Academic Writing as if Readers Matter with Dr. Len Cassuto

Happy Doc Student Podcast

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In episode #136, I welcome back one of my favorite repeat guests, Dr. Leonard Cassuto.

Len is a professor of English at Fordham University and the author of the "Graduate Adviser" column for The Chronicle of Higher Education. He has written and number of books, including *The Graduate School Mess* (Harvard, 2015) and, with Robert Weisbuch, *The New PhD: How to Build a Better Graduate Education* and we are here today to talk about his hot off the press publication – Academic Writing as if Readers Matter.
Highlights:

• Let’s Get Clear: Writing that is difficult to read harms the relationship between academia and society.
• Writing as Communication: If the message isn’t understood, communication has failed.
• Storytelling Approach: Everything is a story (what story are you trying to tell?).
• Front-Load Main Points: Present main points early on to help academic readers quickly assess the relevance of the material.
• Writing as Thinking: Writing is part of the thinking process. Write to figure out what it is you are thinking, then start writing.
• The Blue Whale Metaphor: Academic readers are like blue whales, sifting through vast information. As a writer, it is your duty to make content clear and easily digestible.
• Clarity Over Complexity: Simplicity and clarity should be prioritized over complex jargon, which can alienate readers.
• Don’t Be Mean: Engage and connect with your audience, rather than distance them with overly complex language.
• The Importance of Revision: Good writing is often the result of extensive rewriting, helping to sharpen arguments and improve communication.
• Practical Writing Tip: Take the topic sentences from each paragraph and string them together to see if they tell a coherent story.

Connect with Len
twitter: @LCassuto
instagram: l_cassuto
facebook: Leonard Cassuto
Get his new book here: https://amzn.to/4euGt4j
Episode #53 "Are we teaching students to be unhappy?" https://www.buzzsprout.com/1547113/9484429

Episode #69: "Career Diversity and the Doctorate" https://www.buzzsprout.com/1547113/10148738

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