In your academic career, you will be asked to write a variety of assignments. Each assignment is unique, and each requires a different style of writing. According to mydissertations.com, writing styles are personal but share similarities in tone and voice. Whether it is a report, essay, or dissertation, this post will provide you with skills applicable across all types of assignments.
The first step in improving the writing in your assignments is to become more aware of the mistakes made when people write.
Table of Contents
Know Your Reader
The marker of your assignment will have to spend a lot of time reading your work. Try to write in a way that will be easier for them to read. Avoid long sentences and place your points where a marker can easily find them.
For example:
A long sentence: It is very important to improve your writing style as the marker will be reading your work, and you want to make it easier for them.
A short sentence: Markers have to spend a lot of time reading your work, so try to make it easier for them by improving your writing style.
Have a Clear Structure in Your Assignment Writing Style
Having clear structure is one of the keys to improving an assignment writing style and making it easier for markers to read. It will also help to show your structure, research, and purpose in the best way.
For example:
Long structure: Language should be used in a variety of different ways including…
Short structure: Language is used in a variety of ways including…
Don’t Use Jargon, Use Simple Sentences and Plain English
Jargon can make it difficult for markers to read and understand your work. Try to keep jargon out of your writing and use simple sentences that anyone can understand.
For example:
Jargon: The researcher must utilize an appropriate test methodology, which will allow them to quantify their results better.
Plain English: Researchers should use the right methods to make their results easier to understand.
Don’t Add Extraneous Information; use Only the Important Points to Get Your Message across clearly and concisely.
Don’t add information that is not needed or could be left out. It can make your work easier to read, as well as helping you focus on the most important points you want to make. It is imperative with online work, where only a limited amount of information can be presented.
For example:
Extraneous information: I have considered that it is very important to improve my writing style to make it easier for markers to evaluate my work.
Only the important points: Improving my writing style will make it easier for markers to evaluate my work.
Ask someone to read your assignment with you. By having someone else read your essay, you can have them give you immediate feedback about poorly written things. Most people aren’t as critical of their work and will find multiple mistakes when reading their writing aloud.
Don’t Be Too Casual (Use Professional Language) and Don’t Be Too Formal (Be Personal)
If you are too casual or too formal, it can make your writing harder to read. Your marker will have to work harder, and it may not sound as good. If you use informal language, make sure you are consistent and that the informal style is appropriate for your subject and topic.
For example:
Too casual: I will cover the topics of my assignment in this blog post so that anyone who is struggling with assignment writing will find it useful.
Too formal: I will cover the topic of my assignment in this blog post, so that readers can find it useful.
Don’t Use an Assumed Readership
When planning what you will write in your paper, always plan for your intended audience. You should imagine them as real people and put yourself in their position as if you were the reader. Try to make your writing style appropriate for your audience, relevant and interesting.
For example:
Assumed Readership: I will show you how to improve your assignment writing style by using some simple tips from this blog post.
Real Readership: Here, I introduce some tips to help you improve your assignment writing style. These tips will help you take what you have learnt about writing from other sources and apply them to your work.
Use Simple but Effective Words
Use simple words to describe ideas that will make your assignment writing style better. You’ll find that simple words are more powerful than fancy ones, so use them when they fit with the meaning of your idea or expression.
For example:
Powerful word: I am going to enlighten you with my knowledge.
Simple word: I will show you.
Be Concise and Organized
Make sure your structure is clear and simple for readers to understand what you are talking about. Make your sentences short and place critical points where a marker can easily find them so that they can quickly see what you have done in your assignment.
For example:
A long and complex structure: It is unclear from the literature review whether the researcher has considered a range of studies. It is also unclear whether the researcher has considered both qualitative and quantitative studies. It is important to highlight as it will provide a clearer picture of his findings and conclusions.
A short and simple structure
The research has considered only empirical literature. The study should consider both academic research and popular culture to deepen my understanding of this topic.
Check for passive voice and wordiness
Passive voice and wordiness are two significant contributors to unclear writing. Watch for phrases such as “it was,” “there is” or “there are. These are phrases that can be reworded to make the sentence more direct. Besides, you should try to be concise. It is okay to have longer sentences, but they should convey a single idea and not be overwhelming.
Use a thesaurus
Thesaurus can help you find words that are more precise than those used in your initial draft. It will ensure that your writing is clear and your point comes across with greater accuracy.
Practice makes perfect
The more one writes, the better they become. As a student, you will write essays and research papers regularly. These assignments are opportunities to improve your writing style and avoid common mistakes such as passive voice and wordiness. If you come across a difficult sentence while practicing writing in your assignment, break the sentence down into smaller parts to assist in making it clearer.
You can improve through practice and persistence. If you want to write with a clear and concise style, continue to work on the strategies suggested above. The more often you write, the easier it will become. With time, you will evaluate your writing and know whether or not it is effective.
