GPSC International Writing Workshop

Using academic vocabulary II : defining ideas & integrating source materialWeek 3Feb. 2Integrating Data

Academic Vocabulary IIDefining and Naming

AgendaGeneral guidelines for presenting data:Present findings as concisely as possible, but provide enough details to justify your conclusionsYou can assume your reader has a working knowledge of basic statistics (such as a 1st year stats course)You may have to explain the more advanced multivariate statistical methods, such as repeated measures ANOVAS or multiple regression analysisGraphs and tables take up space, so only use them if they are essential to show findings in a graphical format.Information in a table should be summarized or discussed, so the reader should not have to look at the table to follow the discussion on the results.You should guide the reader through the table by pointing out the interesting results in the table.Interpret all your research findings; dont leave it to a reader to try to figure out what numbers in a table meanIntegrating data(Kotz, 2007, p 53-54)Expected structure when integrating a table:Location elements and/or summary statementsHighlighting statementsDiscussion of implications, problems, exceptions, recommendations or other interesting aspects of the data.

In this example, the highlighting statements and discussion are combined. Can you identify them?Integrating data(Swales & Feak, 2012, p 144)P142, 145 HO4Location statements that often follow a table:Table 5 shows the types of.Table 6 provides summary statistics forFigure 2 shows a honeycomb solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) unit.Figure 1 plots wealth as a function of age.To keep good connections, this could come at the end of the paragraph before:The types of internet misbehavior common among university students are shown in Table 4.variables used in the analysis are provided in Table 5.Integrating data(Swales & Feak, 2012, p 147)passive tense is okConsider language for highlighting something important from your data:As can be seen in the first column,As shown in Table 1,As predicted by the model,

As described above,As described on the previous page,As described in the previous section,

Notice the prepositionsNotice the progression from specific to general in the language choices.Integrating dataThese highlight statements highlight something interesting6With highlighting statements you can:Spot trends or regularities in the dataSeparate more important findings from less important onesMake claims of appropriate strength

Try to avoid:Simply repeating all the details in wordsAttempting to cover all the informationClaiming more than is reasonable or defensibleIntegrating data(Swales & Feak, 2012, p 159)Look at your examples that you brought to class, and find a table in each that is discussed.Consider the typical three parts weve discussed:Location elements and/or summary statementsHighlighting statementsDiscussion of implications, problems, exceptions, recommendations or other interesting aspects of the data.

Which of the above does the commentary have?Not have?What is different between the examples?Integrating data8Look at a table or figure in your own writing, try to identify the three typical parts:Location elements and/or summary statementsHighlighting statementsDiscussion of implications, problems, exceptions, recommendations or other interesting aspects of the data.

Which of the above does your commentary have?Not have?What would you suggest to improve?

Alternative if you dont have tables in your writing: P166, 167Applied9Defining and Naming, when we returnBreak time!Paragraph: Detailed definitions, such as in a dictionary or for a complex term.Full sentence: A common general statement to develop common understanding, or can function as a hook.Embedded Phrase: Embedded definitions can clarify terms but are not used if the reader should be familiar.The majority of corporate profits, or earnings after all the operating expenses have been deducted, are subject to tax by the government.Also signaled by known as, defined as and calledDefining and Naming(From Swales & Feak, 2012, p 65)Try a definition, either embedded or full sentence, with a term in your fieldAs discussed last week, general statements can start a general-specific structure.

11It is helpful to offer a definition in what conditions?The term or concept may be unfamiliar to your readers.You need to display your understanding for a course or examination.The origin sheds light on the issue at hand.There is lack of agreement or some ambiguity surrounding the meaning.Defining and Naming(From Swales & Feak, 2012, p 67)Consider P68-69 on the handout.

Consider the formal sentence definition also:A solar cell is a device that/which converts energy of sunlight into electric energy.

Which definitional techniquehave you used?could you use?are you unlikely to use?

TASK SIX (P.70)

TASK SEVEN (P.70, with the journal you brought)

Defining and NamingP68-70 HO13In the last decade, tremendous strides have been made in the science and technology of OLEDS.

The first use of an acronym, spell it out:In the last decade, tremendous strides have been made in the science and technology of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDS).

Exception: if you will insult your readers or if the base term is so obscure it no longer appliesE.g. The data was collected from participants on a USB.

Defining and NamingAcronyms(From Swales & Feak, 2012, p 61)USB stands for?Universal Serial Bus (USB)no one uses this14Whereby is commonly used in formal writing instead of by which, through whichCollective bargaining is a process whereby employers agree to discuss work-related issues with employee representatives.Avoid using when and where in definitionsNOT: Pollution is when the environment becomes contaminated as a result of human activity.

USE: Pollution is a form of environmental contamination resulting from human activity.Defining and Naming SuggestionsN (thing)iswhen (time)N (thing)isN (thing)=(From Swales & Feak, 2012, p 73)My additional description of the when/where structure difference is that the first sentence has a fully independent sentence embedded using when in a way that does not really mean when. The second sentence is has a noun with modifiers.15We have looked at three ways to define:As paragraphs, general statements, or embedded phrasesAlso, integrating acronyms for terms

Look at the writing you have in progress. The first time you introduce a term,do you define it in any way?did you use any acronyms that should be spelled out the first time?AppliedReasons why articles are rejected:The research does not make a sufficiently large contribution to the body of knowledge (i.e., to the literature)The conceptual framework (i.e., the literature review is not well developed, lacks precise definitions or core constructs, lacks compelling theoretical motivation for stated hypotheses.The methodology used in the study is seriously flawed (e.g., the sample is too small or the reliability and validity of measure are questionable)The authors writing style is disorganized or the article is not structured properly.Where in your writing should you look for each one?What should you look for specifically?

Reviewing(Kotz, 2007, p 1-2)17The first three (contribution, conceptual framework, methodology) may be difficult to know if it is not your field or specialty, but advised writing style is that it be for an intelligent laypersonLater, well also look at establishing a research space and establishing a niche, which a reviewer can help see if you have done.

ReviewingWriting style:Use expected organizations for your genre (e.g., journal, book review)Be careful not to repeat the same information in different paragraphs or sections.Aim for a concise style: Keep sentences short, longer than three lines if often difficult to follow; sentences with and can often be broken upAsk yourself when reading:Have I (or, the writer) clearly defined this concept/construct?Am I making logical sense here?Am I repeating myself?How can I shorten this?Listen to your reader: If a reader (any intelligent layperson) tells you it isnt clear, it probably isnt.Their advice of what to change might not be the fix you need, but at least you can know something isnt clear.Connections, reordering sentences, or explaining might help.Example reviewer comments: (1) comments/changes; (2) Editor(examples are from Karas personal writing, please no judging, or reusing)Reviewing19Bring two articles from a journal or database in your discipline, similar to what you are writing (hard copy or on your computer)

Consider glancing through this Theuns Kotze article at the abstract and introduction guidelinesHomeworkPossibly ask them to send to me to post on website20Keep the same partner as last weekUse the same workshopping instructions

This weeks global issue to consider:Integrating dataThis weeks local issue to consider:Defining and naming language

Two have signed up to meet me today.Workshop

If time(From Liu & Hansen, 2002, p 138)