Writing In The Social Sciences

Increasingly, researchers are expected to write in English to reach an international audience. Many feel at a disadvantage to native speakers in getting their work published, even if their command of English is adequate for discussions and informal conversations. This book, specifically designed for the Humanities and Social Sciences, assists new and established scholars in the process of writing and editing English texts. Its objectives are threefold: - to give guidelines for using academic style and language and for writing specific academic genres, such as abstracts, research proposals and especially research articles; - to provide a wide range of vocabulary and grammar resources for practice and consultation; - to teach learners strategies for improving and editing their own writing. Examples and exercises are based on a corpus of academic texts, ensuring relevance and authenticity. The book can be used for self-study as well as in the context of an academic writing course. It can also serve as a reference work to be consulted when writing and editing texts.

Students and researchers all write under pressure, and those pressures—most lamentably, the desire to impress your audience rather than to communicate with them—often lead to pretentious prose, academic posturing, and, not infrequently, writer’s block. Sociologist Howard S. Becker has written the classic book on how to conquer these pressures and simply write. First published nearly twenty years ago, Writing for Social Scientists has become a lifesaver for writers in all fields, from beginning students to published authors. Becker’s message is clear: in order to learn how to write, take a deep breath and then begin writing. Revise. Repeat. It is not always an easy process, as Becker wryly relates. Decades of teaching, researching, and writing have given him plenty of material, and Becker neatly exposes the foibles of academia and its “publish or perish” atmosphere. Wordiness, the passive voice, inserting a “the way in which” when a simple “how” will do—all these mechanisms are a part of the social structure of academic writing. By shrugging off such impediments—or at the very least, putting them aside for a few hours—we can reform our work habits and start writing lucidly without worrying about grades, peer approval, or the “literature.” In this new edition, Becker takes account of major changes in the computer tools available to writers today, and also substantially expands his analysis of how academic institutions create problems for them. As competition in academia grows increasingly heated, Writing for Social Scientists will provide solace to a new generation of frazzled, would-be writers.

Ideal for students new to academic writing, Writing in the Social Sciences, Second Edition, is a clear, step-by-step guide to the entire writing process. Students will learn how to select and research a topic, develop and refine their ideas into a comprehensive outline, and convert the outline into a research paper or book report.

Readers will learn to research and write papers in the social sciences with this thorough and complete guide to research in the social sciences. Part of a series on research writing across the curriculum, RESEARCHING AND WRITING IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES provides discipline-specific guidance and sample papers that assist readers in preparing their own social science papers.

Responding to the growing popularity of the thesis by publication within doctoral education, this book offers practical advice and critical discussion of some of the central choices and challenges that PhD students considering dissertation options face. Drawing on current research and informed by extensive experience of working with and running workshops for PhD candidates who write article-based dissertations, this book gives readers an idea of what writing a thesis by publication entails – what its purpose is, what the various expectations might be for this emerging genre, and what the challenges might be in writing one. Particular emphasis is put on how to put the individual articles together to create a coherent thesis that clarifies the student’s individual original contribution. Written primarily for students, Strategies for Writing a Thesis by Publication in the Social Sciences and Humanities covers key topics such as: how the genre has developed, with an emphasis on the role of the narrative (introductory text) that accompanies the articles typical rhetorical challenges that writers of such dissertations face strategies for handling the writing process specific challenges of demonstrating doctorateness in the thesis by publication and strategies for addressing them institutional variations that the thesis writer should seek clarification on as early as possible structural elements of the narrative and their main functions the range of choices that can be made throughout the doctoral journey and thesis writing. This book is a must-read for PhD candidates and supervisors new to the genre, as well as those involved in directing PhD programmes who are interested in the pedagogical implications of the move towards article-based dissertations. The 'Insider Guides to Success in Academia' offers support and practical advice to doctoral students and early-career researchers. Covering the topics that really matter, but which often get overlooked, this indispensable series provides practical and realistic guidance to address many of the needs and challenges of trying to operate, and remain, in academia. These neat pocket guides fill specific and significant gaps in current literature. Each book offers insider perspectives on the often implicit rules of the game -- the things you need to know but usually aren't told by institutional postgraduate support, researcher development units, or supervisors -- and will address a practical topic that is key to career progression. They are essential reading for doctoral students, early-career researchers, supervisors, mentors, or anyone looking to launch or maintain their career in academia.

Lecturers, why waste time waiting for the post to arrive? Request and receive your e-inspection copy today! Writing good essays can be a real challenge. If you need a helping hand (or simply want to improve your technique) this book sets out proven approaches and techniques which can help everyone write good essays. Extensively revised and updated, this 4th edition includes new material such as: A chapter on essay planning, focusing on literature searching (using online materials), note-taking and formulating an argument A comparison of essay writing to exam writing The use of academic language, vocabulary and register, and its 'accuracy and appropriateness' A new Companion Website providing additional activities, downloads and resources. The authors focus on answering key questions you will face when preparing essays - What do tutors look for when marking my essay? What kind of skills do I need as I progress through my course? How can I avoid inadvertent plagiarism? What are the protocols for referencing? Encapsulated in easy to digest summaries, this edition shows you how to approach different types of essay questions, addresses common worries, and provides extensive use of worked examples including complete essays which are fully analysed and discussed. Visit the Companion Website at www.uk.sagepub.com/redman/ for a range of free support materials! Good Essay Writing is highly recommended for anyone studying social sciences who wants to brush up on their essay writing skills and achieve excellent grades. SAGE Study Skills are essential study guides for students of all levels. From how to write great essays and succeeding at university, to writing your undergraduate dissertation and doing postgraduate research, SAGE Study Skills help you get the best from your time at university. Visit the SAGE Study Skills website for tips, quizzes and videos on study success!

Modern academia is increasingly competitive yet the writing style of social scientists is routinely poor and continues to deteriorate. Are social science postgraduates being taught to write poorly? What conditions adversely affect the way they write? And which linguistic features contribute towards this bad writing? Michael Billig's witty and entertaining book analyses these questions in a quest to pinpoint exactly what is going wrong with the way social scientists write. Using examples from diverse fields such as linguistics, sociology and experimental social psychology, Billig shows how technical terminology is regularly less precise than simpler language. He demonstrates that there are linguistic problems with the noun-based terminology that social scientists habitually use - 'reification' or 'nominalization' rather than the corresponding verbs 'reify' or 'nominalize'. According to Billig, social scientists not only use their terminology to exaggerate and to conceal, but also to promote themselves and their work.

This complete guide to writing in the social sciences is appropriate for freshman composition courses where social sciences writing is emphasized. This complete guide to writing in the social sciences is appropriate for freshman composition courses where social sciences writing is emphasized. It is essential for students in history, sociology, and psychology courses who do a lot of writing.