7 Ways to Pace Yourself through a Paper # 7 – Don’t tire in the homestretch 按部就班寫作論文的七大建議之七：別在最後衝刺時洩氣
A writer peering ahead at an academic writing project should respect the task. It not only will require research and writing abilities, it will tax the writer’s endurance and concentration. Learning to become efficient and self-regulating as a researcher and writer is the reason for this series, “7 Ways to Pace Yourself through a Paper.” Each of the suggestions will be presented on the TPS Fan page before being compiled.
若您即將致力於學術寫作專題，應該好好重視這項工作。這不僅需要研究與寫作技巧，也仰賴毅力與專注。「按部就班寫作論文的七大步驟」將教您學會如何自律，提高研究與寫作的效率。每項建議都會刊登在 TPS 粉絲專頁，並在最後集結於 TPS 學術電子報中。
Way # 7 – Don’t tire in the homestretch
建議七：別在最後衝刺時洩氣
Every writing project has an end. You can see it from the beginning, and catch glimpses of it as you move through a paper. Inexplicably, some writers slow their progress with the end near at hand, sometimes stopping altogether. You can tell a professional academic writer from a wannabe: The pro doesn’t quit until he has crossed the finish line. The key to finishing strongly is to establish and maintain a writing pace that finds you still with psychic energy at the end.
每個寫作計畫都有終點，剛開始時你看得見，寫作時也隱約看得見。奇怪的是，終點近在咫尺時，有些人卻會慢下腳步，甚至完全停步。專業學術作者與業餘作者的差別就在這裡：專業人士不到終點不會停止。要全力衝過終點線，關鍵是制定適切的寫作步調，並且保持下去，才能到最後依然保持幹勁。
Long-form projects such as scholarly papers can be exhausting as writers try to wed research data and findings with polished writing that expresses original thinking. This is not child’s play. But what ultimately separates good writers from bad is how they wrap up a paper. A piece that wanders off in its latter stages and concludes weakly gives back all the goodwill it built up in earlier sections. No part of a paper can stand to be weak, especially the concluding section.
學位論文等長期寫作，必須努力用優美精煉的文筆，結合研究數據與發現，表達原創性的想法，過程非常累人，絕非兒戲。而好壞作家間最大的差別，就在他們的文章怎麼收尾。如果後半部分偏離主題，結論疲軟無力，可就前功盡棄了。文章沒有一個部分可以鬆懈薄弱，結論尤其如此。
Psychic energy is what an individual draws on for inspiration and second-effort resolve. It is how a person is able to maintain a high standard of writing when he is dog-tired of a project. Learn to recognize telltale signs of mental weariness, such as a sudden willingness to settle for “good enough” or an unwillingness to check the spelling of a suspect word. These are the letdowns that erode a fine paper into a substandard one. Demand excellence of yourself from beginning to end.
寫作時尋找靈感、嘗試再次解決問題時，就需要幹勁。有了幹勁，才能在寫作後半段疲累不堪時，仍然保持高寫作標準。你應該學會辨認心理疲勞的蛛絲馬跡，例如突然覺得「過得去」就好，或是不想檢查可能有問題的拼字。這樣得過且過會侵蝕原本出色的文章，讓文章變得平庸。記得自始至終都應該要求自己、追求卓越。
若您即將致力於學術寫作專題，應該好好重視這項工作。這不僅需要研究與寫作技巧，也仰賴毅力與專注。「按部就班寫作論文的七大步驟」將教您學會如何自律，提高研究與寫作的效率。每項建議都會刊登在 TPS 粉絲專頁，並在最後集結於 TPS 學術電子報中。
Way # 7 – Don’t tire in the homestretch
建議七：別在最後衝刺時洩氣
Every writing project has an end. You can see it from the beginning, and catch glimpses of it as you move through a paper. Inexplicably, some writers slow their progress with the end near at hand, sometimes stopping altogether. You can tell a professional academic writer from a wannabe: The pro doesn’t quit until he has crossed the finish line. The key to finishing strongly is to establish and maintain a writing pace that finds you still with psychic energy at the end.
每個寫作計畫都有終點，剛開始時你看得見，寫作時也隱約看得見。奇怪的是，終點近在咫尺時，有些人卻會慢下腳步，甚至完全停步。專業學術作者與業餘作者的差別就在這裡：專業人士不到終點不會停止。要全力衝過終點線，關鍵是制定適切的寫作步調，並且保持下去，才能到最後依然保持幹勁。
Long-form projects such as scholarly papers can be exhausting as writers try to wed research data and findings with polished writing that expresses original thinking. This is not child’s play. But what ultimately separates good writers from bad is how they wrap up a paper. A piece that wanders off in its latter stages and concludes weakly gives back all the goodwill it built up in earlier sections. No part of a paper can stand to be weak, especially the concluding section.
學位論文等長期寫作，必須努力用優美精煉的文筆，結合研究數據與發現，表達原創性的想法，過程非常累人，絕非兒戲。而好壞作家間最大的差別，就在他們的文章怎麼收尾。如果後半部分偏離主題，結論疲軟無力，可就前功盡棄了。文章沒有一個部分可以鬆懈薄弱，結論尤其如此。
Psychic energy is what an individual draws on for inspiration and second-effort resolve. It is how a person is able to maintain a high standard of writing when he is dog-tired of a project. Learn to recognize telltale signs of mental weariness, such as a sudden willingness to settle for “good enough” or an unwillingness to check the spelling of a suspect word. These are the letdowns that erode a fine paper into a substandard one. Demand excellence of yourself from beginning to end.
寫作時尋找靈感、嘗試再次解決問題時，就需要幹勁。有了幹勁，才能在寫作後半段疲累不堪時，仍然保持高寫作標準。你應該學會辨認心理疲勞的蛛絲馬跡，例如突然覺得「過得去」就好，或是不想檢查可能有問題的拼字。這樣得過且過會侵蝕原本出色的文章，讓文章變得平庸。記得自始至終都應該要求自己、追求卓越。
Posted at 2012-09-28 11:21:03
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