CU1000 Critical Essay: Navigating Digital Era in Academic Writing

This critical essay explores the multifaceted impact of the digital era on academic writing practices. It begins by introducing the rise of digital literacy in universities and its influence on authorship, noting both the benefits and challenges it presents. The essay delves into the critical issue of plagiarism, emphasizing the need for students and educators to understand the nuances between plagiarism and copyright infringement. It further discusses the importance of protecting intellectual property in the digital age, highlighting the role of copyright legislation. Finally, the essay bridges the gap between participatory culture and print culture, examining how the digital medium offers new avenues for expression and collaboration while also posing challenges to traditional literacy. The conclusion reinforces the need for adapting ethical writing practices to the digital landscape to foster a plagiarism-free authorship.

CU1000 English for Academic Purposes Assessment 4: Critical Essay (30%)

Critical Essay Planning
INTRODUCTION
Background
(To introduce the topic. May
include surprising or interesting
facts, a definition, and some
background information.)
Writing is a noble profession and in the age of digitisation, use of the
internet by academic writers for receiving assistance in writing has
increased over the years globally and its impact results into several
benefits and drawbacks for the writers. Also, there is a need for the
writers to implement new ethical methods of writing compatible and
virtuous to the digital media which will help in creating a plagiarism
free authorship.
Thesis
(This is a statement of your
standpoint or the view taken – the
controlling idea of your essay that
you will develop in the main body. It
should be concise and convincing)
Digital Era and Academic writing: how far it is helpful
Outline Introduction of digital literacies in universities and its impact
Description of teaching writing in the age of internet and need of
realising differences between Originality, Plagiarism and Imitation
in writing
Understanding value of copywriting in networked digital writing
Assessment of role of Participatory culture in digital writing age
Conclusion
BODY PARAGRAPHS
(add more paragraphs if needed ↓)
Paragraph 1
Topic One Use of digitisation in universities and its influence on authorship
Controlling idea
The boon of digitisation which involves a transformation in the study
and research practices and also enhances the learning experience of
students. Also, digital literacy has influenced the societal trends in the
workplace.
Supporting
sentences
(include the source(s) among the 9
articles you wish to cite from)
Digital literacy can be understood as the ability of the students to
grasp information from internet sources and thrive in the age which is
predominated by digital means of info and communication.
The use of digital technology in the teaching and learning practises in
universities has reshaped the study practices and enhanced the
learning and teaching experience. Hardt & Negri state that digital
literacy has majorly influenced the workplace environment and trends
in society by making extensive use of networked technology, people
are gaining transition into new careers opportunities and increase in

distribution of expertise which encourages and necessitates the
requirement to learn from various sites.
The digital learning process includes exploring the academic and
professional writing exercise in the digital environment, change in the
methods of academic communication and understanding of how they
are enhanced by the digital media. The students and teachers in the
educational institutes must adopt innovative digital approaches to
develop digital literacy. The political and social involvement of
society needs the learning and understanding of digital skills. The
practise and adaptation of digital practices for learning and teaching
purposes must be supported in the development and progression of the
digital age.
Counterargumen
t
(include the source(s) among the 9
articles you wish to cite from)
The boon of digital literacy besides positively impacting the university
students and teachers has increased the complexity of the work
problems and has challenged people to regularly innovate the learning
practices and enhance expertise through lifelong learning. It also
obstructs the cognitive learning practices of the students and makes
them rely on the digital media for processing information.
Summary of the
paragraph /
Transition to the
next
The learning practices are mediated by the technology largely and the
practice of learning is redefined. The notion of acceptance of digital
literacy with its benefits and shortcomings by today's world needs also
to focus on the teaching practices of writing.
Paragraph 2
Topic Two Educating writing in the digital era
Controlling idea
The issue of Plagiarism faced by university students and teachers in
writing leads to unethical practices and urge the need to understand
difference between plagiarism and Copywrite infringement to avoid
such unethical practices
Supporting
Sentences
(include the source(s) among the 9
articles you wish to cite from)
According to Eisner and Vicinus, the work of any student is not
completely original and they tend to add new content to the existing
one or remix the content and the practice of plagiarism which involves
patchwriting and not acknowledging the work of others by excluding
citation. The advantages associated with publishing literary works
online results in a fast exchange of writing work and the ideas and
therefore give benefit for refinements.
The difference between plagiarism and Copywrite infringement

cannot be determined on the basis of ethics because only plagiarism is
a matter of community norms and involves reuse of content and ideas
without giving credit to the original writer while copywrite is a legal
matter and involves the intervention of law and is considered a crime
to reuse someone's work without permission.
According to Senders, Plagiarism is viewed by the community in
different ways like some consider it to be theft, some violation of
community rules and some just disciplinary misunderstanding, but the
central idea of theft of content is simply unethical.
Counterargumen
t
(include the source(s) among the 9
articles you wish to cite from)
The disadvantage associated with publishing the literary works on the
web increases the threat of theft of the content and ideas and rebuttals
which is far more serious issues than unacknowledged work.
Sometimes, educators have assumed that students expected to do
academic writing understand the need of acknowledging the authors
but neglect the necessity of doing so and simply don’t act upon the
situation
Summary of the
paragraph /
Transition to the
next
The practice of plagiarism is unethical for the university students but
they fail to realise the actual meaning and disobey the rules and
copyright infringement is the practice against law and both are two
different aspects of academic writing. The teaching practices involve
the detailed evaluation of copyright in the digital age of writing.
Paragraph 3
Topic Three Copyright law and issues
Controlling idea
The central idea discusses the need for protection of intellectual
property by following and respecting the copyright legislation because
it plays a vital role in the lives of people especially the writers and
teachers.
Supporting
sentences
(include the source(s) among the 9
articles you wish to cite from)
The learning and teaching process with the help of digital media in
universities demands protection of intellectual property to restrict
unauthorised access and violation of copyright laws so as to exchange
noble works by the writers on the digital platform. According to Rife,
2013, the universities contribute and are the largest possessor of
intellectual property in the world. The boon of networked writing
encourages the teachers and student writers to initiate theories which
were developed back in 1970’s. There is a need for the device and
initiate new theoretical ideas and concepts in the writing process
which involves the authorship to be complex and includes the digitally
networked environment.

Counterargumen
t
(include the source(s) among the 9
articles you wish to cite from)
A contradicting argument by Lessig state that, copyright protection
has converted free culture into the permission-based culture and there
are on-going legal battles over the copyright legislation that have
reached into web space. Also, besides the interest of scholars in
initiating theories, there is a crisis in the writing disciplines and less or
no awareness about the correct and ethical writing practices.
Summary of the
paragraph /
Transition to the
next
The copyright issues can be solved by developing awareness among
the writers regarding the need for new authorship practices and
theories which reduces the chances of copyright violation. To adapt to
new means of writing culture, the understanding of the idea and role
of multiculturalism in the writing practices is one of the most
appropriate practice.
Paragraph 4
Topic Four Bridging the gap between participatory culture and print culture
Controlling idea
The emergence of participatory culture gives students ample
opportunities to express their ideas and communicate in an open
environment.
Supporting
sentences
(include the source(s) among the 9
articles you wish to cite from)
The engagement of students in the multicultural environment requires
them to relate their contemporary experiences with the old traditions
and print culture and this can be accomplished in the literature
classrooms. There has been a huge transformation in the ways of
interaction over the years and has seen a shift in social practices and
cultural logics. According to Jenkins, et al. 2009, the evolution of
participatory culture must-have features such as fewer barriers to
freedom of expression, social connection and realisation of the
significance of people's participation and informal mentorship. The
evolution of digital culture has laid the path for the participation of
huge crowd, especially young generation and raises their voices on a
digital platform.
Participatory culture in digital media that includes building new
literary works on the basis of old paper works helps extended
prospects for human expression and pool knowledge together through
online networks. Introduction of the digital medium does not replace
the old print culture, rather adds a new layer that supports diverse
methods of communication and creation of ideas.

Counterargumen
t
(include the source(s) among the 9
articles you wish to cite from)
Participation gap is an issue in a participatory culture which is
understood as the misconception which relies on the fact that all the
writers are readers and vice versa. Also, the digital revolution has
created consumers of culture and people are not inheriting the cultural
practices from their forefathers.
The education system has flaws in relation to the engagement of
participatory culture which is a threat to traditional literacy as print
literary works by scientist and philosopher will be distorted Also, the
addition of a new layer to cultural practices disrupts the old one.
Summary of the
paragraph /
Transition to the
next
There is a necessity of an educational system that involves the
development of its stakeholders on the basis of creativity and
innovation in cultural practices rather than just relying on print culture
(Brown & Adler, 2008).
Conclusion
Restate Thesis &
Summarise main
points
(The main aim of the conclusion is
to show that you have successfully
answered the question. It does not
include any new information, but it
summarises the main points made
in the body of the essay. It should be
clear and draw your argument to a
close and ideally, it needs to leave a
strong impression on the reader.)
The advent of digital age in the global world and introduction of
digital literacy in the teaching and learning processes has changed the
perceptions of people towards old print culture and has also devised
new ways to learn, communicate and teach so as to gain ample
understanding of new practices in writing and knowledgeable
information from the digital media. The teaching practices and
learning process in universities are largely impacted by the digital
revolution and the need for an understanding of the differences
between copyright and plagiarism is helpful for the students to follow
right authorship practices. The need for adaptation of correct writing
methods demands the practice of participatory culture which gives
freedom to the writers to express their thoughts on a digital platform.
References
(at least
FOUR sources
– APA format)
1. Rife, M. C. (2013). Invention, copyright, and digital writing.
SIU Press.
2. Jenkins, H., Kelley, W., Clinton, K., McWilliams, J., & Pitts-
Wiley, R. (Eds.). (2013). Reading in a participatory culture:
Remixing Moby-Dick in the English classroom. Teachers
College Press.
3. Littlejohn, A., Beetham, H., & McGill, L. (2012). Learning at
the digital frontier: a review of digital literacies in theory and
practice. Journal of computer assisted learning, 28(6), 547-556.
4. Eisner, C., & Vicinus, M. (2008). Originality, imitation, and
plagiarism: Teaching writing in the digital age. University of
Michigan Press.