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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 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 am working hard to master use of English in my academic writing, but I find it very difficult not to write what I call “Chinese English.” Are there any sure methods to learning English composition that is acceptable to a native English writer?
寫學術文章時，我很努力要把英文寫好，但往往寫出中式英文。學習英文寫作時，有沒有什麼可靠的方法，能寫出英文母語者認為合格的文章？

Let me stipulate that the struggle you are having is an admirable one: You want to master a foreign language. The only people who fail in life are those who strive to learn and grow as individuals. It is certain that a person who is content to be fluent in his native language is never going to be embarrassed by his attempts to learn a second one. So, congratulations to you for being willing to risk failure in order to improve yourself. This progressive mindset is sure to help you as an academic as you explore the intellectual edges of current thought and assumptions.
我認為，儘管你現在遇到困難，你想學習一門外語的努力卻值得敬佩。人惟有自己努力學習、成長時才會遇到困難，如果安於說流利的母語、不去學第二種語言，就永遠不會受挫。所以，恭喜你願意冒險以提升自我，這種勇於追求進步的態度，在你推展現有思想與假設時，一定能在學術上讓你獲益良多。

But as a practical matter, it is frustrating to methodically translate a thought into another language and then learn that you have expressed yourself awkwardly or in a way that distracts from the thought being expressed. So-called “chinglish” is the result, the merging of Chinese and English into something puzzling to a native English speaker. Some of the problem is linguistics. The nuances of the English language, such as the forms a takes in varying usages, trip up even experienced Chinese-English translators. English is not an easy language to learn.
但就實務上來說，你按部就班要將想法翻譯成另一種語言，卻發現表達不自然，或表達後與原本的想法不同，確實會讓人沮喪。混合了中文與英文的中式英語就是這樣來的，這種中式英語常令英語母語者摸不著頭腦。有些是文法問題，英語有些細微差異，例如一般動詞在不同用法中有不同形式，即使翻譯經驗豐富的中英譯者也可能出差錯。英文這種語言不容易學習。

But Mandarin and Cantonese are not easy, so learning English is doable. I will suggest two ways to master composition in the English language (recognizing that British English and American English are not in perfect harmony). First, study English-speaking culture as much as English words. Language draws upon cultural assumptions. The more you understand the framework of a language, the more easily you can frame your thoughts compatibly. Second, have your papers critiqued by a native English speaker. Better that he, rather than a professor, embarrasses you.
話說回來，漢語或粵語也不容易，所以英文還是可以學的。要掌握英文寫作（注意英式英文與美式英文略有不同），我有兩項建議。第一，除了學英文單字，也要學英語文化，語言運用了文化概念，愈能了解一種語言的架構，就愈容易適當組織想法。第二，讓英文母語人士修改你的文章，在這些人面前出醜，總比在教授面前出醜好。

不管是自己選擇或教授指定，若要寫作論說式學術文章，必須先做好心理準備。你必須說明個人意見，選定觀點也很重要，結構與表達尤其攸關文章成敗。本專欄介紹六大關鍵準則，讓你寫作時發揮說服力，每項準則都會刊登在 TPS 粉絲專頁，並在最後集結於 TPS 學術電子報。
When an argumentative academic paper is the task at hand, whether by choice or assignment, the writer must approach it with an appropriate mindset. Subjective values come into play. Point of view becomes important. Organization and presentation become even more critical to success. The elements of successful persuasive writing are explained in this series, “6 Essential Rules for Persuasive Writing.” Each of the rules will be presented on the TPS Fan page before being compiled.

Rule # 1 – Steel thyself
準則一：鍛鍊自我，迎接挑戰

Unlike expository writing that explains something in great detail, persuasive writing postulates at length on a specific subject. It claims to be the last word on the subject, or the first defensible one. The goal of the writer and the purpose of his paper is not to inform another person’s mind; it is to change a person’s mind. However, a writer’s assertion of final authority can run up against a reader’s assertion to the contrary. Therefore, persuasive writers should expect push-back.
論說文不像說明文，說明文解釋詳細，論說文則以充份的篇幅討論特定主題、發表有力的總結，或率先提出質疑。論說文的目的並非說明資訊，而是改變他人的想法。然而，由於作者的最終主張可能與讀者牴觸，因此讀者可能反彈。

If you are a shrinking violet, persuasive writing is not your garden. Persuasive writers do not mince words. They write using confident, charismatic phraseology that speaks with unqualified authority. Some readers are likely to respond in kind (even professors, who nonetheless should grade a paper on its merits rather than its conclusion) and a writer should not be intimidated by it. Rather, he should inoculate himself in advance by expecting scholarly disagreement.
如果你生性害羞，論說文就不是你表現的舞台。寫論說文時不能吞吞吐吐，遣詞用字應該充滿自信與魅力，語調威嚴。若遇到讀者以牙還牙（教授也可能如此，不過教授應該根據文章內容評分，不應只看結論），你不能就此退縮，應該事先調整心態，準備面對不同的學術意見。

The same high level of professionalism is demanded of every writer, whatever the purpose of his paper. Yet a paper that argues it represents prototypical thinking carries the extra burden of being potentially controversial. Its argumentation could ignite additional scholarly argumentation. Therefore, a persuasive writer should prepare his paper with meticulous care and also prepare himself against strong responses that seldom come to writers of straight-forward exposition.
無論寫作何種學術文章，都應該展現同樣的學術專業，然而一篇文章如果宣稱自己的論證具有代表性，就額外多了爭議性，其論證可能引發更多的學術論證。因此，寫作論說文時，應特別仔細謹慎，並自我鍛鍊，以備面臨直截了當的說明文不會引起的強烈反彈。

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 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 am a logical person and my papers are logical. Yet I have been told my logic sometimes is faulty and my conclusions wrongly drawn. Is there a fail-safe way to check logic?
我做事合乎邏輯，文章也符合邏輯，但有人說我的邏輯有時候有錯，推導出有問題的結論。有什麼辦法可以檢查邏輯，保證不會發生錯誤？

Is any system “fail-safe?” Man has found imaginative ways to override safeguards of all kinds and done himself injury. Logic has its own internal mechanisms that guard against failure, but they are only as good as the person employing them. So if you are indeed a logical person, yet you are submitting academic papers that contain illogical formulations and conclusions, one of three factors is happening: A) You are wrong about being logical; B) your professors are wrong in attributing illogical behavior to you; or C) you think logically, but write illogically.
有什麼方法「保證不會發生錯誤」？人以各種想得到的方法違反邏輯規則，結果害了自己。邏輯自有內在機制避免錯誤，但這些機制必須加以運用才能發揮成效。如果你確實是合乎邏輯的人，但寫出的學術文章還是有不合邏輯的式子或結論，原因可能是：A) 你其實缺乏邏輯，B) 說你缺乏邏輯的教授錯了，或 C) 你的想法符合邏輯，但寫作卻不然。

I will assume “C” is the answer and will suggest ways to bring your writing into conformity with your thinking. First of all, understand this: Being essentially logical in your conduct is not a high enough standard for academic writing. Powerful papers are not middlingly logical. They are studiously logical with reasoning so tightly woven into the organization and text of a paper that it takes on a life of its own. This is accomplished by carefully planning the flow of material so it unfailingly carries a reader to a conclusion. Weak assertions and logical eddies are not allowed.
假設答案是「C」，那麼我建議以下方法，讓你的寫作與思考一樣符合邏輯。首先要知道，學術寫作不能只是文字符合邏輯，這樣的標準還不夠。文章要有力，邏輯不能只有半吊子，論證必須緊扣文章組織與內容，邏輯非常嚴謹，才能發揮。同時寫作也要精心規劃，使文章通順，才能正確無誤的引出結論，不能有薄弱的主張或邏輯混亂。

Deductive reasoning is the preferred logic sequence because it is the surest. It employs known truths or facts to reach a verifiable or indisputable conclusion. Inductive reasoning also can be used. However, it is more dangerous because inadvertent faulty reasoning can more easily slip into it. In short, if you use straightforward logic grounded in deduction and communicate it clearly, your papers will not be deemed illogical. This assumes, of course, that you strictly adhere to rules of logic. A system of thinking is only as effective as the person using it.
另外，演繹式推理從已知的真相或事實，推導出可驗證或無法質疑的結論，最為可靠，是較佳的邏輯推論法。歸納式推理較容易在無意中產生錯誤推論，因此雖然可行卻比較危險。簡單來說，如果文章能用直接易懂的邏輯進行演繹式推理，並清楚說明，就不會缺乏邏輯。當然，你必須嚴格遵守邏輯規則。邏輯思考方式唯有確實運用，才能發揮成效。

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 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: My friend Sammy’s professor was unkind, I believe, in writing that Sammy’s last paper was “incoherent.” Sammy is not an idiot and writes very well. For the paper to have been labeled as the work of a person with a screw loose almost destroyed Sammy’s self-confidence. Why would the professor say such a thing?
我朋友山米最近寫了一篇文章，指導教授給的評語是「支離破碎」，我覺得這位教授有點冷血。山米頭腦不錯，文章也寫得很好，獲得的文章評語卻是寫作時頭腦少根筋，對他打擊很大。那位指導教授為什麼要這樣說？

Sammy obviously has someone watching his back. However, if you are going to be a best friend, you should resist jumping so quickly to wrong conclusions. Professors have a hard enough time deciphering and grading the work of their students without having their words twisted against them. Rather than summarily concluding that Sammy’s professor harshly impugned your friend’s intelligence, you would have better served your friend by examining the word “incoherent.” In terms of writing a suitable academic paper, incoherent does not mean the same as unintelligible.
看來山米有個好朋友會照顧他，不過，要真正幫上山米，你不能這麼快就下錯誤的結論。教授要努力讀懂學生的文章和打分數，寫的評語卻往往遭扭曲原意，以為是在針對學生。如果你真的想幫忙朋友，就不能驟下結論，以為教授是苛刻批評山米不夠聰明，而應該探究「支離破碎」這個詞的意思。要討論如何寫出適當的學術文章，「支離破碎」並不等於「不知所云」。

What the professor was saying was that it was difficult, perhaps impossible, to follow the thread of Sammy’s exposition. When valid, that is a legitimate scholarly criticism. A paper that is not coherent—that is, bound together in logic and organization—does not effectively explain or argue its thesis. The words might be beautifully arranged and the topic an absolute zinger, but without orderly progression from introduction to conclusion, the reader of the paper is not well-served. When the reader is the writer’s professor, one can expect comments about incoherency.
教授的意思是，要理清山米文章的條理並不容易，或許根本做不到。如果屬實，這是很合理的學術批評。如果文章缺乏條理，也就是邏輯與組織不連貫，就無法有力地解釋或辯駁論點。即使用字遣詞優美，主題妙趣橫生，假使不能從引言順理成章推展到結論，讀起來就不容易，教授讀了自然會認為支離破碎。

To avoid such complaint, a writer should convey his thoughts in a way that another thinking person can follow without distraction. Not only should the logic and purpose of the paper advance step-by-step, the transition between sentences and paragraphs should be as seamless as possible. In a word, the work should flow. The key words should be repeated as often as needed to help a reader stay on course, and synonyms and substitute phrases should never confuse. In this way, a paper becomes coherent and cohesive and a reader never becomes confused.
寫作的人如果不想遭到這類批評，表達想法時就應該讓人能順利思考理解，不會感到困惑。除了必須按部就班提出文章的邏輯與論證，句子與段落也必須盡量銜接自然，簡單來說要流暢通順。並且應該多重複關鍵詞，讓讀者抓住重心，使用同義詞與代換詞句時也要避免誤解。如此一來，文章就能條理分明、前後連貫，讀起來就容易了。

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。

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 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: My professor keeps finding mistakes in my papers, such as typos and mistakenly used words, as well as other things I won’t mention. I proof my papers like crazy and still can’t seem to eliminate all the errors. Any suggestions?
我的教授一直從我的論文裡找到錯誤，不管是錯字、用詞不當，還有一些我不想提的錯誤。我拼命檢查，但還是沒辦法找出所有錯誤。可以給我一點建議嗎？

I am curious about the unmentionables, the “other things” wrong with your papers. I presume they fall into the category of silly mistakes, which we all make but usually not in graded or published work. You may be suffering from a lack of commitment to your craft. If you intend to stay in the academic realm, you had better become more prideful in your researched and written finished product. You probably don’t leave your room without double-checking that your pants are on and your socks match. Showing as much concern about your papers is advisable.
我很好奇你沒提的那些錯誤是什麼，我猜大概是一些很好笑的錯誤，這種錯誤我們都常犯，但不會讓它出現在要打分數或發表的文章裡。或許你對自己的專業還不夠投入，如果你想留在學術圈。應該更看重自己研究與寫作的文章。你走出房門前，一定會先檢查褲子有沒有穿好、襪子有沒有配成對；你對自己的文章也該投入同等的關心。

Proofing is not rocket science. It is more like custodial work. You are cleaning up after someone—yourself—with the goal of having a thoroughly clean and ordered piece of writing when you finish. Proofing and double-checking your paper is not a creative work. It is purely a functional labor designed to enhance what you have created by eliminating deficiencies and smudgy mistakes. As in room-cleaning, paper-proofing should be systematic, thorough, and methodical. You should look at every word and paragraph as if seeing them for the first time.
校對沒什麼高深的學問，比較像是看守的工作，你接手某個人（也就是你自己）留下來的工作，好好打理，目標是完工後文章從頭到尾都乾淨整齊、有條不紊。校對、檢查不需要什麼創意，單純注重實際功用，改正文章缺點與錯誤，提升文章品質。校對就像打掃房間，必須運用得宜的方法，有系統地全面進行，你得像第一次閱讀文章一樣，重新讀每個字詞、每段文句。

Finally, it is not a one-person task. You might be a meticulous editor, but proofing your own work is likely to fail. Why? False assumptions you made while writing the piece still are assumed. A re-reading of a sentence is not as revealing as a first reading. Poor sentence structure you worked out in your mind still seems to work when your mind encounters it again; familiarity breeds sloppiness. The way around these problems is to have another set of eyes, another brain, another writer proof your paper. You will be surprised what he finds and what you missed.
最後，校對也不能只仰賴同一個人。不管你作編輯有多仔細，檢查自己的文章還是很可能出錯。為什麼？因為你寫作時可能有些錯誤的假設，而這些假設現在依然存在。重讀句子看到的，不如第一次看到的多。一個差勁的句子結構，如果第一次看不覺得有問題，再看一次還是不覺得有問題，看久你就麻木草率了。要解決這個問題，你得找另一雙眼睛、另一個腦袋、另一個寫作的人，替你校對文章。看到他發現了什麼、你又遺漏了什麼，你一定會很驚訝。

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 # 6 – Beware of breathers, plateaus and other obstacles
建議六：小心寫作的喘息、高原期和其他障礙

An academic writing project can be a slog. The first stage of it sometimes produces anxiety, and only later as the work progresses does exhilaration set in. But at some point the project takes on all the characteristics of work, and a writer begins to think in terms of taking a breather. Beware of breathers. The need to take a breather is a signal that a pace of a project is not sustainable. A correct pace is steady, but not exhausting; regular breathing should be sufficient for the job.
學術寫作可能變得很苦悶，苦悶的第一階段是焦慮，只有等工作有了進展，心情才會逐漸開朗。不過到了某個階段，工作的辛苦在寫作中展露無遺，讓寫作的人想停下來喘息。請注意，如果你想停下來喘息，就代表這個寫作步調無法讓你持續寫作。正確的步調讓你有穩定進展，卻不會筋疲力盡，只要固定休息，就應該能繼續工作。

A plateau is another danger point. A plateau occurs when a writer completes a section of research or of writing—and stops. He has climbed a foothill and wants to gaze back upon it. Thus does premature satisfaction become a barrier to progress. It becomes an excuse to hang around rather than press ahead. While interim goals are important in a research-writing project, they are way stations, not ultimate destinations. Dawdling over them leads nowhere.
而高原是另一個阻礙；高原是指完成研究或寫作的某一個段落，然後就停下來了。作者爬上了一個小山丘，然後想回頭張望。所以，一開始就志得意滿只會阻礙進步，讓作者停滯不前，儘管期中目標對寫作很重要，但卻只是中途的停靠站，而不是最終的目的地。裹足不前終將一事無成。

In short, don’t let a good start on a paper go to waste because you lost your way. Don’t get too satisfied too early. Clearly, solid research by itself is not enough. Neither is a great lead, a content-rich middle section, or a well-organized conclusion. Succeeding in any one of these does not constitute overall success. A professor looks at the complete package, and a writer must do the same. So, take a deep breath, take pride in good work done on a section, and then move on.
簡言之，論文寫作有了好的開始，別因為迷失方向而浪費了，切勿一開始就洋洋自得。只有紮實的研究顯然不夠，好的開頭、內容豐富的中間章節，或結構嚴謹的結尾，也顯然不夠。在這幾個部分的其中一些做得好，不代表整篇文章成功。教授注意的是整體內容，你寫作時也應該如此。所以，深吸一口氣，好好欣賞自己某一階段的表現，然後繼續邁進。

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 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 love academics. I crave intellectual stimulation. However, I do not like writing academic papers and the subsequent publishing scene. How do I learn to embrace a part of the academic life that frankly doesn’t interest me?
我喜歡學術，我渴求學術智識上的刺激，但是我不喜歡寫學術文章，以及學術發表場面。坦白說我一點也不喜歡這部分，但我要怎麼學會接受它？

Your frankness is refreshing, if somewhat disturbing. You seem committed to a profession while rejecting one of its principal tenets—sharing knowledge gleaned from research. The tension inherent in that dichotomy does not bode well for your career in academia. It is not unlike the young person who wants to be a champion swimmer yet is fearful of water. One cannot win a breaststroke contest standing beside the pool. In the same way, achieving satisfaction as a scholar is not likely unless your aversion to writing is overcome.
你的坦白很新鮮，不過有點令人擔心。你似乎專心致志於一項專業，卻又不接受這項專業的主要原則－分享研究中獲取的知識。這種分裂造成的拉鋸，對你的學術生涯不是個好預兆。年輕人想當游泳冠軍，可不能怕水，只站在池邊是贏不了蛙式比賽的。同樣地，不能克服對寫作的反感，也無法在學術上成功。

How do you learn to at least like writing in a scholarly vein? You learn the same way the erstwhile reluctant swimmer learns to accommodate full-body immersion in water: You jump in. First you must decide scholarship and academia are your best vocational choice. Then you must commit to the joys and challenges of the profession. You already evidently embrace the joyous parts of the scholarly life; getting your arms around the part that challenges you is the remaining task. You may never love writing, but you would be wise to learn to like it. It isn’t going away.
該怎麼學會至少「不討厭」學術寫作？就像以前不敢游泳的人一樣：跳下去，整個人浸入水裡。首先你得確定要選擇學術研究為業，接著你得為其中的快樂與挑戰付出。顯然你已經擁抱學術生涯中快樂的部分了，剩下來就是對挑戰展開雙臂了。你可能永遠不會喜歡寫作，但你會懂得不討厭寫作。寫作的問題不會自己解決。

To help yourself, you should determine just what it is you deplore about writing academic literature. Is it grammar that defeats you? Put in the time to master it. Is it a failure of imagination, an inability to clearly project an original thought onto a written page? Is it impatience, an unwillingness to sit at a keyboard for the duration of a writing project? These are mechanical issues that someone with a true love of learning ought to be able to successfully address. You are on the right track by admitting your hang-up. Now you must get rid of it.
要解決問題，你應該找出自己究竟討厭學術寫作的哪部分。困擾你的是文法嗎？多花時間熟悉文法。或者你缺少想像力，難以把獨創的想法清楚表達在紙上？還是缺乏耐力，不願意坐在鍵盤前寫作？如果你對學習有熱情，一定能順利處理這些技術問題。能承認自己的寫作問題已經是成功的第一步了，現在該想方法解決問題了。

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 # 5 – Anticipate: Learn to avoid surprises
建議五：防範未然，臨事不亂

It is said the best laid plans of mice and men come to naught when the unexpected circumstance intrudes. The moral is, all the careful planning in the world will not guarantee that a writing project will come together without incident. That’s what makes life interesting! Even so, there is no joy in running into an obstacle with a paper’s deadline looming. The best way to avoid such crises is to anticipate them and to build into your schedule time to respond to them.
曾有人說，人鼠之間擬定的計畫再如何周詳，意外攪局時，仍將化為泡影。其中教訓是，世事難料，儘管仔細規劃，寫論文難保不會有意外。人生因此而精采，但論文截止在即，遇到這種麻煩可就不精彩了。要預防這類問題，最好的方法就是事先防範，安排時間以備處理問題。

Example: When compiling a list of sources and citations, look at each one’s potential for rejection. Sometimes a cited source is deemed to be irrelevant to subject matter, perhaps because his authority and credentials have been superseded by more recent research. Or a citation from a document might be discounted because the document lacks academic standing. Be critical of source material so that your professor can’t shock you late in the day by rejecting parts of it.
舉例來說，整理資料來源和引用文獻清單時，應該檢查每一項資料是否可能遭到否決。有時一項資料的威信與可靠度可能遭到最近的研究推翻，因此不再適合引用；或者引用的來源文章學術價值不高，而使效果打折扣。整理引用文獻時要仔細檢查，以免教授事到臨頭不贊同某些引用，讓你手足無措。

Also, be an editor as well as a writer. Not only examine your paper for grammar and similar writing issues, examine it for content. Ask yourself tough questions: Is this section weak because I have tried to stretch research material too far? Does the conclusion really work, reflecting the introduction and accurately summarizing the body of the paper? Is that illustration effective or just pretty? If you are tough on yourself along the way, a professor can’t surprise you at the end.
此外，除了寫論文，也要從編輯的角度觀察論文，除了檢查文法一類的寫作問題，也應該注意文章內容。嚴格自問：這一段是否因為推論過度而使說服力薄弱？結論是否與引言首尾呼應，確實總結全文？舉證是否有助理解，或僅為妝點之用？如果寫論文時從頭至尾嚴以律己，就不必擔心最後有什麼事會出乎意料了。

 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 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 usually pick an off-the-wall topic for a paper when none is assigned, or choose an edgy variation of an assigned theme. My professor generally approves them, but she has suggested that I not try so hard to be different. Isn’t originality a plus in a paper?
寫論文時如果沒有指定主題，我通常挑選特立獨行的題目，如果有指定主題，我會定出最前衛的題目。教授通常會讚許我的題目，但她也建議我不要刻意追求不同。原創性對論文有加分效果嗎？

Is originality of theme and expression a good thing? Absolutely. I suspect this is why your professor doesn’t push too hard to get you to fall more in line with other writers. Kudos to the prof for encouraging fresh thinking! Still, her suggestion that you “not try so hard” is a valid one. It boils down to the difference between serious originality and novelty. The former has real substance, while the latter is more of a veneer of thinking; its shallowness can’t withstand much examination. In a topic search, look for a solid body of material needing fresh presentation.
原創的主題或表達是好的嗎？當然。或許你的教授也因此沒有強迫你做和其他人相同的事。鼓勵創新的教授，給你們拍拍手！不過，她建議你不要「刻意」求異，說得也有道理。歸根究柢，經過深思熟慮的原創性，與單純的新奇並不同。前者有紮實內涵，後者比較像是繡花枕頭，內容膚淺，禁不起檢驗。找題目的時候，應該選擇有充足資料佐證的題目，以獨創性的方式表達。

Another good guide in choosing a topic, which your professor undoubtedly would endorse, is that the material you present actually be useful. Some academic papers are so esoteric that they admittedly are of minimal use to a general readership. Yet to a narrow slice of academia or to a research community, even such papers are wonderfully useful. The utility of a paper is a genuine consideration because a useful paper is a practical one as opposed to a merely academic, or theoretical, one. When scholarship produces material of real-world application, it contributes.
挑選題目還有一個好方法，你的教授無疑也會贊成，那就是判斷你寫出的文章是否有效用。有些學術文章非常深奧，確實對一般讀者來說用處不高；但對某一小群學術人士或研究團體來說，這樣的論文依然極有幫助。論文的效用相當重要，有用的論文不僅是純粹的學術或理論文章，同時也是實用的論文。學者的文章若能應用於現實世界，就有了貢獻。

So by all means, look for topics and themes that are unusual, unpredictable, and even unique. The desire to think for oneself and to examine a topic that has been overlooked or under-reported shows good scholarly instincts. However, an academic paper is not an entertainment venue. The idea is not to surprise or otherwise impress someone with a gimmicky topic. The purpose of a paper is to engage in scholarly conversation, to add to a body of scholarship, to learn and then share what you have learned. If by so doing you introduce a brand new topic, so be it.
因此切記，要尋找與眾不同、出人意表、甚至獨一無二的題目或主題。自己思考、檢驗受忽略或研究不足的題目，這份想法就展現出了學術天份。然而，學術文章並非娛樂，重點不是用噱頭讓人吃驚或譁眾取寵。論文的目的是開啟學術對話，增進學術知識，去學習並分享所學。如果因此引介了全新的主題，就欣然接受吧。