Clear Writing for Crime Researchers: An Interactive Workshop

Session Submission Type: Workshop

Abstract/Description

Has anyone ever told you to stop using passive voice? Has anyone scribbled “awkward,”
“revise,” or “huh?” in the margins of your writing? Do you write long sentences with fancy
words to sound smart, and believe it works? Are you a statistics whiz who thinks that knowing
degrees of freedom is more important than knowing how to write clearly? Is English your first
or second language, but you feel awkward writing in it? Are you interested in getting
published, getting grants, or getting promoted? Does writing make you anxious? If you
answered yes to any of these questions, this workshop is for you. This workshop is a crash
course in how to become a better writer. We cover the fundamentals of good writing,
including the power of small words, short sentences, and active voice. You will learn how to
organize and communicate your ideas in plain English. We will equip you with the skills you
need to teach yourself to become a strong writer. We welcome people of all skill levels.

We are early and late career teachers of writing. Shannon, an assistant professor, teaches
writing workshops for faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate students. John, an
emeritus professor, is the author of Writing with Sweet Clarity (Routledge, 2022) and teaches a
semester-long graduate course on writing.

Sub Unit

• Area XVII. Workshops / Other Workshops

Instructors

• Shannon J. Linning, Simon Fraser University

• John E. Eck, University of Cincinnati