Workshop on Mastering Academic Writing

A Workshop on ‘Mastering Academic Writing’ was organized by the Department of English Language and Literature, on 30th April 2024. The workshop was orchestrated under the guidance of the Head of the English Department, Dr Nailah Riaz, where the resource person Professor Dr Umar Ud Din at the General IT lab of the Saleem campus was invited to equip participants with the essential skills and techniques necessary for effective academic writing. Resource person Professor Dr Umar Ud Din focused on various aspects of academic writing, including structure, style, citation, and avoiding plagiarism. Students from BSEN VIII, BSEN VI, MPEL-I & II were the participants of the workshop. It also served as a means to guide the students on the method of writing a thesis, and the dos and donts of thesis writing.

Dr Umar elaborated on the significance of academic writing and provided detailed guidance on thesis writing for attendees, primarily BSEN-VIII and MPHIL-1 and 2 students. Encouraging students to choose topics aligned with their prior knowledge, he fostered an engaging environment and motivated active participation. Dr Nailah Riaz, Head of the Department of English Language and Literature, delivered concluding remarks. Practical tips were provided for organizing ideas and maintaining coherence throughout the paper. Another essential aspect of academic writing covered in the workshop was citation and referencing. Practical exercises were conducted to reinforce understanding. Participants learned about techniques for paraphrasing and summarizing sources effectively. Strategies for citing sources properly to give credit to the original authors were also explored.

Revision activities aimed at improving writing skills and receiving constructive feedback. The Workshop on Mastering Academic Writing provided participants with valuable insights and practical skills to enhance their academic writing proficiency. By focusing on structure, style, and citation, the workshop equipped participants with the tools necessary to excel in their scholarly endeavors. The workshop cleared various issues that the students were facing regarding their research such as the selection of a topic, the method of writing, word count, etc. The students asked several questions from the speaker and vice versa which helped clear their knowledge of research. Conducting more academic workshops for students can help them in solving their queries. Such workshops can serve as a guide for the dos and don’ts of academic writing.