英语学术论文写作

1、1,英语学术论文写作english for academic writing,he kangmin tel:e-mail:,2,the purposes of learning this course,1. learn how to write english academic dissertation for bachelor degree dissertation in arts 2. learn and grasp the fundamentals of english academic writing 3. try to think and write dis

2、sertation in english and overcome the bad habit for translating chinese into english word by word 4. lay down solid foundation for writing qualified dissertation,3,the format of dissertation,1. title page 2. table of contents 3. chinese abstract and key words 4. english abstract and key words 5. int

3、roduction 6. the body of dissertation 7. conclusion 8. bibliography 9.appendix,4,chapter 1 introduction to academic writing,1.reasons to engage in scientific research it is favor of career development it is forced by scientidic and academic development it is the personal interest to explore the worl

4、d it is used for solving practical problems it is required by technological development it is used for academic exchange,5,2.basic types of academic paper,(1) in terms of disciplines philosophy-the traditional discipline natural science-required by natural science development social science-required

5、 by social science development,6,(2) in terms of the reasoning,research papers which are conducted both in lab or social/economic situation reports which are conducted in terms of investigation and observation,7,(3) in accordance with research purposes,academic journal articles academic conference p

6、apers term papers theses dissertations,8,3. structure of an academic paper,in accordance with the modern language association (mla) format library research paper consists of title page, outline, abstract, main body, notes, appendix and references experimental research paper are made up of title, int

7、roduction, methods and materials, analysis of results, discussions and references.,9,structure of the papers published in china,chinese and english titles chinese and english abstract chinese and english keywords the body references appendix,10,the papers for published outside china,title abstract i

8、ntroduction the body conclusions and recommendations acknowledgement references appendix,11,4. characteristics of academic writing,objectivity-without personal intention or bias clarity-fluent and no vague meaning coherence-all parties are relevant and logic accuracy-without grammar, spelling and pu

9、nctuations errors the languages plainness and precision distinguish it from other discourse types and is reflected in the following two respects:,12,(1) features on the lexical level,terminology technical terms abound in est, for example, “fungus” and “atom”. nominalization (名词化) abstract nouns are

10、frequently used for clarity, for example, “ammonia” (制冷） is substituted with “refrigeration”. abbreviation short forms and abbreviations are often found in est for economy and brevity, e.g. “radar” and “aids”. use of single verbs single verbs are used instead of verbal phrases for formality and prec

11、ision, e.g. “investigate” for “looking into”, “eliminate” for “get rid of”.,13,(2) features on the syntactical (句法的)level,long complex sentence long complex sentences are used for accuracy to explain complicated ideas clearly and precisely. simple-present tense simple-present tense describes natural

12、 phenomena, processes and rules and makes explanations vivid and timeless”. passive voice passive voice is frequently used to convince the reader of the objectivity of the description. non-finite verbs participles, infinitives and gerunds are frequently used in est. e.g. traveling at the speed of li

13、ght, it takes two millions years to reach the nearest galaxy.,14,procedures of academic writing,step 1: choice of topic choose a rough proposal limit the topic to a plausible one step2: collection and evaluation of data collect books, journals and research articles evaluate data collected photocopy

14、data prepare notes and bibliography cards step 3: development of outline decide on organization of paper arrange notes by subheadings develop paper outline,15,continued,step 4: writing study and follow outline for first draft make adjustments as needed step 5: revision, editing and references revise

15、 content and organization adjust style and tone correct diction, spelling, grammar, punctuation as necessary step 6: preparation of abstract observe abstract word limit ensure accuracy, brevity and clarity highly signaled step 7: preparation of final details assemble all parts make final revision pr

16、epare references section write acknowledgements,16,definition of thesis paper,the thesis paper (or term papers) is usually a paper assigned as a major part of the course requirement. if it does not require the use of outside sources, laboratory experimentation, or questionnaire analysis, then it is

17、not a research paper. it is, then, generally a paper that may require student to do some original thinking or evaluation. in english, for instance, it might be the close study of a text or the writing of a short story or simply a summary of some outside reading.,17,definition of research paper,the r

18、esearch paper, on the other hand, is quite different. it requires the utilization of outside sources. laboratory experimentation, statistical analysis, and any and all other means that will enable the researcher to find the solution to the problem that he or she has set for himself or herself and to

19、 present his or her knowledge in a well-written and coherent paper.,18,why research papers,ideally, the researched thesis paper is supposed to make one an authority on some area of an overall topic. hence, it should incorporate an exhaustive search of any material that has been written on this given

20、 topic. furthermore, the research should only be undertaken by the student who has already shown some interest in the subject. unfortunately, sometimes, this can not be easily achieved.,19,the benefits of researched paper,1.the researched thesis paper affords students the wonderful opportunity to ga

21、in knowledge in different aspects of the subject being studied. 2. it enables students to move into tangential areas, to increase knowledge, to sharpen insights, and to make new discoveries.,20,the value of researched paper,1.research is certainly one of the important tools of an educated person. 2.

22、 it is an essential part of humanitys continuing desire to gain insights into and an understanding of the world. 3. students must be given the tools with which they can continue to reach toward this ideal.,21,1.2 reasons for the research paper,1.the experience familiarizes the students with the conv

23、entions of the footnote, the bibliography, the ethics of research, and the rudiments (基本原理 ) of scholarly writing. 2.students become familiar with the library through the “the learn by doing” method. the ability to use a library is a priceless skill, because sooner or later everyone needs to find ou

24、t about something. 3. writing the research paper teaches an appreciation for the intricacies and difficulties of research.,22,additional benefits,there are other benefits besides, writing the research paper is a complicated and trying exercise in logic, imagination, and common sense. as students chi

25、p away at the mass of data and information available on their chosen topics, they learn how to think how to organize how to discriminate between worthless and useful opinions how to summarize the gist of wordy material how to budget their time,23,types of research,research generally falls into two c

26、ategories, library and experimental. although these are by no means mutually exclusive, the first type of research is one in which no experimental design is set up, where information is obtained primarily from a search of written materials. the latter is primarily a “laboratory” study.,24,library re

27、search,library research requires a search of written materials. this search is usually limited to books and articles that are readily available in the library. for the preparation of theses and dissertations, the search focuses on primary sources and requires a thorough search of all sources that mi

28、ght contain information about the chosen topic. furthermore, the researcher may well have to become a sleuth,（侦探) tracking down any and all leads,（踪迹）such as church and civil records, property transactions, personal correspondence, and even archaeological（考古学的） evaluations.,25,experimental research,

29、the experimental paper focuses more on experimentation and /or observation. you must first prepare a statement of problems to be solved, and then set up an experimental design where you will create your control and experimental groups. this holds true whether the research is being conducted in eithe

30、r the social or physical science. based on a careful record of your observations, you will then analyze the data, statistically if possible, and draw conclusions.,26,chapter 2 research topic,part one choosing a title 1. introduction the importance of choosing a title is a self-evident. it is the sta

31、rting point of scientific research, determining the academic value of scientific research and bearing on the success or failure of thesis writing. the title can indicate the perspective, the direction and scale of the paper. in addition, the academic value of the paper, in a sense, is determined by

32、the title. after extensive analysis, synthesis, and repeated deliberation, the issues the author raises reflect the authors academic standard at the time and the potential value of the paper. as for the success or failure of the paper, choosing a topic is also a key step. if the title is too broad o

33、r too difficult, it may be inadequate to meet the publication requirements. for this reason, the writer should be cautious in the title selection. a careful assessment of the relevant factors of topics must be made, the principles and methods of title selection should be understood, and then an appr

34、opriate topic can be chosen.,27,2. principles of title selection,(1) value principle the topic can not be a subject of simple common sense, but rather one of research value. is it of scientific value? does it meet the needs of a certain community? does it plays a catalytic role for social developmen

35、t and scientific progress? does it add to human knowledge? does it contribute to the academic growth of the researchers?,28,(2)scientific principle,the paper must be scientific, that is, scientific methods must be applied in conducting research, interpreting findings and drawing conclusions. the aim

36、 is to explore the truth and reveal the laws. writing should be based on the facts with strict logic and convincing conclusion.,29,(3) innovative principle,innovation is the soul of scientific research, which is reflected in the novelty and uniqueness in selection of the title, research methods, res

37、earch perspective and results. is the title in the forefront of research and development? are the research methods unique? is the research perspective novel? are there any new discoveries or new ideas? these are the requirements of the innovative principle in choosing a topic. the main strengths of

38、innovation lie in opening new areas, having interdisciplinary application, revealing new perspectives and new methods, and advancing knowledge on the basis of previous research.,30,(4) feasibility principle,subjective and objective conditions should be fully taken into account in order to choose pra

39、ctical titles. in the process of topic selection, some topics must be specifically avoided. for example, do not choose studious or pedantic (学究式的) topic, nor too personal or too outdated topics, or topics with few available research materials.,31,finding the right topic,one of the major problems con

40、fronting students is what to research. if possible, you should choose a topic in which you are interestedat least one that seems to hold the promise of being beneficial to you. this is not to say, of course, that you should shy away from anything that is not in the immediate realm of your knowledge

41、or experience. on the contrary, the researched term paper will offer you the opportunity to explore new areas. but there must be at least some glimmer（一丝光线） of interest on your part, for nothing can be more boring than spending months on a subject in which you have no interest.,32,furthermore, there

42、 must be some purpose and use for the research. research for its own sake can not be justified under any conditions. it seems that much that passes for research today serves no more other function than to fill up pages. the research must make a definite contribution, if not to the general body of kn

43、owledge, at least to the knowledge of the researcher.,33,how to limit your topic?,once your topic has been selected, it must be limited so that it can be treated thoroughly and in depth. before limiting a topic, however, you must be aware of several factors that will affect the limitationword limita

44、tion, preparation time, library facilities, and audience, etc. lets look at each of these individually. the audiencethe readers for whom the paper is being writtenplays an important role in the limitation and treatment of the topic. you should not assume that the paper is being written for the sole

45、benefit of the instructor and simply to pass the course.,34,how knowledgeable are they about the topic,sometimes, when we are writing the research paper, we should ask ourselves following questions: (1) how old are the members of the audience? (2) what is their education level? (3) is the research b

46、eing written for possible inclusion in a professional journal or in a lay magazine?,35,factors considered,1.the availability of material and the extensiveness of library facilities are also important factors to consider before limiting the topic. 2. amount of time for the preparation and submission

47、of the final draft is another important factor to consider. all of these factors must be taken into account before you can make an intelligent choice and limit your topic appropriately.,36,one thought about topic limitations,until library search has been completed, any limitation is tentative and su

48、bject to change. primarily, if you find a book dealing with the topic in terms of the limitations you have placed on it, you should not continue with the proposed research. for, at best, you would be presenting no more than a critical review of the text. secondly, if your library search reveals that

49、 there is insufficient information available on your topic, you may need to broaden the topic again. also, if there is too much material available to be adequately dealt with within the word limitation, then you need to limit the topic even further.,37,once you have decided, based on the aforementio

50、ned (上述的) criteria, on your limited topic and discussed with your instructor, you are now ready to proceed with the preparation of a researched thesis paperthe library search.,38,methods for choosing a title,(1) consult your professor or an expert because of their greater knowledge and expertise, ex

51、perts and professors in general have a grasp of the macro status of academic research. turning to them with an open mind for advice is very likely to reveal research projects at the forefront and hot issues, thereby narrowing the scope of topics that would need to be considered.,39,(2)participate in

52、 academic conferences and academic lectures,academic conferences provide a platform for academic exchanges. scholars usually take this chance to exchange experience and academic research and acquire the latest information of research. likewise, researchers often report on their recent research resul

53、ts in lecture. so in a sense lectures represent the forefront of the latest research or potential research directions. through these two sources, we can fully learn the academic development and the cutting-edge (前沿) research topics other scholars are engaged in so as to broaden our own horizon for r

54、esearch ideas.,40,(3) select from puzzling (困扰的) problems,the essence of academic research lies not only in learning but also in enquiring academic questions to be answered, some of which are very valuable research topics.,41,(4) read books and newspapers,in the course of reading, doubts and respons

55、es arise and hidden research topics can be found. researchers should make note of them as they read and then conduct the research later. otherwise, these good ideas may be forgotten. it is difficult to recall them without a record.,42,(5) choose from your own interests,as the saying goes, interest i

56、s the best teacher. academic interest helps scholars maintain a strong thirst for knowledge and lasting enthusiasm for studies so as to do a better job. anyone can become an expert in certain field as long as they persist in their chosen field of study.,43,(6)literature review,search and read the li

57、terature, especially bibliographic indices of papers, publications, bibliographies, etc., which help find topics for study. if there is no particular subject of interest at hand, searching bibliographies and topic-related literature is a good way to find one. the help narrow the scope of the study a

58、nd find research topics and suggest worthwhile research topics in the “further study” section at the end of the research report.,44,ways to narrow down titles,a research novice usually chooses too broad a topic. a good way to avoid this problem is to choose a general topic first and then narrow it t

59、o a smaller and more feasible topic, for example: (1) chemistry chemical processes improving chemical processes oxygen in improving chemical processes role of oxygen in improving chemical processes (2) literature literature criticism literature criticism in cambridge development of literature critic

60、ism at cambridge the tradition and development of literature criticism at cambridge,45,purposes of title,(1) attracting the readers attention title should be concise, accurate and clear so as to attract potential readers attention and stimulate their interest. (2) aiding in information retrieval tit