Ch. 2 Linda Yellin
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1. Content
2. Clarity
3. Conciseness
4. Elimination of slang, colloquialisms, trite
expressions,
and jargon
5. Tone
6. Bias – free language
7. Spelling
8. Grammar
9. Uniformity
10.Format
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Introduction
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The introduction tells the reader:
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Introductions should:
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what the topic of the paper is in general terms,
why the topic is important
what to expect in the paper.
funnel from general ideas to the specific topic of the paper
justify the research that will be presented later
Introductions are sometimes folded into literature
reviews
A research report has seven components:
2. Introduction—an example
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A sociological article, paper, or report
generally covers only one important topic of
interest and conveys evidence and
interpretations of evidence.
Research reports are NOT creative writing,
opinion pieces, poems, novels, letters,
musings, memoirs, or interesting to read.
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A research paper has three sections:
introduction, body paragraphs, and the
conclusion.
Headings created for subsections of papers body
to make reading easier.
Ideas: Did you develop them sufficiently? Are
they understandable?
Do you need to add more information?
Make sure every sentence says something
necessary and important.
"Juvenile delinquency is a social problem" is
poorly written
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Order
make sure paper progresses and orderly way.
Check to see if the organization of your paper
followed your outline.
An outline helps you see where arguments
are not supported by evidence
Balance
Supply sufficient evidence, but not too much.
To support a point, use two good
quotes, as opposed to five redundant quotes
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Emphasis
Repeat major points for emphasis using
different words. Don't make the reader do the
work of figuring out how your paper
progresses or what is important
Transitions – indicates logical relationships
between sentences. Indicates to reader that
you are shifting to a new idea, or highlights
how certain material should be understood
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to Indicate Addition: additionally, again,
finally, furthermore;
to Indicate comparison: by comparison,
likewise, similarly
to indicate contrast: although but, conversely,
despite, notwithstanding, nevertheless,
nonetheless
regardless, yet, on the contrary;
to indicate concession: certainly, given that,
naturally, undoubtedly,
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to Indicate examples: after all, for example,
for instance, such as, to illustrate;
to Indicate location: around, below, beyond,
to the north, to the south;
to Indicate sequence: again, finally, first,
second, third, moreover, next,
to indicate results: as a result, because,
consequently, therefore;
to indicate time: after, as soon as, at that
time, since, earlier;
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To Indicate Repetition: as has been argued,
demonstrated, indicated, as this paper has
indicated, noted, stated
as mentioned earlier, as noted earlier; as
stated earlier;
To Indicate Summary or Conclusion: as a
result, consequently, in conclusion, in some,
on the whole, therefore, to conclude, to
summarize;
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Read through document and eliminate
wordiness. Make sure each word in
your paper accounts. Get rid of the fluff, the
filler, the useless words, meaningless
sentences. “in other words” change to
regarding;
Wordy: beginning to learn
concise: learns
is able to start
starts
person of the masculine sex
males
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Slang: awesome
bash
dude
stinks
formal: remarkable
party
chap
low-quality
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Booze
flunk
cops
kids
Trite Expressions
law and order
powers that be
last but not least
alcohol
fail
police officers
children
law abiding
the authorities
last
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When writing a paper do not use the jargon of
your specialty area. Imagine the audience
you're writing to be broader then just people
from your field who are familiar with the
jargon.
Ex: the perpetrator
the subject
the collar
the arrested subject
ethnomethodology what happens when
people consciously break norms;
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Eliminate contractions: “don’t change to do
not!
Eliminate first – person and second – person
pronouns
I, me, my, mine
We, our, ours
You, your, yours
Makes your sentences more formal;
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Avoid terminology reflecting stereotypes
based on gender, race, ethnicity, age,
social class, disabilities, religion, family
status, sexual orientation, or other personal
characteristics.
What is the matter with the term “illegal
alien”?
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Don't use:
man – made
manpower
mankind
manned
forefathers
assemblyman
Congressman
Do Use
artificial, synthetic
workforce, staff
humanity, the human race
staffed, handled
ancestors
member of the assembly
member of Congress