Support thread for students, mature and otherwise...

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fleecy Apr 2014 10:36pm, 7 Apr 2014 15,074 posts	0 fleecy I'm halfway through reading a book called On Writing Well. Old but very inspiring so far. I'm trying to improve my academic writing. I suspect this will take a lonnnng time!
halfpint Apr 2014 7:03am, 8 Apr 2014 17,703 posts	0 halfpint We had a great input on academic writing where they told us if you can't understand a paper it is most likely not because you are not clever enough it will be badly written. I liked that. I sometimes find people write in such an 'intellectual' way it is indecipherable and often wonder what they are hiding. I thought you might all appreciate this: buzzfeed.com I need to add 'frantically trying to cut words because I've gone way over the word count again'.
FreshStart Apr 2014 9:53am, 8 Apr 2014 1,897 posts	0 FreshStart I have reviewed quite a few manuscripts for my supervisor (he is unfortunately the editior of a journal). The standard of academic writing in some of the manuscripts was really poor (made my writing look amazing). I think I ended up rejecting a couple because the English was so poor it made following the 'science' virtually impossible. I phoned my supervisor this morning, apparently I don't need to attend help sessions, I just need to get my arse into gear sigh He has emailed some thoughts on a structure for the chapter I am working on at the moment. Unfortunately his email has just made me feel more
LindsD Apr 2014 10:03am, 8 Apr 2014 1,124 posts	0 LindsD Oh no. He doesn't sound very supportive. Being 'stuck' or overwhelmed is not the same as being lazy. Grrr.... My lady said to try and do some PhD housekeeping so you feel like you are making some progress, if only v small. Also to take some time and look back over what you have achieved in the time you have been doing the PhD. And to have conversations with other academics (but not if that makes you feel inadequate). Hang in there.
LindsD Apr 2014 10:06am, 8 Apr 2014 1,125 posts	0 LindsD I like the essay crises. I never have enough words. And i'll look up the book, Fleecy. I struggle with structure. I think my writing is OK. I also review papers and have the same experience as FS. But I never know what order to organise my thoughts in (terrible sentence, sorry).
LindsD Apr 2014 10:12am, 8 Apr 2014 1,126 posts	0 LindsD Ordered the On Writing Well book. I'm sure it will solve all my problems
Pizza Boy Apr 2014 11:17am, 8 Apr 2014 2,103 posts	0 Pizza Boy Looks though I'll be a long term lurker here! First year at Birmingham. Sometimes i study - currently on a bit of a taper...
timaru Apr 2014 11:22am, 8 Apr 2014 17 posts	0 timaru you have my sympathy Pizza, I was at wolverhampton for 4 years. Mind you the canals are amazing to run on.
Wriggling Snake Apr 2014 11:26am, 8 Apr 2014 6,620 posts	0 Wriggling Snake so are you lot still in bed then?
fleecy Apr 2014 11:29am, 8 Apr 2014 15,076 posts	0 fleecy Piss off WS