1、1,Unit 6 How to Write the Introduction,2,Teaching Procedures,Lead-in,1,Sample Analysis,2,Building a Model,3,Grammar and Writing Skills,4,3,1. What information should be contained in the Introduction?,Lead-in,BackgroundLiterature ReviewUnresolved QuestionThe Present Paper,4,2. What is the purpose of
2、writing the Introduction?3. How does the Introduction differ from the Abstract?4. How do writers normally start the Introduction?5. What type of information should be included in the Introduction, and in what order?6. How do writers normally end the Introduction?,5,Typical complaints of refereesThe
3、Introduction occupies too high a proportion of the entire paper and contains too many general statements that are widely known. The rational and objectives are not defined and the whole section is completely disorganized- it is not clear what problem the author is addressing or trying to solve and w
4、hy they chose their particular methodology. Much of the initial part is essentially a cut and paste from the Abstract.,6,The author has not related the background information to the objective of the paper.Please remember that the paper may be read by inexperienced Ph.D. students or others starting t
5、heir work in your specific field. Hence, please add an explanation or at least a reference when mentioning notions related to and terminology for,7,Introduction1.Polylactide (PLA) has received much attention in recent years due to its biodegradable properties, which offer important economic benefits
6、. 2.PLA is a polymer obtained from corn and is produced by the polymerization of lactide. 3.It has many possible uses in the biomedical field1 and has also been investigated as potential engineering material.2,3 4.However, it has been found to be too weak under impact to be used commercially.45.One
7、way to toughen polymers is to incorporate a layer of rubber particles5 and there has been extensive research regarding the rubber modification of PLA. 6.For example, Penney et al. showed that PLA composites could be prepared using blending techniques6 and more recently, Hillier established the tough
8、ness of such composites.77.However, although the effect of the rubber particles on the mechanical properties of copolymer systems was demonstrated over two years ago,8 little attention has been paid to the selection of an appropriate rubber component.8.The present paper presents a set of criteria fo
9、r selecting such a component. 9.On the basis of these criteria it then describes the preparation of a set of polymer blends using PLA and a hydrocarbon rubber (PI). 10.This combination of two mechanistically distinct polymerizations formed a novel polymer in which the incorporation of PI significant
10、ly increased flexibility.,Sample Analysis,8,In sentence 1 the writer establishes the importance of this research topic. In sentence 2 the writer provides general background information. In sentence 3 the writer does the same as in Sentence 1 and2, but in a more specific/detailed way. In sentence 4 t
11、he writer describes the general problem area or the current research focus of the field.,9,In sentence 5 the writer provides a transition between the general problem area and the literature review. In sentence 6 the writer provides a brief overview of key research projects in this area. In sentence
12、7 the writer describes a gap in the research. In sentence 8 the writer describes the paper itself. In sentence 9 the writer gives details about the methodology reported in the paper. In sentence 10 the writer announces the findings.,10,Background Literature Review Unresolved Question The Present Pap
13、er,(sentences 1-4),(sentences 5-6),(sentence 7),(sentences 8-10),11,Background,1. Polylactide (PLA) has received in recent years due to its biodegradable properties, which offer . 2. PLA a polymer obtained from corn and produced by the polymerization of lactide. 3. It has in the biomedical field1 an
14、d has also been investigated as potential engineering material.2,3 4. , it has been found to be too under impact to be used commercially.4,important economic benefits,much attention,However,weak,is,is,many possible uses,12,Literature Review,5. One way to polymers is to incorporate a layer of rubber
15、particles5 and there has been regarding the rubber modification of PLA. 6. , Penney et al. that PLA composites could be prepared using blending techniques6 and more recently, Hillier the toughness of such composites.7,toughen,extensive,research,For example,showed,established,13,Unresolved Question,7
16、. , although the effect of the rubber particles on the mechanical properties of copolymer systems was demonstrated over two years ago,8 to the selection of an appropriate rubber component.,However,little attention has been paid,14,The Present Paper,8. presents a set of criteria for selecting such a
17、component. 9. On the basis of these criteria it then the preparation of a set of polymer blends PLA and a hydro-carbon rubber (PI). 10. This combination of two mechanistically distinct polymerizations polymer in which the incorporation of PI .,The present paper,describes,using,formed a novel,signifi
18、cantly increased,flexibility,15,Building a Model,Background,Establish the importance of the field. Provide background facts/information (possibly from research). Present the problem area/current research focus.,16,Literature Review,Review previous or current research.,17,Unresolved Question,Locate a
19、 gap in the research.Describe the problem to be addressed.Present a hypothesis to be tested.,18,The Present Paper,Introduce the purpose of the research. Introduce the approaches or the main procedures. Present the major findings. State the significance of the research. Outline the structure of the p
20、aper.,19,Background,Literature Review,Unresolved Question,The Present Paper,20,The “Funnel-Shaped” structure,You may begin with information on the importance of the overall topic being addressed. Next summarize knowledge about an aspect of the topic. Then identify an unresolved question about that a
21、spect. Finally say how the current research addressed the question.,21,Most research papers in basic science are investigative. That is, they are based on specific research questions you try to answer or on a particular hypothesis you try to test. Introductions for these papers should contain the fo
22、ur elements.,22,Special case: Introductions for Descriptive Papers,Some research papers are not written to answer specific questions or prove a hypothesis but rather to describe a new finding. Introductions for these papers follow a slightly different “funnel” structure because elements that readers
23、 expect to find in the Introduction of a descriptive paper differ from those of an investigative paper.,23,1. Background background information and previous research in the area2. Discovery statement new discovery made by yourresearch3. Experimental approach approach taken toward (optional) analyzin
24、g this discovery4. Description description of the new element5. Implication importance of the findings,24, Grammar and Writing Skills,Tense Passive/active voice,25,The Present Simple is generally used to describe the general background context, i.e. what is known already. S1. The physical process of
25、 fragmentation is relevant to several areas of science and technology.,26,The Present Perfect is used to show how the problem has been approached from the past until the present study. S2. Because different physical phenomena are at work during the fragmentation of a solid body, it has mainly been s
26、tudied from a statistical viewpoint.,27,The Past Simple is used to review individual research. At the end of the Introduction, the Present Simple is used again when the authors state what they will do in the rest of their paper. A general convention (but not rule) is that the Past Simple is used to
27、present findings.,28,Passive/Active voice,In the Introduction you usually say what you will be doing or presenting in the research article. You can use we to refer to your research group or team, but do not use it to refer to people or humanity in general. If you are referring to people in general,
28、its better to use a construction with It (It is known/thought that) rather than We know/think that You can use words like here and in this study to let your reader know when you are referring to your own work.,29, Review of the Literature,1.What key skills are needed when writing a Review of the Lit
29、erature? The key skill is to provide readers with just the right amount of literature regarding the sequence of events leading up to the current situation not too much to make it tedious, nor too little so that the context of your research is not meaningful to them.,30,The amount of detail you need
30、to give varies immensely from discipline to discipline. In some disciplines you may be required to have a very strong theoretical framework for your study, thus requiring two or more pages. In other disciplines just one paragraph may be enough.,31,2.What are the two main reference systems ? List the
31、ir advantages and disadvantages.,32,Name and Year SystemA system of referencing in which a reference is cited in the text by the last name of the author and the year of publication, e.g., Smith (1990).,33,Name-year system Advantages: 1) Because the references are unnumbered, references can be added
32、or deleted easily. 2) Readers familiar with a field can recognize the authors of a citation without having to refer to the reference list. 3) It helps readers identify whether the sources of the citation are outdated or not.,34,Disadvantages1) It may increase printing expenses.2) The references take
33、 up space in the main body of the text and distract readers, especially when many works are cited together.,35,. Citation-order/Citation-sequence System A system of referencing in which references are cited in numerical order as they appear in the text. Thus, the References section is in citation or
34、der, not in alphabetical order.,36,Advantages: 1) It is convenient for readers to refer to the references. 2) Citation by numbers interrupt only slightly the reading of text. 3) This system also reduces printing expenses.,37,Disadvantages: 1) Readers usually have to turn to the reference list to fin
35、d out whose work is being cited. 2) When authors must add or delete references at a late stage in revising a paper, they may be burdened with renumbering references.,38,3) It is not ideal for the reader, because the non-alphabetical presentation of the reference list may result in separation of vari
36、ous references to works by the same author.,39,3.What is the clearest way to refer to other authors? Should I focus on the authors or their ideas? There are various styles for making reference to other authors. The four styles below contain the same information, but the focus is different.,40,Style
37、1 Blinco 1992 found that American elementary school children showed Style 2 In 5 Blinco found that American elementary school children showed Style 3 A study of the level of persistence in school children was presented by Blinco 1992. Style 4 A greater level of persistence has been noticed in Americ
38、a 5.,41,Summary,Introduction guidelines:1. Interest your audience and provide context.2. Follow the funnel structure.3. Keep the Introduction short.4. Provide pertinent background information.5. State the central point (question/purpose ordiscovery statement) precisely.6. State the experimental appr
39、oach briefly.7. Signal all the elements of the introduction.,42,The first sentence of the first paragraph introduces the main topic (cultural difference), and the rest of the paragraph briefly reviews a major study on this topic. The implications of this study (culture as the remaining variable) are
40、 summarized at the end of the paragraph. The first sentence of the second paragraph then moves on to the next major study. The first sentence of the third paragraph summarizes the findings of the first two paragraphs in order to introduce some more recent findings.,43,Assignment,Read the Introductio
41、ns of your target papers and identify the four components.Write an Introduction based on your own experiment and research.,44,Summary Writing,1. What is a summary?A summary is a brief restatement, in your own words, which gives the gist of a piece of writing. 2. What kind of information should be in
42、cluded in a summary?A summary should include only main ideas and important supporting information. It should not include details or any personal opinions.,45,3. How is a summary the same as the original work?A summary should have the same basic meaning as the original work. In other words, the summa
43、ry should not have new or different information that is not in the original work.,46,4. How is a summary different from the original work?A summary should not include many of the exact words as the original work. The writer should use his or her own words in the summary to express the same general i
44、deas found in the original work. Do not blindly copy out whole phrases and sentences from the text. On the other hand, it is impossible to avoid using some of the words used in the original text.,47,Using your own words when writing a summary not only helps you understand the meaning but also consti
45、tutes the first step in avoiding plagiarism.,48,How to write a summary,1) Understanding the meaning. 2) Understanding the organization. Work through the text to identify its sectionssingle paragraphs or groups of paragraphs focused on a single topic.,49,3) Distill each section. Focus on the main poi
46、nt of the section, omitting examples, facts, and other supporting evidence. 4) State the main idea. Write a sentence or two capturing the authors central ideas. 5) Support the main idea.,50,Qualities of a Summary,Quality OneThe summary should not contain any of the summary writers own ideas, opinion
47、s, conclusions or judgments.,51,Quality TwoThe summary writer should follow the logical order of the original passage.,52,Quality ThreeThe summary should contain every main idea in the original passage.,53,Quality Four,The summary should be a faithful account of the original passage.,54,There is not
48、 a perfect way to write a particular summary. One person may choose to write a summary one way, and another person may write it in a slightly different way. As long as the summary highlights all the main ideas, is not too long( doesnt contain too many details), and does not have the same wording as the original work, it can be a good summary.,55,Identifying Summary Problems,It uses too many of the same words as the original. It is too short. It is too long and contains too many details. It doesnt contain all the main ideas. It contains an opinion.,
