How do I improve my writing skills?

[ab10365]

I'm getting pretty close to finishing my degree so I'll have to complete my capstone with TESU soon. I know the capstone is very writing intensive, so I'm wondering if anyone has any tips or resources for me to improve my writing skills. Maybe even resource specifically for capstones? I'm not sure if this is a common issue I pretty much have a fear of writing and I do NOT want to fail the capstone. Any help would be appreciated!

[rachel83az]

Without knowing exactly what you want to improve, the only real advice I can offer for you is to do more writing. Maybe even take English Comp I/II again to brush up on your writing skills. Watching/reading things doesn't usually help as much as actually doing when it comes to writing.

Sophia is free until the end of the month, you already have taken Sophia courses I see. ASU has English 101 as a self-paced option and English 102 starts again on August 18th.; you'd only need to pay if you specifically want credit for those classes.

I think your fear is pretty common. At least, I've experienced the same thing.

[LongRoad]

Without knowing exactly what you want to improve, the only real advice I can offer for you is to do more writing. Maybe even take English Comp I/II again to brush up on your writing skills. Watching/reading things doesn't usually help as much as actually doing when it comes to writing.

Sophia is free until the end of the month, you already have taken Sophia courses I see. ASU has English 101 as a self-paced option and English 102 starts again on August 18th.; you'd only need to pay if you specifically want credit for those classes.

I think your fear is pretty common. At least, I've experienced the same thing.

I support Rache83az's suggestions. While I still don't like to write, taking 2 courses at a community college with a GREAT instructor who was very positive and supportive helped to minimize (not eliminate) my fear of writing.  But I've found that the longer I don't write, the harder it becomes TO write.

Sorry to sound like a Nike commercial, but just DO it.

[ab10365]

Without knowing exactly what you want to improve, the only real advice I can offer for you is to do more writing. Maybe even take English Comp I/II again to brush up on your writing skills. Watching/reading things doesn't usually help as much as actually doing when it comes to writing.

Sophia is free until the end of the month, you already have taken Sophia courses I see. ASU has English 101 as a self-paced option and English 102 starts again on August 18th.; you'd only need to pay if you specifically want credit for those classes.

I think your fear is pretty common. At least, I've experienced the same thing.

Thank you! Would you recommend the Sophia English course? Or if you have experience with ASU's course would you recommend that? I don't know how to explain what I need help with other than I have terrible writer's block. Not only that, but I have a hard time transitioning between subjects in an essay. I'm fine when it comes to writing short answer questions but when it comes to writing actual papers I'm all over the place.

[MNomadic]

Without knowing exactly what you want to improve, the only real advice I can offer for you is to do more writing. Maybe even take English Comp I/II again to brush up on your writing skills. Watching/reading things doesn't usually help as much as actually doing when it comes to writing.

Sophia is free until the end of the month, you already have taken Sophia courses I see. ASU has English 101 as a self-paced option and English 102 starts again on August 18th.; you'd only need to pay if you specifically want credit for those classes.

I think your fear is pretty common. At least, I've experienced the same thing.

Thank you! Would you recommend the Sophia English course? Or if you have experience with ASU's course would you recommend that? I don't know how to explain what I need help with other than I have terrible writer's block. Not only that, but I have a hard time transitioning between subjects in an essay. I'm fine when it comes to writing short answer questions but when it comes to writing actual papers I'm all over the place.

I recommend the Sophia English comp courses. They're free right now so I'd start them and worst case is you don't find them useful and try something else instead. The papers you write will be relatively short and basic compared to what you'd do in a capstone but the principles will be the same.

What I personally find helps is to write out a mind map to help organize my thoughts.

[ab10365]

Without knowing exactly what you want to improve, the only real advice I can offer for you is to do more writing. Maybe even take English Comp I/II again to brush up on your writing skills. Watching/reading things doesn't usually help as much as actually doing when it comes to writing.

Sophia is free until the end of the month, you already have taken Sophia courses I see. ASU has English 101 as a self-paced option and English 102 starts again on August 18th.; you'd only need to pay if you specifically want credit for those classes.

I think your fear is pretty common. At least, I've experienced the same thing.

I support Rache83az's suggestions. While I still don't like to write, taking 2 courses at a community college with a GREAT instructor who was very positive and supportive helped to minimize (not eliminate) my fear of writing.  But I've found that the longer I don't write, the harder it becomes TO write.

Sorry to sound like a Nike commercial, but just DO it.

I considered that. I only wish I had more time before I begin my capstone course (I'll probably start in November). Even after the course I may still take some writing classes at a local CC for my own personal improvement. I really do envy people that enjoy writing.

[rachel83az]

Thank you! Would you recommend the Sophia English course? Or if you have experience with ASU's course would you recommend that? I don't know how to explain what I need help with other than I have terrible writer's block. Not only that, but I have a hard time transitioning between subjects in an essay. I'm fine when it comes to writing short answer questions but when it comes to writing actual papers I'm all over the place.

I haven't taken Sopha's Eng. Comp II yet, but I was very good. The only issues were the grading times. I really like ASU's English 102 so far, even though there is quite a bit of writing. It's definitely more than you'd get with Sophia. Honestly, if you have the time, I'd say to take both Sophia and ASU (though not at the same time) just to get the practice in, since they won't cost you any money out of pocket.

I also feel like I have issues with transitioning between subjects in an essay. Sophia's Eng. Comp I has some good strategies for planning out an essay. (I'd assume that ASU's English 101 is similar in that regard.) They've really helped, IMO, and I've gotten pretty good grades on all my Sophia essays so far. It's possible that you're better than you think you are, but some extra practice is always going to be helpful.

[monchevy]

Without knowing exactly what you want to improve, the only real advice I can offer for you is to do more writing. Maybe even take English Comp I/II again to brush up on your writing skills. Watching/reading things doesn't usually help as much as actually doing when it comes to writing.

Sophia is free until the end of the month, you already have taken Sophia courses I see. ASU has English 101 as a self-paced option and English 102 starts again on August 18th.; you'd only need to pay if you specifically want credit for those classes.

I think your fear is pretty common. At least, I've experienced the same thing.

I support Rache83az's suggestions. While I still don't like to write, taking 2 courses at a community college with a GREAT instructor who was very positive and supportive helped to minimize (not eliminate) my fear of writing.  But I've found that the longer I don't write, the harder it becomes TO write.

Sorry to sound like a Nike commercial, but just DO it.

I considered that. I only wish I had more time before I begin my capstone course (I'll probably start in November). Even after the course I may still take some writing classes at a local CC for my own personal improvement. I really do envy people that enjoy writing.

I've been a professional writer for decades and I don't enjoy writing. 

[LongRoad]

Without knowing exactly what you want to improve, the only real advice I can offer for you is to do more writing. Maybe even take English Comp I/II again to brush up on your writing skills. Watching/reading things doesn't usually help as much as actually doing when it comes to writing.

Sophia is free until the end of the month, you already have taken Sophia courses I see. ASU has English 101 as a self-paced option and English 102 starts again on August 18th.; you'd only need to pay if you specifically want credit for those classes.

I think your fear is pretty common. At least, I've experienced the same thing.

I support Rache83az's suggestions. While I still don't like to write, taking 2 courses at a community college with a GREAT instructor who was very positive and supportive helped to minimize (not eliminate) my fear of writing.  But I've found that the longer I don't write, the harder it becomes TO write.

Sorry to sound like a Nike commercial, but just DO it.

I considered that. I only wish I had more time before I begin my capstone course (I'll probably start in November). Even after the course I may still take some writing classes at a local CC for my own personal improvement. I really do envy people that enjoy writing.

I've been a professional writer for decades and I don't enjoy writing. 

Monchevy, I do not find that comforting AT ALL! My hope was that at some point I'd enjoy it!

[rachel83az]

Monchevy, I do not find that comforting AT ALL! My hope was that at some point I'd enjoy it!

At one point, I wanted to get a degree in English and have a career in writing. I thought I liked writing. I'm finding that I very much dislike academic writing at least. I'm very tired of all these essays. And it's not even that many essays. I wish I could get paid to just learn things but skip the essay writing.