Academic Writing Advice Inspired By Umberto Eco’s ‘How To Write A Thesis’:

Academic writing advice inspired by Umberto Eco’s ‘How to Write a Thesis’:

Planning

Determine primary sources/bibliography.

Determine secondary sources/bibliography.

Find title.

Brainstorm a table of contents with as much detail as possible (with chapters, sections and even paragraphs and sub-paragraphs - see How to Write a Thesis’ own table of contents as an example at the end of this document) (if the first drafted table of contents is good enough, it will not be necessary to start the writing from the beginning).

Do a first draft of the introduction.

Note-taking and research

Use Google Scholar to make sure you do not miss important sources.

Keep the table of contents in mind when researching and take notes of which sources could go where.

While note-taking, differentiate which parts could be used as quotations from the ones that are simply important for the argument.

Eco underlines the importance of what he calls reading sheets, which can be understood as your notes on your readings. According to him, these should contain:

information about the author if he is not a well-known figure;

a brief (or long) summary;

they should mostly consist of quotations (accompanied by all the corresponding page numbers)

any commentaries you might want to add;

an indication of which part (or parts) of your table of contents the information mentioned belongs to.

Keep reading sheets on primary sources (which should be the longest) separate from those on secondary sources (which should only be 1-2 pages long).

In the end, re-read the notes and color-code all the different parts according to where they would fit in your table of contents.

Writing and editing

A good place to start would be by redrafting the introduction.

Define every key/technical term used/mentioned unless indisputably obvious.

General writing tips:

keep sentences short;

do not be afraid to repeat the subject twice (ex: Roberta went to the shop (…) Roberta bought carrots and tomatoes);

avoid excessive details;

avoid subordinate clauses (orações subordinadas);

avoid vague language;

avoid unnecessary adjectives;

avoid the passive voice.

While drafting, write everything that comes to mind. Leave the editing for the end.

Use your tutor as a Guinea pig. Make them read your first chapters (and, progressively, all the rest) well before delivery is due.

Ask for as much feedback as possible. Ask colleagues, friends and/or family to read your work. They will provide you with more diversified feedback, as well as allowing you to know if your writing is clear to anyone.

Stop playing ‘solitary genius’.

Don’t insist on starting with the first chapter. Start with what you know best and feel more comfortable writing about, then fill in the gaps.

Leave time for editing and try to take at least a one or two days long break in between writing and editing.

Do not forget to fill in the gaps. When you revisit your writing, go through it with all these writing tips in mind as well as a conscience of what your most common mistakes are.

Use Hemingway in the final editing phase.

Quotations and footnotes

Since there are two kinds of sources (primary and secondary), there are also two kinds of quotations: either we quote a text which we will interpret, or we quote a text which supports your interpretation.

Some quotation rules to know:

“Quote the object of your interpretive analysis with reasonable abundance.”

“Quote the critical literature only when its authority corroborates or confirms your statements. (…) when quoting or citing critical [aka secondary] literature, be sure that it says something new, or that it confirms authoritatively what you have said.”

“If you don’t want readers to presume that you share the opinion of the quoted author, you must include your own critical remarks before or after the passage.”

“Make sure that the author and the source of your quote are clearly identifiable.”

“When a quote does not exceed two or three lines, you can insert it into the body of the text enclosed in quotation marks. (…) When the quote is longer, it is better to set it off as a block quotation. In this case the quotation marks are not necessary, because it is clear that all set-off passages are quotes, and we must commit to a different system for our observations. (Any secondary developments [like the quote’s reference] should appear in a note.) (…) This method is quite convenient because it immediately reveals the quoted texts; it allows the reader to skip them if he is skimming, to linger if he is more interested in the quoted texts than in our commentary, and finally, to find them immediately when need be.”

Some footnote rules to know:

“Use notes to add additional supporting bibliographical references on a topic you discuss in the text. For example, ‘on this topic see also so-and-so.’”

“Use notes to introduce a supporting quote that would have interrupted the text. If you make a statement in the text and then continue directly to the next statement for fluidity, a superscript note reference after the first statement can refer the reader to a note in which a well-known authority backs up your assertion.”

“Use notes to expand on statements you have made in the text. Use notes to free your text from observations that, however important, are peripheral to your argument or do nothing more than repeat from a different point of view what you have essentially already said.”

“Use notes to correct statements in the text. You may be sure of your statements, but you should also be conscious that someone may disagree, or you may believe that, from a certain point of view, it would be possible to object to your statement. Inserting a partially restrictive note will then prove not only your academic honesty but also your critical spirit.”

“Use notes to provide a translation of a quote, or to provide the quote in the original language.”

Since the original post was probably fake

Everyone who reblogs will receive a pokemon based off of their blog in their asks!

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easthernico

4 years ago

Hi! I am sending my friend a pen pal package and gifts in the mail. I am new to mailing things and was wondering if you had any kind of suggestions? I also am not sure what to include in the letter I want to write him since we talk almost every day. He likes reading and anything trippy. Thanks in advance!

Hi babe, first off you are a incredible and your friend is going to love whatever you send. I am still learning how to send packages so I can’t give too many tips in that regard BUT I have a few suggestions about presentation.

Packaging makes even the smallest gift feel expensive: I love saving tissue paper from Christmas and online shopping packages as well as the bells and whistles such as the little bags, cardboard backing, washi tape, etc. I love padding the bottom with some decorated tissue paper and wrapping 1-2 of the total gifts with some wrapping and twine. It looks beautiful and makes that 1$ magnet feel 20$.

Its all in the Note: The best touch to a package is the note. It can be placed at the top of the package to be read first or tucked in a book (if thats a gift, more on that below). It can be the size of a index card, written in fountain pen with a small envelope tucked with a sticker because who doesn’t love a sticker. While yes you talk every time, but why these gifts? Why are you sending it to them? You wanted to send them something that made you think of them (my favorite reason) or a special occasion or you wanted to celebrate them and their mind.

A La Gifts: Every time someone has sent me a book I cry. There is nothing more euphoric than ripping off the brown craft paper off a book and seeing that scuffed well loved cover and reading a inscription on the first page. It is the most underrated love language in the entire world. I would send everyone a book this way if I could. If you can I suggest buying a thrifted copy especially if its a older book. There are some fantastic resources online to buy thrifted books. Now regarding specialized book for your pen pal I would recommend some of the following:

The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe

Naked Lunch by William S Burroughs

The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon

Slaughterhouse - Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Rosemary’s Baby by Ira Levin

I hope this wee guide has helped you and when sending the package reach out to you local USPS or whatever postal service you use and ask how to compile the package and/or letter.

Good luck!

xx Savannah

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easthernico

4 years ago

it’s almost spooky month which means i can legally draw the muffinteers as witches

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easthernico

5 years ago

EVERYONE LOOK AT THAT AMAZING AND TALKENTED BABEY AND GO GIVE HER SOME LOVE. SHE IS AMAZING.

-mom

“You know this is all bullshit, right?”

“Shut up, Shane.”

It’s a few days late but I really wanted to draw a little something with the Ghoul Boys in honor of Unsolved’s 100th episode. And well, here it is.

Congrats, boys. And thanks for keeping all us ghouligans entertained. ♥️

soft asks to get to know people

what song makes you feel better?

what’s your feel-good movie?

what’s your favorite candle scent?

what flower would you like to be given?

who do you feel most you around?

say three nice things about yourself (three physical and three non-physical).

what color brings you peace?

tag someone (or multiple people) who make you feel good.

what calms you down?

what’s something you’re excited for?

what’s your ideal date?

how are you?

what’s your comfort food?

favorite feel-good show?

for every emoji you get, tag someone and describe them in one word.

compliment the person who sent you this number.

fairy lights or LED lights?

do you still love stuffed animals?

most important thing in your life?

what do you want most in the world right now?

if you could tell your past self one thing, what would it be?

what would you say to your future self?

favorite piece of clothing?

what’s something you do to de-stress?

what’s the best personal gift someone could give you (playlist, homemade card, etc.)

what movie would you want to live in?

which character would you want to be?

hugs or hand-holding?

morning, afternoon or night?

what reminds you of home (doesn’t have to mean house… just things that remind you of the feeling of home)?

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easthernico

4 years ago

hi friends! 💜

so because i’m a freak and can’t seem to stop recreating my favorite tv show houses on my channel i bring y’all... Sabrina the Teenage Witch’s house form the popular and vastly superior 90s TV show!! 🔮✨

this big victorian manor has 5 bedrooms, 3 baths, and an attic full of magical items for your witchy sims to enjoy! what do y’all think of her?

please watch me build this and more on YouTube if you’d like: https://youtu.be/5mB5bMtZFXA

origin id: beresims20 !! enjoy lovies 💖

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easthernico

3 years ago

Stick it to Rainbow Capitalism!

Since rainbow capitalism sucks, here are some small queer shops to support this coming pride month instead of giving all your money to Disney and Walmart!

Pride bows!

All the buttons you could ever need or want!

Dice and dominoes!

Bottle charms!

Armour-inspired jewelry!

Stickers, stickers, and more stickers!

Black queer art prints!

Shoelaces!

Hats!

Patches!

Cross stitch!

Earrings, earrings, and more earrings!

Bat dolls!

Bracelets 1 and Bracelets 2

Dragon dolls!

Sweaters!

Queer Goats!

Abrosexual pride!

Do no harm, take no shit!

Pride moths!

Misc. Identity merch!

Chocolate!

Pride shrimp!

And finally, it's not specifically queer, but these shops do custom flags!

If you have a shop or know a shop you want to promote, please reblog with a link!

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easthernico

4 years ago

okay hear me out. the game Among Us, but theres a 5% chance that there is no imposters for that round and there's a random chance that you just die and the rest of the crew mates are just accusing eachother but there's no imposter.

Its impossible for crew mates to lose bc theyre all crew mates but friendships likely won't survive.

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