Public Writing for Scholars
We provide practical advice and resources for scholars who are interested in writing for a general audience. Scholars may consider the following when conveying complex topics that are grounded in research and scholarship.
- Hook the Reader: Start the beginning with a hook and get to the point quickly. Unlike academic writing, which waits until the end for conclusions, if the reader does not know why they are reading, they are unlikely to continue reading.
- Include Context for the Topic: While it’s not necessary to write a literature review, set the context for what you’re writing about. Using simple examples can help readers understand your topic and increase relatability to the subject. This will help them see how your work can be applied to their life, community, or the people around them.
- Consider your Language and Tone: Focus on maintaining a conversational tone with readers to keep them engaged. Avoid excess academic jargon and terminology that can disengage readers. If such academic or discipline specific terminology is used, be sure to provide an explanation or definition.
- Know Your Audience: While writing for the general public, scholars should still consider their main audience. Ask yourself, “who do I hope my work impacts the most?” Identifying your primary audience can help craft and effectively communicate your message in the best way possible.
- Integrate Visuals: Integrating visuals helps to break up text, give readers more context, and make concepts more digestible. Select visuals that accurately convey the message you hope to share with your audience. Avoid images that can have multiple meanings, unless you explicitly address those interpretations in your writing. Any data visualization such as maps, figures, and diagrams must be simplified and described in writing.
- Offer a Call to Action: While informing your audience is important, readers typically want to apply what they’ve learned. You can help facilitate this process by identifying a few concrete action steps. Consider how your audience can apply your research to their everyday lives and use their roles/positions/existing relationships to influence and create change. This may also be an opportunity to spotlight collective movements for readers to join or organizations to support.
Writing About Personal Events
Writing and sharing personal stories can be an important factor in how well you connect with your audience and portray scholarly relatability. Integrating personal experiences can support strengthening your argument and build on the scholarship presented. When deciding to include your personal experiences, take time to reflect and ensure that you are comfortable with sharing your story publicly.
Below are pieces published in Spark by scholars who weaved their personal experiences with their scholarship:
- Reframing Adoption as Reproductive (In)Justice by Liz DeBetta
- Hearing the Queer Roots of Black Lives Matter by David B. Green, Jr.
- Want to Retain Faculty of Color? Support Them as Faculty of Color by Larissa Mercado-Lopez
Online Harassment
When discussing lived experiences, there is the chance that you may become a target of online harassment, intimidation, and/or threats due to your scholarship, research, or your identities. As a public scholar, you may find the following resources helpful to become informed and prepared.
- Online Harassment Field Guide: This guide offers definitions to better understand online harassment and provides resources for writers and activists who may be a target of online harassment.
- Best Practices for Conducting Risky Research and Protecting Yourself From Online Harassment: This resource provides best practices for researchers who are conducting research that may make them susceptible to online harassment. Resources provided include technical guidance on cybersecurity, how to account for emotional wellbeing, and how to combat online harassment.
- Women’s Media Center Speech Project: This project website includes guidance on emergency situations, guides for navigating online harassment, and other groups focused on preventing and stopping the harassment of women.
If you are affiliated with an academic institution, there may be local resources for you. For example, the University of Michigan’s Guide for Managing Harassment offers information about existing resources available to faculty, staff, and students.
Thank you to the scholars who contributed their expertise in public writing and shared their advice: B. Ethan M. Coston, Seanna Leath, and Rita Shah
