Comments on: Reading vs. Writing

By: Michelle

Michelle — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 02:18:46 +0000

I feel absolutely the same way as you, Josh. I think early on it’s important to wrestle with both learning how to adequately read and digest scholarly writing (because let’s face it.. it’s a little different than most “other” things we’ll read) and to build up a solid foundation of the things you think you’ll use later in your career.

I like the point about having the best ideas when you’re reading– that happens to me too. I don’t know if this happens to anyone else, though… I always have a great idea, and then go to read the next article on my to-read list, and find that someone else has already explored my idea. This leaves me with a two-fold feeling… 1) that at least I’m on the right track with my ideas, and 2) that reading the literature is necessary in order to make a solid and non-repetitive contribution to scholarly knowledge.

So, long story short, I guess I would say read until you feel comfortable with the literature you’re working with (and read/skim as much for class as you can, because it will allow you to survey many different areas) and then focus on writing once you’re secure with the ideas. Writing is essential to work at, too, as it’s how we communicate with each other.. and there is a scholarly language that you need to utilize in order to communicate effectively.

By: joshmccabe

joshmccabe — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 01:49:54 +0000

I don’t think they’re substitutes – more like complements. SUNY Albany gets you into the habit of writing short memos for everyone we read in class. I think this is great for forcing you to learn how to summarize and communicate main ideas in a concise way.

But if I had to pick one or the other, I would lean toward reading early in grad school as a way to get to know your discipline beyond what your professors present to you in class.

By: Luis H Arroyo

Luis H Arroyo — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 19:11:57 +0000

The problem is that I get the best ideas when I´m reading…

By: Per Bylund

Per Bylund — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 23:36:56 +0000

I agree with David. You know a lot of stuff and have a lot of ideas – so write them down! You will probably notice that you need a reference here and there or perhaps a couple of references – that’s the time to go to Google Scholar and find/read them. Not before.

Unless, of course, you are writing a literature review – then you need to have a general idea of what the literature is about as well as where to find it before you begin…

By: David

David — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 10:44:19 +0000

You should read only the very minimum necessary to write. One is paid to write, not read.