Petra Boynton Profile picture
Apr 22 4 tweets 3 min read
Today’s #ResearchTip is if you’re writing a substantial piece of work (paper, report, book or dissertation) the help of a writing skills workshop or an editor can vastly improve your tone and messaging. #AcademicTwitter #AcademicChatter #gradschool #MedEd #HigherEd #PhDChat
A lot of us aren’t taught to write at all. And if we are taught it’s to write to a formula for a specific journal. We don’t often get taught basic writing skills, or learn from those whose job it is to communicate with clarity. Reading widely helps, too.
All of us have strengths with how we communicate our research. That might be in how we write and different styles (theoretical, chatty, persuasive, pragmatic). Or in using other ways to share messages including visual and audio options and co-writing with colleagues
Who are your go-to experts or resources on writing?

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More from @DrPetra

Apr 23
Today's #ResearchTip is referencing is not just for work you are directly quoting. If you've read a book, paper or report, or watched a podcast or someone's talk that is directly informing your work THAT needs citing too! #AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter #gradschool #PhDChat
A lot of academics seem to believe if they're sharing other people's ideas but from their perspective, or they aren't using a quote or image directly, then this does not need crediting. It does! If you're passing off someone else's work as your own it's unfair and dishonest.
It's very much an issue that academics, often those with higher profiles, lift work from minoritised scholars and/or those not working in universities. They get credit for stuff that is not their work while the original authors remain unacknowledged and further sidelined.
Read 5 tweets
Apr 22
If you've put all your conferences back in person and aren't allowing any online/remote access options then all those platitudes about EDI and changing the face of academia in response to the pandemic were just for effect, weren't they?
Costly, in person events, while we are *still in a pandemic* and while staff and students are struggling with financial hardship and burnout, alongside carer responsibilities, disabilities and health issues. None of it is fair.
Things conferences do not need to be
- in person
- expensive
- hosted over several days
- requiring international travel
- centred around alcohol
- starting before 10am
- something your work doesn't pay for and you have to claim back
- hosted at inaccessible venues
Read 13 tweets
Apr 22
When staff didn’t get online fast enough they were blamed.
When staff delivered work online they were blamed.
Now staff aren’t delivering f2f teaching and are blamed.
At what point do we recognise the upheaval of the pandemic,the efforts of staff and students, and burnout caused?
Students were not supported by the government during the pandemic and all the while unis allowed staff to be blamed and shamed as exhausted people tried to keep up. Pretending to care about students now feels pretty cynical.
We are still in a pandemic. Staff and student morale and mental health is at an all time low. And yet the Minister for HE and FE takes every opportunity not to say thanks or well done or how can we help you. Instead they never miss a chance to criticise and threaten. What a mess
Read 4 tweets
Feb 12
Today’s #ResearchTip is a reminder that badmouthing is a distressing and destructive form of bullying we need to be alert to in academia. What is it? Find out in the thread ⬇️ #AcademicTwitter #AcademicChatter #gradschool #HigherEd #MedEd #PhDChat #PhDHelp
What is badmouthing? It’s when
- untrue
- unkind
- unfounded
information or rumours about a person are shared by one or more individuals, behind the person being badmouthed’s back.
#AcademicTwitter #AcademicChatter #gradschool #HigherEd #MedEd #PhDChat #PhDHelp
Badmouthing in academia happens for a variety of reasons. Most commonly bullying, but also due to
- bad communication or poor management skills
- passive aggressive behaviour
- jealousy or spite

#AcademicTwitter #AcademicChatter #gradschool #HigherEd #MedEd #PhDChat #PhDHelp
Read 63 tweets
Feb 12
Drug use among students and staff, particularly when self medicating because of the stressors caused/worsened by universities undoubtedly need addressing. Am unsure if/how this proposed plan will centre or undo damage caused by unis themselves.
At this point we have few comprehensive, inclusive or accessible #AcademicMentalHealth policies or practices. We need universities to recognise the role they play in making or maintaining situations. And we need better care and support for exhausted students and staff.
Addressing drug and alcohol use within a context of wellbeing is only going to work if there are structures in place to reduce harms and enable students and staff. That is largely missing and has broken further with the pandemic.
Read 11 tweets
Feb 10
Universities that expect #MentalHealth sessions for students and staff but do not have any budget to pay for this are truly showing how little they value safety and wellbeing. #AcademicChatter #AcademicMentalHealth #AcademicTwitter #gradschool #HigherEd #PhDChat #MedEd
I am asked on a daily basis to write and deliver talks on #AcademicMentalHealth, usually with a matter of days or a week’s notice. With the assumption I can provide this service either for free or a very low fee. It’s a big 🚩 #AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter #HigherEd
This approach from unis is exploitative. If students and staff need training it should be from those who’re experienced and skilled. Whose time and expertise should be appropriately compensated. It mirrors other uni extractive practices. That ironically worsen mental distress.
Read 6 tweets

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