Writing Application
Learn to apply college writing conventions across diverse academic genres and real-world contexts.
Learn
Writing application involves transferring your writing skills to varied contexts and purposes. College-level writers must adapt their approach based on discipline, audience, and genre while maintaining clarity and rigor.
Writing Across Disciplines
Different academic fields have distinct writing conventions:
- Humanities: Emphasis on interpretation, close reading, and argumentation; first-person perspective often acceptable
- Social Sciences: Evidence-based claims, methodology discussion, and objective tone; APA citation style common
- Natural Sciences: IMRaD structure (Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion); precise technical language
- Business: Concise, action-oriented writing; emphasis on clarity and practical recommendations
Genre Awareness
College writers encounter multiple genres, each with specific expectations:
- Research Papers: Extended arguments supported by scholarly sources
- Literature Reviews: Synthesis of existing scholarship on a topic
- Lab Reports: Documentation of experimental procedures and findings
- Case Studies: In-depth analysis of specific examples
- Reflective Essays: Personal exploration of learning experiences
- Proposals: Plans for research or projects
Adapting Voice and Tone
Effective writers adjust their voice based on context:
- Formal Academic: Objective, precise, evidence-focused
- Professional: Clear, courteous, action-oriented
- Public-Facing: Accessible, engaging, jargon-free
The Writing Process in Context
- Analyze the Assignment: Understand purpose, audience, and constraints
- Research and Plan: Gather sources and organize ideas
- Draft: Write without over-editing; focus on ideas
- Revise: Restructure for clarity and argument strength
- Edit: Polish language and correct errors
- Format: Apply discipline-specific conventions
Examples
Examine how the same topic can be approached differently across contexts.
Example 1: Topic Treated Across Disciplines
Topic: The impact of social media on communication
Humanities Approach (Cultural Studies):
"Social media platforms have reconfigured the boundaries between public and private discourse, creating new modes of self-presentation that both reflect and reshape cultural norms around authenticity and performance."
Social Science Approach (Psychology):
"This study examines the correlation between social media usage patterns and self-reported anxiety levels among college students (N=450), utilizing the Social Media Engagement Scale (SMES) and Beck Anxiety Inventory."
Business Approach:
"Companies leveraging social media marketing report 23% higher customer engagement rates. This analysis recommends three strategies for optimizing platform-specific content."
Example 2: Adapting Tone for Audience
Academic Journal:
"The findings suggest a statistically significant relationship between variables (p < .05), warranting further investigation into causal mechanisms."
General Audience:
"Our research found a meaningful connection between these factors, though more study is needed to understand exactly why this happens."
Executive Summary:
"Key finding: Strong link confirmed between X and Y. Recommendation: Invest in additional research. Timeline: Q3 2026."
Practice
Apply your understanding of writing conventions through these exercises.
Practice Item 1
Rewrite this informal statement for an academic context:
"Everyone knows that exercise is good for you and makes you feel better."
Practice Item 2
Identify the genre of this excerpt and explain how you recognized it:
"Participants were randomly assigned to control (n=30) and experimental (n=32) conditions. The intervention consisted of six weekly sessions lasting 45 minutes each."
Practice Item 3
Transform this thesis statement for three different audiences: academic journal, newspaper op-ed, and social media post:
"Access to affordable housing significantly impacts educational outcomes for low-income students."
Practice Item 4
Write an opening paragraph for a literature review on the topic of your choice. Include: context, scope, and purpose statement.
Practice Item 5
Analyze this assignment prompt and identify: purpose, audience, genre expectations, and key requirements:
"In 1500-2000 words, analyze a contemporary social issue through the lens of two theoretical frameworks discussed in this course. Support your analysis with at least five peer-reviewed sources."
Practice Item 6
Convert this passive construction to active voice while maintaining academic tone:
"It was determined by the researchers that the hypothesis was not supported by the data that was collected."
Practice Item 7
Write a methods section paragraph (4-6 sentences) describing a survey you might conduct on student study habits.
Practice Item 8
Identify discipline-specific language in this excerpt and suggest how it might be adapted for a general audience:
"The hermeneutic approach reveals aporias in the text that destabilize the apparent binary opposition between nature and culture."
Practice Item 9
Draft a one-paragraph proposal introduction that includes: problem statement, significance, and proposed approach.
Practice Item 10
Write two versions of a conclusion paragraph: one for a research paper and one for a reflective essay on the same topic.
Practice Item 11
Create an outline for a case study analyzing a business decision, including: background, analysis framework, findings, and recommendations sections.
Practice Item 12
Revise this paragraph for concision while preserving all essential information:
"There are many different factors that contribute to the overall success of students in college. Some of these factors include things like time management, which is very important, and also study skills, which are equally important. In addition to these factors, social support from friends and family members plays a role as well."
Check Your Understanding
Assess your readiness to apply writing skills across contexts.
- Can you identify the conventions of writing in at least three academic disciplines?
- Are you able to adapt your writing voice for different audiences?
- Can you recognize and produce common academic genres (research paper, literature review, lab report)?
- Do you understand how to analyze assignment prompts for key requirements?
- Can you revise your writing for discipline-appropriate style and tone?
- Are you comfortable with the complete writing process from analysis to final formatting?
Next Steps
- Practice writing in genres outside your comfort zone
- Analyze published writing in your intended major to learn discipline conventions
- Move on to Editing Workshop to refine your revision strategies
- Seek feedback on your writing from peers and instructors