Roadmap recall ● Previous courses (General Writing Skills) – Course-1: Preparation, Writing Tools – Course-2: General Issues before writing – Course-3: Word Order, & Readability – Course-4: How to structure paragraphs – Course-5: Break up long sentences (1 st +2 nd ) – Course-6: Being Concise, & removing Redundancy – Course-7: Avoid Ambiguity – Course-8: Clarify Who did What – Course-9: Highlight Your Findings 1
● Today’s class: Course-10~11 – Course-10 : Discuss your limitation – Course-11 : Hedging & Criticizing – Course-12 : Plagiarism & Paraphrasing 2
《 科技论文的阅读与写作 》 课 程主 页 ： http://inpluslab.com/paperwriting Course -10: Discuss your Limitation 主 讲 ：黄 华 威 副教授 数据科学与 计 算机学院 学院个人主 页 ： http://sdcs.sysu.edu.cn/content/4989 3
● Once we accept our limits, we go beyond them. -- Albert Einstein 4
10.1 Recognize the importance of ‘bad data’ ● To enable referees to judge whether you have made a mistake or not, you should – NOT hide any negative results – be clear and honest about the limitations of your methods and approach ● In Why People Believe Weird Things , author Prof. Michael Shermer writes: Usually negative findings are – not wanted, and not published, – (but) helping us get close to truth 5
10.2 Be constructive in how you present your limitations ● Try to be constructive , so others can learn more ● Your results may be negative to you, but not for scientific community ● However, don’t be too negative when presenting Too negative ! • S1. [Original] § The limitation of this paper is that the two surveys were unfortunately not conducted in the same period. This will affect our results in terms of … • S2. [Revised] § Although the two surveys were not conducted in the same period, this will only affect our results in terms of … 6
10.3 Be constructive in how you present your limitations (cont.) ● Avoid to use – Adverbs : Regrettably , unfortunately – Link words : Moreover ● Change negative link words e.g., moreover , to – in addition, further, furthermore, also , etc S1. [Negative] § You are the worst student I have ever had. Moreover, you appear to know absolutely nothing. S2. [Positive] § You are the best student I have ever had. In addition, you appear to know absolutely everything. 7
10.4 Clarify exactly what your limitations are ● Example S1. [Fail to be clear] One limitation of our research was the sample size, which was too small . S2. [Fail to be clear] The unfortunate contamination of a few of our samples may mean that some of our conclusions are somewhat misleading. Honest Clear S3. [Clear] One limitation of our research was the sample size. Clearly 200 Xs are not enough to make generalizations about Y. However, from the results of those limited number of Xs, a clear pattern emerged which… S4. [Clear] Two of our samples were contaminated . This occurred because … We thus plan to repeat our experiments in future work. However, our analysis of the uncontaminated samples (24 in total) supported our initial hypothesis that . Discuss possible remedies ( 补 救 ) 8
10.5 Refer to other authors who had similar problems ● A way to lessen the impact of your ‘bad data’ is – to say that other authors have experienced similar problems ● However, your story should be convincing – Explain the pitfall ( 缺陷 ) – Give reason for the pitfall – Outline consequence of the pitfall – Refer to a similar pitfall experienced by another author [Example] § The statistical tool may not be optimal for describing some of the variables involved. However it is optimal for x, y and z. In addition, exactly the same tool was used for conducting similar research with an American sample [Williams, 2017]. Williams ’ results were reliable and representative and were in fact used by the US government. 9
10.6 Explain why you did not study certain data ● Cases include – You did not study the most recent data – You did not study a sufficient amount of data ● How to deal with them? [Example: Old data was used] § Even though the data were collected two years ago, the stability of this sector means that such data have not changed significantly . In fact, in the last two years the percentage of x has remained exactly the same [Wang 2017, Chu Wa 2018]. In addition, more recent data are not currently available. [Example: Insufficient data was used] § Our data only refer to one kind of sector. However, as far as we know there are no similar studies for this sector in China. Thus we believe that this project opens the way for … 10
10.7 Tell the reader from what standpoint you wish them to view your data ● To clearly express your point of view , you may use – in our view and we believe ● Tell the reader from which standpoint you want them to interpret or judge your data [Examples:] § Viewed / Seen in this way , the data take on a different meaning. § From this alternative perspective , these findings shed new light on … § From an X point of view , the results can be interpreted very differently § In this view , these data may mean that … § Under these conditions , it is reasonable to pose a new perspective on … This technique helps distance you from your own data. 11
10.7 Tell the reader from what standpoint you wish them to view your data (cont.) ● Not only data , but also your method , model , discussion , hypothesis etc. [Examples:] § These data indicate that … § The evidence favors the conclusion that … § The model predicted that … § From this discussion , it would appear that … § The hypothesis seems plausible because… § The existence of such phenomena may give confirmation of … [Useful verbs in such contexts are:] § Imply, § indicate, § suggest, § point toward, § hint at § … 12
10.8 Don’t end your paper by talking about your limitations ● Don’t end your Discussion / Conclusions by – talking about your limitations ● End with something positive – this will be the reader’s final impression [Possible endings are:] § talking about other applications for your findings § suggesting other avenues of research for the future § re-highlighting the benefits of your findings This technique helps increase the acceptance-ratio of your paper. 13
《 科技论文的阅读与写作 》 课 程主 页 ： http://inpluslab.com/paperwriting Course -11: Hedging and Criticizing 防备 与 批评 主 讲 ：黄 华 威 副教授 数据科学与 计 算机学院 学院个人主 页 ： http://sdcs.sysu.edu.cn/content/4989 14
Why is this chapter important? ● This chapter helps you Hedging ( 防 备 ) – (1) learn to predict possible objections to your claims u This is to make claims about your findings in a way that the referee and the research community are more likely accept them – (2) criticize the work of other authors in a constructive manner by u building upon their findings , u rather than underlining their inadequacy Criticizing ( 批 评 ) 15
11.1 Why and when to hedge ? Ø Hedging ( 防 备 ) • A hedge was originally a fence or boundary delimiting an area of land ( 划清 界限 ) • Here it means you protect yourself against some adverse risk • Hedging requires anticipating possible opposition from your referees and readers, by not saying things too assertively or directly. Ø Your risk while writing too assertively Ø criticism by referees and other researchers Ø The ideas: 1) Express yourself with honesty , precision and caution 2) Become diplomatic ( 老 练 的 ) in any criticisms 16
11.1 Why and when to hedge ? (cont.) Ø Hedging ( 防 备 ) • does not mean that you should be vague ( 含混不清的 ) • Instead, as precise ( 明确的 ) as possible [OV:] § Although many authors have investigated x problem in previous studies, this is the first attempt to systematically analyze x+ problem . [RV:] § Although many authors have investigated x problem in previous studies, we believe / as far as we know / to the best of our knowledge this is the first attempt to systematically analyze x+ problem . [OV:] [RV:] § Our results demonstrate that … § Our results would seem to demonstrate that … 17
11.2 Highlighting and Hedging ● Highlighting ( 高亮、凸 显 ) and Hedging ( 防 备 ) – are not contradictory skills – In fact they should be used hand-by-hand [According to previous course, Highlighting means:] § Helping the reader to see your findings easily (not hiding them in the middle of a long paragraph) § Using shorter sentences when giving important information § Using more dynamic language when drawing attention * You can do all the above and still hedge . 18
11.2 Highlighting and Hedging (cont.) ● Compare the following 3 sentences S1. This is a very important finding. S2. These results suggest that this is a very important finding. S3. Interestingly, these results prove/suggest that X is fundamental in producing Y. Here the skill is in • finding the right balance of highlighting and hedging, and • knowing how to hedge so that referees think you are sincere 19
Recommend
More recommend
