Age of Enlightenment and Rules of Academic Writing

During the age of enlightenment people began to receive more education. Their new found education allowed for independent thinking and lead to the re-evaluation of the world around them. As people began to think for themselves the belief arose that one should know things for certain instead of believing what others tell them. The age of enlightenment became, “an age of reason based on faith, not an age of faith based on reason” (Rempel, 2007).

People soon began questioning things. They used their knowledge to make better political, religious, and moral decision. Today we study the authors of that time to gain insight to how the thoughts and beliefs of people changed during that time.

The authors encouraged independent thought, but they did so inside the rules of academic writing. Their decision to follow the rules has made it easier for us to study their work today.

It is just as important to follow the rules of academic writing today as it was during the age of enlightenment. Following rules ensures that writings will be understood and therefore interpreted as the author intended. It guarantees an author is not plagiarized, helps to establish credibility, and lets an audience use resources and fact to make educated decisions on their own. As the authors of the age of enlightenment would agree, people should make their own decision instead of just believing what others tell them; they are better able to do this when the rules of academic writing are followed.

Sources:

Rempel, Gerhard (2007). Western New England College. Retrieved November 2, 2007 from: Collegehttp://mars.wnec.edu/~grempel/courses/wc2/lectures/enlightenment.html

http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets.shtml