Academic Writing.ppt

1、ACADEMIC WRITING,Academic Writing,Writing research Papers,Writing Research Reports,Writing A Graduation Thesis,Step 1 Research and Writing,1. Definition of Academic Writing?,It is writing research papers.,Characteristics of academic?,A scholarly lengthy Exploring an idea Seeking answers,What activit

2、ies does research include?,Identifying and choosing a research topic Locating and reviewing previous research Assimilating others findings Formulating your focus Developing and expressing your ideas clearly And convincingly with supporting materials,2. Major types of research,A. Primary research Als

3、o called “empirical research” or “field research” Through firsthand investigation - by experiment - by interview,B. Secondary research - Also called “library research” By gathering the research findings from other peoples research By analyzing the research findings from other peoples research,3. Maj

4、or features of academic writing,New in content or analysis Well-focused topic Multiple sources Objective in tone,Step 2 Choosing a Topic,1. Criteria of good topics,Topics,you truly like well-focused significant researchable with enough data,2. What are major sources of research topics? Theories of v

5、ariety. Professors or course instructors. Ones experience and interests. Other peoples research.,3. How to choose a topic? A. Choose a subject area according to the requirement of your course for a research paper, or your school for your graduation thesis. B. Identify a research interest or research

6、 topic.,C. Narrow the topic down as much as possible. D. Review the literature on the topic as completely as possible. E. State the problem in a question form. F. Translate or turn your research question into a thesis statement.,Example 1 English Teaching,English Teaching in the Cultural Revolution,

7、20th-Century English Teaching in China,English Teaching in China,English Teaching,First broad topic,Second narrower topic,Third Still narrower topic,Fourth Suitable topic,Example 2 Mark Twain,Expressions of Mark Twains Depression in His Novels,Mark Twains Depression,Psychology of Mark Twain,Mark Twa

8、in,First broad topic,Second narrower topic,Third Still narrower topic,Fourth Suitable topic,Step 3 Reviewing Related Literature,1. Discover related sources A. Background sources basic information, usually you can find this in dictionaries, encyclopedias and reference books,B. Original sources works

9、of scholars in the field C. Critical sources Book reviews, essays, and journal articles about the issue.,2. Searching strategies,Choose primary sources rather than secondary sources. Choose sources written in English. Choose sources that give a variety of viewpoints on your thesis. Choose sources th

10、at cover the topic in depth.,(5) Choose sources written by acknowledged experts. (6) Choose the most current sources (7) Choose the most relevant sources as you narrow gown or shape your thesis. (8) Get all the information of your sources.,3. Evaluating materials,Evaluating materials at three stages

11、: Before you read When you read After you read Based on above stages, writing a literature review.,Step 4 Style and Mechanics,Academic writing style. Use standard language. Usually, write in third person. Use full name or surnames alone when referring to individuals. Write a specifically as possible

12、. Avoid biased words. Use direct quotations very sparingly in your thesis.,2. Language focus: citation and tenses,(1) Citation - either direct or indirect way. - do not just string together a series of quotations and paraphrases. - do not over quote. - if more than three lines, indent long quotation

13、.,(2) Tense choice,Pattern I reference to single studies : past Pattern II - reference to areas of inquiry : present perfect Pattern III reference to state of current knowledge: present,3. Tips on mechanics,What does mechanics include? Spelling, abbreviation, hyphenation, italics, titles of works, c

14、apitalization, numbers, enumeration, and other technical matters.,Step 5 Documentation,What does documentation mean in academic writing? Work of citing sources Work of listing sources,1. Purpose of documentation,To acknowledge the contributions of the previous research. To give access to verifying the validity of the interpretation in the thesis. To provide the readers with accurate references to the original literatur