June 28…Back to Becker and Writing
How does Becker’s book match
up to your expectations for a book claiming to teach you how to: “start and
finish your thesis, book, or article?” Keep in mind that in spite of this
negative-seeming prompt that I find the book to be worthwhile enough to assign
it!
Ashlee Lester:
ReplyDeleteNot going to lie, Becker's book is not at all what I expected when I approached a book that was going to teach me how to write an article or thesis. I anticipated a book that thoroughly discussed each of the chapters of the dissertation, sections of the article, etc. However, I have been pleasantly surprised by Becker's discussion of writing. An easy and enjoyable read, Becker emphasizes the messy and iterative process of writing. He acknowledges, unlike any other author I’ve read, the emotional and personal level of writing that we all experience. In this way, I appreciate the steps that Becker takes to normalize the graduate student experience with writing and demystify academic writing. So often I find myself fawning over the writing of well-established tenured faculty without considering their potential struggles and triumphs with writing that article. I believe the largest value in Becker's book comes from the honest and vulnerable discussion of the writing process of a well-established research faculty member.
Despite the strengths of this book, one issue I find with Becker's discussion on writing is the subjective nature of it. For example, I struggled with his chapter on editing writing because I walked away feeling that if I’ve edited correctly then it will just "sound right." I appreciate his underlying idea that there is no fool proof way to writing a great article, but still wish there would be more explicit direction given with an eye to graduate student writing directly.
Josh here:
ReplyDeleteOverall, I found aspects of Becker appealing and approachable, and others not very well grounded. I enjoyed the casual style of the writing and the way that he talked about his own process and experiences to demystify some of the neurotic baggage that writing often carries. The book is full of practical ideas and ways to conceptualize writing that would certainly be beneficial in a writing project of significance. On the other hand, I'm not sure it has quite enough structure in some aspects to completely prepare you for the process of writing a dissertation or competitive article. There are also some parts of the book where his preference for a certain style of writing and discipline seem to narrow his description of 'what writing should be' a bit too much.
Shannon
DeleteThis is very much where I sit in regards to Becker, too. While I like that the book is reassuring in many ways, particularly in the beginning, I almost feel like it says too much and too little at the same time. Practically speaking, in terms of general advice to new graduate students, the book's topics could be covered in a single article or blog post. But to really dig into some of what is covered, you really need a whole other text. Perhaps that's the trouble with trying to cover such a broad subject in a single book; it didn't quite feel like the depth or breadth worked.
Melissa L.
ReplyDeleteI had expected the book to be more technical – somewhat like the APA Manual but less..manual-ly. I’m glad that this is not the case. Becker does not exactly prescribe a specific way of writing, but I appreciated how he talks about a lot of nuances about writing. There were various things that he pointed out in the book that I had never consciously thought about, some that are habits I’ve outgrown (the pathological need to sound sophisticated and backfiring on me spectacularly), and some are habits I’ve picked up along the way (editing my own work). These are things I thought I needed to (not) do, but it never really occurred to me why. So those two chapters were a good reflexive exercise.
I agree with Josh and Ashlee that his style of writing is very approachable and makes for an easy read. It is always nice to know that someone who already has his PhD also struggles with writing from time to time.
(Incidentally, I’m also more self-conscious about using metaphors in my writing!)
Jen G.
ReplyDeleteBefore starting this class I read “How to Write a Lot” which was recommended in 702 by Dr. Phillipsen. That book was also a quick and easy read in which the author used humor and personable experiences like Becker in Writing for the Social Sciences. What I learned from both books really complimented each other. As we kind of have touched on in class, we have sometimes asked is Becker able to offer this advice because he is a seasoned academic and respectable in the field? Or can we really try and work to simplify how we approach academic writing? I really have found this book to to be a breath of fresh air at times making the profession seem less daunting and the “learning how to write process” has been easier to read than an APA book in what a structured thesis or dissertation paper “looks” like rather than the messy process it takes to accomplish it.
Melissa Cuba
ReplyDeleteBecker provides some useful ideas on how to approach writing for academia and targets specific difficulties students may have. The tone of the book encourages patience and persistence with developing the skill of academic writing while emphasizing the importance of making it a habitual practice. While I appreciate the simplicity of Becker’s language and style, I am not convinced it actually taught me what it claimed to. His perspective on writing was based on his experiences, but he neglects to consider others’. His book lacked structure and at times his writing was long-winded, which is why I can only say I benefited from some of his isolated tips on how to approach the foibles and social structures of academic writing.
Hannah
ReplyDeleteI appreciate Becker's informal approach to writing. He doesn't judge, and tries his best to make the reader feel at ease about their current level of writing. As I read the book, I felt that he continued to ensure me (the reader) that any apprehension I had towards writing was understandable and that he was there to help. His transparency with his (and his colleagues') struggles with writing seemed to provide a realistic insight into academic writing--that the scholars we read are not all natural writers, and that we all need a little help now and again.
Morgan L. DeBusk-Lane
ReplyDeleteTo use a counter argumentative approach, I view Becker’s take as but another tool in the toolbox (see what I did there??).
I have half a book shelf with books on writing, style, finishing a thesis, etc. that I’ve viewed the same way. I think it is the sum of these parts and experiences with each that will collectively support my take at writing a dissertation. I do no think Becker’s take completely encompassed all that I expected, if I actually expected it to teach me how to “start and finish your thesis, book, or article”—I did not. It was beneficial, provided insight on the mental game involved and provided me room to argue for style as opposed to parsimony in writing. In that regard, it made me reflect on my view of style, its place in academic writing, and the consequences therein.
The struggle with writing, at least from my view, is ubiquitous in academia. There are, at least from those that have written about it, common trends that aid in its process and success, just as there are commonalities of things that do not. There is no simple answer, no simple recipe, but a great amount of ideas that, though often counter, can provide pieces to each of our own writing toolboxes. It just takes effort, and in my case a lot of it, to write well and feel as if I write well.
Michael Here:
ReplyDeleteAs a book about the art of writing, and I have read a few; it is right in line with other postmodern/post-structuralist books on writing I have read. Many profess a dynamic view of writing, which in my opinion is right on. I was hoping for a structured way in which to tackle the writing of social science articles, since that is what it seems our job (if we go into the academy) will require. But I also realized like anything else, the writing you need to perform for any journal should replicate whatever else has already been published within that journal. Becker does a good job at talking about the mental intricacies of writing. There is not enough discussion of the anxieties found in putting words on paper for others to read; I found this consoling and as a reminder writing is a process involving multiple iterations and people.
I appreciate Becker's less formal approach to the writing process. It touched more on the feelings about the process of writing, which I find refreshing since we are bombarded with technical requirements and what is considered correct form. While Becker did provide guidance regarding practical writing, I used the text as more of a tool on how to approach writing in general.
ReplyDeleteI realize that, like many scholarly writers, Becker is allowed to share writing tips in a personable manner. This seems to reflect many of the conversations revolving around the idea that it is only when accomplished that a scholar is allowed to be him/herself (in their writing) rather than an academic elitist - that is something I find disappointing, which I have maintained over the course of the summer semester. My hope is to stay true to my preferred writing style, which is in a manner that is sophisticated and scholarly, yet easy to read to multiple audiences.
It was not at all what I was expecting. Most things that have prompted a "how - to" title have been some what dry in the verbiage. I actually enjoyed reading this perspective since it was easy to read and provided personal experience and professional expertise.
ReplyDeleteJen U -
ReplyDeleteI was pleasantly surprised at the practicality of Becker's book. He brought a fresh approach that I had not experienced before when he was honest and up front about writing anxieties. He talked not only about graduate student writing anxiety, but also put it in context of professors and scholars. He showed that writing is not easy at any career point, and that most professors have figured out the processes and strategies that help them manage writing. Although not all of Becker's strategies are applicable to graduate students (like being able to take years to finish a manuscript), the general reframing of writing expectations does have transferability. Because he "lifted the curtain" of the writing process, graduate students can feel empowered to take more control over their own writing process and not feel they have to live up to a nonexistent ideal.
Virginia here:
ReplyDeleteLike several others have already said, I was pleasantly surprised by Becker’s book. It was easy to read and easy to relate to. I think I was expecting a book with specific writing and grammar rules and this was the opposite to an extent. This book and our conversations have made me think more about how I write and my writing process as a whole. I have applied a few of his guidelines already, like his suggestion for getting started by sitting down and writing whatever comes to mind because it will all be moved around and flushed out later. I like this idea as a way of getting things going and it is how I began my discipline paper. I have also become more aware of my word choice, metaphor usage, and writing for a particular audience. I also think this book creates awareness of the struggles we all go through as writers, which are usually not talked about or seen. Finally, I think this program and this book perhaps have solidified the need for me to be a part of a peer writing group in order to become a better writer and hold myself accountable.
Cassandra
ReplyDeleteI find the book to be helpful. It addresses all of the fears writers have and how to get over those obstacles. This made me think about my writing more holistically and making me a stronger writer. I made myself a checklist to analyze my metaphors, and word choice which is helpful. I think I will keep this book!
I think that the book was great. The most important thing I took away from it was how to deal with my anxiety surrounding writing and to get writing. Becker seems to want to liberate the writer by encouraging the writer to self-allow language that might be considered non-traditional. However, rather than just following Becker's advice it was helpful to look at the prose itself as an example of academic writing.
ReplyDelete