Chapter 15 The Challenge of Writing Up
Chapter 15
The Challenge of Writing Up
Zina O’Leary
The Challenge
Because your write-up will be a considerable piece of academic work with major consequences attached to its quality, the writing process can be intimidating.
There are, however, practical strategies that can improve the quality of your work and make the task less daunting.
Zina O’Leary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage
Writing as ‘Conversation’
The goal of your write-up is to share your research with others.
Think of your write-up as a communication process or a ‘conversation’ that demands the consideration of your readers.
Zina O’Leary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage
Knowing Your Audience
To write effectively you need to know your audience, including:
• who they are
• what they know
• what they are likely to find useful
• what their expectations are
• and what reactions they may have to your work.
Zina O’Leary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage
The ‘Standard’ Structure
Your write-up can follow a standard structure that generally includes:
3.
4.
1.
2.
5.
introduction literature review methods findings conclusion
Zina O’Leary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage
Alternate Structures
Your write-up can also follow an alternate structure that may better suit a particular projects’ aims and objectives.
While alternate structures can allow for more creative expression, the standard format gives readers what they tend to expect.
Zina O’Leary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage
Write As You Go
Preparing research accounts and deliverables often involves a relatively unpractised from of writing.
So it’s well worth ‘writing as you go’. In fact writing is now commonly recommended as a practice that should be incorporated throughout the research process.
Zina O’Leary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage
Writing as Analysis
Writing itself can be a form of analysis and can be central to the construction and interpretation of meaning.
It can also be instrumental in the development of significant, relevant, logical, and coherent storylines.
Zina O’Leary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage
Your ‘Story’
Your research write-up should unfold as an interesting story.
As the author of that story you need to:
• think of writing as a conversation
• become familiar with the craft
• find a voice
• develop a structure
• create a story line
• make convincing arguments
• get down to the business of writing and rewriting.
Zina O’Leary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage
Writing Purposively
Because each section of your write-up serves a different purpose, the writing required within each section varies.
Overall, however, you will need to write purposively and convincingly.
Zina O’Leary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage
Seeking Feedback
Incorporation of relevant feedback requires both specific and appropriate requests and a willingness to accept, if not welcome, criticality.
Zina O’Leary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage
Drafting and Redrafting
Moving from first to final draft is a multistage process that sees you working systematically through the development of:
• logic and argument
• coherence and consistency
• fluency and readability
• and finally copy editing.
Zina O’Leary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage
Dissemination
The ultimate goal of any research project is to add to a body of knowledge.
Once your project is complete, it’s worth thinking about broader dissemination, including:
• attending conferences
• giving presentations
• and writing/submitting papers.
Zina O’Leary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage
