6 Books to Improve Academic Writing Skills | Used by a Doctor-Researcher
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In this section of the YouTube video titled “6 books to improve academic writing skills | Used by a doctor-researcher,” Dr. Gia shares her experience with six books that have helped her build her academic writing skills. She emphasizes the importance of actively writing and applying lessons, rather than just reading passively. The first book she recommends is “Writing a Journal Article in 12 Weeks” by Wendy Laura Belcher, which is a comprehensive guide that walks readers through the entire writing process. The second book is “Becoming an Academic Writer: 50 Exercises for Productive and Powerful Writing” by Patricia Goodson, which provides 50 writing exercises to help improve craft. The third book, “Story Not Study” by Lorelei Lingard and Christopher Watling, focuses on telling a story instead of just studying writing. The fourth book, “Essentials of Writing Biomedical Research Papers” by Mimi Zeiger, helps build writing skills from the ground up. For those who find the previous books overwhelming, Dr. Gia recommends two smaller books: “How to Write a Lot” by Paul J. Sylvia, which provides practical strategies for writing a lot, and “Writing for Social Sciences: How to Start and Finish Your Thesis, Dissertation, or Grant Proposal” by Cheryl Ball and Elizabeth A. Chesla, which offers guidance on starting and finishing writing projects.
The speaker recommends the book “Writing Tools: 55 Essential Strategies for Every Writer” by Roy Peter Clark. Although it’s not specifically an academic writing book, the speaker appreciates it for its practical strategies presented as writing tools. The author’s aim is to build a community of writers, and each tool comes with a memorable name for easy recall. The speaker personally enjoys the book in both audio and paperback formats, praising the author’s humor in the audio version. To improve writing style using this book, the speaker suggests jumping in and out as needed, trying out each tool, and even imagining the author’s voice while using it. The speaker emphasizes the importance of writing as part of research work and encourages continuous improvement of writing craft.
In summary, Dr. Gia recommends six books to enhance academic writing skills, emphasizing the importance of active writing. Key recommendations include comprehensive guides like “Writing a Journal Article in 12 Weeks” and practical strategy books such as “How to Write a Lot.” Additionally, she highlights “Writing Tools” by Roy Peter Clark for its practical strategies and humor, encouraging writers to continuously improve their craft by actively applying the lessons learned.
