Perhaps you are an experienced online writer — texting friends, chatting with family, updating your social-network page, and commenting on YouTube videos. On the other hand, perhaps you need help from co-workers or from younger or more experienced classmates to master new online tasks. Either way, you — like most college students — are increasingly likely to be an online academic writer. Many college classes are now offered in three formats, all likely to expect online writing:
In addition, any of these three class formats may rely on the campus course or learning management system (CMS or LMS), a Web-accessible environment where class participants can access information, communicate with each other, and post papers or other assignments. This chapter will review likely online activities in your current course, whatever its format.
In a College Course
In the Workplace
In Your Community
When have you done academic or professional writing online? How effective was this writing? In what situations might you need to do such writing in the future?