READING SCHOLARLY RESEARCH So, what did they REALLY say . . .?

READING SCHOLARLY RESEARCH What are “scholarly journals?” The structure of a scholarly article Academic writing style

WHAT ARE SCHOLARLY ARTICLES? Peer-reviewed--reviewed by experts BEFORE publication Peer-review process How do you find them?

STRUCTURE OF SCHOLARLY ARTICLES Abstract Introduction Method Results Discussion References and Notes

THE ABSTRACT Short summation of the study Tells you The purpose or objective Who the subjects were What the subjects did The important findings

THE INTRODUCTION Background--why the author(s) undertook the study and how this study relates to other research (“Lit Review”) Purpose--states the purpose or goal Hypotheses (optional)--statements about the relationship between variables in the study

METHOD Subjects--who participated, how were they selected, etc. Materials, equipment, apparatus or instruments--describes things other than subjects used in the study Procedure--explains what the subjects did, or what was done to them, during the investigation

RESULTS Presentation of the results, in methodological jargon May use verbiage, tables, graphs or some combination

DISCUSSION Presents the results in plain English. Explains WHY the results occurred What should be learned from the study What further research could be done

REFERENCES AND NOTES References--valuable as a source of further reading/research Notes--Generally used to Thank people who were helpful Clarify some point in the study

ACADEMIC WRITING STYLE Title: accuracy paramount, interesting preferred Formal writing style No “I,” slang, informal language “Just the facts, ma’am” Avoid adjectives and hyperbole Keep it terse, concise

STYLE . . . Use subtitles for flow Organize like the outline in your writing manual or the instructions in the syllabus CITE, CITE, CITE USE the writer’s manual!!!!!