Academic writing uses a specific style and tone. It's formal, structured, and backed up by evidence. Learning to write academically is a foundational skill for any university programme.
This course introduces you to the skills required for academic writing. You'll learn to use a range of reading and research strategies to evaluate and analyse your sources. You'll also learn how to structure the information you've gathered in a concise, logical way.
Throughout the course your presenters will provide guidance and feedback to help you improve your academic writing skills as you work towards developing a complete academic essay, setting you up for academic and professional success.
Our courses are flexible, enabling you to plan your study around your other commitments. You can choose to study when it suits you during the learning period (15 July - 15 September, with a one-week study break from 12 - 18 August), followed by a 2-week review period for marking and feedback (16 - 29 September).
We recommend completing around 6 hours of study a week during the learning period (excluding the study break) – you can view the course overview here for more details on assessment timings.
Module 1: Academic reading and secondary research
Learn how to use a range of reading strategies to evaluate written texts for academic purposes.
Module 2: Essay structure and paragraph unity
Understand the basic structure of an academic essay and how to write a unified, coherent paragraph.
Module 3: Formal writing, editing, and proofreading
Understand the differences between formal and informal writing styles and learn effective editing and proofreading strategies.
Assessments
Upon successful completion of the course you will be issued a digital badge to recognise your learning achievements. This can take up to 2 months to be delivered after the marking and feedback period.
There are no prerequisites for this course. It’s for anyone looking to understand what academic writing is and improve their skills to support their future academic pursuits.
It's ideal for secondary students, school leavers, those with English as a second language, and anyone who wants to hone their academic writing skills.
We recommend a laptop or desktop computer and a reliable internet connection. For most courses you'll need to download and populate assignments. These are usually available in Microsoft Word.
Course fees must be paid before learning can begin, either via online credit-card payment, or by contacting info@uconline.ac.nz to request an invoice. Please note: fixed invoice payment dates apply, so we recommend getting in touch with us as soon as possible to request an invoice, as this option is subject to availability.
Please note: Tuihono UC | UC Online has a minimum enrolment threshold that must be met to enable opportunities for interaction, discussion, and feedback. If the minimum number of enrolments required for a course is not met, enrolled students will be given the option to defer their enrolment to the next course date, or receive a refund.