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END 011END 011 科技英文寫作 科技英文寫作 (( 二二 )-7)-7English Technical Writing (English Technical Writing ( 二二 )-7)-7

Prof. Jeffrey Shiang FuProf. Jeffrey Shiang Fu傅祥 教授傅祥 教授

jeffsfu@gmail.comjeffsfu@gmail.com0987-520-488 / (03)2118-800*57950987-520-488 / (03)2118-800*5795

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METHODMETHOD

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OVERVIEWOVERVIEW

After the introduction, the second major After the introduction, the second major section of the experimental research section of the experimental research report, often labeled report, often labeled methodmethod, , describes the steps you followed in describes the steps you followed in conduction your study and the conduction your study and the materials you used at each step.materials you used at each step.

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The method section is useful to The method section is useful to readers who want to know how the readers who want to know how the methodology of your study may methodology of your study may have influenced your results, or have influenced your results, or who are interested in replicating or who are interested in replicating or extending your study.extending your study.

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In this chapter we first look at the In this chapter we first look at the general kinds of information general kinds of information included in method: then we focus included in method: then we focus on the part of the method section on the part of the method section that describes that describes procedural stepsprocedural steps. In . In the next chapter we examine the next chapter we examine materials.materials.

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INFORMATION CONVENTIONSINFORMATION CONVENTIONS

The main part of the method section is The main part of the method section is a description of the a description of the procedural stepsprocedural steps used in your study and the used in your study and the materialsmaterials employed at each step. However, employed at each step. However, other elements are commonly other elements are commonly described in this section as well. described in this section as well.

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Ordering your InformationOrdering your Information

The elements included in the methoThe elements included in the method section and the order in which thed section and the order in which they are presented are not fixed. Howey are presented are not fixed. However, the list in the following box is cver, the list in the following box is conventional and provides you with onventional and provides you with a good model.a good model.

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INFORMATION ELEMENTS INFORMATION ELEMENTS INCLUDED IN METHODINCLUDED IN METHOD Overview of the ExperimentOverview of the Experiment Population / SamplePopulation / Sample Location Location Restrictions / Limiting ConditionsRestrictions / Limiting Conditions Sampling TechniqueSampling Technique *Procedures*Procedures *Materials ( *always included)*Materials ( *always included) VariablesVariables Statistical TreatmentStatistical Treatment

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Writing the Procedural Writing the Procedural DescriptionDescription

The description of the steps you The description of the steps you followed in conducting your study followed in conducting your study should be written clearly so that a should be written clearly so that a reader in your field could accurately reader in your field could accurately replicate your procedure. Of course, replicate your procedure. Of course, the best way to describe a procedure is the best way to describe a procedure is step-by-step, or step-by-step, or chronologically.chronologically.

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Choosing the Correct Verb Tense Choosing the Correct Verb Tense in Procedural Descriptionsin Procedural Descriptions

The procedures you used in The procedures you used in carrying out your study should carrying out your study should usually be described in the usually be described in the simple simple past tense.past tense.

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Sentences included under method Sentences included under method that are not written in the past that are not written in the past tense usually do not refer to the tense usually do not refer to the procedures used in the study being procedures used in the study being reported. Instead, they may reported. Instead, they may describe standard procedures that describe standard procedures that are commonly used by others.are commonly used by others.

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PROCEDURAL DESCRIPTIONS:PROCEDURAL DESCRIPTIONS:Past TensePast TenseSurveys Surveys werewere sent to student health sent to student health services at 180 colleges.services at 180 colleges.

The study The study waswas carried out on a marine carried out on a marine laboratory research vessel.laboratory research vessel.

The The generators suppliedgenerators supplied about 14,000 about 14,000 amps when fully operational.amps when fully operational.

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NOTE:NOTE:

In a few fields of study, procedural In a few fields of study, procedural descriptions can sometimes be descriptions can sometimes be written in the written in the simple present simple present tensetense..