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Becoming an Academic Writer
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Becoming an Academic Writer
50 Exercises for Paced, Productive, and Powerful Writing

Third Edition


August 2023 | 272 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
With its friendly, step-by-step format, the Third Edition of Becoming an Academic Writer helps readers improve their writing by engaging in deep, deliberate, and daily practice. Author Patricia Goodson designed this book for anyone in an academic setting who must write to survive, from new graduate students to senior faculty. Featuring 50 exercises, this practical and flexible self-paced guide is organized so readers can either work through the exercises in order, or focus on the specific areas where they need additional practice. The Third Edition features an expanded unit on how to manage the reading required for any writing project – a strategy to help writers avoid getting bogged down in this crucial step. Updated material, alongside testimonials from students and readers, new appendices on topics such as processing reviewer feedback, and new “Research Shows” boxes help readers address important hurdles to developing a lower-stress, sustainable writing habit.

 
Chapter 1. Get Ready to Practice
 
Part I. Practice Becoming a Productive Academic Writer
 
Chapter 2. Establish and Maintain the “Write” Habit
 
Chapter 3. Practice Building Academic Vocabulary
 
Chapter 4. Polish the Grammar
 
Chapter 5. Get Feedback
 
Chapter 6. Edit and Proofread
 
Part II. Practice Writing Introductions, Methods, Results/Findings, and Discussions
 
Chapter 7. Exercises for Writing Introductions & Purpose Statements
 
Chapter 8. Exercises for Writing the Methods Section
 
Chapter 9. Exercises for Writing the Results/Findings Section
 
Chapter 10. Exercises for Writing the Discussion or Conclusion Section
 
Chapter 11. Exercise for Writing Abstracts
 
Chapter 12. Reading-&-Writing: How to Stop Making the Literature Review an Excuse For Not Writing

"The major strength of this text are the exercises. The exercises are practical, doable, and relevant to the new, developing, and
experienced writer. They make the often overwhelming task of academic writing, palatable and approachable."

C. Casey Ozaki
University of North Dakota

"I like the way that it sets up students for success if they are patient enough to read carefully and work through the exercises."

Anne Hardgrove
University of Texas at San Antonio

"It has a lot of GREAT writing advice that helps students to break through writing blocks, helps them think through their ideas, and helps
them write about it in a powerful way."

Holly Brewer, Burke Professor of American History
University of Maryland

"Students loved it and found it very useful. Everyone I've recommended it to has found it to be useful."

Brenda C. Barnes, Ph.D.
Allen College

"[This text] encourages the development of identity as a writer and writing as a practice, provides several practical tips and guidance for practices that will develop strengths as a writer, [and] maintains an accessible tone. No one will feel that this book is too lofty for them to use it."

Vanessa Dennen
Florida State University

"The strength of this text is the practical exercises."

Lize A.E. Booysen. Gradute School of Leadership and Change
Antioch University

"The key advice is sound. The collection of other writers' advice is excellent. The author brings together a lot of good advice. I found
myself taking notes from chunks of the book for my lecture discussion."

Joseph Graf
American University

"It is suitable for a flipped teaching approach, [and emphasizes] internalizing the writing process and developing an identity as a
writer."

Charles Duquette
University of Maryland

"Practical, accessible, useful, empathic"

Dr. Amanda O. Latz
Ball State University

Relevance to the module descriptors

Dr Temitayo A. Odewusi
Nursing, Queen Margaret University
January 30, 2024
Key features
NEW TO THIS EDITION:

  • A new chapter on how to manage the reading required for any writing project helps students to not get bogged down in the literature review process before commencing writing.
  • Revised Research Shows boxes help readers address important hurdles with the latest research on writing.
  • New Tips for Diverse Learners sections provide guidance specific to writers to writers from all kinds of backgrounds and with different abilities and experiences.
  • New Appendix on Addressing Reviewer Feedback helps students prepare for and use feedback to improve their writing.
  • Updated Student Testimonials show readers how to best adapt the book and exercises to their personal circumstances.
  • The end-of-book list of tools and resources has been updated to reflect the latest information to best equip readers. 
KEY FEATURES:

  • A focus on practice for improving academic writing helps readers hone their skills and increase their productivity.
  • Exercises tailored to specific segments of academic papers and reports allow readers to easily identify and practice a particular area.
  • Chapter-ending one-page summaries help readers recollect and retain each chapter’s most important elements.
  • Research Shows… boxes highlight research on various facets of academic writing for expanded and enhanced understanding.
  • POWER in Practice boxes include encouraging testimonials by successful academics who have adopted the strategies proposed in the book

For instructors

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