Thinking… and Writing Part 2: Be a thinking writer 思考與寫作 第二步：當個會思考的作者
身為一名學者及學術文章作者，有責任要以批判的角度進行閱讀。這對一個致力於學術研究的人來說並非難事，因為批判性思考是一項天賦。即便如此，有時候在閱讀與思考之間的界線還是有些模糊，甚至是最後寫作的部分。這兩項步驟是用來檢視如何將內心想法轉化為更有內容的學術文章。
As a scholar, an academic writer has a responsibility to read critically. This is not a difficult task for a person dedicated to scholarship; critical thinking comes naturally. Even so, sometimes there is a tenuous relationship between reading, thinking and, ultimately, writing. This 2-part series examines how mental activity translates into richer academic papers.
Part 2: Be a thinking writer
第二步：當個會思考的作者
Having developed skills as an engaged and reflective reader, an academic writer’s next step in enriching a paper is to become an engaged and reflective writer. By doing so, a scholar is able to critically analyze a subject and paper as a writing project proceeds. This leads to constant refinement of a paper. Status quo is not a mental condition that serves a scholar well. The better condition is progressive evaluation, in which a writer keeps an open mind to fleeting thoughts, tangential considerations, and nuanced angles. In this way, a writer can surprise even himself.
學會做一個積極閱讀的反思性讀者（reflective reader）後，學術寫作的下個步驟即是豐富文章內容，成為積極並具反思性的作家。只要做到這點，在寫作的過程中便能從批判的角度來分析主題和文章。要達到這個目的，必須不斷地精煉文章。作為一名學者，切忌安於現狀，最好是不斷檢討，並時時放開胸懷捕捉偶發想法、注意相關細節、見微知著，這樣一來，就連作家也會對自己的作品感到驚訝。
Where beginning writers sometimes go wrong in this is to become chronic in their open-mindedness. While an open mind assures that the topic of a paper is explored thoroughly, resulting in few if any gaping holes in logic or fact, only pure philosophers perched on mountaintops have the luxury of pondering endlessly. The rest of us must reach conclusions and, in respect to academic papers, express them conclusively. So at some point, exploration must cease. Shallow scholarship can occur from too much indecisive exploration just as it can from material-skimming.
初次嘗試撰寫學術性文章，常犯的錯誤即是習慣性地維持「心胸開闊」。雖然維持心胸開闊有助於深入探討文章主題，並減少邏輯或事實論據上的錯誤，不過只有純粹的哲學家才有那樣的餘裕來仔細琢磨深思。一般人只能總結文章，特別是學術文章方面，應盡力作出結論。因此，對主題的探究終須止息。不光是在學術方面的不足，淺薄的學術成就也一樣能在絮絮叨叨的探究下展現出來。
To avoid the embarrassment of being unable to sum up and finish a paper, a writer should be systematic in his exploration. Don’t just have a flash of insight, ponder it a moment, and work ahead with the good intention of returning to it. Rather, take time to write down the essence of the thought in a ledger. Then in a free moment, return to the noted thought and really examine it. Does it have sufficient merit to develop and include in the paper? Does it add value to the paper? If not, dismiss it. If it has possibilities, take time to explore it. Stay alert to insight; it can change a paper.
為了避免無法作出結論的尷尬，身為作者應當系統化其研究方式，避免在有寫作靈感後廢時思量，繼續埋頭苦幹。相反地，作者應當花時間記下重點看法，並於閒暇之時回顧，然後才檢討這些想法：是否值得在文章中發展討論呢？能替文章內容加分嗎？如果不行，就應當放棄。如果有發展的可能，花時間探討。只要維持警醒的洞察力，必能改變文章內容。
As a scholar, an academic writer has a responsibility to read critically. This is not a difficult task for a person dedicated to scholarship; critical thinking comes naturally. Even so, sometimes there is a tenuous relationship between reading, thinking and, ultimately, writing. This 2-part series examines how mental activity translates into richer academic papers.
Part 2: Be a thinking writer
第二步：當個會思考的作者
Having developed skills as an engaged and reflective reader, an academic writer’s next step in enriching a paper is to become an engaged and reflective writer. By doing so, a scholar is able to critically analyze a subject and paper as a writing project proceeds. This leads to constant refinement of a paper. Status quo is not a mental condition that serves a scholar well. The better condition is progressive evaluation, in which a writer keeps an open mind to fleeting thoughts, tangential considerations, and nuanced angles. In this way, a writer can surprise even himself.
學會做一個積極閱讀的反思性讀者（reflective reader）後，學術寫作的下個步驟即是豐富文章內容，成為積極並具反思性的作家。只要做到這點，在寫作的過程中便能從批判的角度來分析主題和文章。要達到這個目的，必須不斷地精煉文章。作為一名學者，切忌安於現狀，最好是不斷檢討，並時時放開胸懷捕捉偶發想法、注意相關細節、見微知著，這樣一來，就連作家也會對自己的作品感到驚訝。
Where beginning writers sometimes go wrong in this is to become chronic in their open-mindedness. While an open mind assures that the topic of a paper is explored thoroughly, resulting in few if any gaping holes in logic or fact, only pure philosophers perched on mountaintops have the luxury of pondering endlessly. The rest of us must reach conclusions and, in respect to academic papers, express them conclusively. So at some point, exploration must cease. Shallow scholarship can occur from too much indecisive exploration just as it can from material-skimming.
初次嘗試撰寫學術性文章，常犯的錯誤即是習慣性地維持「心胸開闊」。雖然維持心胸開闊有助於深入探討文章主題，並減少邏輯或事實論據上的錯誤，不過只有純粹的哲學家才有那樣的餘裕來仔細琢磨深思。一般人只能總結文章，特別是學術文章方面，應盡力作出結論。因此，對主題的探究終須止息。不光是在學術方面的不足，淺薄的學術成就也一樣能在絮絮叨叨的探究下展現出來。
To avoid the embarrassment of being unable to sum up and finish a paper, a writer should be systematic in his exploration. Don’t just have a flash of insight, ponder it a moment, and work ahead with the good intention of returning to it. Rather, take time to write down the essence of the thought in a ledger. Then in a free moment, return to the noted thought and really examine it. Does it have sufficient merit to develop and include in the paper? Does it add value to the paper? If not, dismiss it. If it has possibilities, take time to explore it. Stay alert to insight; it can change a paper.
為了避免無法作出結論的尷尬，身為作者應當系統化其研究方式，避免在有寫作靈感後廢時思量，繼續埋頭苦幹。相反地，作者應當花時間記下重點看法，並於閒暇之時回顧，然後才檢討這些想法：是否值得在文章中發展討論呢？能替文章內容加分嗎？如果不行，就應當放棄。如果有發展的可能，花時間探討。只要維持警醒的洞察力，必能改變文章內容。
Posted at 2013-02-01 13:24:59
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