Providence University Review the Setting College of Management • Using Microcomputers in Teaching – During the past 40 years, the United States I NTRODUCTION has experienced the integration of the computer into society. Progress has been - Reviewing Previous Research made to the point that small, inexpensive - Advancing to Present Research computers with expanded capabilities are available for innumerable uses. Many Wu-Lin Chen (wlchen@pu.edu.tw) schools have purchased and are purchasing Department of Computer Science and Information Management microcomputers for infusion into their directed leaning programs. Providence University Technical Writing S03 2 Stage II Review of Literature Finishing Up Writing Introduction • Stage II (already studied) • Continue giving your readers background – More specific statements about the aspect of the information needed to understand your problem already studied by other researchers research • Stage III (investigation needed) • Familiarizing your readers with the – Statement(s) that indicate the need for more investigation important research that has been carried • Stage IV (purpose) out in your area – Very specific statement(s) giving the purpose/objectives of the writer’s study • Establishing your study as one link in a • Stage V (value) chain of research that is developing and – Optional statement(s) that give a value or justification enlarging knowledge in your field for carrying out the study Providence University 3 Providence University 4 Technical Writing S03 Technical Writing S03 Information Prominent Citation Citation (Author’s Names) • Three ways to cite previous research • In most deserts of the world, transitions – Information prominent citation (author’s names) between topographic elements are abrupt – Information prominent citation (reference (Smith 1968). number) – Author prominent citation Information + Reference Technical Writing S03 Providence University 5 Technical Writing S03 Providence University 6 1
Information Prominent Citation Author Prominent Citation (Reference Number) • In most deserts of the world, transitions • Leopold (1921) listed foods, but gave no between topographic elements are abrupt quantitative data. (1,2,8,9). • Allen and Reiner [1] described graphically the differences between the various + Information Reference number vibration scales. Date or Last Information reference + + name of number author Providence University Providence University Technical Writing S03 7 Technical Writing S03 8 Order of Citations Order of Citations • From most distantly related to your study to Citations grouped by Citations ordered those most closely related approach chronologically Citations • In chronological order One approach earliest ordered from – If you are describing the history of research in an area distant to + close • According to different approaches Another approach – If you are dealing with a large amount of citations as OR OR in a thesis or dissertation + – Each group can be ordered Still another latest • chronologically or approach • from general to specific Providence University 9 Providence University 10 Technical Writing S03 Technical Writing S03 Tense in Information Prominent Citation Focus and Verb Tense Citations • When you decide using information or • The present tense is used when the author prominent citations, you also information you are citing is generally determine the verb tense you will use in accepted as a scientific fact each citation • For example: Reporting Facts Verb + + + Topic Fact (Reference) (present) a common Nutrient is (Kramer 1979). phenomenon resorption in forest trees The factors that control are poorly known [1]. the connection of aluminum in seawater Technical Writing S03 Providence University 11 Technical Writing S03 Providence University 12 2
Tense in Weak Author Prominent Tense in Weak Author Prominent Citations Citations • The present perfect tense is used in • For example: Several Authors II citations where the focus is on research area of several authors Verb + + + Topic Author (Reference) (present perfect) • For example: Several Authors I The [3,7,13]. Verb has been studied by several authors + + + Authors Topic (Reference) physiology of (present perfect) annual plants the relationship between Several have studied classroom adjustment and researchers mobility (Madsen 1980; Biggs 1983; Randall 1985) Providence University Providence University Technical Writing S03 13 Technical Writing S03 14 General Statements about the Tense in Author Prominent Citations Research • The present perfect tense is also used in • The simple past tense is used if you use author general statements that describes the level of prominent citations to report the finding of research activity in an area. These statements individual studies closely related to your own are often written without reference • For example: Finding from Specific Studies • For example: Level of Research Activity Verb Authors + Reference + + THAT + Findings (past) Verb + + Level Topic (present perfect) teachers found that Allington (1983) allocated showed on topic development equal time Little research has been done reported on ESL students’ to all groups. noted composition. observed Providence University 15 Providence University 16 Technical Writing S03 Technical Writing S03 Progression of Literature Review Attitude and Tense in Research Findings • In author prominent citations your attitude Citation from Tense towards the findings of the researchers also affects the complement verb forms. Beginning citations: – When you believe the findings you are citing are fact, Information prominent Simple present use the present tense in the complement verb. Weak author prominent and – When you believe the findings are restricted to the General statements present perfect specific study you are citing, use the past tense in the complement verb. – When the finding you are citing were seen by the original authors as tentative, or were only suggestions or proposals rather than findings, use tentative verbs for the verb of report, and a modal auxiliary with the Latest citations: Simple past complement verb. Author prominent Technical Writing S03 Providence University 17 Technical Writing S03 Providence University 18 3
Attitude Towards Findings: Attitude Towards Findings: Accepted as a Fact Results Limited to One Study Reference Reference Verb of Findings Verb of Findings Author + number or + + THAT + Author (s) + number or + + report (present) report (past) date date Aluminum in that mobile showed that Sillen [1] Abramson (1974) reported seawater is students had regulated by a lower academic thermodynamic performance. balance. that 34.6kg of Henderson [7] found nitrogen were and Harris cycled internally by trees. Providence University Providence University Technical Writing S03 19 Technical Writing S03 20 Attitude Towards Findings: Advancing to Present Research Tentative Findings • Stages III, IV, and V of the introduction focus your readers’ attention on the Tentative Reference findings specific research problem Verb of Author + number or + + THAT + (modal report • Stage III indicates an area that is not date auxiliary + verb) treated in the previous literature proposed aluminum may be • Stage IV announces the purpose of your Van Bennekom [5] that suggested common in diatom research hypothesized residues. • Stage V indicates possible benefits or application of your work Providence University 21 Providence University 22 Technical Writing S03 Technical Writing S03 Stage III: Missing Information Writing Stage III: Missing Information • Summing up previous literature review by + Gap Research topic pointing out a gap • Pointing out this gap is an important the effects of computer However, few studies have assisted instruction. research area that is not investigated by reported on other researchers • Accomplishing Stage III in only one or two the air flow rates on But, there is little information simple flat plate solar sentence available on collectors. Technical Writing S03 Providence University 23 Technical Writing S03 Providence University 24 4
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