1、 钱 杨ACADEMIC WRITING 盛云岚1.How to choose a topic for your research?2.How to develop an assignment into a strong topic?3.How to narrow a topic?4.How to formulate a research question?5.How to formulate a working title?6.How to formulate an effective thesis statement?primary research paper:the study of
2、a subject through firsthand investigation,involving presenting original ideas and information on your own.also called survey-or-experiment-based research secondary research paper:involves gathering and analyzing the research findings from other peoples research.you need to borrow and use evidence an
3、d findings available on the topic in the library or on the internet.also called library-or-internet-based research Interesting(it is intereting to you,your instructors,researchers in the same field.)Significant(it indicates the value of your work)manageable(It is under your control)Adequate (You cou
4、ld find enough research literature available for your subject.CourseAssignmentTopicAmerican Historyanalyze the effects of a social program on one segment of American societyHow did the GI Bill of Rights affect American service-women?Sociologyidentify and evaluate the success of one resource availabl
5、e to the homeless population of one major American citythe role of the Salvation Army in meeting the needs of Chicagos homelessPsychologywrite a three-to-five-page paper assessing one method of treating depressionAnimal-assisted therapy for severely depressed patientsCompositionWrite an essay about
6、a problem you have encountered since coming to collegeovercoming my computer illiteracy city development sustainable development of cities sustainable development of big cities sustainable development of Chinese big cities sustainable development of Chinese big cities from the biological perspective
7、Narrow down these topics for a 2500-word essay.v Global warming my narrower subtopic:1).2).3).v Cancerv Internetv Artificial Intelligencev Nanotechnologyv Genetically Modified FoodsTopic:a broad range or general field of interest Question:a particular part or aspect of a topic that is narrow enough
8、to investigate and write about Finding something to write about:asking journalistic questions Topic:Computer Literacy of College Freshmen Journalistic questions:1)Who is familiar with computers and the Internet,and who is not?2)What is computer literacy?what are the effects of weak computer skills?w
9、hat kinds of programs exist to help college students improve computer skills?3)When did computer become essential for college students?4)Where are students most likely to learn computer skills?5)Why is familiarity with the Internet so important in college?why are some students computer skills so muc
10、h better than others?6)How can we help students who lag behind?Deepening what you want to write about:asking in-depth questionswhat causes the gap between those who are computer savvy and those who are not?differences in family income,parents education level,quality of public education,regional diff
11、erences.suggest development pattern of your essay:cause and effect;comparison and contrast;exemplification;what are the effects of the gap?Differences in achievement in college and performance on the job;differences in access to information;differences in earning power.Topic:Nuclear Waste Disposal Q
12、uestions:1)what is nuclear waste?2)what are the harmful effects if nuclear waste is not appropriately disposed of?3)how are we supposed to dispose of nuclear waste safely and economically?4).A typical title is composed of:1)subject matter+2)key words of the method+3)key words of the content Key word
13、s indicating methods:compare,analyze,contrast,discuss,evaluate,study,assess Key words indicating content:causes,effects,advantages,benefits,effectiveness,besides words of subject matters.Decide which of the following titles is(are)the more appropriate one(s)1.The Effects of Climate Change 2.What are
14、 the Economic Effects of Climate Change?3.The Causes and Effects of Global Warming 4.The Melting Poles:the Greatest Danger from Global Warming 5.How to Combat Climate Change?6.Some effects of Global Warming on China 7.A Study of Effects of Global Warming on Agriculture 8.Global Warming Effects on Me
15、ntal Health 9.Ozone Depletion and Climate Change 10.Potential Impact of Climate Change on World Food Supply T.S.is An assumption about the topic,an approach to it,an attitude toward it,a proposition to be examined.the controlling idea that determines the design of your thesis.a single sentence with
16、the topic of the paper as the grammatical subject.A successful working T.S.:Interesting and engaging Explicit Argumentative Specific Limit and focus on a topicA Working T.S.:a topic part+a comment partEg:The current American farm crisis can be traced to three major causes.Thesis statement:Although t
17、odays all-volunteer force has replaced the military draft,a draft may eventually be necessary.topicstatement of factannouncementthe military draftthe United States currently has no military draftin this essay,I will reconsider our countrys need for a draft.Examine and analyze?Evaluate and criticize?
18、Compare and contrast?Establish relationships?Argue for/against?Persuade?Task:Analyze the following T.S.to predict possible development patterns of the essays 1)The current American farm crisis can be traced to three major causes.2)Although todays all-volunteer force has replaced the military draft,a
19、 draft may eventually be necessary.Eg.The real problem in our school does not revolve around the absence of nation-wide goals and standards;the problem is primarily concerned with the absence of resources.Revised:The real problem in our school is not the absence of nation-wide goals and standards;th
20、e problem is the absence of resources.To choose a topic,you need to consider the requirement of your assignment.Identify a research interest Narrow down the topic as much as possible Review the literature on the topic as completely as possible to determine whether the topic is researchable.State the problem in a question form.Translate or turn your research question into thesis statement.
