Reflection on Academic Writing - Learning Outcome

My Reflective Learning Experience

This blog documents my personal learning experience from the National Workshop on Academic Writing organized by the Department of English, Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University under the aegis of the Knowledge Consortium of Gujarat.

The workshop followed a detailed six-day schedule from 27 January to 01 February 2026, including plenary sessions, technical lectures, Q&A interactions, and parallel lab sessions on preparing a Digital Resource Hub. Below is my structured reflection strictly aligned with the official schedule.

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Day 1 – 27 January 2026

(New Court Hall & Department of English, MKBU)

Inaugural Session (10:00 AM – 11:00 AM)

The workshop began with a formal inauguration that set the academic tone for the week. The emphasis on balancing Natural Intelligence (NI) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) immediately framed the central concern of the programme.

From the very beginning, I understood that this workshop would not merely focus on writing mechanics but on intellectual responsibility in the AI age.

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Academic Writing and Prompt Engineering – Session 1 & 2

Prof. (Dr.) Paresh Joshi

(11:00 AM – 1:00 PM)

🎥 Session Video: 

What I Learned

These sessions clarified the difference between creative writing and academic writing. Academic writing was described as objective, logical, and evidence-based.

I learned that effective academic writing requires:

• Formal tone

• Clarity and precision

• Logical flow of ideas

• Strong thesis statements

• Responsible claim-making

The introduction to Prompt Engineering was especially significant. Techniques such as zero-shot, few-shot, chain-of-thought, and role-based prompting were demonstrated.

My Learning Outcome

I realized that I must treat AI as a structured assistant, not as an automatic answer provider. This session improved my understanding of how to give precise instructions and maintain originality.

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Academic Writing in English for Advanced Learners – Session 1 & 2

Dr. Kalyan Chattopadhyay

(2:30 PM – 4:45 PM)

🎥 Session Video: 

What I Learned

Dr. Chattopadhyay focused on the core features of academic writing:

• Formality

• Objectivity

• Clarity

• Precision

I learned how to frame research questions and distinguish findings from interpretation. The discussion on hedging strategies and disciplined citation helped me understand how to avoid overstatement.

My Learning Outcome

This session helped me recognize weaknesses in my own writing, particularly vague expressions and insufficient analytical clarity.

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Day 2 – 28 January 2026

(Department of English, MKBU)

Academic Writing in English for Advanced Learners – Session 3 & 4

Dr. Kalyan Chattopadhyay

(10:00 AM – 12:45 PM)

🎥 Session Video: 

What I Learned

These sessions deepened my understanding of:

• Literature review development

• Structured academic arguments

• Appropriate citation practices

• Scholarly voice and authorial positioning

My Learning Outcome

I understood that academic writing is not merely information presentation; it is argument construction supported by evidence.

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Publishing in Indexed Journals – Session 1 & 2

Dr. Clement Ndoricimpa

(2:30 PM – 4:45 PM)

🎥 Session Video: 

What I Learned

I gained clarity about publishing standards in Scopus and Web of Science indexed journals.

The IMRD structure was explained:

• Introduction

• Methodology

• Results

• Discussion

The three-move model for writing introductions was discussed:

1. Establishing research territory

2. Identifying the research gap

3. Occupying the niche

My Learning Outcome

I realized the importance of avoiding unsupported claims. Every argument must be backed by credible references.

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Day 3 – 29 January 2026

Detecting AI Hallucination and Using AI with Integrity – Session 1 & 2

Prof. (Dr.) Nigam Dave

(10:00 AM – 12:45 PM)

🎥 Session Video: 

What I Learned

AI hallucination was defined as factually incorrect yet confidently presented information.

Warning signs included:

• Unverified claims

• Fabricated citations

• Confident but unverifiable prose

My Learning Outcome

This session made me cautious. I understood that verification is essential when using AI tools.

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Publishing in Indexed Journals – Session 3 & 4

Dr. Clement Ndoricimpa

(2:30 PM – 4:45 PM)

🎥 Session Video: 

What I Learned

Further discussion covered:

• Academic vocabulary and coherence

• Plagiarism and integrity

• Reference management using Mendeley

• Citation styles (APA, MLA, Chicago, Vancouver)

My Learning Outcome

I learned that publishing requires methodological rigor and intellectual honesty.

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Day 4 – 30 January 2026

From Classroom to an Academic Career – Sessions 1 to 4

Dr. Kalyani Vallath

(10:00 AM – 12:45 PM & 2:30 PM – 4:45 PM)

🎥 Session Video: 

What I Learned

These sessions connected writing with long-term academic growth. I learned about:

• Growth mindset

• Reverse planning

• Free writing

• Mind mapping

• Conceptual preparation for UGC NET

My Learning Outcome

I began to see writing as a skill developed through disciplined practice rather than talent alone.

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Parallel Lab Sessions – Digital Resource Hub

(10:00 AM – 1:15 PM & 2:30 PM – 5:15 PM)

The lab sessions focused on preparing a Digital Resource Hub for undergraduate students of English Language and Literature at MKBU.

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Day 5 – 31 January 2026

From Classroom to an Academic Career – Sessions 5 to 8

Dr. Kalyani Vallath

🎥 Session Video:

What I Learned

These sessions strengthened my understanding of:

• Academic identity building

• Structured preparation strategies

• Conceptual clarity over memorization

My Learning Outcome

I gained confidence in planning my academic journey systematically.

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Digital Resource Hub Preparation (Parallel Lab Sessions)

The continued lab sessions reinforced collaborative academic content development.

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Day 6 – 01 February 2026

Lab Session – Digital Resource Hub (Session 1 & 2)

(10:00 AM – 5:00 PM)

The final day was entirely devoted to preparing the Digital Resource Hub.