Academic Research Paper
Writing
梁 淑 芳
正修科技大學應用外語系
Outline
1. Writing from Research
2. Writing a Summary
3. Writing a Reaction Paper
4. What is APA style?
5. APA Referencing
6. Finding a Topic
7. Writing a Rough Outline
8. Beginning an Online Search
9. Gathering Sources in the Library
10. Ten Steps to Writing a Research Paper
What is research writing?
At one time or another, we have all had to write
knowledgeably on a topic. Because we are not usually
experts in the subject matter of all topics, we usually have
to educate ourselves using existing information before we
can report credibly on the topic to someone else.
Research writing is the process by which we gather
information to answer a question or problem and, then,
deliver that information to an audience who has an
interest or a “need to know” about the topic. In research,
we are trying to investigate ideas and illuminate new
details about what we already know.
However, research writing is not about writing everything
you can on a topic without any focus. Research writing is
more of a process by which you answer a question for
yourself and then let other people know what you learned.
Sometimes the research is used to support an argument
and sometimes is it used to analyze a problem.
1. Writing from Research
1a Why Do Research?
1b Learning the Conventions of Academic
Writing
1c Understanding and Avoiding Plagiarism
1d Understanding a Research Assignment
1e Establishing a Schedule
2. Writing a Summary
A summary is condensed version of a larger
reading. A summary is not a rewrite of the original
piece and does not have to be long nor should it be
long. To write a summary, use your own words to
express briefly the main idea and relevant details of
the piece you have read. Your purpose in writing
the summary is to give the basic ideas of the
original reading. What was it about and what did
the author want to communicate?
While reading the original work, take note of what or
who is the focus and ask the usual questions that
reporters use: Who? What? When? Where? Why?
How? Using these questions to examine what you
are reading can help you to write the summary.
3. Writing a Reaction Paper
www.esuhistoryprof.com/writing_reaction_papers.htm -
4. What is APA style?
The American Psychological Association (APA)
referencing style is the most commonly used referencing
style at the University of Waikato.
The latest edition of the Publication Manual of the
American Psychological Association (2010) is now
available in the Library.
Corrections to the first printing can be found on the APA
website: Corrections to the first printing (PDF) and
Corrected sample paper (PDF).
Changes to the 5th edition are highlighted with the word
(NEW).
www.waikato.ac.nz › Library Home › Guides -
5. APA Referencing
How to use the APA referencing style
In text citation
References list
Key points
How to reference / cite material
Books,
Journal articles (academic / scholarly)
Magazines (popular / trade)
Newspapers
Informally published work (webpages / online communities)
Audio visual
Others (Conference papers, reports, legal citations, personal
communications, etc.)
Images / tables / figures
6. Finding a Topic
From reading, interacting with your advisor during independent study,
or work on a research assistantship, some possible projects will emerge.
Make a list of open problems and possible projects that are of interest to
you, and discuss them with potential advisors.
Even after you have decided on your initial focus, it is important to
continue a routine of reading new material and attending seminars. All of
these sources can contribute to the development of your idea.
www.cs.umd.edu/~oleary/gradstudy/node9.html
7. Writing a Rough Outline
How to begin making an outline
An excellent way to begin is just to free flow thoughts
onto paper while brainstorming with your topic. Write
down everything you think of, even if you will not use the
information later. Once you have your thoughts down, it
is time to start your rough outline. Select about three of
your strongest points, and write them down.
www.ehow.com › ... › College Life › College Academics
8. Beginning an Online Search
Evaluating Web sources
Authorship
Does the Web site or document have an author? You may need to do some clicking and scrolling to find the
author’s name. If you have landed directly on an internal page of a site, for example, you may need to navigate to
the home page or find an “about this site” link to learn the name of the author.
If there is an author, can you tell whether he or she is knowledgeable and credible? When the author’s
qualifications aren’t listed on the site itself, look for links to the author’s home page, which may provide evidence of
his or her interests and expertise.
Sponsorship
Who, if anyone, sponsors the site? The sponsor of a site is often named and described on the home page.
What does the URL tell you? The domain name extension often indicates the type of group hosting the site:
commercial (.com), educational (.edu), nonprofit (.org), governmental (.gov), military (.mil), or network (.net). URLs
may also indicate a country of origin: .uk (United Kingdom) or .jp (Japan), for instance.
Purpose and audience
Why was the site created: To argue a position? To sell a product? To inform readers?
Who is the site’s intended audience?
Currency
How current is the site? Check for the date of publication or the latest update, often located at the bottom of the
home page or at the beginning or end of an internal page.
How current are the site’s links? If many of the links no longer work, the site may be too dated for your purposes.
9.1 Gathering Sources in the Library
Step 1: Gather your lists
Suggested reading from reference books
Bibliographies from useful library books
Citations from databases
Works cited lists from useful articles
9.2 Gathering Sources in the Library
Step 2: Book or Article?
Books have...
Title in italics or underlined
ISBN Numbers
Publication City
Publication Year
Articles have...
Title in "quotes"
Journal title in italics or underlined
ISSN Number
Page numbers
9.3 Gathering Sources in the Library
Step 3: Search it!
1. For BOOKS, use the GIL Universal Catalog & do a
TITLE Search.
2. For ARTICLES, use GSU's catalog & do a
JOURNAL TITLE Search:
Step 4: Interlibrary Loan
Click to log into the key word(s) and make a request.
10. Ten Steps to Writing a Research Paper
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Select a Topic
Find Source
List Sources
Take Notes
Refine Tour Thesis and Outline
Write Your First Draft
Revise Your First Draft
Prepare Your Works Cited Page
Write Your Final Draft
Submit Required Materials
Writing is easy. All you do
is stare at a blank sheet of
paper until drops of blood
form on your forehead.
-- Gene Fowler