May 16, 2023 08:00:00

The claim that when writing sentences, the word 'I' should be used more and written from a first-person perspective

Many people try to write sentences as objectively as possible when they want to assert something, recommend good things, or educate and explain something. However, Peter

Ellerton , a critical thinking lecturer at the University of Queensland in Australia, points out that there are cases where drawing subjectively from a first-person perspective makes it more rational and academic. , ``I should use the word I (I) more when writing sentences.''

We should use 'I' more in academic writing – there is benefit to first-person perspective
https://theconversation.com/we-should-use-i-more-in-academic-writing-there-is-benefit-to-first-person-perspective-131898

Some argue that starting a sentence with 'I', or writing in the first person, makes the sentence too subjective, while others say it is essential for accuracy. Especially in texts with a strong academic nature, such as academic papers, the author's role is to calmly and objectively explain the discussion, so the author's personal opinion may not be sought. However, according to Mr. Ellerton, the movement to incorporate the first person perspective is being accepted in academic societies, and using the first person is more meaningful than just objective sentences, and sometimes strictness may come out.

Ellerton lists three categories of situations where first-person lighting is particularly effective over third-person lighting.

・When a scholar expresses a personal opinion or assertion
For example, if you claim that 'first person writing is better in three categories,' rather than saying, 'there are three categories,' I will list three categories. Mr. Ellerton points out that sentences with me (I) as the subject are desirable, such as 'will give three categories)'. If you say 'there are,' you claim to have discovered some objective fact, but if you say, 'I will give,' you say, 'I will give you a more intellectually honest and accountable “One approach,” Ellerton interprets.

In the case of writing to discover objective facts, there is no problem if it is self-evident without doubt, but if it includes your own opinion, it will give the position more objectivity than necessary. Likewise, Mr. Ellerton says that expressions that use passive voice such as ``determined'' are not preferable as ``expressions that avoid responsibility'' when concluding the claim that there is room for discussion.

In fact, the well-known scientific journal '

Nature ' prefers authors of papers to avoid the passive voice, and Nature's writing guidelines state that 'Nature journals prefer authors to write in the active voice (first-person perspective). This is 'Experience has shown that writing directly in the active voice rather than indirectly in the passive voice conveys concepts and results to the reader more clearly.'

・Where the author's perspective is included in the analysis
In some areas of research, it is recognized that 'who is doing the research and why they are doing it should be clearly indicated in the presentation of the research.' This is because eliminating the author's existence may leave important cultural or other perspectives held by the author unexamined. Then the text and other interpretations are excluded from any interpretative position of the author. Such a state is called 'crisis of representation' in the academic field.

If the content obtained by analysis is not depicted in the first person, it will not be accurately conveyed that it is 'knowledge obtained by analysis', and it will give the wrong impression of objectivity. Mr. Ellerton quoted the words of American philosopher Thomas Nagel in his book ' A View from Nowhere, ' which describes how philosophy should be practiced from the standpoint of objectivity and subjectivity. There is no visible scenery,' he points out the danger of using objectivity.

A view from nowhere | Thomas Nagel, | Amazon

・A place where the author wants to show an inference
When Ellerton teaches his students science, critical thinking, and philosophy, he teaches them that 'the most assertive phrase is 'I strongly believe...''. It seems that By starting with the assertion 'I believe', the reader or listener will ask, 'Why do you believe it?' I have.

Writing from a first-person perspective helps develop critical thinking, such as evaluating one's own ideas using appropriate criteria of reasoning and examining the structure of arguments to assess the strength of arguments. Helpful. In Australia, the education of critical thinking is emphasized, and one of the important strategies for cultivating critical thinking in students is to have students make inferences and clarify the inference path. Mr. Ellerton explains that 'mapping' is an important tool.

Academic papers, columns, essays, and literary works are not always written in the first or third person, but sometimes they use the first person, and sometimes they use the third person perspective. Also, just because it was written in the first person once does not mean that the entire sentence should be considered in the first person perspective. Authors always have nuances in how they approach writing, and readers also ask whether the author 'puts himself in the background' or 'emphasizes his voice.' Ellerton says we need to recognize when