The Importance of Reading Aloud: Writing

LAS VEGAS - JANUARY 07: Microsoft Corp. CEO S...
Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Pages sprawl before you, the seemingly infinite collection of words and research. A paper is finished: a tribute to its topic, the answer to a demanding assignment. All criteria was met. All rules were followed. And you’ve crafted a flawless idea that will offer equally flawless praise. Your peers will be impressed; your professor will be pleased. It should be the greatest of rewards… until you mumble through the opening paragraph and find sudden mistakes.

These were not discovered by your computer (or even by own your initial scrutiny). They were instead overlooked and deemed worthy. You’re mildly horrified – knowing they could have been missed, kept within the thesis and weakening its meaning.

Reading academic papers aloud is vital to the process of completing them. Too often are simple errors left inside the text, ignored by tired eyes and restless thoughts. Traditional editing is not enough. It must be replaced to vocals – and the reasons for this are as logical as you strive to be:

One: Reveal mistakes. Your mind is a clever creature, able to automatically seek typos and comma misplacements, correct them as you read. But such corrections can be instinctual rather than recognized. This can allow you to miss possible problems. Speaking the words, however, makes the process more deliberate.

Two: Learn flow. The rhythm of your paper is vital to ensuring the comfort of your audience and the absorption of your thesis. Reading paragraphs aloud helps to find any awkward sentences or structures.

Three: Examination of emphasis. The utilization of italics and underlining techniques is common. It helps to energize points and mark them as important to the reader. When speaking, however, you can discover when these tricks have been overused. You will find yourself exaggerating words too often and this can help to eliminate unneeded emphasis.

Never trust what can be seen. Instead allow yourself to experience what can be repeated. Your writing will improve because of it.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Academic writing, Writing Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Avoiding Bias: Writing

made this myself
Image via Wikipedia

The world of academia is composed of theories and arguments, the search for truth – but such a search can be tainted with unfounded accusations, the lacking concepts. It is all too easy to name mere opinions fact. Personal bias is injected into every notion, every paper, and helps to create the new theses. But there is a fragile line between offering ideas to an audience and claiming those ideas to be accurate.

Writers must be aware of the dangers of relying purely on their preferences. Research is meant to be the definition of any paper – not guesses. All claims must be reasonable and without the inflammatory statements. Achieving this can be difficult, however, for those who are deeply invested within their topics. Their judgment becomes impaired by passion. It is vital therefore that these rules are followed:

One: Avoid sensational words. It’s an expected thing to be enthusiastic about a specific subject or philosophy; but you cannot allow that enthusiasm to slip into your writing. Don’t color words with emotions. Don’t try to scandalize readers. Keep the tone neutral and without prejudice.

Two: Acknowledge opposing facts. You seek to prove a point within your paper. That point cannot be made, however, without referencing the facts that could discredit it. Established theories – even those not approved of by you – must be included to add validity. You must address them first and then counter them with your own concepts.

Three: Don’t simply provide opinions. Unless a paper is meant to be an exercise in possibility, you must be able to support every statement you make. Don’t offer broad phrases or vague explanations. Instead be precise with the truth and what can be verified.

Bias is to be refused in all forms of research. While personal interests (or subsequent loathings) may lead you toward a thesis, they must not shade the writing itself. They must instead be tucked away and replaced to simple logic.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Academic writing, Writing Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Eliminate Unnecessary Words in Your Papers

Textured craft card, in a variety of colours. ...
Image via Wikipedia

Adding “fluff” or unnecessary words is one of the worst things you can do in academic writing and research. Whether you are writing an essay or first person narrative, your paper has a purpose, so make every word count. Your main mission is to captivate your audience and keep them focused on your paper. Being unnecessarily verbose detracts from the main points in your paper, distorts your goals as an author, and reduces clarity throughout the process. There are many ways to increase the effectiveness and accuracy of your work, but the easiest solution is to remove clichés, slang expressions, prepositions, and generalized content.

Chances are if you do not know what a cliché is, you are using them throughout your paper. Clichés are overused phrases that were once popular, but have since become overused. Sometimes clichés represent a stereotype or exaggerate a situation. Rather than using clichés, stretch your creative channels by describing the situation using colorful diction and vivid imagination. Furthermore, clichés detract from the overall literary value of your work and cause the reader to lose focus.

Good writers know the difference between prose and conversation, but many students write as if they are “speaking” the words aloud. A conversational piece should read much differently than how one speaks. Some overly vague and unnecessary words include “so, because, you know, and like” in addition to thousands of other phrases. Replace these words with academic-friendly terms, including “whereas, herein, furthermore, in lieu of, and with regard to.” If the word or phrase does not help define your topic or provide required imagery, replace it with another term.

Creating concise work does not mean you cannot use imagination or creativity – succinct papers are actually more vivid and descriptive than vague works. Ensure each sentence has a purpose and supports or rejects your introduction. The same rules apply when writing emails or other correspondence, so remember to “trim the fat,” which is a cliché, on your next paper.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Academic writing Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Prepare Your Workspace Before Writing

My writing process
Image by claudinec via Flickr

Academic writing and research requires deep concentration and attentiveness, so it is important to prepare your workspace accordingly before beginning the writing process. Since writing is a creative process regardless of the assignment, everyone has his or her own regimen. If you start to write and find yourself distracted with your cell phone or other elements, consider following these guidelines for maximum efficiency. You will be surprised to find out how much time you can save by writing without distraction rather than attempting to multitask.

Most students and professional writers cannot multitask while writing. The more distractions you have, the harder it becomes to focus your attention on the work in front of you. Computers, while essential tools of the trade, are also your worst enemy. Before sitting down to write, close all of your background applications, open programs, and unnecessary websites. Start with a clean slate: you should only have a word processor and web browser open. Avoid checking Facebook or other social media websites.

Whether you are using a laptop or desktop, prepare your workspace by removing everything from your immediate reach. Move your phone across the room and put it on silent – not vibrate, since most young people never turn them off and can “hear” the phone vibrating. If possible, close the door to the room you are in, and turn on the lights. Open a window if it is available and the weather is cooperative, as fresh air is nature’s best feature.

As a basic rule, do not attempt to write sitting on your couch, lying by the pool, or any other leisure – borderline ridiculous – locale. If you do not have a desk, at least position your laptop on a table – writing on your bed is equally distracting. Write from the same location every time, so your body and mind know it is time to work. If you are in a shared living environment, consider going to the library. Before writing, put on a pair of headphones and listen to classical, soothing, or therapeutic melodies.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Academic writing Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Commas, Apostrophes, and Hyphens Oh My!

A normal and an italicized comma in Times New ...
Image via Wikipedia

While we may be living in a content-centric society, do not underestimate the importance of proper punctuation, semantics and syntax in your papers. Academic writing and research requires a high degree of professionalism, so do not under sell your work by using poor punctuation. More importantly, the way in which you utilize punctuation affects your linguistic strategy. Hyphens, commas, and apostrophes all affect the readability of your prose.

Commas

Chances are you have read a sentence in one of your periodicals that made you lose your breath for a second. If not, perhaps you should read more carefully. Sentences are long strings of text, thus you need a marker to signify a pause, or change of thought. Commas help differentiate various parts of a sentence for your readers. Sentences lacking commas are often referred to as run-on sentences, because readers have a difficult time reading the entire clause in one breath.

Apostrophes

Academic discourse frowns upon the use of apostrophes, but there are times where you will need to utilize them in your work. The best example of poor usage of apostrophes are “don’t, I’m, aren’t, etc,” as stating “do not, I am, are not, etc” increases readability and portrays a professional vibe. Apostrophes are also used in the possessive form, as in “the boy’s.” There are many rules for using apostrophes, but following these basic principles clarify your prose.

Hyphens

If hyphens confuse you, know you are not alone! These tiny grammatical elements stir up quite a bit of trouble in the writing community! You can use hyphens to connect two words or numbers, increase clarity, connect prefixes and suffixes, and split words onto the next line. For example, thirty-six, ex-author, T-bone steak, and 45-degree angle are all appropriate uses of hyphens.

The next time you go to submit your prose, take a moment, and review the content for proper syntax and punctuation. Having a well written and grammatically sound paper boosts your chances of success.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Academic writing Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Eliminate Typos by Reading Your Paper Backwards

Delete Icon
Image via Wikipedia

Despite the widespread availability of Spell Check and traditional proofreading techniques, students and writers alike suffer from the occasional typo. Whether it is in your doctoral dissertation or email message to your boss, typos are embarrassing. For example, consider the implications of writing “Director of Pubic Relations” instead of “Public Relations.”

Spell Check Doesn’t Work

The main problem with Spell Check and similar software is that it does not catch unintentional typos. In the example above, both pubic and public are words in the English dictionary. Artificial intelligence has not caught up, so the computer thinks there is a “pubic” relations director in the workforce. One cannot rely on spell check to serve as a virtual proofreader. You would be surprised at how many errors spell check does not correct, especially considering how much students and young professionals rely on the technology.

Quick Proofreading Doesn’t Work

Reading your documents and messages before publishing them was thought to reduce typos, however; a recent study indicates the brain automatically fills in the blanks or gaps in your text. As a writer, you know what the text was supposed to read, which causes you to unintentionally fix typos in your head. Alas, an archaic solution exists that saves you from public humiliation or a poor grade.

Read Your Paper Backwards

When you finish writing your document or prose, navigate to the end of the document and read each word aloud in reverse order. By reading them aloud, the sentences will not make sense, thus you are forced to focus on each word, one at a time. Keep the noise to a minimum though to prevent break room chatter amongst your coworkers. Forcing your brain to compute the meaning of every word reduces or eliminates typos and wrong words (i.e. there instead of their).

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Academic writing, Research Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Automate Your Proofreading Efforts with Grammarly

proofreading.jpg
Image by Terry Freedman via Flickr

Being an effective writer does not necessarily mean you know how to write according to syntax (the traditional rules of grammar). While most journalists identify major issues, such as comma splices and sentence fragments, they rely on their copy editor to catch the minor grammar errors. Freelance writers, students, and other professionals do not necessarily have their own editor, which is where Grammarly (http://www.grammarly.com) fills the void. Reminiscent of your college English professor, Grammarly identifies nearly all grammar and syntax errors ever known.

Grammarly is the star of recent writing news stories, as it is designed with students in mind as their target audience. Ideal for academic writing and research, Grammarly enables someone to copy their text into the web application, press a button, and watch the computer use the traditional “red marker of death” while it identifies problems. Each paper is given a score between 1 and 100, identifies the professionalism of your work in relation to word choice, readability, and grammar.

Grammarly cross checks each paper with hundreds of databases to check the work for plagiarism, similar to how CopyScape works but with increased accuracy. Once the paper is checked for more than 350 potential problems, it is up to the user to make the necessary corrections. Sometimes, Grammarly offers helpful advice or the corrected word (or phrase). Most of the time though, the program highlights the erroneous text, identifies the problem, and explains how to fix it.

Teacher or Copy Editor?

Most importantly, Grammarly does not fix the text for you. While you can recheck the document after the corrections are made, the computer does not solve your grammar flaws. Click on an error, read about the problem, and attempt to remedy the situation. Because Grammarly makes you think – and use your brain – schools and institutions support it. In many ways, Grammarly is your virtual English teacher who grades your papers and provides feedback. In the end, even the best copy editors would not do your dirty work.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Academic writing, Research Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Don’t Forget to Proofread Your Papers

More room for paper!
Image by Scarygami via Flickr

A recent study conducted by an independent research firm finds most undergraduate college students do not proofread and edit their papers. The study reveals an alarming trend, as more professors are finding obvious typos, spelling, and grammar mistakes. When confronted abut the trend, most students admit they usually print out the paper when it is done, without giving it a quick glance.

Coincidentally, most if not all  of the obvious errors could be fixed by quickly reading the paper before sending it to the printer. Students, usually finishing their work at the nick of time, are oblivious to the importance of producing clean work. Programs such as Microsoft Word’s Spell Check do not help matters, because if spell check doesn’t find any errors, the paper is golden.

Sadly, students have yet to learn that Spell Check is not bullet proof, as many obvious errors use correctly spelled words that are not applicable to the situation. For example, the phrase Turn write is spelled correctly, but blatantly wrong. If the student read their work, he or she would see the almost humorous mistake. Younger generations are increasingly reliant on technology, so only time will tell how society responds to our spell-check addicted students.

Fast and Effective Proofreading Technique

Before printing out your paper and shoving it into an unorganized book bag, ask a friend, mentor, or parent to glimpse over your document. You would be surprised how many errors someone else can catch. Your eyes are accustomed to your own work, thus often times not spotting obvious mistakes. Don’t focus on the content, rather identify grammatical and spelling issues.

If someone is not willing to read your work, the next best technique is to finish your paper a day early (which rules out most procrastinators) and let it rest overnight. Read your paper in the morning, fixing any issues you find. You will be pleasantly surprised how a fresh perspective fixes most of the obvious mistakes.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Academic writing, Research Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Paraphrase, Summarize, or Quote?

OpenOffice.org Writer 3.0.0 on Ubuntu 8.10
Image via Wikipedia

When you are writing research papers and academic prose, it is always difficult to determine how you should document and introduce readers to your sources. The sources you utilize during your research is known as supporting evidence, which assists readers when they want to verify or substantiate the claims within your document. Most writers think their works cited page is their saving grace, but more is required for a successful paper.

Paraphrasing

Paraphrasing is the process of reading a section of a primary or secondary source and rephrasing it in your own words. Usually the paraphrased text is more succinct and refined, capturing the writer’s major points or stance on an issue. Paraphrasing also happens to be the easiest way to get caught plagiarizing, because although they are your words, you are using the author’s original ideas. For each passage you paraphrase, you need to cite the author at the end of the section.

Quoting

Many students think quoting is the easiest way to cite your sources because you simply copy and paste the quote into your word processor. More often than not, quoting actually is more difficult, as a good writer must adapt the quote to fit in with the rest of the text. Avoid quoting in your papers, and if you must, limit it to a sentence. Quotes need to be integrated into the work, and cannot be simply inserted. Standalone quotes should encompass a major idea or be substantial to the paper.

Summarizing

Summarizing is the hardest, but most rewarding, method of citing your sources. Since paraphrasing and quoting utilize the author’s ideas, a summary requires the writer to think and analyze the material rather than translate it into their native tongue. Summaries take an entire article or chapter, break down the key points, and provide a shorter and condensed version that reads like your own. Often times students find it easier to paraphrase sections of an article, and then write the summary for the paper.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Academic writing, Research Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Coping with Writers Block

Flock Web Browser Customize Toolbar
Image by naesk via Flickr

Writers block affects thousands of professional authors, freelancers, journalists, and students around the world. The condition, known to cause internal inflictions and late work, is triggered by a variety of outside variables. Your personal life, current assignments, work schedule, and personal health affect how and when you are able to write. You are more likely to experience writers block from not doing the necessary preliminary steps, are bored with the topic, are confused about the directives, anxious, stressed, or self-conscious.

New writers often think they can dive right into an assignment without conducting the proper preliminary investigations. Before writing, you need to familiarize yourself with the topic(s), develop an understanding of your task, and have a solid foundation. A simple, yet effective, trick is to create a brief outline of your paper, do a quick Internet search on the topic, and read an article related to the topic. Now your brain is conditioned and ready to begin writing. This same approach also applies to those who do not understand the topic, but allocate more time to comprehend the subject matter.

If you are bored with the topic, chances are your readers will be too. The best way to remedy the problem is by approaching the paper from a different perspective, preferably one that is less boring. If you are anxious about writing, eliminate as many distractions as possible around your working area. Turn off all of your electronics, close any programs except for a web browser and word processor, and isolate yourself from others. Consider wearing headphones to isolate noise in shared/dorm environments.

If writing stresses you out, the best thing you can do is take a few minutes and get a breath of fresh air, seriously! Consider going for a run or walk beforehand, eating a nutritious snack, and listening to soothing music. Avoid writing when you are tired, allocate enough time to complete the task (read: procrastinators), and constantly tell yourself to relax. Writing is a therapeutic process and should not be a stressful endeavor.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Academic writing, Research Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
Newer Posts »