Autoethnographies of Maturation in Academic Writing: Experiences from AWAC

This chapter takes an autoethnographic approach to the issue of academic maturation as experienced by two Ph.D. students taking part in an international project called Academic Writing Across Continents (AWAC). By using diary entries and a Moodle discussion forum to articulate the processes involved in the production of academic work, a rich corpus was obtained on which autoethnographic research in academic maturation could be conducted. The authors compiled the diary entries to form a dialogue. The segments presented here demonstrate a reflective awareness of the elements that contribute to the development of academic maturation: identity construction, voice and authority, and a Community of Practice. These emerge where there is a shared interest in overcoming the obstacles to the process of academic production and a commitment to consistent interaction. The narratives are followed by self-reflexive interpretations that position them within a broader context of theoretical research. The authors hope the chapter will provide insight into common hazards of the academic production process.