< back to full review list
< back to academic authors review list
< back to textbook authors review list

Elizabeth Rankin
The Work of Writing: Insights and Strategies for Academics and Professionals
Reviewed by LeKita Scott Dawkins

In The Work of Writing: Insights and Strategies for Academics and Professionals, Elizabeth Rankin focuses on intellectual aspects and issues of writing that both academic and professional writers encounter. She organizes the text into four commonthemes - contributing to the professional conversation; meeting readers' needs and expectations; finding your professional voice; and seeing the project through. To address each theme Rankin provides real-life scenarios, then couches her tips and recommendations in terms of receiving feedback from writing groups, as well as writing on your own. Writing is the livelihood of many academicians and professionals, so it is imperative that individuals understand their own writing styles and learn how to collaborate with others to create their best work. This text guides writers through that process.

The title - The Work of Writing: Insights and Strategies for Academics and Professionals - is very appropriate because for many academic and professional writers, the act of writing in and of itself is certainly 'work'. Rankin points out early onthat while extremely rewarding, writing can also be challenging, frustrating, and complex. Throughout the text, she discusses in very clear terms the myriad situations that face writers, and clearly covers the 'who, what, where, when, why and how' of academic and professional writing. The four common themes on which she focuses – contributing to the professional conversation, meeting readers' needs and expectations, finding your professional voice, and seeing the project through –are certainly aligned with what faculty and other writers experience. Rankin utilizes various methods to develop the text – her narration provides useful vignettes based on actual experiences within writing groups. She includes expositions that might steer the reader through challenging situations during the writing process, and the transferability of the information provided is infinite.

For ultimate productivity, academic and professional writers must identify ways to maintain or increase efficiency. Rankin discusses this subject, as well as various aspects of the writing process in thorough detail. She also delivers usefulconsiderations related to writing with and for purpose, audience, genre, and voice. For example, in terms of contributing to the professional conversation, Rankin discusses defining your contribution and maintaining your vision. As it relates to finding your professional voice, the author uses details related to "exorcising the grad student within", "making it personal", and "keeping it under control". All of these areas and the many others that are provided are extremely useful in compiling and completing quality work.

One of the greatest strengths of this book is the examination of writing from the perspective of working with an academic group and the perspective of working as an individual. Elaborate analyses and consideration of both are given, providing information that is easily applicable to the various situations academic and professional writers might encounter. The writing group tips provide an impressive framework and point of view from which to critically seek feedback and examine the work of others. The tips provided for writing on your own are excellent in theory, and would greatly benefit the writer who is deliberate and conscientious in their work.

Rankin provides useful information in the appendix on determining how to structure writing group tasks and set goals. The appendix also offers sample book proposal guidelines and a list of additional reference books for writing.

As a grant writer, trade book author, researcher, writing group member, and adjunct faculty member/tutor for a college writing course, I found this book easy to read and appreciated the concrete situations with which to identify. As I continue in my career, I will definitely suggest this text to graduate students, faculty, and others; I will use this book as a guide when I need a writing refresher; and I will refer to these tips for guidance from project to project.

----------------------------

Reviewed by LeKita Scott Dawkins

A native of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Dr. LeKita Scott Dawkins currently serves as the Director of Foundation Relations for Syracuse University and is an adjunct instructor of writing at the State University of New York's Empire State College (ESC). She received her BS in Elementary Education from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, her MEd in Educational Psychology from Texas A&M University, and her PhD in Educational Leadership from Florida State University. Dr. Scott Dawkins is co-editor of Journey to the PhD: How to Navigate the Process as African Americans, which is a timely guide and source of information for men and women of color considering the journey towards a terminal degree. She is also a founding member and the current treasurer of Sisters of the Academy (SOTA) Institute (www.sistersoftheacademy.org), an organization committed to the success of Black women in the Academy.