How Scholars Write

Aaron Ritzenberg is Senior Lecturer in the Department of English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University, where he serves as Associate Director of the Undergraduate Writing Program and Director of First-Year Writing.Sue Mendelsohn is Senior Lecturer in the Department of English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University, where she serves as Associate Director of the Undergraduate Writing Program and Director of the Writing Center.

• Chapter 1. The Pursuit of IgnoranceMindset: "Knowledgeable Ignorance" Propels ResearchTools & Techniques: Reading and Writing to DiscoverChapter 2. Scholarly ProblemsMindset: Research Is a Form of Scholarly ConversationTools & Techniques: Locating a Scholarly Problem with StakesChapter 3: ProjectsMindset: A Project Provides a Plan to Address a ProblemTools & Techniques: Designing Do-able ProjectsChapter 4. ClaimsMindset: Claims Contribute Original and Significant IdeasTools & Techniques: Moving from Observations to ClaimsChapter 5. Managing SourcesMindset: Research Systems Are InventionalTools & Techniques: Making Your Research SystematicChapter 6. Selecting SourcesMindset: Source Selection Shapes the ConversationTools & Techniques: Searching for Functional SourcesChapter 7. Reading and Note-takingMindset: Scholars Read StrategicallyTools and Techniques: Reading to WriteChapter 8. Getting Things WrittenMindset: Scholars Write to ThinkTools & Techniques: Writing to Think and to PolishChapter 9. FeedbackMindset: Scholars Seek Feedback That Keeps Them in ControlTools & Techniques: Asking for, Using, and Giving FeedbackChapter 10. StructureMindset: Different Structures Serve Different PurposesTools & Techniques: Structuring to Serve Writers and ReadersChapter 11. Integrating SourcesMindset: Scholars Practice the Golden Rule with SourcesTools and Techniques: Incorporating SourcesChapter 12. Analyzing SourcesMindset: Analysis Turns Observations into EvidenceTools & Techniques: Generating Interesting AnalysisChapter 13. Citing SourcesMindset: Scholars Rely on the Integrity of Their PeersTools & Techniques: Citing SourcesChapter 14. AuthorityMindset: Scholars Create Their Authority on the PageTools and Techniques: Conveying AuthorityChapter 15. StyleMindset: Scholars Make Stylistic Choices to Serve ReadersTools and Techniques: Reducing Ambiguity and Rewarding AttentionChapter 16. Going PublicMindset: Published Writing Shapes the Public SphereTools & Techniques: Making Ideas Public

This is the strongest short guide to writing a research-based essay, article, report, or paper that I have seen on the market after all these years. It is quick and deep without ever resorting to condescension, and it will appeal to discerning instructors who would like to raise the bar for their capable students.