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Writing for Social Scientists: How to Start and Finish Your Thesis, Book, or Article
Students and researchers all write under pressure, and those pressures—most lamentably, the desire to impress your audience rather than to communicate with them—often lead to pretentious prose, academic posturing, and, not infrequently, writer’s block.
Sociologist Howard S. Becker has written the classic book on how to conquer these pressures and simply write. First published nearly twenty years ago, Writing for Social Scientists has become a lifesaver for writers in all fields, from beginning students to published authors. Becker’s message is clear: in order to learn how to write, take a deep breath and then begin writing. Revise. Repeat.
It is not always an easy process, as Becker wryly relates. Decades of teaching, researching, and writing have given him plenty of material, and Becker neatly exposes the foibles of academia and its “publish or perish” atmosphere. Wordiness, the passive voice, inserting a “the way in which” when a simple “how” will do—all these mechanisms are a part of the social structure of academic writing. By shrugging off such impediments—or at the very least, putting them aside for a few hours—we can reform our work habits and start writing lucidly without worrying about grades, peer approval, or the “literature.”
In this new edition, Becker takes account of major changes in the computer tools available to writers today, and also substantially expands his analysis of how academic institutions create problems for them. As competition in academia grows increasingly heated, Writing for Social Scientists will provide solace to a new generation of frazzled, would-be writers.
Sociologist Howard S. Becker has written the classic book on how to conquer these pressures and simply write. First published nearly twenty years ago, Writing for Social Scientists has become a lifesaver for writers in all fields, from beginning students to published authors. Becker’s message is clear: in order to learn how to write, take a deep breath and then begin writing. Revise. Repeat.
It is not always an easy process, as Becker wryly relates. Decades of teaching, researching, and writing have given him plenty of material, and Becker neatly exposes the foibles of academia and its “publish or perish” atmosphere. Wordiness, the passive voice, inserting a “the way in which” when a simple “how” will do—all these mechanisms are a part of the social structure of academic writing. By shrugging off such impediments—or at the very least, putting them aside for a few hours—we can reform our work habits and start writing lucidly without worrying about grades, peer approval, or the “literature.”
In this new edition, Becker takes account of major changes in the computer tools available to writers today, and also substantially expands his analysis of how academic institutions create problems for them. As competition in academia grows increasingly heated, Writing for Social Scientists will provide solace to a new generation of frazzled, would-be writers.
197 pages, Paperback
Published December 15, 2007
223 people are currently reading
1845 people want to read
About the author
Howard S. Becker
91 books108 followersHoward Saul Becker was an American sociologist who taught at Northwestern University.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
February 24, 2015
Time-travelling, that is my goal after reading this book. Or at least write a readable thesis.
The most exciting moment is when you realize that you are adopting some of Becker´s advices. While reading the book I mostly nodded with agreement.
For me the most important things for everyone to realize are:
- writing is a part of academic system, institutions
- something is rotten in this kingdom, but one should not give up
- forget about your ego while writing, put the cause at the first place
- start and try
- really, shut up and write
And so I continued.
The most exciting moment is when you realize that you are adopting some of Becker´s advices. While reading the book I mostly nodded with agreement.
For me the most important things for everyone to realize are:
- writing is a part of academic system, institutions
- something is rotten in this kingdom, but one should not give up
- forget about your ego while writing, put the cause at the first place
- start and try
- really, shut up and write
And so I continued.
March 10, 2016
Must-read for all research students, and anyone really trying to get the hang of writing clearly & by clearly I mean in terms of ideas but also the language used to express them. Unfortunately, we tend to obscure our ideas by the language we use.
The book is not written in the dry style of do and don't! Becker is very aware of the emotional, social, psychological, and even physical aspects of the process of writing. Also, the book is written for social scientists but it is really relevant to ANY researcher especially in the humanities.
I really don't see how such a book can become "outdated"! It is a classic! And one I believe I will return to time and again as an early career academic.
The book is not written in the dry style of do and don't! Becker is very aware of the emotional, social, psychological, and even physical aspects of the process of writing. Also, the book is written for social scientists but it is really relevant to ANY researcher especially in the humanities.
I really don't see how such a book can become "outdated"! It is a classic! And one I believe I will return to time and again as an early career academic.
March 3, 2018
Yazar sosyolog olduğundan verdiği örnekler de sosyoloji üzerinden, ancak kitapta bahsedilen sorunlar akademik yazımla uğraşan herkesin karşılaştığı türden. Yazar kitapta akademik yazım sürecinde karşılaşılan sorunların kişisel olmadığını, bunların asıl kaynağının toplumsal organizasyon olduğunu vurgulayarak sorunların üstesinden gelebilmek için çözüm önerilerinde bulunuyor. Bunlardan birkaçını denemeye başladım ve faydasını görüyorum, kitabı da sosyal bilimci olsun veya olmasın, akademik metin üretmeye çalışan herkese tavsiye ederim.
September 5, 2020
This is the most relatable book I've read that's written by a sociologist. It's honest, unpretentious, and most of all helpful. Reading Howie Becker makes you feel smarter and inspired which few books on research ever achieve to do. His writing conveys empathy and is in touch with the struggles of being a young scholar in cut-throat industry.
October 15, 2016
Becker is an advocate for rewriting and editing as a means to produce good writing. What makes this book different from Peter Elbow's is its contextualization to the social sciences, hence addressing issues unique to sociology in writing and publishing. It reads like a friend talking to you, and was what drew me to the book. It is a good book for people from any discipline who fear academic writing and need help to see why it's not scary and why even fun (which I agree is fun).
However, if you really want to learn how to do free writing and editing, you may need to get a more academic text. This works as a good introduction, but hits just at the level of beliefs and principles, sharing from a very personal account. So it does not give a lot of guidance that is typically found in texts that teach academic writing. It is also a little outdated though it interestingly compares the 1986 text to the 2007 text. It's a nice book to see how the discipline and publishing industry and even technology has evolved through this book.
Very informative read but perhaps not the kind you would keep referring to for help. More like something you read once and may give to a friend who is fearful of writing, or likes autobiography and trivia (like me).
However, if you really want to learn how to do free writing and editing, you may need to get a more academic text. This works as a good introduction, but hits just at the level of beliefs and principles, sharing from a very personal account. So it does not give a lot of guidance that is typically found in texts that teach academic writing. It is also a little outdated though it interestingly compares the 1986 text to the 2007 text. It's a nice book to see how the discipline and publishing industry and even technology has evolved through this book.
Very informative read but perhaps not the kind you would keep referring to for help. More like something you read once and may give to a friend who is fearful of writing, or likes autobiography and trivia (like me).
April 27, 2018
Kitabı çok sevdim. Keşke bu kalibredeki akademikler çalışma ve yazma pratikleriyle ilgili daha fazla şey karalasalar.
Bu kitabın başarılı yapan şey yazarının Howard Becker olması herhalde. Howie :) neticede döneminin en üretken ve aldığı editörlük gibi görevlerle bunu daha fazla pratik edebilmiş, Chicago geleneğiyle yetişmiş, bunun neticesinde yazma eylemini sosyal teoriyle ve metodolojiyle birleştirebilecek biri ve kitabında bunu başarıyor. Keşke tartışmayı daha fazla daha derinleştirseymiş.
Yazma eylemiyle öyle ya da böyle ilgilnen herkese tavsiye ederim.
Bu kitabın başarılı yapan şey yazarının Howard Becker olması herhalde. Howie :) neticede döneminin en üretken ve aldığı editörlük gibi görevlerle bunu daha fazla pratik edebilmiş, Chicago geleneğiyle yetişmiş, bunun neticesinde yazma eylemini sosyal teoriyle ve metodolojiyle birleştirebilecek biri ve kitabında bunu başarıyor. Keşke tartışmayı daha fazla daha derinleştirseymiş.
Yazma eylemiyle öyle ya da böyle ilgilnen herkese tavsiye ederim.
October 19, 2020
He sido ese estudiante problemático que nunca se conforma con versionar una y otra vez la redacción de sus textos. No se me dificulta entender y crear nuevas ideas, pero sí se me dificulta confiar en ellas y en ese mismo sentido, estructurarlas de manera concreta. Pienso que hay una manera correcta de escribir un texto académico; a veces pretendo ser un intelectual y entonces escribo complicado, con una prosa casi ilegible. En el proceso preliminar me extiendo buscando, acumulando material y me dejo abrumar por la bibliografía. He entendido que es parte de mi naturaleza afrontar de tal manera la construcción de textos académicos y, por ende, aceptarlo no significa que deba cambiarla.
Si alguien se despreocupa por la escritura, ya ha logrado esa confianza que necesita el escritor de textos académicos; posiblemente no necesita leer este libro. Pero si a alguien le pasan cosas similares a las que menciono arriba, sin importar la carrera profesional que curse, entonces Howard Becker ciertamente le ayudará a organizar las ideas y superar los bloqueos brindando estrategias, anécdotas, teoría y coraje para superar a gusto ese reto que representa la escritura de un producto académico.
Si alguien se despreocupa por la escritura, ya ha logrado esa confianza que necesita el escritor de textos académicos; posiblemente no necesita leer este libro. Pero si a alguien le pasan cosas similares a las que menciono arriba, sin importar la carrera profesional que curse, entonces Howard Becker ciertamente le ayudará a organizar las ideas y superar los bloqueos brindando estrategias, anécdotas, teoría y coraje para superar a gusto ese reto que representa la escritura de un producto académico.
December 16, 2014
Başarılı bir çalışma. Sosyal bilimcinin işi yalnızca araştırmak değil, araştırmasını anlaşılır bir biçime sokup, okura sunmak. Bunu yapmakta zorlananlar için iyi önerileri var. Pratik tavsiyeler yanında sosyal bilimcilerin neden anlaşılmaz yazma eğiliminde olduğunu çözümleyen bölümler de ilginç. Bilgisayar kullanımına ilişkin bölüm biraz eski kalmış.
Tercümesi de fena değil ama, keşke editörlüğü biraz daha titiz olsaymış. Az da olsa bazı cümleler biraz çeviri kokuyor, anlamak zorlaşıyor.
Tercümesi de fena değil ama, keşke editörlüğü biraz daha titiz olsaymış. Az da olsa bazı cümleler biraz çeviri kokuyor, anlamak zorlaşıyor.
August 2, 2017
Quando li Art's World pela primeira vez, uma das coisas que me chamou atenção foi como o texto era fluído e objetivo. Enquanto avançava na leitura, pensava: "como esse cara escreve bem". Essa impressão se justifica com esse livro de Howard Becker, agora dedicado à escrita. No mundo acadêmico escrever de modo pomposo e embolado é tido como sinal de erudição, muitas vezes, serve também para disfarçar o texto de quem não tem muita coisa a dizer. Ao longo do livro, Becker expõe, explica e dá várias dicas de como escapar desse cacoete da pós-graduação. Foi um tanto frustrante e doloroso me reconhecer nas descrições que eram apresentadas de alunos e professores que se enrolavam com as palavras ou que entram na dança dos apostos e adjetivos sem questionar muito as razões daquele comportamento. A vantagem de Becker é que além de criticar e expor essa situação ele mesmo mostra como sair desse formato, convoca os acadêmicos a darem a cara a tapa e dizerem claramente o que acham, o que sabem e o que não sabem (um explicação em três termos, é verdade, e sim, essa é uma fórmula que é colocada em xeque pelo autor, mas que aqui se mostra necessária, caso eu quisesse confundir e alongar o texto, poderia ter dito que"Becker evidencia com minúcia as sutilezas e sortilégios da produção textual acadêmica inquirindo os agentes componentes desse espaço simbólico a evidenciarem suas incertezas e aspirações quando estas se apresentarem parcamente estruturadas e, tanto quanto possível, a exporem de modo sucinto, claro e objetivo seus achados de pesquisa e suas hipóteses somente quando estas estiverem plenamente refutadas ou confirmadas, ou ainda, de modo ousado e desafiador, sugere que os pesquisadores clarifiquem as lacunas no pensamento e nas suas investigações", uma prova de que se ainda não mudei completamente, estou me esforçando para isso)
March 7, 2024
Al final se me ha hecho un poco repetitivo pero los primeros capítulos me parecen súper útiles e interesantes
January 5, 2017
O autor discorre de forma honesta e instigante sobre as dificuldades da escrita acadêmica, sempre vendo uma razão sociológica por trás do que entendemos por dificuldades pessoais. Além de abrir o seu próprio processo de escrita. No fim de tudo ainda compartilha com o leitor do seu pessimismo quanto ao tipo de texto acadêmico que se produz hoje, com as metas de publicação cobradas pelas instituições.
February 27, 2021
I guess this is a great book to have somewhere near your desk when the reading slum is invading your creative writing process. I would highly recommend it for social scientists but also for other humanoids who are writing about various topics and need a more fluent writing style :)
May 25, 2024
Je comprends désormais la hype de mes profs pour ce mec. Il est génial. Je suis convertie. Et accessoirement, ça m'a largement débloquée pour la rédaction de mon mémoire.
March 2, 2022
Bir sosyolog ve aynı zamanda caz müzisyeni olan Howard S. Becker okuması kolay bir kitap kaleme almış. Sade bir dil, daha çok yazmanın psikolojik yanına odaklanan ve kendince (?) pratik çözümler ile öneriler getiren bir eser. Lâkin beklentilerimi tam olarak karşıladığını söyleyemem. Zaman içinde güncellense de yazıldığı dönem itibarıyla bir miktar demode kalıyor ne yazık ki. Örneğin, "Bilgisayarla Yazmak" bölümü çok işlevsiz günümüz itibarıyla. Yazma motivasyonlarını da doyurucu bir biçimde işlediği kanaatinde değilim. Hacmi itibarıyla daha kapsamlı bir kitap bekliyordum. Aslında kendisi de kitabının son cümlelerinde bunu dile getiriyor ve ilham vermekten ziyade umut verebilmeyi hedefliyorum sözleriyle kitabını noktalıyor.
January 13, 2022
Stubborn. Strong-willed. Hard-headed (in the most literal sense I would discover). Great characteristics in a life or death situation. Not so great when trying to be a successful writer, and by successful I just mean getting any damn thing actually written that’s more than a couple of sentences to throw in a drawer.
I’ve read numerous books on writing. They all gave the same advice. Just write. Easier said than done. See, I’m a perfectionist too, and never once had a teacher or professor taught me how to actually edit my writing. I was just always told it was great, but I knew something was missing. It took this book for one of my husband’s post-graduate Urban Studies classes to fall into my lap. If you, like me, are not in a social sciences field but do some type of writing and have to find a back door method for everything (see above list of personality traits), I can’t recommend this book enough. For 165 pages, Howard Becker was the professor that I always needed but never knew I wanted.
I’ve read numerous books on writing. They all gave the same advice. Just write. Easier said than done. See, I’m a perfectionist too, and never once had a teacher or professor taught me how to actually edit my writing. I was just always told it was great, but I knew something was missing. It took this book for one of my husband’s post-graduate Urban Studies classes to fall into my lap. If you, like me, are not in a social sciences field but do some type of writing and have to find a back door method for everything (see above list of personality traits), I can’t recommend this book enough. For 165 pages, Howard Becker was the professor that I always needed but never knew I wanted.
June 14, 2024
I love this book. It is written by a sociologist and a lot of examples and contexts are quite specific about sociology. However, as a writer, almost everything is just.... on point in general sense. For examples, on how we struggle to start writing:
or how starting anyway and writing our first draft can help us to think better, or how social scientist mostly wants to write in "classy way to sound smart" (😂), being brave to "getting the writings out of the door", or being anxious to deal with literature especially the classic ones.
I take it mostly as a book of wisdom rather than a practical 'how to'. Fun to read but at the end of the day, the suggestions are not extraordinary: just start, don't be afraid to make mistake, no need to be phony, edit-and-repeat, take the risk, get it out of the door 😁
"They were afraid that they would not be able to organize their thoughts, that writing would be a big, confusing chaos that would drive them mad. And they spoke feelingly about a second fear: that what they wrote would be “wrong” and that (unspecified) people would laugh at them."
or how starting anyway and writing our first draft can help us to think better, or how social scientist mostly wants to write in "classy way to sound smart" (😂), being brave to "getting the writings out of the door", or being anxious to deal with literature especially the classic ones.
I take it mostly as a book of wisdom rather than a practical 'how to'. Fun to read but at the end of the day, the suggestions are not extraordinary: just start, don't be afraid to make mistake, no need to be phony, edit-and-repeat, take the risk, get it out of the door 😁
January 4, 2020
The book was overall a relatable and informative read. There were some areas that seem somewhat less relevant today as they may have been when originally written, (The chapter on the merits of using word processors first comes to mind).
The key ideas were clearly expressed and helpful in laying out some of the common pitfalls and anxieties that academic writers often face. I would recommend the first couple chapters to anyone new to the world of academic writing and the final chapter does a particularly good job of summarizing the key points contained within.
The key ideas were clearly expressed and helpful in laying out some of the common pitfalls and anxieties that academic writers often face. I would recommend the first couple chapters to anyone new to the world of academic writing and the final chapter does a particularly good job of summarizing the key points contained within.
January 26, 2021
“Writing for social scientists” è un libro interessante e ricco di spunti per essere in grado di iniziare e portare a termine i propri prodotti accademici. Becker, grazie alla sua lunga esperienza nel l’insegnamento, da alcuni suggerimenti su come poter superare le fasi di stallo che inevitabilmente affliggono la vita degli scienziati sociali. Scritto in maniera chiara, semplice e diretta - come lo stile che suggerisce - cerca di delineare queste problematiche più che questioni di organizzazione del lavoro. Ne farò sicuramente grande tesoro nel futuro. Consigliato!
May 4, 2021
Procurei esse livro depois da indicação do Robson Nascimento.
Gostei muito da abordagem sociológica sobre a escrita acadêmica que o autor adota. Ele transforma nosso modo de ver o processo de produção de artigos e livros em algo mais mundano, manual. Mostra como a visão que temos sobre a escrita é cosntruída socialmente, com muitos viéses.
Essa mudança de visão traz algumas dicas úteis sobre a escrita que me ajudaram bastante.
Gostei muito da abordagem sociológica sobre a escrita acadêmica que o autor adota. Ele transforma nosso modo de ver o processo de produção de artigos e livros em algo mais mundano, manual. Mostra como a visão que temos sobre a escrita é cosntruída socialmente, com muitos viéses.
Essa mudança de visão traz algumas dicas úteis sobre a escrita que me ajudaram bastante.
July 19, 2024
Practical, aspirational and transformative. I wish I had been in the right mindframe and time of life to have read and absorbed this book 5, 10, years ago. But now is always the right time, because I feel keenly the potency and the importance of the skills Becker so freely shares. there are many outdated parts in this book esp around writing technologies, but the advice re how, when to write and to stop writing are timeless and always relevant
September 8, 2018
This is an 'old' book from 1986 - the author writes of the amazing new invention of computers - but it's one of the best books on the writing process I've ever come across. No wonder it's a classic, and in high demand at my library, still.
If you thought that writing should be easy, you need to read this book!
If you thought that writing should be easy, you need to read this book!
July 30, 2020
No esperes un contenido inspirador, Becker no puede cumplir con algo como eso, porque no cree en poder inspirar a nadie, pero puedes encontrar un poco de esperanza en este manual de escritura.
October 7, 2025
Ótima leitura, me ajudou a entender meus problemas com a escrita e a terminar um projeto de mestrado.😶🌫️
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June 18, 2025phd journey begins
March 17, 2021
This is one of the best books about writing and rewriting I have ever read. And not just for social scientists, despite the title. For anyone who writes anything.
It's a) very therapeutic. Because you meet the experience of other people and their fears while writing. You realize that you are "normal". You can relate.
It's b) full of tips. The author uses his classes and the texts he came across the best way. He mines them and gives you the perfect gems of examples and explanations. And he does so while telling stories. Literally, he does not just describe, he actually shows you how the situations went without it being lengthy or boring.
It's c) multi-perspective. The author discusses the topic from the point of artists, undergraduates, young scholars, seasoned scholars, editors... And as (once) a member of many of these categories I could always relate and agreed. The author evidently discussed the topic with multiple people and listened to them and deeply thought about what they said.
There are some points when the books is at a stalemate. (Especially as the end is nearing.) When you read a page or two and wonder what it should have given you since it is too abstract or too philosophical. You can, of course, skip those if you are after the practical stuff. But you won't be bored even if you read those parts about dual types of academic writers (goal-oriented quickies and quality-oriented deadline-deniers), about the six uses of previous literature, or others. No matter the topic, the book is easy and fun to read. Which is great, since this is generally a very practical book.
All in all, 5/5 and definitely read it!
It's a) very therapeutic. Because you meet the experience of other people and their fears while writing. You realize that you are "normal". You can relate.
It's b) full of tips. The author uses his classes and the texts he came across the best way. He mines them and gives you the perfect gems of examples and explanations. And he does so while telling stories. Literally, he does not just describe, he actually shows you how the situations went without it being lengthy or boring.
It's c) multi-perspective. The author discusses the topic from the point of artists, undergraduates, young scholars, seasoned scholars, editors... And as (once) a member of many of these categories I could always relate and agreed. The author evidently discussed the topic with multiple people and listened to them and deeply thought about what they said.
There are some points when the books is at a stalemate. (Especially as the end is nearing.) When you read a page or two and wonder what it should have given you since it is too abstract or too philosophical. You can, of course, skip those if you are after the practical stuff. But you won't be bored even if you read those parts about dual types of academic writers (goal-oriented quickies and quality-oriented deadline-deniers), about the six uses of previous literature, or others. No matter the topic, the book is easy and fun to read. Which is great, since this is generally a very practical book.
All in all, 5/5 and definitely read it!
March 16, 2017
Anyone who has faced the challenges of having to write a paper for college knows exactly how troublesome this task can be. There’s this constant anxiety that keeps growing as the term for the paper gets closer and closer; there’s all the things we do to try to avoid having to face the actual writing; and there’s the fear of not being able to do the task at all, of not finding the right way to write the whole thing down. We get stuck and leave the bulk of the writing for the last minute.
Well, we all have been there. And so common are these problems that Howard S. Becker tries to tackle them all on 10 essays dealing with different difficulties writers face when preparing their papers (or whatever they have to write).
The book is a must read for those who want to overcome the anxieties, fears, and all sort of troubles that accompany the act of writing for institutional settings such as college. Becker shares with us a lot of ideas that may help in different situations; and, most of all, he does a great job in showing that all we go through is not a particular problem of our lack of gifts for writing, but very common stumbling blocks that affects most who are obliged to produce meaningful pieces of writing.
If you are in college and are trying to make the leap forward in how you put your work into writing, don’t miss this book. It will definitely help you improve your skills and confidence.
December 5, 2022
Já tinha sido um alento há alguns anos durante o mestrado. Hoje, mais maduro e (um pouco) menos tomado pelas ansiedades acadêmicas, foi uma leitura ainda mais profunda. O Becker acalma diversas das inquietações da escrita e da pesquisa com uma calma muito grande que, no final das contas, vem de um lugar muito simples: ninguém se importa (ou não deveriam se importar). A estratégia da tempestade de parágrafos e das sucessivas reescritas - pelo menos pra mim - é uma forma eficaz de dar um pouco de ordem ao caos das ideias na cabeça.
February 9, 2010
While this book was written in 1986 and some of the chapters are slightly dated, I still found this book to be pretty useful. It's not a book about how to write the most elegant paragraph; Becker (and the various chapter authors) help you to get past the crap and get to work. Of particular use to me were the sections on "Risk" and "Getting it out the door."
November 27, 2016
Lots to like about this guide to writing. I especially enjoyed his chapter on the way to use academic literature. His metaphor of building a table is brilliant - you can take bits and pieces of others' work when that's useful and use those bits and pieces to craft something new.
September 4, 2017
Helpful in its realm. Not outstanding, but a good little support guide. Best thing I learned from it is the tip to simply let go and start writing whatever comes to your head. Also, a good guest chapter that sums up what it feels like to be in academia and the stress that can cause you to freeze.
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