The Spiral Guide to Research Writing

by Maner, Martin

• ISBN13: 9781559344920
• ISBN10: 155934492X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1996-03-01
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill College

Table of Contents

Preface	v
Introduction: Research---Who Needs It?	1	(5)
The Nature of Research Writing	6	(11)
The Purpose of Research Writing	6	(1)
Research as New Knowledge	7	(3)
Defining the Necessary Degree of Doubt	10	(1)
Describing, Narrating, Explaining, and Arguing	10	(2)
Prewriting	12	(1)
Using a Research Journal to Develop the Argument	13	(1)
Avoiding Mistakes in Choosing a Topic	14	(1)
Exercise 1	15	(1)
Exercise 2	15	(2)
Finding and Narrowing the Topic	17	(19)
Quick View	17	(1)
Start with Ideas and Questions in Your Journal	17	(1)
Overview of the Research Writing Process	18	(2)
State Your Hypothesis Before Source Hunting	20	(1)
Finding Evidence to Support Your Hypothesis	21	(1)
Must an Objective Library Paper Have an Argument?	22	(1)
Topics and the Stages of Writing	22	(1)
The Learning Spiral	23	(1)
Subject Areas and Narrow Topics	24	(2)
Using Indexes and Subject Headings to Formulate a Topic	26	(1)
A Twenty-Question Method of Topic Formulation	27	(2)
A Five-Question Method of Topic Formulation	29	(1)
How to Make an Assigned Topic Interesting	30	(1)
Journal Excerpts: Finding and Narrowing the Topic	31	(3)
Exercise 3: Writing a Statement of Topic	34	(2)
Generating an Argument	36	(21)
Quick View	36	(1)
Avoiding Passive Approaches	37	(1)
Using Exposition Effectively	38	(1)
Arguing with Yourself	38	(2)
Making the Argument Develop	40	(8)
Four Types of Argument	41	(1)
How to Find Your Argument	42	(1)
Argument by Authority	43	(1)
Deductive Argument	43	(2)
Evaluating a Deductive Argument	45	(2)
Inductive Argument	47	(1)
Evaluating an Inductive Argument	47	(1)
Can I Really Challenge Experts?	48	(1)
Challenging Your Sources While You Read	49	(1)
Challenging Sources Near the End of Your Paper	49	(1)
The Three Bases of Persuasion	49	(1)
Toulmin's Approach to Argument	50	(1)
Journal Excerpts: Generating an Argument	51	(3)
Exercise 4: Challenging Your Sources	54	(1)
Exercise 5: Generating Arguments from ``Facts''	55	(2)
Finding Sources	57	(43)
Quick View	57	(1)
How Many Sources Am I Looking For?	57	(1)
Magic Solutions	58	(1)
Starting a Bibliographical Card File	59	(1)
Preliminaries	60	(1)
Ask Your Instructor and the Reference Librarian	60	(1)
Find a Local Authority	61	(1)
Step One: Using Encyclopedias	61	(1)
General Encyclopedias	61	(1)
Specialized Encyclopedias	61	(1)
Step Two: Using Library Catalogs	62	(15)
Knowing Where to Look	62	(1)
How Library Holdings Are Organized	63	(2)
Shelf Browsing	65	(1)
Library of Congress Subject Headings	66	(2)
Library Catalogs in General	68	(9)
What If the Book I Need Is Not in the Library?	77	(1)
Step Three: Using Indexes	77	(8)
Using Printed Indexes	79	(1)
Using Computerized Indexes	80	(5)
What If the Article I Need Is Not in the Library?	85	(1)
Computerized Indexes to Microforms	85	(1)
After Step Three: What Next?	85	(1)
Items to Record When Copying Citations	86	(1)
Interpreting Title Pages, Copyright Pages, and Computer Screens	87	(6)
Journal Excerpts: Finding Sources	93	(4)
Exercise 6: Finding Sources	97	(3)
Writing a Short Plan	100	(11)
Quick View	100	(1)
A Prospectus and Its Advantages	100	(1)
Formats for a Prospectus	101	(7)
An Abstract	108	(1)
Using a Short Plan to Guide Your Research	108	(1)
Journal Excerpts: Writing the Prospectus	109	(1)
Exercise 7: Writing a Prospectus	110	(1)
Gathering Information	111	(31)
Quick View	111	(1)
Active Reading	112	(1)
Questioning and Analyzing	112	(1)
An Example of Active Reading	113	(1)
Evaluating Sources	113	(6)
Note-Taking Methods	119	(1)
Three Types of File: Journal, Notes, Bibliography	120	(1)
Using Topic Headings to Organize Your Notes	121	(1)
Avoiding Plagiarism: Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing	121	(9)
Should You Quote or Paraphrase?	121	(2)
Developing the Skill of Paraphrasing	123	(7)
Sample Journal, Note, and Bibliography Cards	130	(3)
Notes on Disks	133	(2)
Word-Processing Files	134	(1)
Computerized Card Files	134	(1)
Databases	134	(1)
Using Photocopies Responsibly to Avoid Plagiarism	135	(1)
Using Interviews	136	(1)
Journal Excerpts: Gathering Information	137	(2)
Exercise 8: Summarizing, Paraphrasing, and Quoting	139	(1)
Exercise 9: Evaluating a Source	140	(2)
Getting a Handle on the Handbooks	142	(53)
Quick View	142	(1)
Overview of Research Paper Formats	143	(2)
All Formats: The Functions of Documentation	145	(1)
Acknowledging Borrowing	145	(1)
Helping Your Reader Find Your Sources	145	(1)
Helping Your Reader Know the Territory	145	(1)
Helping Your Reader See How You Have Used Your Sources	146	(1)
Plagiarism and Common Knowledge	147	(1)
MLA Format: General Appearance	148	(5)
Headings	149	(1)
Margins and Spacing	150	(1)
Title Page	150	(1)
Header	150	(1)
Quotations	150	(3)
MLA Format: Parenthetical Documentation	153	(4)
Basic Form	153	(1)
Common Exceptions to the Basic Form	154	(2)
Placement of Parenthetical Documentation	156	(1)
Consolidating Parenthetical Citations	157	(1)
MLA Format: The List of Works Cited	157	(10)
General Principles	158	(1)
Listing Books	158	(2)
Listing Articles	160	(4)
Listing Other Kinds of Sources	164	(3)
APA Format: General Apperance	167	(4)
Verb Tenses in the MLA and APA Formats	167	(1)
Differences Between Journal Articles and Student Papers	168	(1)
Types of Research Papers in Psychology and the Social Sciences	168	(1)
Headings and Subheadings	168	(1)
Margins and Spacing	169	(1)
Title Page	170	(1)
Manuscript Page Header	170	(1)
Abstract	170	(1)
Quotations	171	(1)
APA Format: Parenthetical Documentation	171	(3)
Basic Form	172	(1)
Common Exceptions to the Basic Form	172	(2)
APA Format: The List of Works Cited	174	(4)
General Principles	174	(1)
Listing Multiple Sources by a Single Author	175	(1)
Listing Books	175	(1)
Listing Articles	176	(1)
Listing Other Kinds of Sources	177	(1)
CBE Citation Sequence Format: General Appearance	178	(2)
Headings and Subheadings	179	(1)
Margins and Spacing	179	(1)
Title Page	179	(1)
Abstract	179	(1)
Quotations	180	(1)
CBE Citation Sequence Format: Documentation	180	(1)
Basic Form	180	(1)
Footnotes to Text	180	(1)
Consolidating Citations	181	(1)
CBE Citation Sequence Format: The List of Cited References	181	(2)
General Principles	181	(1)
Avoiding Mistakes by Imitating Examples	181	(1)
Listing Books	181	(2)
Listing Articles	183	(1)
Listing Other Kinds of Sources	183	(1)
Chicago Format: General Appearance	183	(1)
Chicago Format: Documentation	184	(2)
Basic Form	184	(2)
Common Exceptions to the Basic Form	186	(1)
Chicago Format: The List of Works Cited	186	(2)
Listing Books	187	(1)
Listing Articles	187	(1)
Guide to Converting Roman Numerals	188	(1)
Exercise 10: Citing and Listing Sources	189	(6)
Writing the Rough Draft	195	(33)
Quick View	195	(1)
Outlines	196	(4)
Outlining in Stages to Save Time	197	(1)
Alternative Ways of Outlining and Drafting	198	(2)
Starting the Rough Draft	200	(1)
Moving Forward Logically	201	(4)
Smoothly Incorporating Quotations and Paraphrases	202	(2)
Verbs to Introduce Quotations	204	(1)
Assembling the Rough Draft from Notes	205	(1)
Assembling the Rough Draft on a Word Processor	205	(7)
Long-File Method	209	(2)
Short-File Method	211	(1)
To Whom Am I Speaking? or Who Am I Speaking To?	212	(2)
Developing Good Working Habits	214	(4)
Overcoming Writer's Block	214	(1)
Using Collaboration in Drafting	215	(1)
The Importance of Mood, Setting, and Time of Day	215	(1)
The Advantages of Early Drafting	216	(1)
Redrafting to Give Your Paper a New Slant	216	(2)
Strategies for Introductions and Conclusions	218	(1)
Avoiding the Bad Habits of Academic Writers: An Editor's Advice	219	(1)
Journal Excerpts: Writing the Rough Draft	220	(2)
Exercise 11: Collaboration	222	(1)
Exercise 12: Drafting Skills	223	(5)
Revising the Rough Draft	228	(29)
Quick View	228	(1)
Guidelines for Revision	229	(1)
Types of Outlines	229	(1)
Generating a Topic Outline	230	(3)
The Developed Thesis	233	(1)
The Rules of Outlining	233	(3)
Outlines Generated Automatically by Word Processors	236	(1)
Using the Topic Outline as a Guide to Revision	236	(1)
Generating a Sentence Outlines After Revising the Rough Draft	237	(2)
Examples of Outlines Used in Revision	239	(3)
Revising to Improve the Argumentative Focus	242	(1)
The Hook Paragraph Transition	243	(5)
Other Types of Transition	248	(1)
Adjusting the Length of Paragraphs	249	(1)
A Sample Revision	249	(6)
Revising as Self-Criticism	255	(1)
Journal Excerpts: Revising	256	(1)
Exercise 13: Revision	256	(1)
Editing	257	(32)
Quick View	257	(1)
Collaboration in Editing	257	(2)
Criteria for Editing	259	(3)
Unity and Coherence	259	(1)
Variety	260	(1)
Conciseness	260	(2)
Clarity	262	(1)
Edit for Coherence	262	(5)
Three Common Mistakes That Destroy Coherence	267	(4)
Faulty Parallelism	267	(2)
Dangling Modifiers	269	(1)
Tense Shifts	270	(1)
Edit for Conciseness	271	(10)
Cut Cliches and Deadwood Phrases	271	(1)
Convert Abstract and General to Concrete and Specific	272	(2)
Convert Forceless Verbs to Forceful Verbs	274	(2)
Convert Passive Voice to Active Voice	276	(1)
Convert Noun Constructions to Verbs	277	(1)
Convert Inflated Language to Plain Language	278	(1)
Convert Discriminatory to Nondiscriminatory Language	279	(2)
Punctuate for Clarity	281	(2)
Proofread for Mechanical Errors	283	(3)
Use Global Searches to Edit Details	286	(1)
Journal Excerpts: Editing	287	(1)
Exercise 14: Editing	288	(1)
Special Problems in Research Writing	289	(14)
Trying to Do Too Much	289	(1)
Special Problems in Finding Sources	290	(4)
Finding Books Outside Your Library	290	(1)
Using Computerized Indexes On-Line	291	(1)
Using Abstracts	292	(1)
Special Ways of Finding Sources	292	(1)
Guides to Indexes	293	(1)
Using a Database Instead of a Card File for the Bibliography	294	(1)
Copyright Law and the Ethics of Research	294	(2)
Special Problems in MLA Format	296	(7)
A Worst-Possible-Case Book Entry in the List of Works Cited	296	(2)
Books in the List of Works Cited: Special Cases	298	(1)
Worst-Possible-Case Article Entries in the List of Works Cited	299	(1)
Documentation Using Endnotes or Footnotes	299	(4)
APPENDIX A: ENCYCLOPEDIAS AND INDEXES FOR LIBRARY RESEARCH	303	(20)
General Encyclopedias	304	(1)
Encyclopedias and Dictionaries in Specific Subject Areas	304	(9)
Bibliographies, Indexes, Abstracts, and Electronic Databases	313	(10)
APPENDIX B: A WRITER'S BOOKSHELF	323	(2)
Essential Books	323	(1)
Dictionaries	323	(1)
Guide to Style, Grammar, and Usage	323	(1)
Optional Books	323	(2)
Editing Guides	323	(1)
Useful Reference Works	324	(1)
Manuals of Research Format and Style	324	(1)
APPENDIX C: MECHANICS AND SAMPLE PAPERS	325	(88)
All Formats: General Appearance	325	(1)
MLA Format Mechanics	326	(7)
Corrections	326	(1)
Fasteners	326	(1)
Spelling and Hyphenation	326	(1)
Punctuation	326	(4)
Names, Numbers, and Dates	330	(1)
Titles	331	(1)
Tables and Figures	332	(1)
APA Format Mechanics: Differences from MLA Format	333	(2)
Corrections	333	(1)
Punctuation	333	(1)
Names and Numbers	334	(1)
Titles	334	(1)
Mathematical Equations	334	(1)
Tables and Figures	334	(1)
CBE Format Mechanics: Differences from MLA Format	335	(1)
Punctuation	335	(1)
Sample Papers	336	(77)
MLA Format: ``The Opposite Dimensions of Warner Brothers and Walt Disney Cartoons''	337	(16)
Christopher Marcum
APA Format: ``The Potential Negative Effects of Day Care on Infant Development''	353	(14)
Lisa Hewitt
CBE Citation Sequence Format: ``Ethical Dilemmas of Releasing Human Genome Information''	367	(14)
Todd A. Rose
Chicago Format: ``The Decline of Improvisation in the Time of Mozart''	381	(32)
Martin Maner
Glossary	413	(4)
Credits	417	(2)
Index	419