Effortless Brainstorming for Academic Tasks: Unconscious Idea Generation for Essays and Final Assignments
In the realm of academic writing, the concept of "passive work" stands out as an effective approach. This method, primarily utilising the passive voice, is a grammatical structure that shifts the focus from the subject performing an action to the action or the object receiving the action[1][3][5]. By doing so, it maintains an objective, formal tone, avoiding personal pronouns and emphasising results or processes over actors[1][2][3].
Elise Freeman, a blogger and Learning Consultant at McGraw, has shared her insights on this strategy. During her first winter break at Princeton, she found herself overwhelmed with studying, an experience she later discussed in McGraw's podcast, "Making Learning Audible"[2]. To cope, she adopted a method she calls "passive work", which involved stretching out the brainstorming period and tracing the most important themes in her course for easy reference[1].
For efficient essay writing, Elise recommends using passive voice in sections describing methods, results, or general facts to maintain formality and objectivity. She advises omitting the agent when it does not add meaningful information, streamlining sentences, and focusing on what's important. Balancing passive voice with active voice is crucial, as overuse can make writing vague or difficult to read[1][4][5].
Elise suggests using blackboard posts as mini build-ups to potential essay topics. She recommends looking at the syllabus to identify key concepts and taking notes on the readings and class discussions with these themes in mind. To build a framework of her professor's expectations, she advises asking herself what her professor would think the takeaway should be from each class[1].
In the podcast, Elise also discusses resources like Principedia, a resource in McGraw's "Research-based Courses," which aims to improve learning[2]. McGraw also offers individual hour sessions with a student for learning consultations at Princeton[3].
As we transition from virtual learning to an in-person semester, Elise offers tips for a successful academic year under the heading "From Zoom to McCosh Hall." She encourages students to start the semester by identifying key concepts, taking notes, and building a framework of their professors' expectations[1].
In summary, "passive work" in academic writing means strategically using passive voice to create an objective, formal tone that highlights actions or results rather than actors, and this can improve essay clarity and professionalism when applied judiciously[1][3][5]. By adopting Elise Freeman's strategies, students can set themselves up for a productive and successful academic year.
[1] Passive Voice in Academic Writing: A Comprehensive Guide. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.grammarly.com/blog/passive-voice-academic-writing/
[2] Making Learning Audible. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.makinglearningaudible.com/
[3] Learning Consultations. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.mcgraw-hill.com/higher-education/services/learning-consultations/
[4] Balancing Passive and Active Voice in Writing. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.grammarly.com/blog/passive-voice-active-voice-balance/
[5] The Importance of Passive Voice in Academic Writing. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.study.com/academy/lesson/the-importance-of-passive-voice-in-academic-writing.html
Engaging in 'education-and-self-development' through Elise Freeman's strategies can foster 'personal-growth' and learning. For instance, adopting the 'passive work' method, as Elise suggests, can help students streamline their essay writing by focusing on actions or results rather than actors, thereby improving clarity and professionalism in their academic work.
