Liberating Scholarly Writing: The Power of Personal Narrative

by Robert J. Nash

Overview

This book provides an alternative to the more conventional modes of qualitative and quantitative inquiry currently used in professional training programs, particularly in education. It features a very accessible presentation that combines application, rationale, critique, and inspiration--and is itself an example of this kind of writing.

It teaches students how to use personal writing in order to analyze, explicate, and advance their ideas. And it encourages minority students, women, and others to find and express their authentic voices by teaching them to use their own lives as primary resources for their scholarship.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781641135870
Publisher:	Information Age Publishing, Inc.
Publication date:	03/04/2019
Pages:	204
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.43(d)

Table of Contents

	Foreword	vii
	Acknowledgments	ix
1	Personal Narrative Writing Matters	1
	A Brief Interlude: Richard Rorty-A Philosopher on a Mission	10
	A Personal Confession	12
	In Conclusion	21
2	What Is Scholarly Personal Narrative Writing?	23
	Your Own Life Signifies	23
	Hearing the Sound of Your Own Voice	24
	Memoirs, Personal Narrative Essays, and Autobiographies	27
	Just How Personal Does SPN Writing Have to Be?	30
	But Where's the "Truth" in All of This?: A Quick Primer on Postmodernism	32
	But Where's the Scholarship?	42
	Scholarship from a More Personal Angle: To Be a Scholar Is to Be a Lover	46
	A Closing Reflection: Ruth Behar-My Ideal Scholar	48
3	Tentative Guidelines for Writing Scholarly Personal Narratives	52
	The Three Most Common Fears of Writing Personal Narratives	52
	Ten Tentative Guidelines for Writing SPNs	56
	A Closing Reflection: Jane Tompkins-An SPN Writer Extraordinaire	70
4	Narratives of Transition and Self-Empowerment	75
	Confronting the Chasm	75
	Kelly: "A Personal Account of One Athletic Trainer's Journey through the Lessons of Life, Learning, and Teaching"	76
	David: "Embracing Human Suffering-Toward an Emotional Pedagogy"	81
	Joe: "A Lost Season-The Nature, Culture, and Prevention of Athletic Team Hazing"	85
	Pamela: "Living a Life Beyond Fear-A Narrative Exploration of College Career Counseling and Student Affairs Professional Preparation"	90
	Conclusion: Transition and Self-Empowerment	96
5	Narratives of Authenticity and Connection	99
	We Profess Who We Are by the Way We Live Our Lives	99
	Dave: "Who Am I and What Am I Doing Here?-Postmodern Education that Supports Identity in a 'Normal' World"	101
	Patti: "Composing a Pedagogy of Mattering-A Scholarly Personal Narrative on What It Means to Matter in Education"	107
	Doug: "Reconciling the Life of the Spirit with the Life of an Educational Leader-A Personal Account of 25 Years of Policy Work in the Vermont Department of Education"	112
	Lou: "Preparing Holistic Educational Leaders through the Use of Instructional Narrative-A Personal Account of One Principal's Leadership Persona"	119
	Conclusion: Authenticity and Connection	126
	Epilogue	128
6	Writing Ourselves as Educators and Scholars: Controversies and Challenges	130
	Passion, Resilience, and Faith	130
	Ethics: Do We Own Our Own Lives?	131
	Truth: Are Facts the Same as Truth?	136
	Politics: Why Do Certain Discourses Get Privileged in the Academy?	141
	Writing Is Writing: Starting, Sustaining, and Finishing	156
	Notes	161
	Bibliography	167
	Recommended Books on Writing	171
	Index	173
	About the Author	179