AIDEN YEH, PH.D. WENZAO URSULINE COLLEGE OF LANGUAGES Writing from Research AIDEN YEH, PH.D. WENZAO URSULINE COLLEGE OF LANGUAGES

Writing is…communicating Written word creates a public record of our knowledge, our opinions, and our skill with language So we try to make it accurate, forceful, and honest

Writing is…demanding It is a demanding process Requires commitment Discovering a well-focused topic Finding a reason for writing about it Choosing a format Exploring resources through critical reading Completing the writing task with grace and style

What affects writing? The richness of our language Our background Experiences Our target audience/readers Form of expression that we choose

Writing is more than just… Sharing personal thoughts You need to explore complex topics You need to find information And present it effectively You need to document the sources You need to invest time

Research writing… Grows from investigation Establishes a clear purpose Develops analysis for a variety of topics

Why do Research? Teaches methods of discovery (interviews, observation, and experimentation), find solutions and synthesize your ideas Teaches investigative skills (finding reliable sources) Develops inquiry-based techniques (to advance your knowledge) Teaches critical thinking (discriminate between useful information and unfounded or ill-conceived comments) Teaches logic (make perceptive judgments based on logical response to your reading, observation, interview, and testing) Teaches basic ingredients of argument (make a claim and support it with reasons and evidence)

RW follows conventions Modern Language Association- MLA American Psychological Association-APA

Avoiding Plagiarism Citation Quotation marks Paraphrase Parenthetical citations and notes Works cited or references pages

RW Terminology Evaluate Interpret Perform causal analysis Definition Comparison Search for precedents Testing Discussion of implications

Evaluation Establish a clear criteria of judgment and explain hot the subject meets these criteria E.g. What makes a good movie? Importance of a literary poetic verses?

Interpretation What does it mean? What are the implications of these results? What does this data tell us? Can you explain your reading of the problem to others? Eg. What are the social implications of computer dating? What are the psychological implications?

Definition Provide extended definition E.g. The root cause of breakups in relationships is selfishness. This topic requires a definition of selfishness and examples of how it weakens relationships 3 elements (subject, the class in which the subject belongs to, and differences between others

Proposal We should do something Practical applications Calls for action Advancing the thesis and support with reasons and evidence Convince the readers that problems exist Consider opposing positions

Causal Argument Show condition exists because of specific circumstances Something caused or created the situation, we need to know why

Comparison, Analogy Compare two classifications Analogy is a figurative comparison that allows the writer to draw several parallels or similarity

Precedence Conventions or customs Requires a past event that establishes a rule of law or a point of procedure

Implications Explain findings Arrive at conclusions Discuss the implications of your inquiry

Establishing a Schedule See pages 8-9