Sometimes, the major aspects of our writing need to be adjusted (content, connections between ideas, coherence, organization, etc.). At other times, the minor things need further polishing (grammar, word choice, phrasing, punctuation, etc.). Whenever graduate students bring their papers to the Graduate Writing Center, we always give students some constructive feedback addressing these sorts of issues. Of course, we at the writing center are all learning the craft ourselves, so our feedback, suggestions, comments, etc., can often be limited in many respects (for example, we come from different disciplines, and the things we each notice will be different). 

Here at the writing center, we see and edit various papers and notice certain writing habits among graduate students. Below, we would like to share some common writing feedback we give students.

A Flow of Thought With Smooth Transitions

One issue we see among many papers is conveying a clear flow of thought. Two or three sentences placed side by side may appear or seem disconnected when reviewing papers. A sense of disconnection between sentences is not a good sign for readers; it can stifle the reading process and negatively impact a reader’s interest and understanding of the content. One way a writer can improve their writing is to ensure each sentence builds upon the preceding sentence. This sounds quite simple and logical, but if we pay attention to our writing, we may notice how we sometimes take “leaps” between our thoughts and forget to incorporate smooth transitions. This being said, it is a good practice to ensure that an entire paragraph flows smoothly from sentence to sentence in one's writing.

Writing and Using Short Sentences

As we read student papers, we sometimes encounter a few long, elaborate sentences. And, many times, these sentences are jam-packed with definitions and descriptions. Because of the length of such sentences, a grammar or basic sentence issue may arise. We usually tell students that writing short and concise sentences is perfectly fine. If you can convey a clear and simple idea with a few words, that can be very helpful for a reader since great ideas can still come with simple and brief language. 

Clear Communication

Many students request that we read their papers to assess whether their work makes sense. Considering the vast number of topics we read at the writing center, there are many ways to promote clarity in your work. We generally read for direct language and active (versus passive) voice. Students can improve the clarity of a seemingly confusing sentence by removing unnecessary qualifiers and intensifiers and replacing these terms with a more context-appropriate adjective, verb, or noun (e.g., from very good to exceptional). Additionally, active voice supports more direct language and requires fewer filler words than passive voice, minimizing confusion.

Reader-Friendly Organization

Clarity and organization interact with each other, so many students who request feedback on clarity may also receive feedback on the organization of their written ideas. As scholars, we aim to communicate our complex ideas as simply and comprehensively as possible. Take this as permission to speak as simply as possible with an intuitive flow of information. To succeed in this, we recommend creating an outline – you can even make one after you’ve written a draft! Before delving into specifics, assess whether your outline builds your topic from a general perspective, providing necessary preliminary definitions and background. For each of your specific points, create them from a general perspective and specify them after the preliminary bases are covered. Read and assess the outline like you are a stranger to your topic.

Last but not least – Formatting

We often notice among papers the many different types of formatting used for small and large written assignments in the introduction. It is incredibly helpful to check in with your professors on how they want the paper formatted early (e.g., name, professor's name, date, class, etc.). We tell students that their TAs will grade all their homework and find it very helpful for you to label your paper with your section number and a page numbering system.

[Image Description: A fox typing away at his desk all day and night.
Caption: Our writing will often require serious labor and revisions.]

Writing is revising. Sometimes, we look at a published article or book and think the writer has some serious talent. But believe it or not, that piece of writing went through endless revisions. Hopefully, these few suggestions can assist you in your revising process. You can always schedule an appointment with us to get feedback. Learn more about the services offered by the Graduate Writing Center here.