Pheelyks,

I know this because in my day job as a research scientist I collaborate on and help write peer-reviewed publications and grant applications (professors in research universities are researchers first, teachers second). As a TA in the US I also graded undergraduate papers.

Some are better than others, but even EFL scientists are not that great at writing (even those that teach). However, because such pieces are collaborative, and because proof-readers are employed by journals, the finished piece, depending on the journal, is usually grammatically correct and typo free. Of course an academic essay should be grammatically correct and typo free, however, the structure and content are what really matters.

FYI I do hold myself to higher standards when I am being paid.

Pheelyks,

If you were criticising something that I considered polished your criticism would have some meaning. As it is I type and I submit, and I really cannot be assed beyond that because there is no one here I am trying to impress.

I write as well as any professor in my field. That is not saying much, but it does mean that I am qualified to write essays that the people grading them consider good.

My point is you do not need to be a professional writer to write at the undergraduate level!

Hi Hillset,

I too have only been in the business a couple of months. I seem to be doing ok and I love writing essays. I just treat it as I would a college assignment, only instead of grades I get money. Reading and answering the question is the key - a great easy is worthless if it does not address or focus on the key issues.

While I do not consider myself a "professional writer", I am confident in my ability to produce high-quality coursework at the undergraduate and master's level. If you can get good grades in undergraduate classes then you should be able to produce what most clients are looking for, so just enjoy it.

If I received unfair fines I would certainly contest them, and discontinue writing for the company if they were not resolved.

I think it is relatively easy to distinguish between poor written language skills and plain sloppiness. However, both would put me off a business. I can be very slack when it comes to proof-reading, but if I am trying to sell myself I would make the effort. It really does not take that much effort to have two or three pairs of eyes comb through a website! You don't need to be a good writer to spot bad writing, but perhaps ESL folks are easy victims here.

Typos are absolutely bad for business, and this is especially so for businesses selling writing services. It looks unprofessional. It is a sign of sloppiness at best and poor language comprehension at worse.

I would not hand that in even if I was desperate, and I certainly would not pay for it.

Am I correct in assuming the bits that are supposed to go between the introduction and conclusion were left out simply to shorten the post here?

I have just started writing for AK and have yet to receive my first payment. In my first month I have completed two briefs on time and am working on two more. Reading these posts has only exasperated my suspicion that I am being taken advantage. Are they trying to extract as much work out of me as they can before my payday? Will I get paid what I am due?

I will have to report back on that one.

I understand that as a business they require timely and quality briefs, and paying people for late and substandard work is not a good business model. I agreed to the terms, but I think it would be better practise simple not pay for late submissions and/or take that writer of the books. I will not continue writing for them if I receive a fine that is greater than what I would have been paid for said piece. My only worry is that I might be fined for work that is not judged by the company to be worth the specified grade, even though it clearly is.

550 for two days work is a pretty good deal in my opinion, especially as I enjoy writing essays. I just don't want to end up doing it for free!

I really could not give a crap what students do with the model answers they buy. However, if their intention was to improve their own ability to get better grades then outlines and writer commentary would better serve them. Likewise, having someone grade the clients own work and providing feedback on how to improve it would more honestly be helping students.

Speaking to AK on the phone they seemed personable enough. I think they could better serve the client and the writer by facilitating more timely communication between the two. If my last piece is not what the client wants it is because I had to take an educated guess, rather than use the clarification that I requested and never received.