Are writing and academic writing in American high school English classes the same thing? Are they different?

Academic writing is a very broad definition, which includes many different types of writing, such as argumentative essays, persuasive essays, research papers, etc. as we mentioned above.

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  1. Are writing and academic writing in American high school English classes the same thing? Are they different?

    Academic writing is a very broad definition, which includes many different types of writing, such as argumentative essays, persuasive essays, research papers, etc. as we mentioned above.

    The most important type of writing in English literature courses in American high schools is the analytical essay we mentioned above. It is indeed a genre of academic writing.

    But analytical argumentative writing is much more difficult than many other types of academic argumentative writing. Therefore, strictly speaking, writing in American high school English classes and academic writing cannot be directly equated.

    The difference between them is:

    1. Argumentative essay (argumentative essay) and persuasive essay (persuasive essay). Although these two types of argumentative essays are also argumentative essays, they are more related to non-fiction works. For example, students read a speech about real life, and then write a persuasive essay to support or oppose the speech.

    Nonfiction is usually more straightforward in its meaning. For example, a speech cannot be written in such a confusing way that people cannot understand it, otherwise it will not be able to communicate effectively. So analyzing nonfiction is relatively easy.

    This is different from the analytical essay in English courses in American high schools. Because the American high school English class analyzes fictional works, such as novels, poems, plays, etc. It is very difficult to read and analyze fictional works. Students cannot understand what the author is saying just by understanding the literal meaning. There are many hidden meanings in literary works, and it is necessary to borrow many analytical methods from literary works to understand these hidden meanings, such as Use rhetorical techniques to understand the themes expressed by the author, the psychological activities of the characters, etc. Therefore, analytical argumentative essays that analyze literary works are more difficult.

    2. Argumentative essay (argumentative essay) and persuasive essay (persuasive essay). These two types of argumentative essays usually allow students to prove their personal opinions.

    This is different from the analytical essay in English courses in American high schools. Because writing in American high school English classes requires students to analyze their understanding of literary works, rather than their personal opinions or preferences. This kind of analysis is more difficult than argumentative essays and persuasive essays. Because students need to use literary works to figure out the meaning of the author, and then express their understanding and analysis of the work through writing. This not only requires students to have a personal understanding of literary works, but also to be able to speak There is something to express and demonstrate.

    3. Finally, I want to emphasize that most English literature courses in American high schools do not involve other types of argumentative writing. The most important thing is analytical argumentative writing.

    For example, our Middlesex Grade 10 students are currently reading "Pride and Prejudice" in their school. The topic they asked students to write is: How did Pride and Prejudice affect the relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy?

    This question is not like a TOEFL writing question that asks students what opinions they agree or disagree with; nor is it like a debate essay that asks students to prove their views on emotion or arrogance. This topic is based on the literary work "Pride and Prejudice", and then asks students to analyze the relationship between the three themes of pride, prejudice and emotion. Students not only need to understand the emotional development between Elizabeth and Darcy, but also analyze how pride and prejudice affect their relationship.

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