Jochen Hoffmann Karlstad University Department of Media and Communication Studies Academic Writing Digital Media, Culture and Politics MKAD01 Autumn 2010 September 14th, 10:15 – 12:00 12C350 1 Jochen Hoffmann MKAD01 Academic Writing
The Purpose of a Research Paper Research does not tell its own tale! a) Document what you have done. b) Offer a stored reference where future research can build on. c) Convince your audience that you offer a useful reference. You have to use rhetorical devices in order to get attention and to persuade your audience. My research is important! My research is credible! I found out something new! 2 Jochen Hoffmann MKAD01 Academic Writing
A Research Paper is not an Essay. Research Paper Essay Argues on the basis of consistent Expresses subjective thoughts, scientific theories and reliable opinions and feelings about a topic empirical findings ”I” is hidden behind a ”neutral” ”I” is a main actor on stage. language. Critical Rationalism : Postmodernism : We can never reach the objective There is no truth. Instead, there are truth, but we can approach it. just different interpretations of reality. Works usually as paradigm for Works usually as paradigm for Social Sciences Cultural Studies 3 Jochen Hoffmann MKAD01 Academic Writing
What makes the Writing Process Less Painful? Develop writing routines and rituals (e.g. fixed working and break times, pack up work in the evening by emptying desk). Define milestones as interim goals and set deadlines for them. Reward yourself after your have reached a milestone (e.g. one day off for a trip). Take up a lower workload than you actually feel able to achieve. Ask for feedback at different stages of the writing process (first of all from your supervisor, but also from classmates, practitioners, friends). Don’t feel discouraged by critical feedback. Treat it as an additional perspective on your topic which might or might not be of use. Start to write up early in the research process! 4 Jochen Hoffmann MKAD01 Academic Writing
Writing is a Creative Process. Literature Own (empirical) Writing review analysis it up Writing it up is not the last step of the research process! Writing is not an ex-post technical storing of thoughts developed at the outset. Writing is a creative process. It constantly enables the thinking, the rethinking and the organization of thoughts on your topic. Literature Own (empirical) review analysis Writing it up Doing research and writing it up is a circular process! 5 Jochen Hoffmann MKAD01 Academic Writing
Create and Highlight a Structure! 6 Jochen Hoffmann MKAD01 Academic Writing
Structurizing your Research Paper What needs to come first, what second, what last? Do chapters build on each other? Are your key terms well-defined? Do you use them in a consistent way according to your definitions? Are relations between theoretical and empirical key elements explicated? Cause-Effect, Condition Mean-End Positive, Negative Part-Whole New-Old Compatibility, Contradiction Interdependence, Dominance-Dependence Win-Win, Win-Lose, Lose-Lose Cooperation, Conflict etc. Is there a THREAD in your paper? 7 Jochen Hoffmann MKAD01 Academic Writing
The Thread It is your… Issue as your Guideline Theme Idea Leitmotif Perspective Intro- Con- duction clusion Chapter Chapter Chapter 8 Jochen Hoffmann MKAD01 Academic Writing
A. Title Page Typical Parts of B. List of Contents Research Papers C. Acknowledgements D. Abstract E. Introduction F. Literature Review G. Methods H. Findings and Discussion I. Conclusion J. Appendices K. References 9 Jochen Hoffmann MKAD01 Academic Writing
Modifications Journal articles do not include a List of Contents nor Acknowledgements . Student papers do not need to include Acknowledgements . Reports based on third-party funded applied research add a chapter including Recommendations for the client. In case of a significant own theoretical contribution the literature review is followed by a chapter on theory. Theoretical papers and student papers without own empirical research do not include Methods and Findings . Depending on size, the Literature Review , the Methods , and the Findings and Discussion consist of sub-chapters. Journal articles and student papers may assign separate chapters to Findings and Discussion . Overall, this is about standardized structures which turned out to be useful for academic writing in many cases. However, depending on the research topic variations might be reasonable and are allowed. 10 Jochen Hoffmann MKAD01 Academic Writing
A. Title Page Typical Parts of B. List of Contents Research Papers C. Acknowledgements D. Abstract E. Introduction F. Literature Review G. Methods H. Findings and Discussion I. Conclusion J. Appendices K. References 11 Jochen Hoffmann MKAD01 Academic Writing
Title Page Formal requirements are set by the department. Please download the title page from the web. Choice of title: Make is both as meaningful and as short as possible. The function of the main title is to arouse curiosity. Use strange and inspiring analogies, metaphors, wordings from everyday life, which put your overall argument in a nutshell. The function of the subtitle is to inform in rather neutral academic terms what your paper is about. For example: Putnam Robert 1995: Bowling alone. America's declining social capital, Journal of Democracy 6 (1), 65-78. 12 Jochen Hoffmann MKAD01 Academic Writing
A. Title Page Typical Parts of B. List of Contents Research Papers C. Acknowledgements D. Abstract E. Introduction F. Literature Review G. Methods H. Findings and Discussion I. Conclusion J. Appendices K. References 13 Jochen Hoffmann MKAD01 Academic Writing
List of Contents Acknowledgements and the Acknowledgements..........................3 abstract do not get a Abstract……………..........................5 number. 1. Introduction..............................7 2. Literature Review.................. .11 A sub-title cannot stand alone. You need at least a 2.1 BlaBla...............................11 second one. 2.2 BlaBla...............................15 3. Methods..................................21 4. Findings and Discussion.........25 4.1 BlaBla...............................25 Choose meaningful sub-titles referring to content (e.g. not 4.2 BlaBla...............................29 just „Hypothesis 1“). 4.3 BlaBla...............................35 5. Conclusion.......................... ...43 6. Appendices.............................47 The list of references is put in alphabetical order. 7. References.............................55 14 Jochen Hoffmann MKAD01 Academic Writing
A. Title Page Typical Parts of B. List of Contents Research Papers C. Acknowledgements D. Abstract E. Introduction F. Literature Review G. Methods H. Findings and Discussion I. Conclusion J. Appendices K. References 15 Jochen Hoffmann MKAD01 Academic Writing
Acknowledgements Say THA HANK YO YOU to all the great people who helped you with your research. And don‘t forget your supervisor! 16 Jochen Hoffmann MKAD01 Academic Writing
A. Title Page Typical Parts of B. List of Contents Research Papers C. Acknowledgements D. Abstract E. Introduction F. Literature Review G. Methods H. Findings and Discussion I. Conclusion J. Appendices K. References 17 Jochen Hoffmann MKAD01 Academic Writing
Abstract The abstract is the most important Shortcut when selecting and extracting literature for the own work. Usually the abstracts decides, whether somebody will refer to your research, quote your work and maybe even read it. Therefore it is the most important Marketing Tool for the author. Get to the heart of your paper by summarizing… the relevance of your work, the problem you approach, the academic discourse you refer to, your results and solution, your basic argument as the Take-Away-Message . 18 Jochen Hoffmann MKAD01 Academic Writing
A. Title Page Typical Parts of B. List of Contents Research Papers C. Acknowledgements D. Abstract E. Introduction F. Literature Review G. Methods H. Findings and Discussion I. Conclusion J. Appendices K. References 19 Jochen Hoffmann MKAD01 Academic Writing
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