Joy de Jong - Effective Strategies for Academic Writing

1.5  Misconceptions to dispel

is about conventions within a discipline. We need mentors and peers to guide us through this discourse, not only to reflect on what our research shows, but also to reflect on how we can present the research in the best way to one or more audiences. So you could: a talk with your supervisors and advisors about plans, outlines, and drafts; b find peer students to discuss your writing with; c find readers who are not directly in your field of study to get feedback about the readability of your drafts;

IV  Writing the text I  Setting the scene III Interlude II  Making a plan

d form or attend a writing support group; e visit a writing tutor at a writing centre.

See also chapter 8 on Getting Feedback.

4 Writing is just hard, rigorous labour This is partly true, but writing becomes easier and more agreeable if you allow yourself to segment the process (see section 1.4) and to write more informally (for fun). So write as much as possible: a try to write every day; b for at least thirty minutes; c preferably concerning your research; d but in an informal way; e like keeping a log.

This will increase the ease with which you write and make you more flexible (Eik-Nes, 2008).

25