How to write academically or How a PhD is like The Big Bang Theory. Start as Penny, draft as Leonard, publish as Sheldon. A gross oversimplification of academic writing, but a handy reminder.

1. How to write academically
or
How a PhD is like
Jodie Martin
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Twitter.com/jodie__martin
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2. You start off thinking and talking
like Penny.
You know what you know, you
have a vague idea of what you
don’t know, but you’re okay with
that.

3. All PhD students sound (and
frequently look) like Sheldon to you
and you think if you get a PhD then
that’s what you’ll sound like, though
you swear never to wear plaid
trousers.

4. Then you start to learn things but
you also learn how much you don’t
know. So you start talking like
Leonard. Every statement comes
out as a question. And you can’t
write a single sentence without
adding “possibly” or “could be
argued”.

5. The problem is every academic
article and thesis reads as if it is
written by Sheldon – confident,
immovable and completely
convinced of its own genius.

6. But in reality a lot of us are just
Leonard mimicking Sheldon.

7. So the key to write academically is very simple.

8. Step 1: Write like Leonard speaks.
Include “arguably”, “potentially”
and “theoretically” if it makes you
feel better.

9. Step 2: Take out the phrases
Leonard had you add: “debatably”,
“it is possible” and “it might be
seen”. Pretend you are Sheldon. Be
convincing and confident. But
don’t wear plaid trousers.

10. The End.
Jodie Martin
Slideshare.net/jayelem
Twitter.com/jodie__martin
About.me/jodiemartin