Refining Research Representations through Fiction, Journalism, and Creative Non-Fiction Writing Ideas

Authors

Maria Lahman, University of Northern ColoradoFollow
Becky De Oliveira, University of Northern ColoradoFollow
Evan Engle-Newman, University of Northern ColoradoFollow
McKayla Gorman, University of Northern ColoradoFollow
Tiana Johnson, University of Northern ColoradoFollow
Sean Kershaw, University of Northern ColoradoFollow
Thuy Phan, University of Northern ColoradoFollow
Karen Schweihs, University of Northern ColoradoFollow
David Shimokawa, University of Northern ColoradoFollow
Amy Switzer, University of Northern ColoradoFollow
John Sylvester, University of Northern ColoradoFollow
Summer Yoast, University of Northern ColoradoFollow

Abstract

Research accounts have been critiqued as boring and unreasonably difficult to read when the actual research process is deeply fascinating and should be accessible to many. Academic researchers should draw on the creative writing disciplines (e.g., fiction, creative nonfiction, journalism) in order to improve the quality of written research accounts, and there are numerous style guides that give guidance on how to improve the quality of writing. An understanding of different academic disciplines’ style expectations seems to be needed in order to Publish and Persevere, yet literary understandings of writing will allow us to enliven writing in engaging ways. It is important to acknowledge that requiring strict adherence to style guides may be a form of intersectional oppression of race, class, and region that is seldom reflected upon. In this article, the authors review four style guides from the areas of journalism and creative writing, including the classics guides The Elements of Style (Strunk & White, 1959) and On Writing Well (Zinsser, 2006), as well as Thrice Told Tales: Three Mice Full of Writing Advice (Lewis, 2013), a contemporary guide with eye catching graphics, and The Writing Life (1989), literary author Annie Dillard’s reflective thoughts on writing.

Recommended Citation

Lahman, Maria; De Oliveira, Becky; Engle-Newman, Evan; Gorman, McKayla; Johnson, Tiana; Kershaw, Sean; Phan, Thuy; Schweihs, Karen; Shimokawa, David; Switzer, Amy; Sylvester, John; and Yoast, Summer (2021) "Refining Research Representations through Fiction, Journalism, and Creative Non-Fiction Writing Ideas," Journal of Educational Research and Innovation: Vol. 9, Article 2.
Available at: https://digscholarship.unco.edu/jeri/vol9/iss1/2