Masters help I hate writing papers

[Vle045]

And here I am today.  Haven’t written a paper since 1997..... and I am dreading it.

You've already purchased the ENEB degree and you're doing Walden so you'll have papers to write there. But if you want to get in some "easy" practice, you could sign up for ASU's English Composition courses as a refresher. ENG 101 is self-paced: https://ea.asu.edu/courses/english-composition-eng-101/ ENG 102 begins in June: https://ea.asu.edu/courses/english-composition-eng-102/

If you're only taking them for personal development (not for credit), it doesn't cost anything.

Thanks!  A writing refresher is always good.  Maybe it can help the OP too.  

I started getting familiar with the new APA7 style.   Now I have to learn how to focus long enough to write a paper.  (Good grief!).  I am currently working full time, plus part time and have a teenage son.  It will be interesting for sure.  I think the Walden thing will really help me decide what my next step will be (continue with Masters level or go back for second Bachelors.... or stick with personal development learning).

[ReyMysterioso]

I'm pursuing a Journalism degree at Harvard Extension School. Ironically it does not take as much writing as a lot of other online grad programs. In Feature Writing, you had to write three feature stories. And while these are longer, more magazine style articles, and it does require writing, for me, it is not the teeth-pulling nightmare that is academic writing. I have a lot of fun figuring out how to tell a story with rich visual description and capture people's personality and mannerisms in words. If you tried journalism and news report writing, you might find it a lot more tolerable. I cannot STAND academic writing.

In the gatekeeper course, you have to write something like two or three newspaper articles and a feature story. Newspaper articles are very very brief. Who what when where how and sometimes why in a small block of text. Short and sweet.

They say the Government class is the absolute hardest one in the program. Other than the required courses, you can stuff the electives with classes that require zero writing, like Digital Storytelling, Podcasting, Intro to Digital Photography, etc. Most of the relevant classes are practical skill-learning and not case-studies and theory that require boooorrrriiinnng academic APA format junk nobody will ever read.

Now if HES is too pricey, I'm sure you could find a similar grad program that's more affordable and skews toward learning practical skills instead of boring papers. I've heard face to face from a student in Arkansas State's MS in Strategic Communication that it was much more about practical work than papers and theory. And it's under 10k. This was my plan B if Harvard didn't work out. But do your due diligence and don't just take the word of one guy on the internet.
https://degree.astate.edu/programs/maste...tions.aspx

[bjcheung77]

Just for those who are wondering the cost of the HES, it's $35K: https://extension.harvard.edu/academics/...dent-story

[tesu-acct-student]

An accounting masters degree doesn't have a lot writing.

[newdegree]

He is just looking for the "easy way" if you want a masters degree prepare to write. You need to show that you can express your thoughts in writing. If writing is not for you I would advise looking for a major that does not require writing like mathematics, engineering, accounting, or a fine arts masters. As a graduate student you want to be able to demonstrate your skills to earn that advanced degree, if writing is not for you then you shouldn't go for a masters degree. Do some programs offer test taking?? Yes indeed they do but its in combination with paper writing. If you can't handle a 10 page APA style paper at minimum then a masters degree is not for you.

[Alpha]

He is just looking for the "easy way" if you want a masters degree prepare to write. You need to show that you can express your thoughts in writing. If writing is not for you I would advise looking for a major that does not require writing like mathematics, engineering, accounting, or a fine arts masters. As a graduate student you want to be able to demonstrate your skills to earn that advanced degree, if writing is not for you then you shouldn't go for a masters degree. Do some programs offer test taking?? Yes indeed they do but its in combination with paper writing. If you can't handle a 10 page APA style paper at minimum then a masters degree is not for you.

I agree with all of this.  In my Masters program I did not take a single test.  It was 100% writing assignments.  You might get an isolated professor who gives tests but the Humanities, Social Sciences, etc are going to be weighted heavily toward writing.

[Vle045]

I just talked to my Coach at Walden. He told me today that there are not as many papers to write in their new format. They have “Performance tasks” which is more like putting things in to practice. Possibly putting together a PowerPoint, etc.

[PrettyFlyforaChiGuy]

I just talked to my Coach at Walden.  He told me today that there are not as many papers to write in their new format.  They have “Performance tasks” which is more like putting things in to practice.  Possibly putting together a PowerPoint, etc.

Walden's performance tasks were always part of the MS in ECS, at least. However, even the competencies with these work products generally required additional essays or recorded audio to explain the content that you produced.

As one example, a 1.25-credit competency course required three submissions in its assessment: (1) a 20-page family handbook for a child care center; (2) a portfolio of 10-20 sketches/photos that detail the center, along with a short written essay describing them; and (3) a 10-minute recorded presentation with ~20 slides that could be given to prospective families or stakeholders.

Graduate-level programs generally emphasize communication skills and conveying information, whether they're oriented toward sharing research, collaborating with coworkers, or building bridges with potential clients. I liked that Walden offered such a variety of assessment tasks while still allowing students to show what they know. Since these programs are often designed to develop students into leaders, I'd actually be wary of programs that skimped on fostering communication skills.

[sanantone]

If you want to avoid a lot of writing, major in STEM at a traditional school. The less traditional the school is, the more busy work it'll require. I earned a science master's at a Top 30 school; there wasn't much writing.

[newdegree]

Take a few undergraduate writing courses or workshops. If you can not write papers sorry to say a Masters degree is not for you. Stick to going for another undergraduate degree, attempting to find ways to get around not having to write papers simply because "you are not good at writing them" is not an excuse. If indeed you really want to earn a masters degree you are going to have to put in some work and get to learning how to write papers. If not you can attempt to try a major without writing but just know it will be heavy science or mathematics which I find even worst if you never studied it.

Taking the easy route is not the best route. As an employer I want you to write memos and summarize what the business or organization needs. Creating presentations with proper English and being able to communicate all leads back to writing skills. A masters degree is not undergraduate work where sometimes the professor just gives you a low grade to pass the class because he feels bad. In graduate school you must maintain in most schools a 3.0 gpa. When you applied for the program you applied because you felt you was ready to do the work and the school felt you are capable of doing the graduate level assignments which include heavy writing assignments. If you do not feel ready my recommendation is to withdraw till you feel that you can write graduate level papers. I am not trying to be a troll or push you down but you need to do some deep thinking and come to realization with yourself if a masters program at the time meets your current writing education level. Withdrawing and taking a few courses on writing or English can be beneficial as you do not want to mess up your GPA and be placed on academic probation, kick out the program, or never finish your degree. Just food for thought.

I speak from experience as I have completed three master's degrees and on track to finish a doctorate degree. I also just got accepted to do my MBA so I will be doubling up on classes.