论文写作Lecture 6

1、Lecture SixWriting Introdution1. General functions of the introduction Specifically, an effective introduction usually performs the following functions: 1) Introducing the topic; 2) Limiting the research scope / issue in question; 3) Stating the research purpose; 4) Indicating the overall structure

2、of the research paper.2. Logic of an effective introduction A logical arrangement of the introduction wins credit for the whole paper. Usually, a good introduction has the following logic: 1) WHAT is the problem? Describe the problem to be investigated; Summarize relevant studies to provide context,

3、 key terms, and concepts so that your reader can understand the study.2) WHY is it important? Review relevant studies to provide the retionale for the current study; What issue or unanswered question, untested population, untried method in existing research does your study address? What findings by

4、others are you challenging or querying? State clearly the need for the study, practical, theoretical or methodological.3) HOW do you address it? Briefly describe your hypothesis or research question(s); Briefly describe your general research design or method, justify the method you propose to use if

5、 alternatives exist; State the significance of the study.3. Structure of the introduction The introduction part is usually short, but it should contain sufficient information for the reader to get an overall picture of the study. The introduction part usually includes the following four components (

6、or sections): 1) Background of the study; 2) Need for the study; 3) Significance of the study; 4) The overall structure of the thesis.3.1 Background of the study It is important to offer a description of your research subject at the beginning. Then you should narrow down and get focused on your rese

7、arch topic. In other words, in writing this part, you should go from general to specific, i.e., from introducing the historical background of the study to recent development in this field. This is to answer the question WHAT has been done?, leading up to the next question WHAT still needs to be stud

8、ied?3.2 Need for the study After the introduction of the background and recent development of the research topic, the next step is to explain the rationale, i.e., WHY your study is worth undertaking. You should be able to demonstrate your knowledge about the topic, and establish the research gap so

9、as to justify the need for your study.3.3 Significance of the study Following the question WHY is the question HOW, that is, how your are going to conduct the present study. It usually includes a briefing of the research question(s), the setting, the participants, and the method, etc. In addition to

10、 providing the context, arguing that your study is worth investigation (because of the research gap you have identified), and specifying your research question(s) and research design, the introduction part usually needs to convince your reader that your efforts will contribute to the knowledge of yo

11、ur subject area in one way or another, i.e., your study is significant in certain ways. In a graduation thesis, the significance of the study is often a necessary part on the introduction part, usually following a brief description of the investigation. It answers the question SO WHAT? Usually, the

12、study is significant because it has practical, theoretical or methodological value. A study is claimed to have practical value if it can solve certain practical problems, or offer some practical solutions, for example, to help improve the teaching and learning of a second language; The theoretical v

13、alue can be achieved when a study can confirm or refute a theory, or modify existing theories, or clarify a controversial issue, or develop a new model, or enrich the understanding of a phenomenon; A study can also have methodological value when it adopts a different method, or improves the existing

14、 method(s).3.4 The overall structure of the study It is often explicitly labeled as Organization of the study / thesis; Outline of the chatpers / study / thesis; Overview of the study / thesis; Structure of the study / thesis. Though it is optional to highlight the global structure, the thesis would

15、 be much more accessible to its readers if it does include such a section, which not only lists the major chapters in the thesis, but also presents the logical relations between them. Generall, the simple present tense is employed in this part of writing.4. Typical expressions used in Introduction T

16、he following expressions are useful when you establish a field (introducing the topic): In recent years, researchers have become increasingly interested in . Recently, there has been an increasing interest in . The theory that has proved to be of great importance to . Many investigators have recentl

17、y turned to . When you point out the limitations of the previous studies, you may use the following expressions (leading to research gap): Until now, none of the studies have shown . However, few studies are convincing to interpret . However, little research has made valuable conributions to . These

18、 findings suggest that this treatment might not be so effective when applied to . It would seem, therefore, that further investigations are needed in order to . The following expressions are useful when you state the objective of your research (describing your study): The aim / objective of the pres

19、ent study is to . This present study is aimed at finding . The purpose of the paper is to . The focus of the thesis is on . The paper reports the results obtained in . Useful expressions for stating the significance of the study: This study may promise implications for both classroom teachers and cu

20、rriculum designers in that . Investigation will also have practical implications. First, .; Second, . Pedagogically, the findings of the present study will enable . The results of this research may be able to better inform teachers about, and provide guidance to . Findings in this study may shed new

21、 insights on / enrich our understanding of . The findings of the present study may be of some help to .5. Common problems in writing Introduction 1) Lengthy explanations of common knowledge Although appropriate background information is necessary in the beginning section of your thesis, you are not

22、supposed to explain common knowledge to your reader. 2) Lack of proper citations You should demonstrate that you base your study on a solid foundation of relevant studies. 3) The significance of the study is either not stated or overclaimed The present study will wield important influence on Sino-US

23、 communication and even Sino-US relations. 4) Overuse of personal pronouns As a type of formal writing, theses are supposed to describe and analyze a phenomenon objectively. To meet this end, personal pronouns should be avoided as much as possible in organizing research papers. In Chapter Four, I re

24、port the results .; In Chapter Five, I interpret . 5) Lack of transitions The description of the overall structure should not merely a bundle of isolated sentences. Chapter One gives a brief introduction . Chapter Two reviews . Chapter Three renders . Chatper Four reports . Chapter Five summarizes .

25、 6) Improper capitalization Chapter one .; chapter two . Chapter three . 7) Lack of variety This thesis is devided into six chapters. Chapter One is introduction, . Chapter Two is literature review, . Chapter Three is introducing . Chapter Four is describing . Then is Chapter Five, which . In the en

26、d, Chapter Six is the part of conclusion .The first chapter gives a brief introduction to the objective and significance of the study, together with a statement of the overall structure of the thesis. It is followed by a review of related literature on the discourse features of news interviews, the

27、requirement of cooperation between the participants in the interviews, and the interviewees evasive practices. Chatper Three contextualizes the present research in the framework of Brown and Levinsons Politeness Theory and prepares an empirical background for the examination of evasion in a Chinese interview program. The next chapter reders a complete description of the research design including the research questions, the data source, and data collection and analysis. The results yielded in the investigation are presented in Chap