Preparing for academic success at the graduate level requires hard work, time management, and understanding one's role in attaining the desired goal of graduate education. Maintaining focus and concentration in the studies would deepen one's understanding of concepts and research materials required to achieve the desired grade point analysis (Landry, Jacobs & Newton, 2015). Writing research papers and confining to guidelines set up by an instructor as per the American Psychological Association or any other standard accepted format is the main component of academic success.
Characteristics of graduate writing, how writing at the graduate level differs from other forms of writing
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Graduate writing requires professionalism which is characterized by honesty and preparedness, which should be a key priority. The main goal is to write a standard paper that shows an understanding of the format and authentic writing style. Academic responsibility for the students is paramount to achieve quality and integrity for a larger reading audience. Mostly, the format for writing at the graduate level is the American Psychological Association (APA) writing style. Sidman-Taveau & Karathanos- Aguilar (2015) asserted that the format under the APA requires one’s paper to have a title page, the body, and the reference page. The body of the article is the content under research required to be original work of the writer's understanding of a particular concept. Proper citation is required to prove originality of the content in the paper. Lack of coherent citations is often construed as substandard work that diminishes the quality of approved writing style.
The reference page is another aspect of the paper that includes sources from which content has been derived. The sources are put as in-text citations in the body of the paper depending on the format used. The content of the article includes an introduction which should have a clear thesis, a body which provides for well-paraphrased ideas and conclusion which summarizes the main points of the paper (Landry et al., 2015). The information contained in the paper should show a logical train of thought with a clear transition and flow of ideas.
Graduate writing differs from other forms of writing since it uses a formal tone and language that will capture the reader's attention. It requires a writer to prepare and organize the paper clearly and concisely, unlike other forms of writing which may not express ideas fully. Graduate writing contains a thesis supported by evidence. Notably, it has a specific standard writing style that reflects the author's insightful and meaningful statements. Other forms of writing may not be logical and well organized.
Elements of effective written communication
Effective written communication should be well organized in terms of ideas that flow logically from the start of the article to the end. Main points of the argument should be vivid to grab the attention of the reader. Written communication should express clear and concise language that enables readers to capture the purpose and the intended message to the audience. There should be no grammatical errors like spelling and punctuation to avoid misleading the reader but promote the quality of the written article (Sidman & Karathanos, 2015). The choice of words, expression, and point of view should create emphasis and value to the written essay. The tone used should be polite without any abusive language.
The written communication should be complete and correct with supporting materials that are meaningful and memorable to the reader. Notably, it should have a central idea to base the argument that will create a meaningful discussion. Landry et al., (2015) asserted that style and elegance are necessary to keep readers interested in the work and improve readability along with sentences and paragraphs. The written article should address a specific audience from which it will create a significant impact.
Explain what plagiarism is and how to avoid it
Plagiarism enshrines copy-pasting somebody's work, words, and ideas without giving a proper citation and presumes it to be one’s own. The writer uses someone else thoughts, quoting directly without paraphrasing and tries to pass off the work as his or her own. Doing an assignment for another student or buying a written article is also a form of plagiarism.
To avoid plagiarism, the writer should paraphrase words used into his or her own without changing the meaning (Sidman & Karathanos, 2015). Originally rewording the context would make the work look like one’s own but referencing the source is also needed. Citing the source with the name of the author and year published is also important to credit the work. Inserting quotation marks around the text from the source is necessary to make a reader know the source of the quote (Landry et al., 2015). Being original by presenting your idea from the understanding of the concept or through critical thinking is the most preferred way of avoiding plagiarism. Finally, using plagiarism checker from online would help detect any work or quotes that are not original. The words are highlighted, giving the writer a chance to rectify them.
Ways for managing time and stress
Get organized by creating a schedule of personal activities that a person intends to do would be important. Creating a to-do list and following every step to accomplish everything within a given time is critical. Delegating some work to free some personal time for oneself is imperative towards countering stress. Avoiding procrastination and carrying out the duty or activity within a specified time to avoid the last-minute rush would be key (Sidman et al., 2015). Taking time and freeing up space for oneself to clear up the backlog is an appropriate approach to dealing with stress.
To manage stress, carrying out some personal exercises, hobbies, and visiting new places to promote wellness and relieve stress would help. Talking and discussing issues that are affecting one’s life to another person would help to solve the problem. Monitoring the hours a person works to give oneself time to rest is a critical strategy (Landry & Newton, 2015). Associating more with others and keep one’s mind busy and avoid clouded mind that may bring stress is important in dealing with stress.
Conclusively, graduate-level writing requires commitment and integrity in academic work to guarantee success. Proper preparation is necessary to produce greater reward of success by achieving a high grade that will help one meet the minimum graduation threshold.
References
Landry, A., Jacobs, S., & Newton, G. (2015). Effective Use of Peer Assessment in a Graduate-Level Writing Assignment: A Case Study. International Journal of Higher Education , 4 (1), 38-51.
Sidman-Taveau, R., & Karathanos-Aguilar, K. (2015). Academic Writing for Graduate-Level English as a Second Language Students: Experiences in Education. CATESOL Journal , 27 (1), 27-52. s
