Tag Archives: reading

20 reading journal prompts

You’ve decided to keep a reading journal. You have a lovely new notebook. But now you’re just staring at the page. You don’t know how to start. Perhaps you’re wondering how writing in a reading journal might be different to … Continue reading

Posted in academic writing, journaling, reading journal, writing prompts, writing regularly | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

summer reading – or – not all reading is the same

Academics often look forward to doing their own work in summer  – the work they can’t get to during term time. We write bids, papers and books during our <break>. And one of the ways we get ourselves into the … Continue reading

Posted in academic writing, Endnote, note-taking, reading, reading routine, scan-reading | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

idle thoughts while reading? it may be a light bulb moment

Does your mind wander while you’re reading? All the books to read for that pesky literature review and you just can’t focus … Sometimes the havering mind is “the worries”. Worries about how much reading there is and how hard … Continue reading

Posted in academic writing, debates in the field, reading, saturation point, too much reading | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

becoming friends with theory

I’m currently reading some theory that I’ve not read before. It’s in a field associated with mine, but the two areas are rarely brought together. I’m reading because I am wondering whether there is something in this new theoretical resource … Continue reading

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refining your research topic – starting the phd

Where do research topics come from? The research topic you have at the start of your PhD may come from work you did in your Masters. It may come from a professional or policy context, perhaps your own professional work … Continue reading

Posted in academic writing, doctoral research, doctoral researcher, research design, research proposal, research question, research warrant, starting the PhD | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

starting the PhD – digging in to the reading

Most people begin their PhDs by reading. That’s because planned research needs to build on what’s already out there, using what’s been done in order to spell out the expected contribution to knowledge. There are various ways to start getting … Continue reading

Posted in academic writing, literature review, reading, starting the PhD | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

reading! you’re meant to be writing

It might seem strange to be writing about reading during #AcWriMo. But I was reminded, at a recent writing retreat get-together, of the close and symbiotic relationship between writing and reading. One of our group had sent a draft paper … Continue reading

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being ‘critical’ – starting the phd

At the start of the PhD, your supervisor will almost undoubtedly ask you to critically evaluate some literatures. This reading is so that you can prepare a more detailed proposal than you initially submitted. And it you are doing courses … Continue reading

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the reading and writing that no-one sees

We write much more than we ever publish.  A lot of unseen writing is about acquiring the knowledge that we need in order to do the writing that will be made public. We read much more than we cite. A lot of … Continue reading

Posted in academic writing, academic writing as iceberg, Eric Hayot, reading | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

do academic writers love reading?

Often, when I run workshops or give presentations about academic writing, I begin by talking about reading. I ask how many people like reading and how many people like literature work. I ask whether workshop participants read outside of the … Continue reading

Posted in academic writing, Jane Smiley, miley, reading | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments