Academic Writing: Workshop for Graduate Students Dr. Darren Lund Faculty of Education Graduate Division of Educational Research March 2007

Free Writing Advice: “Writing is easy. All you do is stare at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead.” - Gene Fowler

Presentation Overview: Burning questions to address? Burning questions to address? Brainstorm: Reasons for writing Brainstorm: Reasons for writing Free advice from a newer faculty member Free advice from a newer faculty member Why is writing so valued in the academy? Why is writing so valued in the academy? General advice for academic writing General advice for academic writing Specific advice for academic writing Specific advice for academic writing Suggestions for publishing your writing Suggestions for publishing your writing A typical publishing experience A typical publishing experience Forms of academic writing Forms of academic writing refereed/non-refereed refereed/non-refereed Other issues Other issues Helpful resources Helpful resources

Brainstorm: Reasons for Writing Personal/Intrinsic: Express yourself Share ideas with others Make sense of the world Fulfill a need to create Academic/Extrinsic: Employment expectation Merit/promotion ($) Service to a profession Share findings with the broader community

On Clarity in Writing: “Complexity and obscurity have professional value… they exclude the outsiders, keep down the competition… Much unclear writing is based on unclear or incomplete thought… It is impossible to be wholly clear on something you do not understand. Clarity thus exposes flaws in thought.” - John Kenneth Galbraith - John Kenneth Galbraith

Why is Writing so Valued in the Academy? It is the currency here… It is the currency here… Tangible evidence of scholarly production Tangible evidence of scholarly production Proof that our work is valued by our peers Proof that our work is valued by our peers Blind peer review means fair adjudication Blind peer review means fair adjudication Shows that a scholar is able to: Shows that a scholar is able to: commit to a task commit to a task follow strict guidelines follow strict guidelines organize thoughts, form an argument organize thoughts, form an argument complete an assignment under a deadline complete an assignment under a deadline Is relatively easy to measure and compare Is relatively easy to measure and compare

General Advice for Academic Writing From the heart: Honour your own voice Honour your own voice Have a passion for your subject matter Have a passion for your subject matter Respect your intended audience Respect your intended audience Create a plan to write that works for you Create a plan to write that works for you From the head: Consider all assignments and written reports as potentially publishable Consider all assignments and written reports as potentially publishable Memorize the APA manual (or purchase EndNote™) Memorize the APA manual (or purchase EndNote™)

On Finding Your Voice: “Find a subject you care about and which in your heart you feel others should care about. It is the genuine caring, and not your games with language, which will be the most compelling and seductive element in your style.” - Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. - Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

Donlevy’s Model of Academic Integrity Actions (what you do) Knowledge (what you think) Values (what you believe) Actions (what you do)

Specific Advice for Academic Writing Clarity is everything: Have a clear sense of purpose (strong thesis) Have a clear sense of purpose (strong thesis) Know your intended audience in advance Know your intended audience in advance Support every assertion with evidence Support every assertion with evidence Use a variety of solid sources Use a variety of solid sources Don’t say you’ll do it, just do it Don’t say you’ll do it, just do it Show, rather than tell your reader Show, rather than tell your reader Don’t fear the personal Don’t fear the personal Use the active voice Use the active voice Exercise “verbal economy” Exercise “verbal economy”

Advice for Publishing Your Academic Writing Read widely in your subject area Read widely in your subject area Revise writing you have already completed Revise writing you have already completed Select the best publication for your work Select the best publication for your work Consult the “Guidelines for Authors” Consult the “Guidelines for Authors” Query the editor with specific questions Query the editor with specific questions Follow any suggestions you’re offered Follow any suggestions you’re offered Cite work from that journal Cite work from that journal No multiple submissions of one paper No multiple submissions of one paper Prepare for (and learn from) rejection Prepare for (and learn from) rejection

A Typical Publishing Experience Prepare and submit your manuscript Prepare and submit your manuscript Receive evidence of receipt of your paper Receive evidence of receipt of your paper Wait, wait, wait (a few months to years!) Wait, wait, wait (a few months to years!) Receive comments from 2 to 4 reviewers Receive comments from 2 to 4 reviewers Accept Accept Accept with minor revisions Accept with minor revisions Resubmit with major revisions Resubmit with major revisions Reject Reject Revise and resubmit your manuscript Revise and resubmit your manuscript Receive confirmation of publication (date/edition) Receive confirmation of publication (date/edition) Receive “galley proofs” and copyright release forms Receive “galley proofs” and copyright release forms Edit, sign, and return official documents Edit, sign, and return official documents Receive 2 free copies of the journal Receive 2 free copies of the journal

Forms of Academic Writing Refereed: Scholarly journal article Scholarly journal article Book Book Book chapter Book chapter Edited book Edited book Monograph/research report Monograph/research report Published scholarly conference proceedings Published scholarly conference proceedings Juried poetry/creative work Juried poetry/creative work

Forms of Academic Writing, cont’d. Non-Refereed: Invited essay/panel submission Invited essay/panel submission Research report Research report Review essay Review essay Book review Book review Professional journal article Professional journal article Magazine/newspaper article Magazine/newspaper article Non-academic conference proceedings Non-academic conference proceedings Newsletter article Newsletter article Teachers’ guide/manual Teachers’ guide/manual

Other Issues in Academic Writing The value of scholarship applications The value of scholarship applications The value of conference presentations The value of conference presentations The value of writing book reviews The value of writing book reviews Attending journal round-tables (AERA/CSSE) Attending journal round-tables (AERA/CSSE) Publishing your graduate thesis Publishing your graduate thesis Publishing with your supervisor Publishing with your supervisor Joint vs. single authorship Joint vs. single authorship Traditional vs. on-line journals Traditional vs. on-line journals Finding a healthy balance in your career/life Finding a healthy balance in your career/life Others? Others?

Helpful Web Resources: Advice on Academic Writing (U of T): Kevin Schoepp’s APA Interactive Tutorial: Others?

Contact Darren Lund at Tel: Questions?