Jesselton College Sabah lecturer Dr. Fung Lan Yong has published a reference book entitled, Academic writing: Essays for analysis. The book comprises four sections, including the process of composition, academic essays for analysis, sample essays by students and checklists. Published by LAP Germany, the book is available on Amazon.com and other online sites.
“Effective academic writing is undoubtedly the key to greater academic achievement and career success. Since most tertiary courses and exams require students to employ the principles of academic writing, ability to elaborate well in writing is essential for demonstrating academic mastery. Similarly, many potential employers prefer candidates who can write well; hence, having effective academic writing skills will make one stand out in the business world, where writing is a neglected skill yet one of the most important to productivity,” elaborated Yong.
Fung has 20 years of experience in teaching academic writing and communication skills at college and university. “The main aim of this book is to provide a systematic way to help improve your academic writing skills. It contains different genres of academic essays and each contains a thesis statement, topic sentences and a conclusion. By analysing the essays, you will learn how to structure an academic essay effectively. This book is a good investment to those who wish to enhance their writing skills for academic and career success,” she added.
“An essay or project should have an introduction that includes a proper thesis statement that states the main idea of the entire paper. Subsequently, each body paragraph should have a clear topic sentence that contains the topic and controlling idea. The topic sentence helps you to state the main idea of the paragraph and use relevant supporting sentences and details to elaborate it. The topic sentence is crucial because it prevents you from writing so-called out of point,” she explained.
“SPM leavers who are enrolled in Jesselton College’s diploma and Bachelor programs must take Academic English according to Malaysian Quality Assurance (MQA). The subject focuses on effective academic writing for research and office correspondence, so it helps prepare graduates to be part of the future workforce,” she concluded.
Originally from Kudat and a Yayasan Sabah study loan recipient, Yong holds a PhD in Special Education (Gifted and Talented Education) from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, USA. She teaches Academic English, Mass Communication and Research Methods at Jesselton College Sabah which holds 4-star MyQuest ratings in various courses. She also chairs the Psychological Society of Jesselton College.
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