Paragraphs: stepping stones through your argument
Paragraphs are like stepping stones across a river - your reader steps from one paragraph to the next to follow the flow of the argument.
Keep It Simple, Stupid!
It's best to write in a way that is simple, direct and comprehensible, so that your argument shines through.
The joy of sticky notes
Sticky notes can be incredibly helpful for organising your writing.
Getting quality feedback on your work-in-progress
It is vital to get quality feedback on your manuscript by approaching the right person for each aspect of your writing: an expert on the subject to check the content; your supervisor or a colleague to check the argument; a trusted friend with good writing skills to check the grammar and punctuation.
Encapsulate the essence of your argument
It is helpful to get a colleague or fellow student to read through the work to see if the argument is clear.
What’s your investment in your writing?
To find your voice as an author, whether you are writing a thesis or a novel, bring your own subjectivity to your work: the filters that colour everything you think, see, remember and value - and your curiosity. This is your investment in your writing.
Getting ‘distance’ from your writing
Always set aside your writing for at least 24 hours and come back to look at it with fresh eyes.
The role of the protagonist
One of the most successful tools for doctoral students is to envisage the role and nature of the protagonist: that is to say, the character (or discipline; or theory; or interpretive paradigm) that undergoes the most profound change during the course of the work.
To plan or not to plan?
Are you a 'constipated' or a 'splurge' writer? Although there is no right or wrong way to write, if you are embarking on a long piece of work such as a dissertation, it is advisable to devise a tight structure before you start drafting.
Maintaining your focus
If you're struggling to maintain the focus of your argument, get back to basics and identify the main point that will take your reader from a position of open-mindedness towards being full persuaded by your case.