I was a high school English and French teacher for about seven years. I’ve since left the classroom. People occasionally ask me, “What do you miss about teaching?” You might think it was the excitement of the first day of school. Or the resolution and freedom of the last day of school. Or maybe free …
Although I love challenges, new experiences frighten me. I wanted to run away from just about every new experience in graduate school that threatened to challenge me personally, to force me out of my comfort zone. Class assignments and discussions were typically no problem. However, there came a time when graduate classes ended, and the next …
When I was working on my dissertation, my university hosted its first Three-Minute Thesis competition. Created by the University of Queensland, the premise of the competition is simple: 1 dissertation explained in 3 minutes with 1 presentation slide. My research focused on how high school English teachers teach African American/Black literature, and I had to …
You need at least 5 pages for your class essay. And that, unfortunately, doesn’t include the title page or references.You’ve stretched your wording, using phrases like “can be beneficial to” in place of “can benefit, and have even included the long titles of your sources in your paragraphs. But you’re still short a page. So …
As a professional writing consultant at North Carolina Central University, I occasionally meet undergrads in the beginning stages of applying to graduate school. When they come to the Writing Studio, they want help for that all important document: the personal statement, or statement of purpose. Because the personal statement is a new type of document …
When finishing essays, I used to hit the Enter key on my keyboard to move to the next page, usually for references or works cited. I would hit that button several times. Like Enter, Enter, Enter, Enter, Enter, Enter, Enter, Enter, ad nauseam. Surely, I’m not the only one who used to do this. Right? …
The first thing that pops into my mind for your question is this: read. Here’s why. Reading exposes you to either various ways of writing or that one goal you’re seeking in your own writing. For instance, let’s say that I want to write clearer and powerful sentences. The writing of James Baldwin might be …
My writing is horrible! How do I get better at grammar and sentence structure? Read More »
As a graduate student, you have likely spent years honing your research skills and learning to communicate your ideas effectively. However, writing with confidence and finding your unique voice can be a challenge, especially when you are expected to conform to certain academic conventions and standards. But finding your voice and writing with confidence is …
I’m a graduate student. How do I write with more confidence and voice? Read More »
Congratulations on reaching the point in your writing where you’re ready for an editor or writing consultant. Either you or your advisor knows that you need one, but you have no idea how to hire one. Keep reading to learn what to consider and what questions to ask when looking for an editor for your dissertation or other piece of academic writing.
What’s in it for you? **This content comes from my self-paced, 1-hr writing course geared towards academic writing. Learn more about the full course here. One of the most impactful understandings about writing your dissertation or a scholarly journal article is that it’s not only what you write that matters—the content—but also how you write …
