Writing the Research Paper:A Handbook This semester I read a book called Writing the Research :A Handbook Paper published Peking University Press.
Generally speaking , this book is “unbooklike”. As the Author said, no one who has to write a research paper wants to waste time by studying the ins and outs of documentation or the protocols of research. Under this guideline, the book is not meant to be read, but merely consulted. This is more a dictionary, in sum, than a discursive book.
1. Theme and Structure about this book
There are 12 units in this book, they are “ Basic Information about the Research Paper, Choosing a Topic, The Library, The Thesis and the Outline, Using the Computer in Your Research, Doing the Research, Transforming the Notes into a Rough Draft, Revising Your Rough Draft, The MLA System of Documentation, The Traditional System of Documentation, Sample Student Papers”.
Writing a research paper requires to seek out information about a subject, take a stand on it, and back it up with the opinions, ideas, and views of others. Every research paper must conform to a specific format, which is simply an agreed-on way of doing things. Reasons for the research paper is that writing
it forces you to learn lots about your chosen subject. Usually, three drafts are the barest minimum: the first draft looks messy and scribbled over, the second is rarely smooth and seldom predictable, the third is the one you submit. Generally, there are seven distinct steps.
Ideally you should choose a topic that interests you, that is
complex enough to need several sources, and that will not bore your reader. Some topic present usually difficulties; others are simply a waste of time.
The thesis is a statement that summarizes the central idea of the paper. You cannot formulate a thesis unless you know a great deal about your subject. Thesis should be clear, comprehensible and direct; predict major divisions in the structure of the paper; commit you to an unmistakable course, argument, or point of view. Most instructors prefer the thesis as the final sentence of the initial paragraph.
An outline is an ordered list of the topics covered in a paper. The three main types of outlines are the topic outline, the sentence outline, and the paragraph outline.
Exactly what kind of material you need to look for depends on your topic, thesis, and even the point of view you use in the paper. Nowadays, the library and internet is accessible to
many writer. What writers should do is to evaluating the sources: Where was the information found Who wrote it Who publishes it What are the writer’s sources What kind of tone does the write use What do the writer’s contemporaries have to say What is the writer’s motive What is the context of the writer’s opinion Besides, writers can consult encyclopedia,
appendix, the search engines, bibliography, etc. The bibliography is a list of sources on the research topic. Skim a source to determine it usefulness. Eventually the you’ve uncovered through research must be turned into notes, which are of four kinds: summary, paraphrase, quotation and comment.
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Next, transform the notes into a rough draft. Prepare a checklist: formulate a thesis, organize yours notes in the order of
their appearance in the paper, write an outline or abstract. During writing, pay attention to the principle of unity, coherence and emphasis. The abstract should meet the following criteria: reflect accurately the purpose and content of your paper, explain briefly the central issue of your paper, summarize your paper’s most important points, mention the major sources used, state your conclusions clearly, be coherent so that it is easy to read, remain objective in its point of
view.
Revision is partly a psychological and partly a mechanical process. All revision is based on repeated rereading of the first draft. Many instructors recommend revising the paper from biggest to smallest elements. Check your opening paragraph to see whether your beginning is sprightly enough to draw in your reader. You may find a boost un three time-honored strategies for beginning a paper: use a quotation, ask a question, or present an illustration. The topic sentences of your paragraphs must follow the same sequence as the points of your thesis. Don’t make these paragraphs so compact and dens e as to check the reader with details. It is better that the information be organized in tidbits of shorter paragraphs. You achieve linkage by the use of transitional markers and sentences. Revise sentences for variety and style: revise sentences to use the active voice, revise to use an appropriate of view, revise sexist language. Word choice and usage comes under the heading of diction: revise diction for accuracy and exactness, revise the overuse of phrases for subjects instead of single nouns, revise redundant expressions, revise meaningless words and phrases, revise snobbish diction.
No matter what documentation system you use, it is a universal
requirement that research papers be neat and clean and your instructor that compels you to submit handwritten work. Before you submit a final version of your paper, you should make sure that you have complied with all your instructor’s formatting requirements.
Finally, because two pairs of eyes usually are better than one, ask another student with good writing skills to go over your paper for clarity, focus, and mechanics.
2. My own concerns about the research paper
When we graduate student write the research paper, we always have three deficiencies: informal style, weak in English express and lack of innovation. When reading this book, I try to find some solutions to overcome this shortcomings.
For the research paper, we always neglect the formal style of it, often use the informal words, such as “I” ,“you”. Instead we should use “the paper”, “the author”.
For the English expression, the basic standard is the accurate use of words without wrong character, concise and fluent sentence. But even for this simple request, we always fail to meet it. I think there are two reasons: the poor mastery of English and the failure of checking, which involves the altitude.
As far as the point of research, innovation is the core of it. However, we often lack of it. Moreover, we always lack of the consciousness and attitude of innovation.
To overcome these shortcomings, first of all, we should have a right attitude towards it. We must lay a strong foundation of the basic theory. Then we have to cooperate with the instructors, trying to meet their demand. We can try to change the way we write the research, we can cooperate with our classmate , it is not our own business. What is more, the colleges and universities
should make reasonable arrangements to avoid time confliction, because in the third year, many students have to leave school to search for job. Of course, universities should help students enhance their writing training, optimize the topic design, and focus the full guidance. Last but not least, in this information-bomb age, the full and proper use of internet and library should be taken into consideration. We can use the internet to help us find information, especially the search engine, but we can’t neglect the library. We can use the internet to seek for more help, but plagiarize is not accepted.
To sum up, the book of writing the research paper provide me with some basic knowledge about the paper. To read this book
is very useful and necessary. After this course, our understanding about the dissertation can be push into a higher stage.
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Reference
[1] Anthony Jo Ray the Research Paper:A Handbook[M]. Peking:Peking University Press, 2012(6).
[2] 韦森. 英语专业毕业论文写作存在问题分析[J]. 广西师范大学学报，2009(1):105.
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