Scholarly Writing

Why emphasize writing?

I believe that writing is both a form of thinking and a reflection of one's ability to think. This is the reason why I place so much emphasis on excellence in writing in my classes. Though the topics of papers that students write for my classes may not be of publication quality, I expect the content, style, and quality of writing to be publication quality.

But I write newsletters, not journal articles.

I often hear this comment from graduate students, especially those in student affairs. I typically respond with the following analogy. Though I claim to be little more than an amateur, I enjoy playing the saxophone. I especially enjoy improvisational jazz. As I reflect my music instruction, I realize that I was not a disciplined student. I did not want to waste time learning the classics—not even the classics in jazz—I just wanted to play for fun. I now realize that this is the reason that I'm just an amateur. If one wants to be a great jazz musician, one must first master the classics.

The same is true when it comes to writing. Informal writing is like playing jazz, and to do it well, one must first master the classics of scholarly writing. For example, one may get away with breaking many rules of grammar or style when writing informally. Amateur writers do this because they do not know any better, and their writing reflects this fact. Strong writers, those who have mastered scholarly writing, approach informal writing with a grace, style, and even panache. They break rules to add to the rhythm of their work, or to draw attention to specific points. Not only is their work a delight to read, it is a highly effective communication tool.

Still not convinced?

OK, consider this: strong writers are more effective when interviewing for a job. Strong writers have mastered skills in organizing their thoughts. They speak with topic sentences and they support their main ideas; they stay on topic and are more efficient with their time. Strong writers have a more sophisticated vocabulary and more naturally avoid weak words and phrases; they do not stumble over non-inclusive language. Or, to tie this back to my opening argument, strong writers are strong thinkers.