Hello colleagues!
What an interesting thread!
: )
I've noticed that some fairly high ranking journals are now explicitly stating in their instructions to authors that they require plain, straightforward language use e.g. 'for an international readership'. Worth having a look.
Similarly, here is a statement issued by the august Spencer Foundation (http://www.spencer.org/) on what it found particularly helpful in its selection of award winning doctoral dissertations. The
statement looks very much like the way things are going - i.e. towards a greater valuing of simple (not simplistic) language to pin down complex information and/or concepts and thinking processes.
The Spencer Foundation
on allocating awards for best dissertation.
“Clarity of Expression
Perhaps more than any other quality, the dissertations the committee identified as exemplary stand out for the clarity with which they were written. Each lays out its argument in plain terms, using technical language as appropriate but without
excessive use of jargon that clouds its meaning. While the ideas are often complex, the language is pointed and concise. From Stephanie Jones' lyrical writing about the lives of poor girls, to Katherine Charron's rich historical analysis, to Andrew Ho's crisp,
plain-spoken explanation of complex measurement issues, each of the award winners communicates effectively with a broad audience of education experts from diverse fields. “
This way of thinking is used in workshops for doctoral writers and
for first year undergraduates at my uni and I imagine a number of others? There are different takes on what being articulate means now. Do you see this change too? Do you welcome it?
Very best wishes,
Theo Gilbert
ps These any use on how this attention to simplicity can be tackled even for extended writing??
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbhobpYyDvg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0KaN0uNheY
Dr Theo Gilbert, SFHEA
Lecturer, CAE; Academic Skills Tutor
School of Humanities
University of Hertfordshire
de Havilland Campus Room R323
College Lane Campus Room 1B152
AL10 9AB
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Hi there everyone,
I wonder whether the desire to write in an easily digestible way isn't hampered at the starting gate by the expectation of editors and reviewers that academic writing is long-winded and "clever"?
We promote that take with excessive word counts ... short pieces of writing can't possibly say sufficient to make a point. Can they?
We try to embed the link between word count and worthiness with our students, too, requiring so-many-words, rather than evidence that outcomes are met.
