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Strong academic writing is not just essential for doctoral studies, but also is critical for future career success. In both academic and professional environments, the ability to communicate ideas clearly and effectively in writing is a key skill. Students are preparing themselves for a competitive workforce, where clear and impactful writing can significantly influence career advancement and professional credibility.
As another school year approaches, assistant professors Dr. Danielle Schock and Dr. Shauna Mayer have developed a new template for doctoral students at Winona State University to improve their academic writing in APA format. This versatile template is not only beneficial for doctoral students but also for anyone seeking to enhance their APA writing skills.
The accompanying resource offers a comprehensive guide designed to bolster academic writing. It covers essential aspects such as grammar, punctuation, formatting, organization, and APA style. Included are a checklist and specific guidelines for drafting, editing, and revising academic papers.
Grammar and punctuation
The handout emphasizes the importance of using appropriate tenses and varying sentence structures. It advises against overusing intensifiers, pronouns, and contractions. The guide advocates for the use of active voice over passive voice to achieve clearer and more direct writing. Additionally, it recommends limiting the use of demonstratives (e.g., this, these, that, those) and the word “the” to enhance clarity.
Formatting and organization
In terms of formatting and organization, the handout specifies that papers should be written in Times New Roman, 12-point font, and double-spaced. It stresses the importance of focused paragraphs, each dedicated to a single idea and no longer than one page. Smooth transitions between paragraphs are also emphasized to maintain coherence throughout the paper.
APA style
The APA style section provides guidelines on quoting sources, creating in-text citations, and formatting the reference page. Students are reminded to use meaningful quotes, format long quotes (over 40 words) correctly, and ensure that in-text citations include the author’s last name and publication year. The guide also emphasizes using recent sources, preferably from the last five years.
Writing cheat sheet
A notable feature of the handout is the “Writing Cheat Sheet,” which expands on key points. It includes examples of contractions to avoid and pronouns to use sparingly. Additionally, it lists common intensifiers that should be eliminated for improved conciseness.
A significant portion of the cheat sheet is dedicated to clarifying the difference between active and passive voice, providing examples of how to convert passive sentences into active ones. This section underscores the importance of clear, direct writing in academic papers.
Conclusion
The guide concludes with a list of phrases to avoid, many of which indicate passive voice constructions. It reiterates the need to use demonstratives and the word “the” carefully to avoid ambiguity.
Overall, the handout focuses on producing clear, concise, and well-structured academic writing. By following these guidelines, students can enhance the clarity and effectiveness of their writing, making their arguments more compelling and easier to follow.
This guide serves as a valuable resource for doctoral students, offering practical solutions for common writing issues and addressing both micro-level concerns (e.g., grammar and word choice) and macro-level considerations (e.g., paper structure and APA formatting). By paying attention to both detailed aspects and broader structural elements, students can significantly improve their academic writing skills.
In summary, this writing guide provides Winona State University doctoral students with a comprehensive tool for enhancing their academic writing. By adhering to these guidelines, students can produce clearer, more concise, and better-structured academic papers, positioning themselves for success in their doctoral studies and beyond.
Danielle Schock, Ed.D, is an Assistant Professor in Early Childhood and Elementary Education at Winona State University.
Shauna Mayer, Ed.D, is an Assistant Professor in Education Studies at Winona State University. Both are graduates of Winona State University’s Doctorate of Education program and have previous K12 classroom experience.
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