by Arielle Crumley
As a teaching assistant in the Writing Intensive Program, I am constantly reading student writing. Though it is time consuming work, one of the joys of this opportunity is watching students explore their own thoughts and ideas and communicate them through their writing. For writers, sharing our writing can makes us feel extremely vulnerable because our inner thoughts are physically displayed to the reader, but as a reader, it is so valuable and enlightening to see student writers present their research and ideas confidently while their personalities shine through their words.
Unfortunately, in our standardized education system, many students are led to believe that when it comes to academic work, there is a cookie-cutter “academic” language that should be implemented when sharing their research and ideas. Though it is true that certain disciplines require different approaches to communication, one thing that I find works well for both writer and reader throughout the disciplines is for the writer to communicate with their own “voice.” Discovering and finding your own writer’s voice in an academic setting can be tricky, but once it is found, you will no doubt begin to communicate more effectively, and the reader will make a deeper connection with your writing.
What is a “writer’s voice?” It is not necessarily a writing style, because as writers we often find ourselves changing our style to adapt to different settings. For instance, you will certainly approach creative projects or social media posts with a different style than what you would use when formulating a research paper. However, your writer’s voice will mostly stay constant from one setting to another. Your writer’s voice is, in essence, you. It is your personality bleeding through your words. It is what reminds the reader that the words on the page are you communicating your thoughts. Although this seems like an easy thing to do in a more creative setting where tone and formality are more relaxed, how can you effectively be yourself while writing serious, academic research?
The first important step to finding your voice in an academic paper is to find your argument.
Do heavy research on the topic at hand before coming to any conclusions, and when you have confronted the topic from multiple sides, write down your personal thoughts on the subject including your own opinions and takeaways. With these opinions and takeaways in mind, you can then formulate an argument and the direction you want to take with the topic. When you have decided on a solid argument, make sure you find evidence to support it. This is your take on the subject, and you will need sufficient support to back up your claim.
Next, summarize research you find in your own words.
Direct quotes from respected sources are wonderful pieces of evidence to support your argument, but don’t let a paper become overridden with other writers’ thoughts. In your paraphrasing and summaries, feel free to add in your own opinions and thoughts alongside your research, adding to the conversation as opposed to restating it. Similarly, do not try to imitate another’s writing voice. Though you may be tempted to maintain the same tone and language of the respected writers that you cite, make sure that the language you use comes from within yourself.
This brings me to the last, and perhaps most important point: tone.
In a sense, tone can be synonymous with writer’s voice, but in the instance of academic writing, the overall tone will almost always be formal and serious. Although the overall tone is set, that doesn’t mean your personality can’t shine through. As a TA in the music field, I always smile when a student’s own musical preferences are obvious by their enthusiastic descriptions or when they include humorous reflections such as the “counterpoint of coughs between movements” that a student once observed while writing a concert review.
Demonstrating your personality through words will connect you personally with the reader, so don’t let yourself become too intimidated by the supposed austerity of academic writing.
Even in an academic setting, finding your writer’s voice will bring an element of authenticity to your writing that will attract readers and make academic writing an easier, more natural process. While writing your research papers, the trust that you will have in your newfound writer’s voice will manifest in a new, enthusiastic tone, and trust me, that enthusiasm will put a smile on your tired WIP TA’s face.
Arielle Crumley is a PhD student in musicology, whose main area of interest is French art song of the late 1800’s. During the 2021–2022 academic year, Arielle is a WIP TA for music.