11

byby

吳信鳳吳信鳳政治大學 英文系 政治大學 英文系

May 15, 2004May 15, 2004

Writing Research Papers in EnglishWriting Research Papers in English

英文論文寫作英文論文寫作

22

Writing Research Papers in EnglishWriting Research Papers in English

IntroductionIntroduction Motivation and expectationsMotivation and expectations Writinig and publishing experienceWritinig and publishing experience

Writing in Chinese and in EnglishWriting in Chinese and in English A process of translation?A process of translation?

33

Procedures for Writing a Procedures for Writing a Research PaperResearch Paper

Choosing a topicChoosing a topic Collecting informationCollecting information Outlining the paperOutlining the paper Drafting the paperDrafting the paper Preparing the final copyPreparing the final copy

44

Why is it so hard to write Why is it so hard to write a research papera research paper

寫英文論文難在哪裡？

55

Language 語言文字表達

Organization/Structure 組織結構

Conventions and Format 格式

66

Diction 用字遣詞 Sentences 句型結構 Transitions and Coherence 前後銜接

Ways of expression – 表達方式 Ways of thinking – 思考方式

Native Language Interference

Language 語言文字表達

77

The Elements of Style: Clarity and Precision

Avoid wordiness - Omit needless wordsWordy: the question as to whetherBetter: whether (the question whether)

Wordy: the reason why is thatBetter: becauseWordy: the fact that he had not succeededBetter: his failure

Use the Right Word

(Strunk & White, 1979)

88

Vague: A period of unfavorable weather set in.Clear: It rained every day for a week.

Vague: He showed satisfaction as he took possession of his well-earned

reward.Clear: He grinned as he pocketed the coin.

Use Definite, Specific, Concrete Language

(Strunk & White, 1979)

99

Poor: My first visit to Boston will always be remembered by me.

Better: I shall always remember my first visit to Boston.

Poor: It is shown/indicated by the statistics in the following table . . .Better: The statistics in the table below

shows/indicates . . .

Use Active Voice

1010

Express coordinate ideas in similar form.

Awkward: Formerly, science was taught by the textbook method, while now the laboratory method is employed.Parallel: Formerly, science was taught by the textbook method; now it is taught by the laboratory method.

Awkward: A time not for words but action.Parallel: A time not for words but for action.

Parallelism

1111

Be consistent!

Abstract: Past tense

Literature Review: Past tense or present perfect tense

“Smith showed” “Researchers have shown”

Procedures: Past tense

Fifty children participated in the study.

Results: Past tense to describe and Present tense to discuss

In Experiment 2, response varied (see Figure 4).

Discussions and Conclusion: Present tense

Tenses

(APA, 2001, p. 33)

1212

Incorrect: I am painful.Correct: I am in pain.

Incorrect: According to my opinion,According to all these reasons,

Correct: In my opinion, For all these reasons,

Common English Errors of Chinese Students

(Bunton, 1989)

1313

Awkward:

It is worth noting that the Eoc of the InAs electrode is more positive than the upper edge of its valence.

Better:

The Eoc of the InAs electrode is notably more positive than the upper edge of its valence.

Common English Errors of Chinese Writers (1)

(Knoy 柯泰德 , 1993)

1414

Awkward:

Regarding the application history of the engineering plastic industry in Taiwan, there have been 18 and 16 years for nylon and PBY, respectively.

Better:

Nylon and PBT have found application in the engineering plastic industry of Taiwan for 18 and 16 years, respectively.

Common English Errors of Chinese Writers (2)

(Knoy 柯泰德 , 1993)

1515

Awkward:

Occasionally, industrial accidents occur whenever necessary precautions are not taken.

Better:

Industrial accidents occasionally occur whenever necessary precautions are not taken..

Common English Errors of Chinese Writers (3)

(Knoy 柯泰德 , 1993)

1616

Awkward:

In comparison with the conventional method, the approach proposed in this study is cheaper.

Better:

The approach proposed in this study is (comparatively) cheaper than the conventional method.

Common English Errors of Chinese Writers (4)

(Knoy 柯泰德 , 1993)

1717

Awkward:

In order to reduce the number of industrial accidents, stricter safety regulations should be set up.

Better:

Stricter safety regulations should be set up so as to reduce the number of industrial accidents.

Common English Errors of Chinese Writers (5)

(Knoy 柯泰德 , 1993)

1818

我想他不會來了。I don’t think he’ll come.

他絕不會撒謊。He is the last person to tell a lie.

他生性慷慨，因而損失了一萬元。His generosity cost him ten thousand dollars.

他從沒想過他有責任那樣做。It has never occurred to him that he is under any obligation to do so. 吳潛誠， 1982

Ways of Expression 表達方式 (1)

1919

與其說他是個詩人，不如說他是個夢想家。He is not so much a poet as a dreamer.

他的失敗不在於無能，而在於大意。His failure lies not so much in incompetence as in carelessness.His failure lies more in carelessness than in incompetence.

Ways of Expression 表達方式 (2)

吳潛誠， 1982

2020

「我們所定義的現狀。」

「美國同時也十分憂慮，如果北京認定台灣走向獨立並與中國永遠分離，我們遏阻中國威嚇一事可能失敗」

中國時報， 2004 年 4 月 22 日

Ways of Expression 表達方式 (3)

2121

“the status quo as we define it”

“We have very real concerns that our efforts at deterring Chinese coercion might fail if Beijing ever becomes convinced Taiwan is

embarked on a course towards independence and permanent separation from China.”

May 1, 2004. The Strait Times The lure of the status quo over Taiwan By Janadas Devan

Ways of Expression 表達方式 (4)

2222

Problematic: Research scientists often neglect their wives and children.

Preferred: Research scientists often neglect their spouses and children.

Problematic: The client is usually the best judge of the value of his counseling.

Preferred: The clients are usually the best judges of the value of the counseling they receive.

Unbiased Language

(APA, 2001, p. 72-73)

2323

Language 語言文字表達

so that you can write in English.

2424

CD-Rom

MacMillan English Dictionary

Collins Cobuild Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

On-line

Oxford English Dictionary:

http://dictionary.oed.com/

English Language Dictionaries

2525

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary and Thesaurus: http://www.m-w.com/

http://dictionary.reference.com/

Yahoo! Dictionary: http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/

Web Concordancer:http://www.edict.com.hk/concordance/WW

WConcappE.htm

Quotations: http://www.quotationspage.com/

English Language and Writing Sources On-line

2626

http://www.dianahacker.com/resdoc/

Humanities Social Sciences

Finding sources Documenting sources

Sample APA paper

History Sciences

Research and Documentation on Line

2727

Elements of research papers

Systems of documentation

Chicago Manual Style

Modern Language Association Style

American Psychological Association Style (APA)

Conventions and Format 格式

2828

1.1. Title PageTitle Page2.2. Abstract (Outline)Abstract (Outline)3.3. Introduction + Literature ReviewIntroduction + Literature Review4.4. MethodMethod5.5. ResultsResults6.6. DiscussionDiscussion7.7. ImplicationsImplications + ConclusionConclusion8.8. ReferencesReferences9.9. NotesNotes10.10. AppendicesAppendices

Elements of a Research Paper

2929

Quotation

Citation - In text citation

Reference List

Periodicals

Books and Book Chapters

Electronic sources

APA

3030

cwu@nccu.edu.tw