Got my philosophy essay back today. Grade was fine. Feedback stung: "Your argument is strong but the tone is too emotional. Aim for more detachment."
Detachment? I'm writing about ethics and human dignity. How am I supposed to be detached? These are things I care about. Things that matter. Things that keep me up at night.
I come from a culture where passion is normal. Where we talk with our hands and raise our voices when we care about something. Where "neutral" sounds like you don't care at all. Now I'm supposed to drain all the feeling out of my writing to sound "academic"?
I tried reading sample papers from journals. They're so... dry. Like reading instructions for a dishwasher. No personality. No fire. Is that really what "good" writing looks like?
My roommate (English major) says I need to learn to code-switch. Write one way for school, another way for myself. But that feels fake. Like I'm hiding who I am to fit into a box I didn't build.
How do you keep your voice without losing your grade? How do you sound smart AND sound like you? Any tips from people who've navigated this?
Detachment? I'm writing about ethics and human dignity. How am I supposed to be detached? These are things I care about. Things that matter. Things that keep me up at night.
I come from a culture where passion is normal. Where we talk with our hands and raise our voices when we care about something. Where "neutral" sounds like you don't care at all. Now I'm supposed to drain all the feeling out of my writing to sound "academic"?
I tried reading sample papers from journals. They're so... dry. Like reading instructions for a dishwasher. No personality. No fire. Is that really what "good" writing looks like?
My roommate (English major) says I need to learn to code-switch. Write one way for school, another way for myself. But that feels fake. Like I'm hiding who I am to fit into a box I didn't build.
How do you keep your voice without losing your grade? How do you sound smart AND sound like you? Any tips from people who've navigated this?