Writing Like a Scholar

Key elements of scholarly writing:

• Clear and focused thesis statement: Your thesis statement, also referred to as the central argument, should be clearly stated at the beginning of any writing.
• Academic language: Academic language is clear, concise, and typically written in the third person (although there are some types of scholarly writing in the first person I or We, such as scholarly personal narratives and auto-ethnographies). Academic writings should not include colloquialisms or slang unless it is used to exemplify or illustrate how a culture or person communicates specifically. Additionally, while it is common practice to use terminology specific to the field, the use of jargon should be avoided.
• Logical organization and flow: Academic writing should follow a logical structure that includes a clear introduction, a well-developed body with argumentation, and a strong conclusion. You should never introduce new ideas in the conclusion or include information in the body of the paper that deviates from the thesis statement theme or focus.
• Critical analysis: Doctoral-level scholarly writing should not summarize existing information and research; it should provide critical analysis of existing information and identify strengths, risk for bias, and potential gaps in the existing knowledge.
• Credible evidence: Your arguments should be based on reliable sources of information and data, such as empirical research, theories, and peer-reviewed journal articles. Making statements that are not properly supported by evidence weakens your argumentation and compromises your credibility as a scholar.

Two of the most common issues among first-year doctoral students are verbose writing and writing in academese. Verbose writing is writing that uses too many words to express an idea, losing clarity and concision. To be concise means to convey a message in the most effective way possible, using clear academic language. It also means avoiding vague language such as “good” or “bad,” which are context-specific.“Learning academic language is not learning new words to do the same thing that one could have done with other words; it is learning to do new things with language and acquiring new tools for these new purposes” (Nagy & Townsend, 2012, p. 93).

One example of these tools is lexical bundles, which are groups of words commonly found in the academic literature. For example, “the data suggests”, “according to the literature on (subject)”, “given the context of…”. These bundles help to convey meaning in a clear and effective way. Another example of these tools is the use of discipline-specific language, which are terms used within a specific field of study to convey ideas and concepts easily understood by others within the discipline. In social work, some of the commonly used terms are “person in environment”, “interventions”, “assessments”, “home visit”, “home-based” or “agency-based service”, “relational”, “micro, mezzo, macro”, and many more. Using discipline-specific language helps your audience understand your message in an efficient way. Another tool of academic writing is avoiding boosters, which are words that express more absolute views on an issue. Words like “absolutely”, “never”, “always”, “conclusively”, and “certainly” leave very little room to consider opposing views to the argument. Instead, using words like “possibly”, “generally”, “suggests”, “may”, or “often” which are known as hedges, shows that the author is being measured, cautious, and humble in presenting ideas.

Learning to write like a scholar takes practice. You may be a strong writer, but you still need to develop the specific skills needed to become a strong scholarly writer. The best way to learn is to read social work-specific academic papers, like journal articles, and become familiar with the lexical bundles used in them. As you learn, practice writing to ensure that you understand the new terms and bundles you have learned and to assimilate them into your vocabulary.

Consider this passage:

In the contemporary landscape of social work practice, it is imperative to acknowledge the multifaceted and intricate interplay between socio-economic determinants and individual behavioral outcomes. The pervasive influence of systemic inequities necessitates a comprehensive and holistic approach to client intervention strategies, thereby underscoring the pivotal role of evidence-based practices as a foundational mechanism for effectuating meaningful change. Moreover, practitioners are increasingly called upon to engage in reflective and critical analyses of their methodologies, ensuring that the application of theoretical frameworks is not only contextually relevant but also culturally competent. This iterative process of evaluation and adaptation fosters an environment of continuous improvement, thereby enhancing the efficacy of interventions aimed at ameliorating the lived experiences of marginalized populations. Consequently, the integration of interdisciplinary collaboration within the realm of social service delivery emerges as a quintessential element in the pursuit of optimal client outcomes, reinforcing the necessity for ongoing professional development and scholarly engagement in the field.

This is an example of a verbose paragraph filled with academic jargon and boosters. It contains run-on sentences and lacks specificity and clarity. Now let’s take a look at it after some editing, based on the concepts we discussed in this chapter:

Contemporary social work practice recognizes the complex relationship between socio-economic factors and individual behaviors. Systemic inequities require a holistic approach that includes evidence-based client interventions to achieve meaningful outcomes. As practitioners engage in reflective analysis of their methods, they can ensure that the theoretical frameworks they use are both relevant and culturally competent. This analysis encourages continuous improvement of the effectiveness of their interventions aimed at supporting marginalized populations. Additionally, interdisciplinary collaboration can help optimize client outcomes through opportunities for professional development and engagement.

The edited passage is not only more concise but also communicates the main ideas more effectively by avoiding jargon and ambiguity.