Academic Writing Workshop Part II

1. Academic Writing Workshop Part II Other characteristics of Good Academic Writing

2. James D. Lester- Writing Research Paper a Complete Guide • “Research writing is exact writing, featuring well-planned sentences with proper subordination of minor elements and at the same time employing concrete, specific words.”

3. Research English (Vyhmeister, 2008) • Simple, Concise, Clear

4. If in Doubt Cut it Out

5. Research EnglishNancy Vyhmeister- Quality Research Papers: For Students of Religion and Theology • Simple, Concise, Clear • Impersonal Language

6. Impersonal Language • Academic writing minimizes the importance of “me” and “I.” • Generally speaking the first person singular does not appear in research writing • However, there are times within the Project Dissertation that it is acceptable. When you are writing about your ministerial context it is much better to use the first person than distancing yourself by the use of the third person (“this writer,” “this researcher”).

7. Impersonal Language • It is also permissible when you are writing your narrative of your project. “I instructed the students” • However, to avoid overuse of the first person this sentence can be recast—“Students were instructed.”

8. Research EnglishNancy Vyhmeister- Quality Research Papers: For Students of Religion and Theology • Simple, Concise, Clear • Impersonal Language • As often as possible use the active voice

9. Active Voice • The cake was eaten by the boy. • The boy ate the cake.

10. Research EnglishNancy Vyhmeister- Quality Research Papers: For Students of Religion and Theology • Simple, Concise, Clear • Impersonal Language • As often as possible use the active voice • Research Language is modest and tentative

11. Modest and Tentative • Avoid words such as “all,” “never,” and “none” • Use “some,” “somewhat,” and “often” • Even when you have research to support you, do not over state your case

12. Research EnglishNancy Vyhmeister- Quality Research Papers: For Students of Religion and Theology • Simple, Concise, Clear • Impersonal Language • As often as possible use the active voice • Research Language is modest and tentative • Judicious use of adverbs and adjective

13. Minimize Use of Adverbs and Adjectives • Adverbs like “marvelously” do not fit in research writing • In research language there is no such thing as “an outstanding success”

14. Research EnglishNancy Vyhmeister- Quality Research Papers: For Students of Religion and Theology • Simple, Concise, Clear • Impersonal Language • As often as possible use the active voice • Research Language is modest and tentative • Judicious use of adverbs and adjective • Use more specific nouns and verbs

15. Specific Nouns and Verbs • “Woman” versus “Lady,” “Scholar” • “Go” versus “amble,” “ride,” or “fly”

16. Research EnglishNancy Vyhmeister- Quality Research Papers: For Students of Religion and Theology • Simple, Concise, Clear • Impersonal Language • As often as possible use the active voice • Research Language is modest and tentative • Judicious use of adverbs and adjective • Use more specific nouns and verbs • Avoids repetition

17. Avoids Repetition • Northeast Asian culture is also defined by two defining marks . . . • Contemporary Hispanic worship is understood through a clear understanding of religiosidad popular. An understanding of the popular religiosity begins with an understanding of the broad religious historical context in which . . . • Make good use of the thesaurus

18. Research EnglishNancy Vyhmeister- Quality Research Papers: For Students of Religion and Theology • Simple, Concise, Clear • Impersonal Language • As often as possible use the active voice • Research Language is modest and tentative • Judicious use of adverbs and adjective • Use more specific nouns and verbs • Avoids repetition • Research language is Standard, not colloquial and never slang

19. Simple, Concise, Clear Impersonal Language As often as possible use the active voice Research Language is modest and tentative Judicious use of adverbs and adjective Use more specific nouns and verbs Avoids repetition Research language is Standard, not colloquial and never slang Not sermonic Research EnglishNancy Vyhmeister- Quality Research Papers: For Students of Religion and Theology

20. Not Sermonic • “Souls won to the truth.” Versus “People baptized into the church.” • Research vocabulary is neutral and free of superlative and emotional language • While the sermon becomes effective through delivery, in academic writing what appear on paper must stand on it own without embellishment

21. Simple, Concise, Clear Impersonal Language As often as possible use the active voice Research Language is modest and tentative Judicious use of adverbs and adjective Use more specific nouns and verbs Avoids repetition Research language is Standard, not colloquial and never slang Not sermonic Inclusive language Research EnglishNancy Vyhmeister- Quality Research Papers: For Students of Religion and Theology

22. Inclusive Language • Without syntactical errors- “Everyone did their homework.” • Or excessive use of “he or she” or he/she • Mankind becomes humanity • “he” is changed to “they” or alternates with she • Demonstrate in the overall context of your entire paper

23. Simple, Concise, Clear Impersonal Language As often as possible use the active voice Research Language is modest and tentative Judicious use of adverbs and adjective Use more specific nouns and verbs Avoids repetition Research language is Standard, not colloquial and never slang Not sermonic Inclusive language Carefully crafted Transitions and Introductions Research EnglishNancy Vyhmeister- Quality Research Papers: For Students of Religion and Theology

24. Excellent Writing takes Time and Effort

25. Planning the Writing Process • Plan enough time to complete a section of your paper in one sitting. • Otherwise you will loose feel for where you are going and have to reread your paper before starting again. • It may take any where from 2-5 hours to complete one double-spaced type written page with appropriate in-text referencing • Some day will be better than others • Plan diversions • Have something to do on the days the writing is not coming

26. Planning the Writing Process • When a chapter is completed, allow it to sit for a few days. Then reread it and make the necessary changes • Allow it to sit again for a few days and reread again, and edit • When you believe it is “perfect” send it to your advisor