Writing for Psychology

by Thaiss, Christopher; Sanford, James F.

• ISBN13: 9780205280018
• ISBN10: 0205280013
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-01-01
• Publisher: Longman

Summary

Writing for Psychology offers a concise, yet thorough guide to successful writing for psychology courses. This theoretically grounded resource covers experimental laboratory reports, term papers (non-experimental research reports), essay exams, and oral presentations. Samples explain effective note taking, annotation of research materials, the keeping of reading-response and research logs, and methods of varying written style. The book also includes a section on dealing with the most common errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling as well as a concise guide to APA style.

Table of Contents

Preface	viii
1 Writing for Psychology	1	(4)
Distinctive Challenges about Writing for Psychology	2	(1)
What This Book Covers	3	(2)
2 Writing Techniques to Increase Learning	5	(18)
A Question of Attitude: Writing for Yourself	5	(1)
Writing and Memory: Taking Good Notes	5	(3)
Jotting Notes	6	(1)
The Postevent Summary	7	(1)
Writing to Improve Reading: Marginalia and Other Annotations	8	(4)
Making Annotation Effective through Critical Questions	9	(3)
Writing to Improve Reading: Keeping the Reading Response Log	12	(4)
Tools	12	(1)
Tips	12	(1)
Techniques	13	(1)
Investigation	13	(1)
Critical Analysis: The Scientific Notebook	13	(1)
Applying the Three Basic Critical Questions to Your Log	13	(1)
Creating Your Own Critical Questions for the Log	14	(2)
Writing to Improve Observation	16	(1)
Writing Dialogue: An Exercise for Listening	16	(1)
Close Description of Objects: An Exercise for Viewing	17	(1)
Describing a Process: An Exercise in Narrative	18	(2)
Sample Process Description: "Opening a Bottle with a Childproof Cap"	19	(1)
Writing to Experiment with Style and Format	20	(2)
Going Public: From Writing for Yourself to Writing for Others	22	(1)
3 The Writing Process: Predrafting, Drafting, Revising, Editing	23	(20)
General Principles, But No Single Formula	23	(1)
"Prewriting" and Data Collection	24	(2)
Doing a Dummy Draft	25	(1)
Predrafting and Specific Writing Tasks	26	(1)
Drafting: A Change in Attitude	26	(1)
How Rough Is the Rough Draft?	27	(1)
Planning the Draft: The Three Keys	27	(5)
Formatting the Draft	27	(3)
Audience: Drafting for Your Reader	30	(1)
Knowing the Purpose(s) of Your Draft	31	(1)
Effective Revision	32	(6)
Why Do Writers Revise?	33	(1)
Techniques for Effective Revision	33	(5)
Editing the Revised Draft	38	(5)
Three Common Errors in SEAE Grammar (Syntax) and Usage	38	(1)
Two Common Errors in Punctuation	39	(1)
Two Common Spelling Errors	40	(1)
A Final Note on Proofreading	41	(2)
4 Writing Experimental Laboratory Reports	43	(32)
Lab Reporting: A Central Skill	43	(1)
APA Style and Format Guidelines	44	(1)
Standard Format of the Laboratory Report	45	(1)
Section 1: Title Page	45	(2)
Sample Title Page	46	(1)
Section 2: Abstract	47	(1)
Section 3: Introduction	47	(9)
Introduction to Topic	48	(1)
Concise Literature Review	48	(1)
Relationship of Study to Topic	49	(1)
Hypothesis Statement	49	(1)
Using Writing-to-Learn Techniques in Predrafting the Report	49	(1)
Sample Introduction	50	(6)
Section 4: Method	56	(4)
Subsection I: Participants	57	(1)
Subsection II: Apparatus (or Materials)	57	(1)
Subsection III: Procedure	58	(1)
Sample Method Section	59	(1)
Section 5: Results	60	(5)
Location of Tables and Figures in a Lab Report	62	(1)
When Should a Table or Figure Be Used?	62	(1)
Other Points to Remember in Formatting Your Results	63	(1)
Sample Results Section	63	(2)
Section 6: Discussion	65	(3)
Sample Discussion Section	65	(3)
Now It Is Time to Write Section 2: Abstract	68	(3)
Tips for Writing Abstracts	69	(1)
Avoiding Confusion in the Abstract	69	(1)
Editing the Abstract	70	(1)
Sample Abstract	70	(1)
Section 7: References	71	(2)
Sample Reference Section	71	(2)
Finally ... Try to Tell a Story about Solving a Problem	73	(2)
5 Writing Term Papers and Critical Evaluations of Research Papers	75	(34)
Writing Critical Reviews	76	(9)
Critical Reviews as Professional Preparation	76	(2)
What a Critical Review Should Contain	78	(7)
Summary	85	(1)
Writing Term Papers	85	(24)
What a Term Paper in Psychology Should Contain	85	(1)
Choosing a Topic	86	(1)
Developing a Preliminary Organization	87	(1)
Conducting the Literature Search	88	(3)
(Re)organizing Your Outline	91	(1)
Drafting the Paper	92	(2)
Sample Term Paper	94	(15)
6 Taking Exams	109	(14)
Multiple-Choice Exams, Tests, and Quizzes	109	(1)
Final Preparation Exercise	109	(1)
Writing Short, Timed Responses: The PRO System	110	(2)
1. Understand Purpose	110	(1)
2. Recall All Pertinent Information	110	(1)
3. Organize for a Clear Presentation	111	(1)
Writing Timed Essays	112	(8)
Step 1: Understand Purpose	113	(2)
Step 2: Recall All Pertinent Information	115	(3)
Step 3: Drafting the Information in an Organized Format	118	(1)
Suggestions for Clear Organization	119	(1)
Sample Exam Essay	119	(1)
Editing and Proofreading	120	(1)
A Final Word to the Wise: Answer All Questions	121	(2)
7 Oral Presentations	123	(14)
Written Preparation for the Talk	123	(7)
Note Taking and Other Predraft Exercises	124	(1)
Careful Outlining	125	(4)
Scripting: Speaking from and Outline versus Reading Your Talk	129	(1)
Written Visual Aids	130	(3)
Your Simplified Outline	130	(1)
Idea or Flowchart	131	(1)
Creating the Visual as You Talk	131	(1)
Using Presentation Software	132	(1)
Additional Information in Handouts	132	(1)
Tips for Effective Speaking	133	(2)
Further Sources We Suggest	135	(2)
8 Brief APA Citation Guide	137	(10)
Citing Sources within the Text of a Manuscript (no direct quotations)	137	(3)
A Source with a Single Author	137	(1)
A Source with Two Authors	138	(1)
A Source with Three to Five Authors	138	(1)
A Source with at Least Six Authors	138	(1)
Two Sources by the Same Author(s) in the Same Year	138	(1)
Group or Corporate Authorship	139	(1)
An Anonymous Reference	139	(1)
Personal Communications	139	(1)
Two or More Sources Cited Together	139	(1)
Two Authors with the Same Last Name	139	(1)
Citing Direct Quotations	140	(1)
Short Quotations (up to 40 words)	140	(1)
Long Quotations (40 or more words)	140	(1)
Citing Sources in a Reference Section	141	(6)
Alphabetizing and Spacing	141	(1)
Capitalizing	141	(1)
Ordering Items within a Reference	142	(1)
Sample Reference List	142	(5)
References	147	(1)
Index	148	(2)
About the Authors	150