Academic writing is notoriously dull.
~WD
Which is a shame, because you can be sure that there’s passionate knowledge underneath that pocket protector somewhere. However, there’s a difference between mind-numbingly boring writing, and writing that respects both academic standards and basic human expectations.
What do you mean?
What basic human expectations, you may well ask? Well, the basic human expectation that if we’re supposed to actually read something, it had better be readable.
Note: I’m bracing myself to be blasted with tens of reasons why academic writing simply has to be dull. Point taken in advance. But here’s what I know; take it or leave it.
Although we want our writing to actually get read, academic writing IS restrictive. That is, you can’t just write it like you would write a short story or poem. So, let me get specific with three ways you can start casing the academic writing game and increasing your chances of making the grade (or squeaking through IRB):
1. Loaded terms are frowned upon in this establishment.
I’m afraid you simply cannot write a sentence such as this:
“Claus and Claus’s study of elf work ethic demonstrated that the nasty little creatures won’t keep their nose to the grind-stone unless they are motivated by copious quantities of peppermint” (2013).
(Although I admit, it sounds like a much more interesting academic paper than most I’ve come across.)
In contrast, you COULD write the following, and no self-respecting academic would bat an eye:
“Claus and Claus’s study of work ethic among North Pole residents of diminutive stature suggests that extrinsic motivational elements are most effective in yielding desirable labor outcomes” (2013).
See what I mean? And that first point flows conveniently into the second.
2. Consistency is key in academic writing.
In general, I agree with Emerson that “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.” However, when it comes to academic writing, consistency is a smart move, not a foolish one.
That is, if you decide that “extrinsic motivational elements” is your phrase of choice, then you pretty much have to use that exact phrase. Every. Single. Time. Forget about being creative, because your academic advisors will kick back your fun synonyms—e.g., “carrot-on-a-stick” and “bonuses”—, and will tell you to be consistent with your language. Pity, because I quite like “Pavlov’s bell.”
And while I’m sucking the fun out of writing your dissertation or thesis (because it was a real hoot up until you started reading this post), there’s one final nail to drive into the coffin of your creativity.
3. Passion is all very good, but—tosh, tosh—facts are the thing.
If you read the previous sentence with an uppity English accent, while peering through your monocle, then you are my tribe. If you go back and do it again, we are fast friends.
~WD
Ah, passion! You simply must have it, or you will never complete your degree, but when it comes to writing, you have to temper your passion for your subject.
Let’s put it this way. Navigating academia is a game (if you don’t think so, you were probably born into academia, in which case you don’t need this article anyhow, and I suggest you take a look at this one instead). To win the game is to earn the coveted prize of club membership, and to do that, you have to play by the rules.
“The Rules of Academic Writing”
- You’re only allowed to be passionate about established facts, and
- Only after you’ve done the following:
- supported those established facts,
- contributed something new of your own, and
- been published.
You may have heard of the famous poet named e e cummings, who wrote his name just like that, without proper capital letters. Many years ago, I complained to my high school English teacher about it. She pointed out that Mr. cummings (not sure if the Mr. should be capitalized, come to think of it) earned the right to do what he wanted by becoming a world-renowned, if somewhat quirky, poetic genius.
The takeaway? If you would like to write your name in lowercase letters, wear white sport socks in your sandals or write a passionate manifesto based on your research, I suppose you will have to earn that right. Fortunately, the good thing about passion is that it will keep.
In conclusion, I admit that a single blog post cannot possible hope to equip you with all the tools you need to write successfully for academia. However, if you take away just one thing, I’m calling that a success.
For more encouragement and advice on academic writing, check out my other blog posts, starting with Take a Deep Breath: Academic Writing Is a Learnable Skill! Feel free to comment or share!
~WD
