To Revise or Rewrite Anew: That is the Question

Marta Tienda

doi:10.6092/issn.1971-8853/14618

Authors

Marta Tienda Department of Sociology, Princeton University http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9660-8616

Marta Tienda is the Maurice P. During Professor in Demographic Studies and Professor of Sociology and Public Affairs, Emerita, at Princeton University. Her research focuses on the demography of inequality, educational stratification, and international migration. Her current research is based on a diary study of adolescent romantic relationships.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6092/issn.1971-8853/14618

Keywords:

Research question, Peer review, Jargon, Wordiness, Clear ideas

Abstract

I discuss my transition from humanities to social sciences through the lens of academic writing, identifying the propensity of academic scholarship to use unnecessary jargon in lieu of concise prose to convey clearly articulated research questions. Using two recent experiences responding to peer review and one from a term as a journal editor, I highlight the importance of a strong editorial hand in guiding revisions and improving manuscripts.

References

Coleman, J.S. (1993). Comment on Preston and Campbell’s “Differential Fertility and the Distribution of Traits.” American Journal of Sociology, 98(5), 1020–1032. https://doi.org/10.1086/230136

Jencks, C.S., & Peterson P.E. (Eds.) (1991). The Urban Underclass. Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution Press.

Lam, D. (1993). Comment on Preston and Campbell’s “Differential Fertility and the Distribution of Traits.” American Journal of Sociology, 98(5), 1033–1039. https://doi.org/10.1086/230137

McCullough, D. (2002). Interview with NEH chairman Bruce Cole. Humanities, 23(4).

Miller, H. (2004). The Chicago Guide to Writing About Numbers. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.

Preston, S.H., & Campbell, C. (1993a). Differential Fertility and the Distribution of Traits: The Case of I.Q. American Journal of Sociology, 98(5), 997–1019. https://doi.org/10.1086/230135

Preston, S.H., & Campbell. C. (1993b). Reply to Coleman and Lam. American Journal of Sociology, 98(5), 1039–1043. https://doi.org/10.1086/230138

Strunk, Jr., W., & White, E.B. (1972). The Elements of Style (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Macmillan.

Wallace, J. (2014). Writing for Future of Children Readers. [PowerPoint slides] Slidetodoc. https://slidetodoc.com/writing-for-future-of-children-readers-authors-conference/

Whyte, J. (2004). Crimes against Logic: Exposing the Bogus Arguments of politicians, Priests, Journalists, and Other Serial Offenders. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

To Revise or Rewrite Anew: That is the Question

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