The Writing Centre at the Directorate for Teaching & Learning (DLT), Mthatha Campus, prides itself as it assists first-time entering students with a course to develop their academic writing skills.
"Writing in a University is different from any form of writing. We need to induct students into the university literacies and empower them so that they can become active members of their discourse communities through developing reading and writing literacies in the university," said writing coordinator, Dr Standford Matenda.
The course entails a number of sub-courses including academic writing and reading, Avoiding Plagiarism, Referencing, Formatting Assignments, Reviewing & Proof Reading and Writing Process.
Rumbidzai Ncube, in the DLT said, "Academic writing and critical reading are foundational skills to all student learning. As we teach students how to write, we also teach them a host of other academic skills such as ability to reflect, to solve problems in an analytical manner."
The center has been producing a number of outstanding writers which include the winners of the Archbishop Thabo Makgoba Development Trust Essay Writing competition, Annatoria Ndlovu in the Mthatha Campus, Athabile Kellem in Komani Campus and Sibabalwe Kela of the Ibika Campus.
She added, “Writing is a much needed skill that cuts across all disciplines. It is a needed skill not only for academic success in Higher education but for success in the workplace as well."
Matenda said he encourages students to take part in the workshop as it would assist them in writing for academics, especially those interested in doing research.
-Ongezwa Sigodi