Sleep on it? (For better writing)

King's College Cambridge: trekearth, pixlr edited

I have new academic advisement work for an experienced, aspiring PhD science student, with essay writing and editing in English. Therefore, I add the following text for review. This was an English textbook for my undergraduate work. Yet another review for this website:

HAIRSTON, MAXINE and RUSZKIEWICZ, JOHN (1991) The Scott, Foresman Handbook For Writers, 2nd Edition, HarperCollins Publishers, New York.

In regard to a secret formula for writing English, effectively, the text opines that 'no such formula exists' (5). I agree, and for example, academic thesis writing differs from academic website writing. The former having far more citations, typically.

However, a process menu (5) is suggested:

Preparing

The desired topic is considered as well as generating ideas. (5).

Example: The problem of evil.

Planning

Organizations of materials, outline, summaries, charts. (5).

Based on both my Canadian and British academic training, in regard to the problem of evil, I could theoretically provide the following within an outline.

Definitions of the problem of evil.
My methodologies and assumptions.
My reasons for writing on the problem of evil.
Atheistic and agnostic views.
Evangelical views.
Reformed views.
Universalistic views.
Eastern religious views.
Survey questions and results.

Incubating

A writer should let ideas 'simmer' (6) with time away from the writing project.

I have to agree that this is essential. I had many thesis assisting ideas while lying in bed and apparently even while asleep, awakening with an idea.

I found that undergraduate and seminary course work often took more hours to complete than did my later theses writing. This was largely because of so many subjects to complete with course work; but thesis only research work was more complicated and required more difficult and complex thoughts. Theses writing requires a level of expertise, course work writing, typically, does not.

Sleep on it, for better writing.

Drafting

The author composes a first draft. (6).

On this point, I likely differ from many writers. One tutor at Trinity Western University suggested that my first Chapter draft be completely covered by outline, as in point by point. I found that the amount of citations, especially with British MPhil and PhD work became far too great for that approach. Instead, I would prepare a rough draft outline and fill in the blanks with ideas and many, many, required citations as a Chapter was completed.

Revising

Review and consider rewriting. (6).

This is inevitable. At times an idea may seem fascinating to pursue, but in the end, according to tutors and my own common sense (!), it may be potentially too controversial to pursue in light of future review at the academic viva (verbal examination). More importantly, with all the citations required, I found that some less than central issues were simply not worth investing in, and were therefore abandoned in the editing and revising process.

In my work on the problem of evil and theodicy, I only briefly discussed eastern concepts within my MPhil thesis degree, and this was in regard to a book review. Eastern religious approaches to the problem of evil, in addition to the work I had to accomplish already, was far too large of a topic to briefly cover, and if my work was judged as insufficient, I could face sanctioning from reviewers, especially with the PhD viva.

Editing and Proofreading

This includes editing and proofreading (6) for review by the degree awarding institution.

As I was a distance learning student, I asked two local ministers with Doctorates to unofficially review my Chapters before I emailed them off to Wales.

The authors state that this is a general outline only. (6). That no pattern works for all writers. (6). I agree with the authors that a general plan (6) needs to be developed. A general system of writing that is academically acceptable for that writing context. PhD thesis writing is a different context than Blogger or website entry writing.