Enhancing Academic Writing through Digital Tools: A Systematic Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36312/jolls.v4i4.2342Keywords:
digital tools, academic writing, digital literacy, AI-based writing assistantsAbstract
The integration of digital tools in academic writing has significantly enhanced students' writing proficiency across various educational levels. Tools such as grammar checkers, citation managers, plagiarism detectors, and collaborative platforms help students produce more structured, academically compliant writing. These tools support technical skill development while also increasing educational accessibility, providing students from diverse backgrounds with greater opportunities to improve their writing abilities. AI-based writing assistants, in particular, help reduce grammatical errors and expand vocabulary, while multimodal technologies encourage creativity by enabling students to integrate visual and audio elements into their work. This literature review, using PRISMA and bibliometric analysis, synthesizes studies from 2019 to 2024, examining how digital tools impact writing clarity, adherence to academic standards, and structured argumentation. The review reveals that while digital tools significantly enhance writing skills, their overuse can result in a dependency that impairs the development of critical thinking and creativity—key components of strong writing. The implications of these findings stress the importance of digital literacy training within curricula, ensuring that students use digital tools responsibly and complement their writing skills with analytical and creative thinking. Additionally, professional development for educators is essential, enabling them to guide students in effectively integrating these tools. Ultimately, a balanced approach to digital tool use can enhance academic writing while contributing to the broader goal of fostering well-rounded, digitally literate learners.
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