your writing and highlight specific areas of improvement that require your attention. Use the feedback to address particular weak points and work with your mentors to track your improvement.

3. Create and follow a writing process. Set self-imposed deadlines and follow a standard practice to complete each stage of the writing process – be it research or writing or editing. This will help you ensure timely delivery of your assignment, without hampering the quality of your content.

4. Focus on the main topic. Some of the worst articles you see are those that do not address the main topic and, thus, fail to convey its intended message. Master the ability to focus on the key topic and steer clear of writing wordy sentences that do nothing to impress your professors.

5. Use simple and clear language. Keep your writing simple and easy to understand. Don’t use complex words that you yourself will have a hard time explaining. Your writing should be relevant. Be mindful about the word limit; sticking as close to it is as possible is another hallmark of good writing.

6. Write for your audience. Tailor your writing to suit your reader -- in this case your professor –to help you score those much coveted grades. So, if you’re writing a topic about an idea that you know your professor feels strongly about, make your paper reflect that. However, if you don’t, be sure to back up your stance with hard facts and evidence.

7. Follow a style guide. Most professors require students to adhere to a specific style guide such as Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style. Make sure you are familiar with and follow the rules specified in the style guide.

8. Practice enhances performance. When it comes to learning or honing any skill, the most obvious answer is practice. Write regularly and keep practicing to develop and ultimately perfect the art of good writing.

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And finally, remember that while good college writing skills is essential for students to succeed, it is also a skill that will prove useful in your careers, long after your university days are over.