NTUT Academic Writing Week 2: Research Topics

3.1: Raising Questions  Answer the following questions AFTER reading a short passage:  1. What is the main function of sentences 4-13?  2. What is the main function of sentences 14-15?  See the following slide~

Sentences that introduce your thesis  After pointing out the “inadequacies” or the “yet to be done”: (few/little/no) few studies have been done on few studies have reported on few studies have been published on few researchers have studied on no studies have investigated little research has been devoted to  However, little attention has been paid to surface-residue loss. little information has been published concerning no work has been done on little literature is available on there is little literature available on little is known about insufficient data are available on

Although/While: Recent Research + Inadequacies  Although/While much work has been done on X, much research has been devoted to X, many researchers have investigated X, many studies have been published concerning X, much literature is available on X, little research has been done on Y. little attention has been paid to Y. little information is available on Y. little work has been published on Y. few researchers have studied Y. few studies have investigated Y.  Specifically:  Although much research has been done on CO2 levels in agricultural soils, little work has been done on CO2 levels in forest soils.  CO2 levels in agricultural soils have been studied extensively, but little attention has been devoted to CO2 levels in forest soils.  Much research has been done on CO2 levels in agricultural soils, yet to date forest soils have been relatively neglected.  Although CO2 levels in agricultural soils have been studied extensively (Smith, 1990), little information is available on CO2 levels in forest soils.

Grammar Reminder in Step 3  (Uncountable Nouns): work, literature, research, attention + much, little, or no.  (Countable Nouns): studies, papers, researchers, investigators + many, few, or no.  (General/Widely Acknowledged Facts): Present Simple  Ex. “little is know about X” or “little literature is available on X”  (Continual/Ongoing Trends): Present Perfect  Ex. “few studies have been done on X” or “little attention has been devoted to X”

In-Class Drill: Signal Words & Correct Tenses

3.2: Main Purposes  1. Research Activities Oriented: presenting results from experiment or investigation (often in past tense to indicate a past activity)  Ex. The purpose of the experiment reported here was to investigate the effects of adding X to Y at various temperatures.  The aim of this study was/The objective of this research was to determine whether increasing X affected Y.  In the experiments/research reported/described here, this theory was tested by examining X.  In this research, we investigated the effected of X.  In the present investigation, samples of X were tested by placing them in Y.  In this study, a survey of X was conducted.  2. Research Paper Oriented: uses present simple to indicate the information provided that is not affected by time  Ex. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the effect of X on Y.  The aim of this report is to determine whether X can be used to increase Y.  The objective of the present paper is to show that X is superior to Y.  The present paper reports/This report presents/This thesis describes/This thesis discusses the results of experiments in which X was mixed with Y/data collected during a two-year survey of X.

 More examples:  Ex. This paper/thesis/letter proposes/describes/presents a new method of synthesizing X/a new algorithm for sorting X/a proof that X can be reduced to Y.  “We” as the subject:  Ex. In this report, we present data collected during a two-year survey of X.  In this paper, we propose a new algorithm for sorting X.  Passive voice:  Ex. In this paper, experiment results are presented to show that X.  In this report, a new synthesis method is described that dramatically reduces X.  Future tense: information to be put forward later in the paper  Ex. This paper will proposes/present/evaluate/discuss a new method for analyzing X/several approaches to improving X/a theory that attempts toexplain X/a new equations for expressing X.  In this paper we will argue/attempt to show that X is equivalent to Y.  (Be careful: use present simple when encountering such words as “purpose,” “aim,” or “objective.”)

 (You must point out that THIS IS YOUR OWN RESEARCH instead of others.’)  (Vague): In summary, previous methods all all extremely inefficient. Hence a new approach is developed to process the data more efficiently.  (Revised): In this paper, a new approach will be developed to process the data more efficiently.  In this paper, we will present a new approach that processes the data more efficiently.  This paper presents a new approach that processes the data more efficiently.

In-Class Drills: What “Orientations” Are They?

Step 5: Statement of Values  1. Practical Values:  Ex. This research may provide a useful reference for researchers and managers attempting to increase employee productivity through optimization of the work environment.  The results reported here could be beneficial to educators attempting to design more effective language programs.  Data from this research may help other factories to reduce the impact of acidic effluent on the local environment.  This information should aid in the design of management schemes that will optimize the benefits of crop residues remaining on the soil surface.  2. Theoretical Values:  The results of this study may help to explain how the amount of fluorine incorporated into the films is affected by the presence of water in the immersing solution.  Our results may help to clarify whether the fission hypothesis or external origin hypothesis is valid.  Further data of this kind are of importance for the understanding of ion-beam- induced oxidation of silicon.  Knowledge of the seasonal dynamics of soil CO2 is necessary for a quantitive assessment of watershed acidification.

 Sentences that combine steps 4 and 5: (step 5 in italics)  Ex. The objective of this study was to collect data on the results of various teachings for reference in designing more effective language teaching programs.  The objective of this study was to collect data on the results of various methods in order to design more effective language teaching programs.  This papers describes a new channel assignment algorithm that may significantly increase quality of service and system utilization.  This report present experimental data on ozone decomposition that may be of importance in explaining the breakdown of atmospheric ozone.

Modal Verbs: humbly showing possibilities  Will: no reservation or doubt  Ex. The results of this experiment will provide further data concerning the performance of the two systems.  Would: certified under certain conditions  If a second processor were added, the system would run 40% faster.  Should: highly possible but not absolutely sure  Ex. This modification should improve the efficiency of the system, but it has not yet been tested in practice.  May: possible but not certain  Ex. These findings may be useful to researchers attempting to increase employee productivity.  Might: possible but less certain than may  These data might help to clarify whether the fission hypothesis is valid.  Could: equivalent to may  Ex. Our results could be beneficial to educators attempting to design a more effective language programs.

3.4 Step 6: Organization– Two Examples

Tenses: Present Simple or Future  Present Simple:  Ex. Section 2 presents the basic analysis and describes the proposed method for finding the solution.  In section 2, the basic analysis is presented and the method for finding the solution is described.  Section 5 summarizes the conclusions of the paper.  The conclusions of the paper are stated in section 5.  Future Tense:  Ex. Section 3 will describe simulations in which the proposed algorithm was tested using three data sets.  In section 4, we will present experimental results that confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method.  In the last section, experimental results will be summarized that confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method.

One last note on passive voice:  Main purpose of passive voice: to emphasize the main theses of the paper.  However, when using passive voice, avoid LENTHY SUBJECTS and end-of-sentence-verb structures:  Ex. In section 4, experimental results that confirm the speed, accuracy, and reliability of the proposed fuzzy logic controller in a variety of common applications are represented.  Should be revised as:  In section 4, experimental results are presented that confirm the speed, accuracy, and reliability of the proposed fuzzy logic controller in a variety of applications.  Section 4 presents experimental results that confirm the speed, accuracy, and reliability of the proposed fuzzy logic controller in a variety of common applications.