Writing tips
0 likes88 views
This document provides guidance on various aspects of academic writing structure and content, including: - Choosing a topic that interests the reader and fits assignment guidelines. - Components of an introduction such as the purpose, background, and overview of what will be discussed. - Conducting an initial literature review to provide context and justification for the research. - Describing materials, procedures, data analysis, and limitations in the methods section. - Additional tips for writing introductions and avoiding overgeneralizations. - The importance of proofreading the final paper to fix errors before submission.
Writing tips
- 1. Krishan K Pandey (PhD) Professor & Director ODS, O. P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat Haryana, India www.krishanpandey.com
- 2. Conventional article structure (AIMRD) Abstract Introduction Materials and methods Results and Discussion
- 5. 01 CHOOSING THE RIGHT TOPIC AND NARROWING IT If outside sources must be used, make sure there are enough credible sources available Make sure the topic fits the guidelines for the essay Choose a topic that interests you and the reader
- 6. TIP: One can't write a good introduction until you know what the body of the paper says. Consider writing the introductory section(s) after you have completed the rest of the paper, rather than before. Be sure to include a hook at the beginning of the introduction. 02 INTRODUCTION OF YOUR ACADEMIC WRITING • You should draw the reader in and make them want to read the rest of the paper. In the introductory part you may include: • The purpose why the study was undertaken (without repeating the abstract) • Sufficient background information to allow the reader to understand the context and significance of the question you are trying to address. • Explain to the reader what will be discussed in the body part of your paper and what not. • The methods and techniques you are using. • Averbal “the table ofcontents” guiding the reader to what lies ahead
- 7. Introduction The Background to the Study This section sets the scene for a naive reader who knows nothing about your research. The Significance of the Study This section states why it is important to do the research. The Purpose of the Study or a Statement of the Problem This section states, in about a paragraph, what you expect to achieve by doing this research or what problem gave rise to the research. This problem statement may be presented in broad terms in qualitative studies. Research Questions These are unambiguous questions that the research is designed to answer.
- 9. 03
- 10. The first phase of the literature review should be brief but give the reader enough information to understand the context of the proposed research. It may include references to previous findings and specific studies similar to the current study, and to relevant methodology. A good literature review: 1. includes all literature that is relevant to justifying the proposed research; 2. does not include literature that is irrelevant to justifying the proposed research; 3. supports undertaking the proposed research; 4. avoids speculation and unsubstantiated statements; 5. is critical (a critical review does not merely accept previous authors’ conclusions, but weighs them carefully, examining them on the basis of the weaknesses and strengths in the methodologies of the studies being reviewed); 6. is organised under subheadings 7. forms a connected argument; and 8. has a summary at the end.
- 11. Instruments or materials or apparatus or equipment: The name of this section will depend on the type of research you are doing. It should include any equipment that you will need for the research and/or tests, questionnaires or interview schedules. Information regarding the reliability and validity of instruments to be used in the research should also be included in this section. Procedure This section describes, step by step, how you will collect the data. Data Analysis This section describes how you will use the data you collect. It is often useful to organise this section according to the research questions, explaining how you will analyse the data to answer each question. This section must be planned before any data is collected, otherwise it may be impossible to analyse the data in such a way as to answer the questions. 04
- 12. • Limitations You are expected to be aware of any weaknesses in your research and show evidence of attempts to overcome them. • References Students should consult their Supervisor regarding the choice of the most appropriate referencing style for their discipline. It is recommended that students use the EndNote or other bibliographical software so that the reference list is generated automatically by the software. 05
- 13. Additional tips for Introduction of your paper Do not overuse facts without rendering an opinion or any analysis. Implementing too many facts will produce a dry, lifeless introduction and will overshadow your own voice as a writer. Do not repeat similar ideas. Your audience will notice that you are not saying anything new or fresh. Do not refer to a dictionary while defining terms. While you should explain any terms that your audience needs to know to understand your paper’s content, avoid beginning apaper with a dictionary definition such as the following: ‘Webster’s Dictionary defines“joy” as―great pleasure or happiness.’This approach to an introduction is cliché.
- 14. 08 OVER- GENERALIZATION Generalizations can create inaccuracies. Use of the words “always”, “all”, “every”, “everyone”, “many”, “never”, “nobody”, “none” can create inaccurate statements, and even factual errors. Be specific when regarding a group of people. Who exactly is it while you are talking about? The more details you provide, the more credible your work is. You want people to believe what you are saying, so allow them to do that by justifying your statements.
- 15. Some examples of over-generalizing are as follows. • “Aseveryone knows . . .” • “She was always smiling.” • “People loved her cooking.” • “This is the most excitingmovie.” • “The stores in this townare no good.” • “Text books areboring.” • “People do this when they’re tired.” • “It figures.” What does overgeneralization look like? TIP: When you make a general statement, make sure it’s true in EVERY case.
- 16. TIP: Ask someone who is notof your specialization to proofread identify whether your paper is easy to understand for all The last thing you should do is PROOFREAD your paper. Even after spell checking the paper with your word processor, you should take the time to read it one last time before turning it in. Fix typographical errors, improve wording, and make sure the numbers make sense. PROOFCHECKING
- 17. THANKS