Academic Writing
In higher education, students are expected to read and write academic texts with confidence. This involves both technical skills — such as using citations and references — and higher-level skills like critical thinking and choosing appropriate language and vocabulary.
What you'll learn?
The goal of this course module is to help you:
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Write in an academic style
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Refer to a range of sources
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Distinguish between your own conclusions and ideas from others
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Plan and limit your work according to given guidelines
These skills are valuable beyond studies. For example, they help you write expert blog posts, reports, or content for different professional audiences.
How do I pick the topic? What can I write about?
Choosing a Topic
Ask yourself:
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What topics interest me?
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What subjects might I work with in the future?
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What would I like to learn more about?
Your topic must relate to digital business. Otherwise, you’re free to explore areas that inspire you.
Examples:
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Visual Marketing Channels of Street Fashion in Finland
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Creating an Online Community for Charity
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VR in Digital Health – Case: Pain Care
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Social Media Marketing for Entrepreneurs on a Small Budget
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Use of Artificial Intelligence in Customer Service
Before you begin, get your topic approved by your course coach.
How do I scope my work? How much do I need to know?
Scoping and Planning
Scoping means deciding how broad or deep your research will be. It’s important to match your effort to the time and credits available. You can check the study credits of the academic writing part of the course in the Course overview page.
To begin, try creating a table of contents. This helps organize your ideas and gives your writing a clear structure. Once your structure is ready, start collecting information. Some useful sources are listed in the Content Picks section.
You can also review example reports for inspiration on Google Drive.
How do I write? What is the right style? What should the report look like?
Writing and Referencing
Academic writing must be:
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Authentic – your own voice should come through
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Clear about which ideas are yours and which are cited
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Well-structured and formal in tone
Referencing is key. You must credit your sources properly and use a consistent style. At Laurea, we follow the same format used in final theses.
You can use artificial intelligence in ideation, and spell checking processes. You cannot just copy-paste generative AI produced material without referencing it, that is called plagiation. Read more about utilisation of artificial intelligence in teaching and studies at Laurea UAS.
You can access the Referencing Guide and Report Template on Google Drive.