The Most Favorite Source of Information

In this day and age, there are many sources where we can get information. For instance, newspaper, TV, Radio, magazine, journal, Internet, etc. Among all those sources, the Internet is the most media that I am used to use. There are some justifications for this preference.

Firstly, the Internet is accessable. We can access the Internet anytime and anywhere. As we know, internet is getting cheaper and cheaper these days for there are many internet provider in Indonesia that set up internet connection with a cheap price, even Rp 100.000 per month for unlimited connection. Moreover, there are many places such as campus, café, restaurant, airport, mall, etc, which provide “hotspots“ internet free accessed. The hardware that we can use to access internet are also various. It is not only can be accessed by PC, laptop, but also mobile phone.

Secondly, information from Internet is up to date and comprehensive. Information in the internet is quickly updated, so we can know the news shortly after they just happened. Beside that, information from the Internet is also comprehensive. Because there are many sources of Information in the Internet that complete each other, we can have a comprehensive material for a “specific” thing we need and want. What we should do is going to the websites that we can browse through. Even, if we don’t know the specific websites, we can just use search engines. After typing the keywords of the subjects in search engines, there will be lists of information related to the subjects. It is quite easy, isn't it?

Therefore, in my opinion, the Internet is “the best” way to be well informed. Howover, we must be wise in using the Internet, not only in term of time consuming for internet but also in term of the kind of information that we can get from it.

Do We Need Creativity in Academic Writing?

Writing is one of skills that students must have to be success in academic. It is because academic writing is never “a side-job” for students, particularly students who engage in college. There are many writing tasks such as paper and essay that the lectures used to give to. Moreover, in the final year, students must design thesis before graduating. Therefore, learning academic writing can help students to do their academic obligations. For me, writing, particularly in term of academic, is not easy. It is definitely different from writing in blog as I am used to doing. Yah… I know… I keep struggling on it. For academic writing has some procedures that must be followed by academic writer where it must be well organized and based on evidences, facts, and data, do we need creativity in academic writing? In my opinion, there are some points of creativity that can be develope in academic writing.

Firstly, creativity is needed in organizing data and information. Eventhough creativity in academic writing is not dominant because students have to keep the procedures of academic writing itself, but it can stimulate creativity in some ways. Creative means how to find pattern in abundant data and information, so we can distinguish ‘signal’ from ‘noise’ that it can provide solutions to the problems.

Secondly, creativity is needed in elaborating rigorous explanations in communicating data and information. The formality in academic writing may be exhausting for some academic writers, but it generate several positive values including honesty, submissive, criticism, and curiousity. Overall, these values play important parts in a process of knowledge building writer’s while continuely lead to respecting nature and fellow human beings.

Thirdly, creativity is needed in selecting words, phrases and sentences used so writing has effective and efficient sentences. This includes how to link words, phrases and sentences as succint as possible so there is brevity and clarity sentences with no waste words.

In conclusion, though it is not that simple to write, particularly in academic writing, I believe that writing skill can be learned by practice. The more students take writing practice, the more writing skill that student can get. Therefore, writing should be supported as a positive habit in daily activities.