Why did you want to work together?

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I was recommended to Jaye by my friend when I was beginning to write my Master thesis. This was my first time undertaking such a long-form research project, with a target length of between 15000 and 20000 words, and honestly, I feel worried about whether I can manage it. Coupled with English not being my first language, I was also concerned that my writing may not always be as precise or clear as I would like, especially in terms of word choice and structuring arguments. 

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We initially began by having classes merely once a week, because I wanted to spend more time developing my theoretical framework, refining my research questions, and organising my preliminary analysis on my own before seeking more feedback. During the earlier session, Jaye did more than just correct my language but acted as a critical reviewer, consistently challenging my arguments and prompting me to think more deeply and critically. So later, I decided to meet Jaye more often, like twice or even three times a week. Her guidance really helped me transform fragmented ideas into coherent, well-structured arguments and significantly improved the clarity of my thesis. 

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What benefits has writing played in your life?

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Writing always helps me sort out my feelings and thoughts in my personal life. Whenever I feel overwhelmed, confused, or emotionally drained, I usually grab a pen and write down whatever comes to mind. It’s a simple but effective way for me to release stress and clear my head.

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When I apply writing to my study field - political science - it helps me step outside of my own assumptions and see issues from different perspectives. Trying to explain something clearly on paper often shows me that the situation is more complex than I first thought, and writing allows me to look at the bigger picture and understand the full landscape of an issue, rather than focusing on just one angle. Sometimes my arguments also change over time, and when I look back at my older writing pieces, I can see how my understanding has developed or shifted. In my opinion, it is a positive thing, because I can see how my thinking continues to evolve. 

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What are you reading at the moment? 

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I've been reading two books recently. One is a novel called The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong. It tells the story of an unexpected friendship between a young, troubled adult and an elderly widow. I’m really into this kind of writing, where I can relate to other people’s experiences. Ocean Vuong’s language is particularly beautiful. I assume it might be because he used to be a poet and turned to writing novels, so you can sense the elegance and emotional depth in his description.

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Another book I’m reading is an academic one called Killing Neighbors: Webs of Violence in Rwanda by Fujii Lee. Actually, this is my second time reading it, as it engages with more socio-political theory, complex research design and methodology, which takes time to understand. Fujii explores the complexity of group violence in its social context, drawing on the Rwandan genocide. Even though I don’t know much about African politics and it’s not within my main field of knowledge, I genuinely love this book and it literally blows my mind. Highly recommended! 

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What did we work on together and how was the collaboration helpful?

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We worked together on my Master’s thesis, which focused on China’s textbook reform. We began by discussing the overall structure of the thesis, clarifying the research question, and refining the central argument. From there, we worked systematically through each chapter - introduction, literature review, theoretical framework, research design, analysis, and conclusion - ensuring that each section was logically connected and contributed coherently to the overall argument.

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Throughout the process, the collaboration was particularly helpful in strengthening the clarity and consistency of my argumentation. I was encouraged to think more critically about my theoretical positioning and justify my methodological choices more carefully. Jaye’s feedback not only improved the precision of my writing but also deepened my analytical thinking.

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What improvements do you hope to make to your writing in the short term? And what are your goals longer term?

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In the short term, my main goal is to make my writing clearer and more concise, and to ensure that my arguments are logically structured and easy to follow. I often have many insights and ideas, whether drawn from real-life observations or my casual reading. However, I sometimes find it challenging to transform these rough, fragmentated thoughts into well-organized and coherent arguments. Developing the ability to structure my ideas more effectively is what I am currently focusing on.

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Since I intend to pursue a PhD in the future, once I have further developed my research interests, I also hope to strengthen my academic writing in the long term. I hope to integrate stronger theoretical lenses into my writing and produce journal-level articles that are ready for publication. So, constructing arguments that are grounded in theory, supported by evidence, and strategically organized would be my ambitious goal. I understand that this will be a gradual process, but it is a goal I am committed to pursuing. 

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Do you think writing helps you to think critically? Why or why not?

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Yes, I do believe that writing helps me think more critically. Writing is not merely a process of expressing ideas but a process of clarifying and refining them. When I begin to write, I often notice gaps or weaknesses in my arguments that I did not recognise at first. So, this actually pushes me to think more deeply, reconsider my assumptions, and strengthen the logic behind my claims.

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Honestly, I don’t think there would be a perfect argument without any bias or limitation. Every book or academic article often concludes with acknowledged limitations. However, writing definitely allows us to move closer to stronger and more rigorous reasoning. The purpose of writing is not simply to arrive at a final conclusion, but to engage carefully and honestly with evidence, counterarguments, and alternative perspectives. And this process is, to my understanding, how critical thinking works. 

Thank you Evan!