Reflective Summary: Writing a Blog Isn’t Just “Writing Sonething”

Since the second semester, my understanding of Blog assignments has become clearer compared to the first semester. I have come to realise that it is not simply a list of information or an introduction to knowledge, but rather, it involves presenting a point of view on a clear topic, and arguing it by analysing its strengths and weaknesses. The key is to explain “why” you are for or against a certain position, which is the core of blog writing.

The teacher’s feedback helped me a lot, especially in terms of structure and logical argumentation, which gave me a clear direction. At the same time, I also gained a lot from reading my classmates’ blogs, and was inspired by their unique ideas on topic selection and expression. In addition, I have gradually familiarised myself with the format and citation of blog writing, which has paved the way for me to write academic papers later, especially in citation and logical argumentation.

I think Blog writing is actually a kind of training for academic writing. For example, when I write a literature review, I will be more aware of how to find strong supporting materials around a point and make a more rigorous argument. Taking TOD (Transit Oriented Development) as an example, I no longer just explain its concept, but argue why it is suitable for the area and what practical values it has, such as improving transport efficiency, optimising land use, enhancing the vitality of public space, etc., in the context of site selection. In this process, I have summed up a set of clear writing ideas: “Put forward a point of view – Explain the background – Combine with a case – Make an argument”. This is an understanding that I have developed in my continuous practice, and it has also enabled me to really master how to combine the quoted content with my personal viewpoints to serve the argument, rather than just displaying knowledge. This has been an invaluable experience for my subsequent studies and research.