Professor Pedantic 教授的考究學問
TPS的編輯教授在此歡迎關於學術文章的所有詢問，當然，其實他並沒有足夠的時間給你。他擁有終身教職的教授身份，也是著名的學術巨作作者。即便如此，他仍大方地接受你們的詢問。將關於學術方面的詢問寫在下方，你將獲得教授的親自指導，陶冶對學術的探索與啟發。
The professor awaits your query on academic writing, though in all honesty, he doesn’t have a lot of time for you. He is a tenured full professor, after all, and working on yet another magnificent academic tome. Even so, he has graciously consented to entertain your question. Submit it and prepare to be edified.
QUESTION: I write pretty good papers… sometimes. Other times, I hand in plodding, dull papers that embarrass me, papers that I wouldn’t hand in at all were a deadline not upon me. Any ideas on how I can do my best writing all the time?
我寫的論文有時候很不錯，但有時候卻很單調乏味，讓我很不好意思，要不是截稿時間到了，根本不想交出去。怎樣才能一直寫出最好的文章？
If you happen upon an answer to your question, patent it (and legally defend your patent); you will make a fortune. That’s because consistent excellence in writing of any kind is among the holiest of grails. So I commend you for your quest; critically examining your work is a very good first step in realizing it. As a rule, self-examination is better than being guided too much by the opinions of others, because acceptance and excellence are not always the same. The goal for an academic scholar is acceptance and excellence.
關於這個問題，如果你找到答案，別忘了申請專利並用法律保護它，你會大賺一筆。不管何種寫作，能持續寫出出色的作品就像找到最神聖的聖盃，你的追尋值得表揚，而追尋的第一步就是認真檢視自己的作品。比起過度遵循他人意見，立下規矩自我檢查更重要，因為能被接受的文章與傑出的文章不同。學術寫作不僅要寫出讓人接受的文章，還要精益求精。
Guidelines to help a writer consistently submit superior academic papers start with a writer wanting to maintain a high personal standard. Human nature seems to be for us to coast on success rather than to work to sustain its momentum. Don’t expect less of a paper than that it contain indisputable logic, fluid organization, substantial content, and conspicuously good word choices. Those are the markers of excellence. Settling for less than that means settling for a mediocre paper. It really is that simple.
若想持續寫出優秀的文章，作者首先必須保持高規格的個人標準，即使人性似乎傾向順水推舟，而非持續追求卓越。你必須要求自己，務求論文邏輯嚴謹、組織流暢、內容充實，遣詞用字無可挑剔，也就是具備傑出文章的特色。若對標準妥協，就表示對平庸的文章妥協，就這麼簡單。
But here is the rest of the story: Writers are individuals with unique cycles of creativity and peculiar work habits. Motivation, inspiration, and creation come together in many different combinations. If you think and write best in the morning—or sitting by the ocean—that is when or where you need to write. Don’t try to fool your muse. Also, write when you are rested; dozing is for dreaming, not thinking. Write when your biorhythms and externals come together for you. Know yourself and how you best write.
除此之外，每位作者都有獨特的創意發想週期與特定的工作習慣。動機、靈感、創意有各種不同的配合方式，如果你在早上思考和寫作的效率最好，或者坐在海邊效果最佳，你就應該在那個時間與地點寫作，不要想騙過你的靈感女神。另外，休息夠了再寫，想打瞌睡時應該去睡覺，而不是動腦，寫作應該配合生理節奏與外在條件。你應該了解自己，明白在什麼情況下寫作最為順利。
The professor awaits your query on academic writing, though in all honesty, he doesn’t have a lot of time for you. He is a tenured full professor, after all, and working on yet another magnificent academic tome. Even so, he has graciously consented to entertain your question. Submit it and prepare to be edified.
QUESTION: I write pretty good papers… sometimes. Other times, I hand in plodding, dull papers that embarrass me, papers that I wouldn’t hand in at all were a deadline not upon me. Any ideas on how I can do my best writing all the time?
我寫的論文有時候很不錯，但有時候卻很單調乏味，讓我很不好意思，要不是截稿時間到了，根本不想交出去。怎樣才能一直寫出最好的文章？
If you happen upon an answer to your question, patent it (and legally defend your patent); you will make a fortune. That’s because consistent excellence in writing of any kind is among the holiest of grails. So I commend you for your quest; critically examining your work is a very good first step in realizing it. As a rule, self-examination is better than being guided too much by the opinions of others, because acceptance and excellence are not always the same. The goal for an academic scholar is acceptance and excellence.
關於這個問題，如果你找到答案，別忘了申請專利並用法律保護它，你會大賺一筆。不管何種寫作，能持續寫出出色的作品就像找到最神聖的聖盃，你的追尋值得表揚，而追尋的第一步就是認真檢視自己的作品。比起過度遵循他人意見，立下規矩自我檢查更重要，因為能被接受的文章與傑出的文章不同。學術寫作不僅要寫出讓人接受的文章，還要精益求精。
Guidelines to help a writer consistently submit superior academic papers start with a writer wanting to maintain a high personal standard. Human nature seems to be for us to coast on success rather than to work to sustain its momentum. Don’t expect less of a paper than that it contain indisputable logic, fluid organization, substantial content, and conspicuously good word choices. Those are the markers of excellence. Settling for less than that means settling for a mediocre paper. It really is that simple.
若想持續寫出優秀的文章，作者首先必須保持高規格的個人標準，即使人性似乎傾向順水推舟，而非持續追求卓越。你必須要求自己，務求論文邏輯嚴謹、組織流暢、內容充實，遣詞用字無可挑剔，也就是具備傑出文章的特色。若對標準妥協，就表示對平庸的文章妥協，就這麼簡單。
But here is the rest of the story: Writers are individuals with unique cycles of creativity and peculiar work habits. Motivation, inspiration, and creation come together in many different combinations. If you think and write best in the morning—or sitting by the ocean—that is when or where you need to write. Don’t try to fool your muse. Also, write when you are rested; dozing is for dreaming, not thinking. Write when your biorhythms and externals come together for you. Know yourself and how you best write.
除此之外，每位作者都有獨特的創意發想週期與特定的工作習慣。動機、靈感、創意有各種不同的配合方式，如果你在早上思考和寫作的效率最好，或者坐在海邊效果最佳，你就應該在那個時間與地點寫作，不要想騙過你的靈感女神。另外，休息夠了再寫，想打瞌睡時應該去睡覺，而不是動腦，寫作應該配合生理節奏與外在條件。你應該了解自己，明白在什麼情況下寫作最為順利。
Posted at 2011-08-10 11:06:50
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