On 9th February 2025, IIMS College organized a Workshop on Academic Writing for Business students. Ms. Sandhya Thapa, a respected Freelancer, Journalist, Educator, Emcee, and Researcher, led the workshop. The goal of the workshop was to strengthen students’ academic writing skills and help them understand the basics of structured and effective writing. Furthermore, this academic writing session was interactive and practical, focusing on both theory and hands-on activities. 
Understanding the Academic Writing Process
Firstly, Ms. Thapa began the session by explaining the importance of good writing in academics. She broke down the writing process into simple steps. She also encouraged the students to practice writing on selected topics during the session.
Here, she emphasized preliminary activities that are essential before starting to write:
i. Reading for context and understanding
ii. Researching with reliable sources
iii. Knowing grammar rules to avoid basic errors
iv. Preparing a journal or diary to draft thoughts and ideas
Subsequently, she also introduced a Technical Writing Checklist. This helped students understand how to plan and organize their writing. The checklist included:
i. Choosing a topic
ii. Setting a deadline and writing a timeline
iii. Deciding the format (e.g., report, essay)
iv. Using APA style for citations
v. Identifying the target audience (e.g., teacher, evaluator)
Moreover, Ms. Thapa gave a simple example to explain this process:
“If you’re submitting an assignment, make sure you clearly define your topic, know your deadline, set a timeline to complete it, and decide who you are writing for.”
Choosing a Research Method
Another key part of the session focused on content generation methods. She provided options for students to pick from for gathering information and building content. The options included:
i. Watching video content
ii. Conducting an interview (with prepared questions)
iii. Observing a subject or activity
iv. Reading books or articles
v. Conducting a simple survey
This helped students understand that academic writing isn’t just about writing—it’s about collecting, analyzing, and presenting information effectively.
Constructive Feedback and Closing
Throughout the session, Ms. Thapa provided individual feedback on the students’ writing samples. She also shared practical tips to improve clarity, sentence structure, and flow of ideas. Her feedback was thus well-received and appreciated by the students.
After the workshop, the Academic Coordinator of the Business Faculty presented a token of love to Ms. Thapa.
Overall, this workshop served as a foundational step for the Business students in their academic journey. This will contribute to improving their writing skills, better prepare them for assignments, and grow as confident academic writers.