Culkin+Journal

11 September 2013: Constructing this repository has been helpful because it forces me to reflect on what resources assist me. For example, the video from Dr. Johnson from Mankato University helped remind me that academic writing is similar to professional writing in that it is concise, logically constructed, and is designed to support an argument or position. Friday, 13 September: I reviewed the APA Style BLOG this morning and added its web link to the home page of this WIKI. The Blog reminded me how to properly cite anthologies. The Blog itself is organized by topic/issue, and it provides user-friendly examples that are easy to apply. Monday, 16 September: I reviewed a text on qualitative dissertations and found it helpful in that it reminded me to organize my effort and clarify my writing. To organize the information I collect, I will continue to use RefWorks as a bibliographic management system. Also, I will use a portable file box with a folder designated for each dissertation chapter. These activities will facilitate my organization. Additionally, I will purchase Strunk & White's (2000) //The Elements of Style// as a reference for all of my writing. Sunday, 22 September: It is interesting that many manuals call for clear, concise writing in the academic arena, but a quick survey of articles published in scholarly periodicals illustrate anything but. Indeed, reality insists that politics play a role in academic writing--like everything else. Who will get published, critiqued, granted, or even honored if they are clear and concise! Friday, 27 September: Dr. Bhattacharya brought up an interesting point about the format of academic writing. Taking a critical theory stance, one could argue that a small group of "elites" govern the "proper" formats for grammar, citations, and typography. For instance, why would the number of spaces between sentences be significant? This discussion has deeper implications for who is most qualified to determine standardized formats and why they should matter. Monday, 14 October: Writing academically can be a curious affair. One must use words precisely, concisely-- Always with an eye to a greater purpose-- To convey meaning, intent, and choice. Friday, 18 October: By discussing the process of the literature review with my classmates, I realize that constructing a methodology to "do" a review of the literature is a critical first step in the dissertation process. It forces you to devise a search plan that includes search terms, inclusion/exclusion criteria, languages, and data sources. An essential tool for documentation and reflection is a research journal. Although a novice, I can see how I will eventually be more confident to 'break free' of the surly bonds and more independently pursue lines of research. Sunday, 27 October: By reading and writing academic products, I realize that practice and persistence are invaluable. Practice allows me to repetitively apply APA rules so that I can readily apply them; persistence means that I must follow through with my writing process to get projects completed on time and/or published. Monday, 11 November: There really is no substitute for clear and concise writing. Conveying concepts in this way employs language as it was intended: as a means to keep humanity networked through communication. Like a photograph, an item of academic writing captures the reality and perspective of a person in a particular time and space. That, in itself, is amazing. This allows us to tap into the greatest minds about any topic at any time.