Team 1 - ARBA Emissaries

Members:

Cynthia Johnson Kerry Kerr

James Brown Deborah Innis

Group Members

Group Presentation Overview

Various writing types/styles may be used Various writing types/styles may be used in Academia.in Academia.

At the Undergraduate Level: At the Undergraduate Level: Less formal types, e.g.Less formal types, e.g.

ExpositoryExpository NarrativeNarrativeDescriptive Descriptive PersuasivePersuasive

At the Graduate Level:At the Graduate Level: Formal analytic styles, e.g. Formal analytic styles, e.g. oAPA APA – – American Psychological AssociationAmerican Psychological Association

oMLA MLA – Modern Language Association– Modern Language Association

oCMS CMS – Chicago Manual of Style– Chicago Manual of Style

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

  ““I write lustily and humorously. It isn't calculated; it's the way I think. I've I write lustily and humorously. It isn't calculated; it's the way I think. I've invented a writing style that expresses who I am.invented a writing style that expresses who I am.”” Erica Jong (American Erica Jong (American

writer and feminist, 1942)writer and feminist, 1942)

Comparisons of Graduate Writing Styles

A student’s writing is considered to be at graduate level if criteria such as the following are met:

The work is not just a rehashing of the research. Graduate level writing is meant to be an exercise in critical thinking and personal analysis on the part of the student

The reason for writing is stated early and as much space as possible is used to solidify the statement

The writing is clear and unambiguous. The reader walks away with a full understanding of the topic

The writing exhibits good mechanical skills – grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence construction, flow of ideas

Quotes are used correctly

Graduate writing: Taking writing to a higher level http://custompapers.com.essays-articles/graduate-writing/

What separates graduate level writing from the undergraduate

level?The written style of the paper is important. Style refers both to conventions of arrangement and layout, and to conventions of

written language. Dirks (2005)

Writing at the Graduate LevelGraduate Level Research Papers

The most common type of research project at the graduate level is the written research

paper – usually a formal essay based on an accumulation of facts gathered in the research

process

There is still an element of originality in that the researcher uses the available information

to present a new view of the topic.

“The most original authors are not so because they advance what is new; but because they put what they have to say as if it had

never been said before”

Johann Wolfgang Van Goethe

Important Steps in Preparing a Research Paper

1. Selecting a topic2. Formulating a thesis3. Preparing an outline

4. Finding information (the search strategy)5. Evaluating resources

6. Writing the text of the paper and formulating a conclusion

7. Documenting the sources (citations)

(#4, 5, 7 are important elements of this presentation)

Resources:

Information for writing research papers can be found in:

Academic journalsPeer-review journals/articles

White papersNewspapers

Empirical studiesLiterature reviews

Book reviewAnnotated bibliographies

*all of these sources are accessible on the Internet and in online courses

Commonly described as:Commonly described as:

a peer-review periodical in which scholarship a peer-review periodical in which scholarship relating to a particular academic discipline is relating to a particular academic discipline is publishedpublished

a forum for the introduction and presentation for a forum for the introduction and presentation for scrutiny of new researchscrutiny of new research

a forum for the critique of existing researcha forum for the critique of existing research

Articles printed in academic journals typically Articles printed in academic journals typically present original research, along with review articles present original research, along with review articles

and book reviews.and book reviews.

(Wikipedia)(Wikipedia)

The Academic Journal

Available in scholarly periodicalsAvailable in scholarly periodicals

Are published only after rigorous scrutiny Are published only after rigorous scrutiny (review) by an independent panel of experts (review) by an independent panel of experts in the particular field of study, followed by in the particular field of study, followed by the approval of a the approval of a majoritymajority of these peers of these peers

Alternately referred to as “refereed articles”Alternately referred to as “refereed articles”

• Note: Note: The approval is stated in the article or is available in The approval is stated in the article or is available in Ulrich’s Ulrich’s International Periodicals Directory International Periodicals Directory electronic resources site. electronic resources site.

(Wikipedia)(Wikipedia)

Peer-reviewed Journal Articles

A way of gaining knowledge by means of direct and indirect observation or experience, analyzed quantitatively or qualitatively

Alternately referred to as “refereed articles”

Characteristics of an Empirical Article:a)Empirical articles will include charts, graphs, or

statistical analysis.b)Empirical research articles are usually substantial, are

likely to be from 8-40 pages long.c)There is always a bibliography found at the end of the

article.Empirical research articles are published in scholarly or academic journals. These journals are also called “peer-

reviewed,” or “refereed” publications.

Empirical Study

Empirical Research Cycle

LITERATURE REVIEW

BOOK REVIEW

A descriptive, critical analysis and evaluation on the quality, meaning and significance of a book.

It focuses on the book’s purpose, content, and authority.

(Los Angeles Valley College Library, 2011)

A review is a critical evaluation of a text, event, object, or phenomenon.

It makes an argument. It is a commentary that allows you to enter into dialogue and discussion with the work’s creator and with other audiences.

(The Writing Center , 2011)

Common Features: Gives a concise summary including perspective, argument or

purpose Gives reaction to the work Suggests whether or not the audience would appreciate the

work

Annotated Bibliography A list of citations to books, articles, and

documents.

Each citation is followed by a brief descriptive and evaluative paragraph, the annotation.

The purpose of the annotation is to inform the reader of the relevance, accuracy and quality of the sources cited.

(Engle, Blumenthal, and Cosgrave, 2011)

An example:

Huth. E.J. (1991). How to write and publish papers in the medical sciences. 2nd ed. London: Williams and Wilkins. This compact work offers practical advice on how to make decisions about what to write and what to leave out for both novice and experienced researchers. A highly readable source

Characteristics of a Newspaper:

General audience interested in General audience interested in news and current eventsnews and current events

Inexpensive paper, generally Inexpensive paper, generally recycled materialrecycled material

Current events in: politics, Current events in: politics, business, sports, leisure, etc.business, sports, leisure, etc.

Syndicate columnists, local staff, Syndicate columnists, local staff, and newswire servicesand newswire services

Usually name sourcesUsually name sources Generally common words and Generally common words and

simple sentence structuresimple sentence structure

• Audience

• Print Appearance

• Content/Focus

• Author

• Documentation

• Language

(Valencia College, (n.d.)).

Newspaper A serial issued at stated, frequent intervals (usually

daily, weekly, or semiweekly), containing news, opinions, advertisements, and other items of current, often local, interest” (Young, 1983, p.153).

White Paper

A White Paper:• Is a persuasive document that usually describes problems and how to solve them. • Is a crossbreed between a magazine article and a brochure. • Takes the objectives and educational approach of an article and weaves in persuasive corporate messages typically found in brochures• Is fact driven and contain useful information, expert opinions and iron clad logic (Sielzner, 2007).

A White Paper

Allows its readers to look at that which is factual as opposed to that which is opinion.

Is also an article that states an organization’s position, philosophy about a social, political ‘or other subject, or a not-too-detailed technical explanation of an architecture, framework, or product technology.

Explains results or conclusions based on research methods.

Why are books and peer-reviewed articles the most preferred written sources in graduate writing?

Reasons:

1.More credence is given in academia to these two sources. Books and peer-reviewed articles assure quality works consistent with the standards of the field.

2.Prevent the promotion of untrue hypotheses. Other sources may have inaccurate, unproven or over-simplified information.

3.Verify that a source is scholarly. This develops critical thinking skills.

4.Guard against plagiarism

5.They are heavily reviewed and revised by experts before being accepted for publication

6..They save the graduate student research time

“Determining what is scholarly is going to be a much more important issue as technology continues to be integrated in the learning environment. (Hoffman, n.d.)

Evaluating Sources(In academic writing, sources must be evaluated for

suitability and reliability)

Books Peer-reviewed Articles

Greater speed of release for journal articles; although several rewritings may be involved – usually only months

Information enclosed is usually current – “cutting edge”

Usually an extended time for publication – can take months, but usually takes years

May sometimes not have ‘current’ information. The pace of technology moves rapidly; books may be outdated before they are printed

Comparing Books and Peer-reviewed Articles

“Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later”

Rev. 1:19, NIV

REFERENCESREFERENCES1.Burns, C. (2007). Empirical Research: How to Recognize and Locate. Paulina June & George Pollak Library, California State University, Fullerton http://users.library.fullerton.edu/cbruns/empirical_research.htm2.Engle, M., Blumenthal, A., and Cosgrave, T. (2011). How to prepare an annotated bibliography. Cornell University Library3.Stelzner, Michael. A. (2007) Writing white Paper’s: how to capture readers and keep them engaged. Retrieved from http://www.wringwhitepapers.co 4.Valencia University (n.d.). Newspapers. Retrieved September 14 th, 2011 from http://faculty.valenciacollege.edu/infolit/tutorial1/formats/newspapers.htm5.Young, H. (1983). The ALA glossary of library and information science. Chicago: American Library Association.6.Hoffman, L. (n.d.) Determining Scholarly Resources. Retrieved from: http://www.louis-hoffman-virtualclassroom.com?Psychologh%20Resources/Writing%20Resources?Determining _Scholarly_Resources.htm7.Lauer, J.M., & Asher, W.J. (1988). Composition Research: Empirical Design. New York: Oxford University Press. 8.Los Angeles Valley College Library. (2011). How to write a book review. Retrieved from http://www.lavc.edu/library/bookreview.htm9.9.Shuttleworth, M., (2009) What is a literature review? Experiment-Resources.comShuttleworth, M., (2009) What is a literature review? Experiment-Resources.com10.The Writing Center. (2011). Book reviews. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved from http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb , 9 September, 201111.11.WikipediaWikipedia