Tag Archives: academic writing

Tell me again why I’m writing this?

Lots of people I know – experienced writers and student writers alike – struggle to write meaningful literature reviews. Many of us don’t seem to be quite sure where we’re going or why we’re going there with a lit review. Many of us, in writing a lit review, have heard questions like the following bouncingContinue reading “Tell me again why I’m writing this?”

Time (What to do when you haven’t got any)

Last week’s post was full of magical ideas about words falling out of your mind and onto a blank page, arranging themselves in no particular order until several drafts later, after you, all of your friends, one or two teachers or tutors, and every expert on writing who happens to live in your neighborhood (doesn’tContinue reading “Time (What to do when you haven’t got any)”

Setting Realistic Expectations about Your First Draft

In my work as a writing instructor and tutor, I’ve often been asked simply to sit with a student as he or she drafts a writing assignment. My role in such situations is to provide moral support while simultaneously serving as a sounding board, a dictionary, a thesaurus, a grammar rule book, and a cheerleader.Continue reading “Setting Realistic Expectations about Your First Draft”