Week 5 Feb 16 Reviewing the Literature Academic Vocabulary IV Evaluative Language Agenda Where in your writing do you cite sources Introduction Methods Results Discussion All are possible but it depends on the field and type of writing ID: 354948
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Slide1
Using academic vocabulary IV : evaluative language & reviewing the literature
Week 5
Feb. 16Slide2
Reviewing the LiteratureAcademic Vocabulary IV
Evaluative Language
AgendaSlide3
Where in your writing do you cite sources?Introduction? Methods? Results? Discussion?
All are possible, but it depends on the field and type of writing
What are the purposes of citing? (besides plagiarism!)
Acknowledge intellectual property rights
Show respect for previous scholarsGive your own arguments greater authorityHelp friends and colleagues (increases the “impact factor” of journals)
Reviewing the literature
(Swales &
Feak
, 2012, p 340)Slide4
Tense choice implications are subtleCan indicate who is the agent or not
Can make no reference to agency
Can indicate the distance of the researcher to our own opinion or research
Can indicate if the finding should be taken in the context of the single study or as a larger generalization.
Look at a journal you brought and find examples of this.Now look at your own.
Reviewing the literature
P344-345 HOSlide5
Huang (2007) investigated
the causes of airport delays.
Action (Huang does something)
Developed
ModeledConductedstudiedIn Huang’s (2007) investigations, he concludes that…..Saying/thinking (Huang says/thinks something)
BelievesAssumesPosits
Argues
Opines
Views
Points
Provides…Past is often used to indicate a contrast of past belief to current:Huang (2007) concluded that…, but more recent investigations reveal…
Common uses of past/presentSlide6
Integrated citations versus parenthetical citations:According to Suarez et al. (2010), the causes of business failure are closely related to the ratio of working capital, retained earnings, and sales.
Fang’s research shows that reduced working capital and retained earnings are interrelated (Fang, 2007).
Why was the first integrated, and the second not?
What are other ways of giving credit?
Under what circumstances are one or the other preferred?
Reviewing the literatureSlide7
Why vary citation patterns?Give it a try
The Origins of the First Scientific Articles
Reviewing the literatureSlide8
Options for establishing a niche:A: Counter-claiming (something is wrong)
B: Indicating a gap (something is missing)
C: Raising a question or making an inference (something is unclear)
D: Continuing a tradition (adding something)
Look at a journal you brought and find an how the author(s) established their niche.Now look at your own. Was it the niche you intended?
Reviewing the literature
Stronger
Weaker
(Swales &
Feak
, 2012, p 348)
P348-349 HOSlide9
How to focus/synthesize/organize the previous finding? (pdf
, p27-34 for example)
By possible relationships between the
chosen constructs
(e.g., a correlation between communication and satisfaction and job satisfaction)By possible mediating (intervening) and/or moderating variables that influence the relationships between chosen constructs By possible differences between groups in
chosen constructs By possible gaps, inconsistencies, controversies and/or unanswered questions which form the basis for a new study
By possible untested hypotheses or propositions in the
chosen constructs
Reviewing the literature
(
Kotze
, 2007, p 26)Slide10
Practical principles that can accomplish good organization (pdf
, p34-40 for examples):
Use a “funnel approach” by starting with the broader context and then focus in on the specific topic and issue
Carefully plan headings and subheadings that can ensure a logical flow of information (mind-maps can help in planning)
Headings should be descriptive and informative (more than one word)Make sure that information under heading is in fact well related
Reviewing the literature
(
Kotze
, 2007, p 26)Slide11
Practical principles that can accomplish clear style (pdf
, p42-43 for examples):
Write to the level of an intelligent layperson (i.e., non-academic, no expertise in the discipline of the field), such as a 100 level class in your field.
Always define unfamiliar constructs or technical terms when they are introduced the first time.
Write as though your reader is skeptical about what you write, and you need to argue your case with clear evidence and reasons for your choices.Reviewing the literature
(
Kotze
, 2007, p 41)Slide12
Evaluative Language, when we return
Break time!Slide13
Negative openings for indicating a gap:“little” + noun
However, little information…
Little attention…
Little work…
“few” + nounHowever, few studies…Few investigations…Few attempts…No/noneNo studies/data/calculations to date have…
None of these studies/findings/calculations have…
Evaluative language
P350-51
HO
(Swales &
Feak
, 2012, p 350)Slide14
Contrastive statement openings for indicating a gap:Research has tended to focus on …, rather than on…
These studies have emphasized …, as opposed to…
Although considerable research has been devoted to…, rather less attention has been paid to…
Evaluative language
(Swales &
Feak, 2012, p 352)Slide15
Consider the first two paragraphs of an article from the Journal of Materials Chemistry
(
PDF
)
How many critique/evaluative expressions can you find? (write the expressions on your own paper)Are they strongly negative or slightly negative?Can you find the language that signaled Move 1 (Establish a Research Territory)?Can you find the language that signaled Move 2 (Establish a niche)?
Evaluative language
(Swales &
Feak
, 2012, p 354)Slide16
Consider the introduction in a journal you brought:How many critique/evaluative expressions can you find? (write the expressions on your own paper)
Are they strongly negative or slightly negative?
Can you find the language that signaled Move 1 (Establish a Research Territory)?
Can you find the language that signaled Move 2 (Establish a niche)?
Now consider these same questions for your own introduction.Evaluative language
(Swales &
Feak
, 2012, p 354)Slide17
…remains elusive despite…There are however very few analyses….Yet, the literature has little empirical evidence…
…is far from sufficient…
Very little research has been done to answer the crucial question…
Has not been fully answered….
Class examples of evaluative expressionSlide18
Evaluative language can be used in claims about your own writing and about others’ writing.Phrases can weaken and strengthen
Distance can weaken and strengthen
Verbs can weaken and strengthen (
appear, seem, tend
)Do you prefer to look at models (journals you brought) or your own writing?Look for this language in the intro (establishing a niche), in data commentary (remarking about your data), discussion (making final claims)
Evaluative language
P160-161 HO
(Swales &
Feak
, 2012, p 160)Slide19
…can be reasonably confident……may be……it would be useful to confirm…
It is some concern that…
Class examples of
strengthening & weakeningSlide20
Grammar & wordingLiterature review
Goes too quickly to the study issue without situating it in the related research
Insufficient review of the literature, causing the reviewer to note oversights & misunderstandings
Personal definitions rather than giving attribution
Analysis & designClaims about results were problematic for the research designSample size too small for the complexity and claimsCauses and effects in the design not well addressed
Applied Linguistics Reviewer (
PDF
)Slide21
Continue to apply what you’ve learned in your editing.Consider staying on contact with your peer from class or connect with someone else, both for encouragement and support.
Feel free to see the
powerpoints
from
this workshop at http://www.u.arizona.edu/~karaj/gpsc.html Homework