5 Recommended Resources for Improving Academic Writing Skills
Ever wondered what resources top professionals rely on to hone their academic writing skills? In this post, a Founder and a PhD in Sociology share their go-to tools for mastering the craft. Discover how 'Style: Lessons in Clarity and Grace' can transform your writing and why 'Websites and Books for Academic Writing' is a game-changer. Uncover all five expert recommendations to elevate your academic writing to the next level.
- Style: Lessons in Clarity and Grace
- On Writing Well
- They Say / I Say
- They Say, I Say
- Websites and Books for Academic Writing
Style: Lessons in Clarity and Grace
One resource that has significantly improved my academic writing skills is Style: Lessons in Clarity and Grace by Joseph M. Williams and Joseph Bizup. This book is a masterclass in understanding how to structure complex ideas clearly and persuasively, which is crucial for impactful academic writing. What stood out to me was its emphasis on the reader's perspective. It teaches you how to guide your audience through ideas smoothly by organizing information in a logical flow, avoiding unnecessary jargon, and prioritizing clarity over complexity. These principles have been invaluable, not only in academic contexts but also in crafting business proposals and coaching materials that resonate with clients and stakeholders.
My years of experience, particularly while earning my MBA specializing in finance and conducting my study of 675 entrepreneurs, helped me deeply appreciate the value of clear communication. The insights I learned from the book allowed me to distill complex research findings into accessible formats, which enhanced the impact of my coaching materials and presentations. In one instance, while presenting my findings at a SCORE Broward County event, these skills enabled me to deliver key takeaways with precision, leading to actionable insights for the audience. The clarity in my writing and presentations is consistently cited as a strength, and I attribute much of that to applying the lessons from this book.
On Writing Well
As an SEO specialist and agency owner, one resource that has significantly improved my academic writing skills is "On Writing Well" by William Zinsser. This book isn't just for creative writers-it's a goldmine for anyone looking to improve clarity and precision in their writing, including academic work. Zinsser emphasizes the importance of simplicity, brevity, and strong word choice, which are crucial when explaining complex ideas in a way that's both accessible and engaging. For example, the advice to "strip every sentence to its cleanest components" has helped me craft clearer, more concise reports and articles for both academic and professional audiences.
What I found particularly valuable is how Zinsser tackles the structure and tone of non-fiction writing. He offers practical tips on organizing thoughts logically and avoiding jargon, which is especially important for SEO specialists like me, as we need to write technical yet user-friendly content. For anyone struggling with academic writing, this book teaches you to focus on the audience's needs while maintaining professionalism, making it a must-read resource.
They Say / I Say
One highly recommended resource for improving academic writing is the book "They Say / I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing" by Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein.
Why It's Valuable:
- Focus on Argumentation: The book demystifies academic writing by emphasizing the importance of entering a scholarly conversation. It teaches you how to effectively present your ideas in relation to others' arguments, which is a cornerstone of academic writing.
- Practical Templates: It provides templates for structuring your writing, such as how to introduce quotes, compare viewpoints, or state your thesis. These are particularly helpful for beginners who struggle with the flow of academic writing.
- Accessible Language: The book is straightforward and avoids overly complex language, making it approachable for writers at all levels.
- Examples Across Disciplines: It includes examples from various fields, which helps to illustrate how the concepts apply universally.
Using this resource, you can learn not just what to write but how to write in a way that engages academic audiences, making your work clearer and more persuasive.
They Say, I Say
Personally I'd recommend They Say, I Say by Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein. It's invaluable for academic writing. It teaches structure and clear writing that will elevate you to become a solid academic student or teacher.
Websites and Books for Academic Writing
Academic writing differs from everyday language because it requires you to use a more formal writing style and precise meanings to convey your ideas and arguments. Moreover, it also demands a balance between the adoption of the appropriate technical terms according to your discipline while, as much as possible, avoiding jargon overload so as not to compromise the text flow and comprehension to a broader audience.
Having said that, there are many resources one can use to develop and improve academic writing skills. Among them, the ones that have been more effective to me comprise two websites and a few books as follows:
Websites:
* UEfAP - Using English for Academic Purposes for Students in Higher Education
https://www.uefap.org/
* Academic Phrasebank. University of Manchester
https://www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk/
Books:
* Elison, Carol (2010). McGraw-Hill's Concise Guide to Writing Research Papers. New York, NY: McGraw Hill
* Evans, David; Gruba, Paul and Zobel, Justin (2014). How to Write a Better Thesis. New York, NY: Springer
* Lipson, Charles (2005). How to Write a BA Thesis: a practical guide from your first ideas to your finished paper. Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press
* Don Shiach (2007). How to write essays: A step-by-step guide for all levels, with sample essays. Oxford, UK: How to Books
