Friday, January 18, 2008

Academic Blogging: Speak up and Write

Academic blogging is one way to express our ideas and opinions, indeed. Our personal reaction to an article or issue may have a lot of impact to others who share the same interest, perception as well as concerns. Our stance - made known - can also contribute to the majority . Sometimes, we can even find solutions to our anxieties by reading what others have to say in response to the discussion topic.

Professional writers write articles, chapters, and technical documents. Undergraduates write academic essays or research papers for class assignments or dissertations. This writing genre is more serious and requires more than opinions and an extent of elaboration. Claims must be supported by literature review and in-text citations to establish a scholarly context. This may not sound easy nor friendly to beginners and budding talents who wish to start speaking their minds.

So, what would be an easy solution to this inspiration to speak your mind? If journal writing does not quite work because it's between you and yourself - try blogging, for you would indeed have an audience to exchange ideas.

Read the articles or issues raised by the author, and think creatively, critically and laterally. Now - what / how do I feel about this topic? Has this ever happened to me, and what did I do at that time? Can I contribute a solution to this problem? Do I have ideas to extend this discussion and make it lively and interesting? Have I heard people talking about this matter, and what were their comments? Ask questions and probe for response that allows expression of opinion.

Blogging takes, at most, 30 minutes of your time. Compare this portion to other ways that we actually spend our 24 hours. It's time we start reading, forming opinions about a discussion topic, and express our opinions. This healthy exchange of response can be therapeutic and reciprocal.

When you see others sharing the same ideas, concerns, and worries, and several others supporting and helping you with tips or experience, won't you feel like you are not alone anymore? This will motivate you to speak up more - and finally - the time will come when you shall muster enough courage to speak up orally, in small group discussions, class presentations, or better still - public speaking competitions and debates.

It's a new year, and it comes with new promises and fresh resolutions. It's a new year and we should unshackle our paradigms. It's time to speak up, and it calls for us to speak up more, indeed. The year will be more dynamic and fulfilling if we choose to speak up! If speaking has to wait due to some personal reasons, try sharing your thoughts via writing. Try blogging - write your comments, ideas, and tell people about your experience. Unravel the wonders blogging can do to you and the people around you. Let's make it happen!

18 comments:

dunhill@*london-paris-new york* said...

yep!! totally agree wit u.. blogging was therapeutical & reciprocal.. its a new way to express self thoughts and opinions..

I've read a lots of blogs.. everyday!!.. reading blogger's day to day experiences was some what.. different!! i do envy their life.. been able to share their experiences made me a better person.. where i can apply good values into my life.. and also get over any obstacles in my life..accordingly..

been able to blog bout somtin.. do occupy my emptiness and bring joys to my life.. :)

DJ Krates said...

Yeah. I also agree with you. Blogging is the way for us to share our experience in life, thoughts and interests.we can even making money from it.We can also improve our writing skills bit by bit.

When having a bad day nor a great day, we can share it to all the people around the world.

Anonymous said...

Way to go, mnn & kaide. Glad we have this attractive means of cherishing our day-to-day life, as we commit to improving our skills in writing. In fact, more readers and friends out there should try blogging - express thoughts, feelings and beliefs in an interactive and educational way. We can learn about others and also ourselves; materials close to our hearts or slightly distant; and even find comfort in knowing that others encounter just about the same obstacles like us...let's jez continue writing and enjoy the difference.

Anonymous said...

According to Peter Urs Bender, "The thing we humans fear the most is speaking in public. Close behind on the list of fears is death. (Speaking and dying in front of a group ranks third...)" Due to this phobia of speaking or 'Glossophobia' many people tend to write their ideas rather than speaking about it.This is because writing on a piece of paper is personal and doesn't involve other people.Well,i guess it's better than just loafing around right? :D

Anonymous said...

well, I also agree with this idea because in my point of view, i see that it will improve the self confidence step by step because no one is visible, and also u can think first and then u can write. it is intresting actually

ara said...

I did blog then I find that meybe I just like to keep to myself more, then I just stop! but i remeber, those times that i did blog, i manage to let everything out of my mind. Blogging is good for a number of things:)

Anonymous said...

A small step could go a mile. Blogging may help in building up points and eventually, when enough confidence is gathered, those points could be use in public speaking. Keep on blogging.

Anonymous said...

Academic blogging help students to enhance their English language.First of all, when a student enter such blog, he or she will gain a new knowledge such as a new word that has being used rarely by other people. With the new word, the new learners like me can improve our vocabulary and can manipulate the language when writing an essay. Apart from that, this blogosphere actually need the students to speak up their mind and try to write something on the blog. So, why not we spent a little bit of time for this kind of education-related thing. By writing actually can become an outside of class practice for us. Practices make perfect right? So, with that all instances above, I solemnly sure that academic blogging absolutely help students to improve their English language.

Dr. Zue said...

That's a smooth paragraph, safwan. i enjoy reading about your ideas. More students should practice reacting to reading via writing, and this can be achieved via academic blogging.

Anonymous said...

Yeah i 100% agree with u mam.. blogging is a superb way to develop our writing skills. it also indirectly upgrade our speaking knowledge.I'm telling this because its really helps me.. it upgrade my vocabulary, grammer, spelling mistakes and it makes me to think towards the topic more deeper.Thank you madam zue for interducing me to this blog..

SNAR said...

salam...

hye mam..i really2 agree wif ur opinion about blogging.its because with blogging,we can get more benefit/advantages for our language esp.I think,in blogging,we also can share about something that we feel.feeling with someone,feeling for everyday and others.hehe.for me,i really2 like reading blogger's and also like to blogging.its can help me to share my ideas,feeling and also about my routines.reading for someone's blog,it help me to improve my language especially ur blog mam!!!..it help me to improve my vocabulary,spelling and also my grammar...=)..for my lovely mam,i really2 hope that u can fill ur blog with more entrys and post for our's..hopefully mam...=D
in blogging,we also can get more information about our lifestyle and also our religion.Such as,like http://ustaz.blogspot.com.

BTW,in my truly heart,i really2 enjoy reading and response ur blog mam!!!..thnk you very much for intorduce me to ur blog .in my life,u r my 1st teacher or lecterurs tht give me chance to responds ur blog..thanks you very much again mam!..MAY ALLAH BLESS U ALWAYS...=)

till then,wslm..=D

Lebron said...

One way to express our ideas and opinions is academic blogging...totally agree...reading the academic blog can oso experiences sum diff thing...like the opinions...we may get lots of ideas in many diff angles to improve our knowledges...In addition,academic blogging will share sum educational lesson wif us...by tis way, we can learn abouut it and try to understand it...Further more, it will oso improve the self confidence by writing the blog...tis is becauz we will think b4 write n will share the ideas we hv wif others...when others oso contribute the same opinion n agree wif ur support...tis is the right time!!Plus, we mayb more confidence to outself....nowadays, many ppl scare speak up...they hv no ideas about certain topic...by the blogging,tis will help them to solve tis problem...In the final say,academic blogging totally can help the students to improve their English language during their study...

Mr. said...

Hmmm...
I'm agree with you bout this topic. Yup we can increase our writing skill when we write in blog. We can read people opinion, know some new words, share our idea, etc. For me, I'm lack of confidence to speak up. But from this blog, I can write and share my opinion to others. Just like you say ma'am. Writing in blog also makes myself confidence increase. Futhermore, I can improve my skill writing when I read others essay. :)

NFZ said...

salam..
i agree with this idea..commenting in blog make us more motivated by sharing our opinions, read others opinions..when we reading some articles or what kind of reading materials, we force our mind to think- think creatively, wisely..then we express our opinion..jez telling the truth tis year, when i entered in uniten..it was my first experience commenting in your blog..b'cuz tis is one of the assessment from my lecturer..so, in tis way of teaching, she pursued me to point up my opinion..while doing tis, i think i learn more, bcuz i'm not the one who loved to read..therefore, i'm learning to make myself better in reading. besides that, tis help me to be matured while reading others comments..in this case, i hope till end, i will try my best to be the blogger..=)

Anonymous said...

haha,again Syimir Izzaffy said in Speak Up Avenue but in different topic :

In this topic of academic writing, I am 100% with you Puan Zue. Why am I supporting your opinion and idea? Because, i experienced and feel the same way also. As a photographer besides being a student, Blogging is my main medium to share my photography creativity not just to the surrounding people but also to whole over the world. By blogging, i am free to deliver my ideas and my writings about photography to my clients and my artwork followers ( if I have it ). Plus, I can share with people what did I know about photography. I can say that my blog is universal because I am not talking only about photo, but when i feel something regarding about any issues such as humans right, politics and economy I will use the blog platform as the path for me to speak. This is actually what technology is created for, to improve the human. But sadly, we cannot deny that some people use it in a bad ways. But why we have to take the negative side? Just ignore the negative and grab this chance to express our idealism and personal opinion, bear in our mind, there is not much chance for us to speak, so write up! Use the academic blogging as the method for us to speak and trust me,later, we will think beyond than where we are now.

Mya Aziz said...

Academic blogging is the new way for a student that is now have high intelligent in information technology. Nowadays , student are more advance and well-know of blogging. This can be considered by every student at this time have their own blog that interchange with diary. They love to write on their blog instead of write it in diary. Blogging also give you a space to share your opinion or idea about something that can be read by others.

Jun said...

Hi Pn Zue,
I think that academic blogging is a good platform for students to develop opinions and share thoughts. With the presence of academic blogging, I can express my opinions freely. Besides, academic blogging can help us to develop and improve a lot skills such as reading skills, writing skills and most important is our thinking skills. As we all know that thinking skill is important in future. A person needs to think critically before taking any actions. However, it is sad to note that a lot of Malaysian graduates are unable to think critically because of our education system. Therefore, in order to improve critical thinking, we can write your own academic blog or comment people’s academic blog. This will help you to improve your thinking skills and English level.

Thanks Pn Zue for creating this meaningful academic blog that allow people to learn without being in the classroom.

Hazreen said...

Assalamualaikum Pn Zue, First of all thank you for allowing me to express my opinion here. This is one of advantages for me to improve my critical thinking. Honestly, this is my first time expressing my opinion in this way. I admit I am a bit shy because I am afraid to voice out some ideas because my friends might not agree with the ideas. So maybe this is the best way writing and allow other readers think about it.
I remember when we had first two weeks you asked us to write an essay about ourselves. In my opinion, I am closer to myself since then. I have known what type of person I really am. The characteristics and behaviours about me and so on. About the development of myself, nothing much improve because i think it takes time especially for writing. I hope I will improve that skill and especially my critical thinking as well.
Then, the last class today, you gave the probes for us and asked us to think how to use those in drama which I think it was really help me in thinking critically since that drama was spontaneous. We were given a couple of minutes to think and performed it in front of other students. This opportunity was really precious also since I was able to learn how to cope with nervousness .I know feeling nervous is common but it is very important for us to cope with that right? I am also have been selected for several times to speak in front of other students. this gives me some confident Pn Zue. thank you madam.