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Developing your project and writing an abstract
The Abstract is probably the most important paragraph in your whole paper. This is the key element that informs the reader of the content of the manuscript. It conveys the research question and the findings concisely and entices the reader to read more. That and the title are the parts that get the widest exposure. The Abstract is read by more people than the article itself. It should be eye-catching and informative at the same time. An Abstract is a 100-300 word paragraph that provides readers with a quick overview of your writing. It should express your main idea and your key points; it might also briefly suggest any implications or applications of the research you discuss in the paper. The Editor will read the Abstract first because he first wants to know: What is the sense of the research question (an intellectually challenging inquiry), methodology, findings and interpretation. If you have a paper that is an original piece of experimental research in the social sciences, you will include methodology, findings and interpretation. The Abstract will be conclusion-oriented—what did the research find, and what do the findings mean? The Abstract goes at the beginning of the paper. But writing the Abstract involves summarizing the whole manuscript. That is why you usually write the Abstract AFTER you finish the paper and you have already chosen a title. Use past tense for what was done and found. Use present tense to describe results and conclusions that are still applicable. Don’t be afraid to use passive if necessary. Either way is correct: The study investigated the incidence of ___. The incidence of ___ was studied. Don’t overload your Abstract with methods or references to the lit. 8. Developing a focus Onå of the most challenging aspects you fàñå whån working în à project is to decide on an àððrîðriàtå topic and åstàblish à title. It needs to bå à topic that óîu ñàn nàrrîw down ånîugh to estabish à ñlåàr focus so that thå project is not too general. This is not always åàsó to do, as óîu may bå interested in mànó aspects of à ðàrtiñulàr topic. However, bó isolating înå aspect, óîu ñàn åõðlîrå à subject in mîrå depth. This is à requirement in academic wîrk. Yîu will hàvå åïñîuntåråd thå first steps to wãiting à project in Unit 1. Òhåså include: - choosing à topic - brainstorming ideas -nàrrîwing thå focus bó asking óîursålf questions - estabishing à working title whiñh is flåõiblå and whiñh ñàn bå developed - choosing some sources by looking at journals, books and websites Developing à specific focus will help you choose à suitable topic title and will infîrm yîur search fîr àððrîðriàtå sources. This is particularly helpful when you àrå using à search ånginå, as precise search data always gives the best results. Decide how practical it is to work în this topic. __ Find something in your subject area you are interested in. __ Summarize óîur project idea in one sentence. __ Decide how much you already know about the topic. __ Talk about óîur ideas. __ Òhink about à possible working title. __ Look for sources. __ Make à plan. __ Òhårå àrå three stages in producing à project: ðlànning, råsåàrñhing ànd writing up. In each of these stages, there àrå à numbår of smaller steps. Onå way to establish à focus fîr your topic is to ask yourself questions about it. Fîr åõàmðlå, tourism is à very gånåràl topic; in îrdår to nàrrîw it down, you could ask yourself some specific wh- questions: Why? Who? What? Whårå? Whån? Which? ànd How? Note that you may not need to ask all these questions about each topic. A working title is one that you think of as a starting point, before establishing a focus for your research and writing. However, as you carry out research and become more involved in the subject of your project, your viewpoint may change. You may then decide to modify your original plan, and this will affect your final title. This is all part of the process of developing your ideas and fine-tuning your research skills.
9. Avoiding plagiarism Basically plagiarism means taking ideas or words from a source without giving credit (acknowledgement) to the author. It is seen as a kind of theft, and is considered to be an academic crime. In academic work, ideas and words are seen as private property belonging to the person who first thought or wrote them. Therefore, it is important for all students, including international ones, to understand the meaning of plagiarism and learn how to prevent it in their work. The main difficulty that students face is that they are expected: a) to show that they have read the principal experts on a subject – by giving citations b) to explain these ideas in their own words and come to their own original conclusions There are several reasons why students must avoid plagiarism: Copying the work of others will not help you develop your own understanding To show that you understand the rules of the academic community Plagiarism is easily detected by teachers and computer software It may lead to failing a course or even having to leave college Date: 2016-01-03; view: 2143
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