RRU Pocket Class: Get it write: tips for stronger writing

While academic writing expresses complex ideas, the writing itself shouldn’t be complicated explains Dr. Cynthia Gralla, who teaches the Writing and Critical Thinking course in Royal Roads University’s new undergraduate programs at RRU Langford, John Horgan Campus.

 “We live in this age where we have different platforms that make scholarship accessible but it’s not truly accessible unless a wide range of people with different educational backgrounds and different ways of understanding the world can read it,” she says.

In her RRU Pocket Class, she shares her three tips to write with clarity and confidence.

 

 

 

 

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 1. Be concise

“The simpler your writing is, the more people can access your research and ideas,” she says. “So you should only use the words you need to convey your ideas.”

2. Use active voice

“Active voice, where the subject performs the verb’s action, often is clearer and uses fewer words than the passive voice,” she says, alluding to tip number one.

3. Get outside

Gralla, a novelist, essayist, and short story writer, well knows that nerves can get the best of even the most seasoned writers.

“If you’re stuck, try place-based writing,” she says. “Writing outdoors is especially good for creative writing but it can open people up as writers and reduce anxiety because so many people really tense up when they know they have to write something.”

Ready to start your undergrad? Learn more about undergraduate programs in Business and Sustainability, Applied Environmental Sciences and in Social Sciences.

Looking for writing help? Contact the Writing Centre or find online resources.