Simply put, Academic Writing is about clearly and concisely making a point . While that sounds simple, it requires a lot of thought. To make a point clearly requires an understanding of what you want to say as well as how the audience will receive the message. To write concisely requires a command of the language. And to make a point at all requires an the ability to structure an argument and support it. Of course, there is much more to academic writing than the basics. From gathering useful evidence and properly citing works to avoid invalidation via plagiarism to style, emotional appeals and anticipation of counterarguments-- just to name a few-- Both the Novice and Advanced programs will constantly focus on and improve the fundamentals as well as the deeper skills necessary to become a great academic writer.