Murr.
I have just had a somewhat humbling experience in academic writing. In my attempt to peddle my computational modeling stuff to U Michigan, I blithely constructed what I thought was a reasonable, concise, and straight-forward 500 word abstract.
Sadly, my advisor didn't agree. It was summarily cut apart, cobbled together, discarded, and generally brutalized. In about half an hour. But what a half an hour.
And when I look at the end result, yes, it's nice and clean-cut. But I clearly didn't write it. The style is blocky (but efficient). Mine is definitely more florid. And I look back at the original one my advisor hated, and I don't really see anything wrong with it still.
Obviously, I need much work in this business of abstract writing.
Sadly, my advisor didn't agree. It was summarily cut apart, cobbled together, discarded, and generally brutalized. In about half an hour. But what a half an hour.
And when I look at the end result, yes, it's nice and clean-cut. But I clearly didn't write it. The style is blocky (but efficient). Mine is definitely more florid. And I look back at the original one my advisor hated, and I don't really see anything wrong with it still.
Obviously, I need much work in this business of abstract writing.
