Peer Responses
Responding to Michelle Cox
Hello Michelle,
I comprehend your sentiments regarding the struggle of writing, particularly in bridging the gap from copywriting and creative writing to academic writing. It is motivating how you are applying critical thinking in overcoming those struggles and accepting the learning process. An example of academic writing that fits your definition is the article “Bridging the Gap between Research and Practice in Human Services” by Akintola et al. (2024): Peer Responses.
The article employs evidence-based facts to explain gaps in services, contains a clear argument, and presents up-to-date research to substantiate points that capture the most significant aspects of academic writing that you identified. I believe that concentrating on the fundamentals of academic writing will also make you present your arguments more logically and persuasively.
To improve, I suggest beginning by breaking your writing process into tiny steps, including how to search for evidence and then constructing your argument. This can break down the overwhelming task of writing a large project into manageable steps. In addition, persistence is the key, and your passion for critical thinking will certainly bring you to victory.
References
Akintola, A., Newbury-Birch, D., & Kilinc, S. (2024). Bridging the gap between research evidence and its implementation in public health practice: case studies of embedded research model. BMC Public Health, 24(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-18727-z
Responding to Sherri Hicks
Hello Sherri,
It is great to learn about your extensive experience and commitment to helping people solve their issues. I especially appreciated your comment regarding discovering your clinical academic voice. Academic writing, especially in clinical disciplines, can sometimes seem like a balancing act between practice persona and scholarly rigor. The article “Evidence-Based Practices in Mental Health: From Theory to Practice” by Alowais et al. (2023) is one example that meets your criteria for scholarly writing—it is evidence-based, examines data, and speaks to practical application without using guesswork.
This article is exemplary in the way it presents evidence-based information and stays in a scholarly voice, making it a great resource for anyone individuals seeking to develop their clinical writing voice. To add on, academic writing for mental health is often required to be empathetic, and this can assist in linking the information to practice experience.
A helpful method of finding your academic voice is to pay attention to how other authors within your field write—observing how they balance personal observation and evidence and then trying to apply the same methods to your own writing. This will allow you to find a way of talking about your professional practice within an academic context.
References
Alowais, S. A., Alghamdi, S. S., Alsuhebany, N., Alqahtani, T., Alshaya, A., Almohareb, S. N., Aldairem, A., Alrashed, M., Saleh, K. B., Badreldin, H. A., Yami, A., Harbi, S. A., & Albekairy, A. M. (2023). Revolutionizing healthcare: The role of artificial intelligence in clinical practice. BMC Medical Education, 23(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04698-z
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Question 
By Day 6
Respond to at least two colleagues by doing one of the following:
- Connect on a personal level with your colleague’s introduction
- Provide an example that fits their definition of scholarly writing and explain why
- Offer a specific resource, strategy, or tip to help with their improvement area
- If you struggle in their area of confidence, describe what you find challenging and ask them for advice
- Please respond to two students
Topic: Week 1: Discussion
Michelle Cox
Greetings!
Admittedly, when I discovered I needed to complete this class, I felt like a failure because writing is a challenge for me, and it takes time to settle and focus on the topic. Although I have experience in creative writing and copywriting, my writing lacked academic presentation and cohesion. This belief system prevented me from pursuing further education beyond a Master’s degree. However, as I advanced in my professional experience, I realized I excelled in critical thought, and my desire to bridge gaps in services outweighed my fear of writing.
I am confident that my husband and children would disagree with my self-assessment, as they are my most ardent supporters in the pursuit of my passions. With their encouragement and the guidance of effective leaders, I am seizing the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the field of human services. I also anticipate that this writing journey will present challenges, as I will be asked to step beyond my comfort zone to grow dynamically as a scholarly writer.
Scholarly writing, or academic writing, is not just the act of writing with precision but also entails reading current information about a specific problem and analyzing the data presented. Additionally, academic writing requires critical thought to observe gaps within research and uses evidence-based data to articulate a clear and concise argument within the scholarly community (Walden University, LLC, n.d.-e).
This course, along with others, will shape my voice as a scholar. While critical thought may be a strength, I look forward to honing this skill on paper for presentation in the classroom and within my field. This will require support in learning how to synthesize material, use effective transitions, and present a sound position that articulates a strong argument.
Respectfully,
Michelle
Sherri Hicks
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over a decade of experience in the behavioral health field. Throughout my career, I have worked in various roles, supporting individuals and families through complex challenges, including trauma, mental health disorders, and crisis intervention. My approach is rooted in compassion, evidencebased practices, and a deep commitment to helping others navigate their healing journeys.
In addition to my clinical work, I am passionate about education, advocacy, and mentorship within the field of mental health. I strive to create a supportive and empowering environment for those I work with, fostering resilience and personal growth.
Throughout my life, I have valued education and the pursuit of knowledge, qualities that align with the essence of an academic scholar. Scholarly writing includes evidence and analysis of the material rather than opinions and conjectures. My struggle comes from finding my clinical academic voice rather than writing the way I speak. I’ve received helpful feedback from professors in the past about this weakness and I’m looking forward to strengthening my skills in this area.
Walden University Writing Center. (n.d.-b). Crash course in scholarly writing: https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/scholarly#s-lg-box-
12309935Links to an external site. .
Peer Responses
Sharalyn Vester
SV My name is Sharalyn Vester. I have been married to my husband for almost 22 years. We have a 21-year-old son and 19-year-old daughter. We also have a 19-year-old daughter-in-law and a 20-year-old future son-in-law. Our son and his wife have been married for 2 years, and they just blessed us with our first grandchild on January 25.
When my children were growing up, my mom often said she would have if she could have her grandchildren first. Now that I have my grandson, I completely understand what she meant. I am so in love with the little guy. In addition to being a daughter, wife, mother, and grandmother, I am also a Licensed Mental Health Counselor.
I am a Clinical Director for a commitment facility with the Department of Juvenile Justice in Tampa, Florida. I love the population I work with, and I am excited to see how my education at Walden will assist with the forward momentum of treatment with this population.
I define scholarly writing as an article, essay, or report to apprise the reader of information needed to learn something new. Walden University states that the four areas of scholarly writing include the following: argument, evidence, paragraphs, and voice (Walden University, 2022).
The one area in which I am confident is being a critical thinker. I have an innate ability to see the gaps or missing pieces. A skill I would like to improve upon is being a contributor.
When conducting original research, I don’t know where to start. I know what area I want to research for my dissertation but don’t know how to begin.
Walden University Writing Center. (n.d.-b). Crash course in scholarly writing: https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/scholarly#s-lg-box-
12309935 .
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