Unique Features of READINGAND-WRITING.pptx

READINGAND-WRITING.pptx

1. UNIQUE FEATURES OF AND REQUIREMENTS IN COMPOSING TEXTS THAT ARE USEFUL ACROSS DISCIPLINE READING READING AND WRITING SKILLS

2. UNIQUE FEATURES OF AND REQUIREMENTS IN COMPOSING TEXTS THAT ARE USEFUL ACROSS DISCIPLINE Book Review or Article Critique Literature Review Research Report Project Proposals Position Paper READING READING AND WRITING SKILLS

3. Book Review or Article Critique WHAT IS BOOK REVIEW? A book review or article review is a critical analysis of the material that describes, summarizes, and critiques the ideas presented. The purpose of a book or article review assignment is to broaden your knowledge base and understanding of a topic. 1

4. FEATURES While book reviews vary in tone, subject, and style, they share some common features. These include: A review gives the reader a concise summary of the content. This includes a description of the research topic and scope of analysis as well as an overview of the book's overall perspective, argument, and purpose. A review offers a critical assessment of the content in relation to other studies on the same topic. This involves documenting your reactions to the work under review--what strikes you as noteworthy or important, whether or not the arguments made by the author(s) were effective or persuasive, and how the work enhanced your understanding of the research problem under investigation. In addition to analyzing a book's strengths and weaknesses, a scholarly review often recommends whether or not readers would value the work for its authenticity and overall quality. This measure of quality includes both the author's ideas and arguments and covers practical issues, such as, readability and language, organization and layout, indexing, and, if needed, the use of non-textual elements.

5. When writing a book review or article critique, make sure to ask the following: What is the topic of the book or article? What is its purpose? Who are its intended readers? Does the writer explicitly state his/her thesis statement? What theoretical assumptions (i.e., a scientific/logical explanation without evidence) are mentioned in the book or article? Are they explicitly discuss? What are the contributions of the book or article to the field (e.g., language, psychology) it is situated in? What problems and issues are discussed in the book or article? What kind of information (e.g., observation, survey, statistics, and historical accounts) are presented in the book or article? How they are used to support the arguments or thesis? Are there other ways of supporting the arguments or thesis aside from the information used in the book or article? Is the author silent about these alternative ways of explanation? What is your overall reaction to the work?

6. REQUIREMENTS Read the article or book to be reviewed carefully to get its main concept. Reread it to get the arguments being presented. Relate the content of the article or book to what you already know about the topic. This will make you more engaged with the article or book. Focus on discussing how the book treats the topic and not a topic itself. Start your sentences with phrases such as “this book presents…’ and “The author argues…” Situate your review. This means that your analysis should be anchored on the theories presented by the book or article writer. Examine whether the findings are adequately supported or not. Analyzed the type of analysis the writer use (e.g., quantitative, qualitative, case study) and how its supports the arguments and claims.

7. REQUIREMENTS Suggest some ways on how the writer can improve his/her reasoning or explanation. Discuss how the same topic is explained from other perspective. Compare the writer’s explanation of the topic to another expert from the same field of study. Point out other conclusion or interpretations that the writer missed out. Present other ideas that need to be examined. Examine the connections between ideas and how they affect the conclusions and findings. Show your reactions to the writer’s idea and present an explanation. You can either agree or disagree with the ideas, as long as you can sufficiently support your stand. Suggest some alternative methods and processes of reasoning that would result in a more conclusive interpretation. Completing a book review or article critique means that you can pinpoint the strengths and weaknesses of an article or book and that you can identify different perspectives. This task also equips you with more skills to engage in discussions with an expert and makes you a part of a community of scholars.

8. Literature Review 2 WHAT IS LITERATURE REVIEW? A literature review is a type of academic writing that provides an overview of a specific topic. It surveys scholarly work such as academic books (but not textbooks), computerize databases, conference proceedings, dissertation’s/theses, empirical studies government reports, historical records, journal article, monographs, and statistical handbooks. As an advance form of academic writing, a literature review critically analyzes the relationship among the scholarly works and the current work. It can be written as a stand-alone paper or as part of a research paper explaining a theoretical framework and related studies. Unlike an annotated bibliography which presents a summary and synthesis (i.e., linking different sources).

9. Below are the differences among the sources. Annotated B i b l i o g r a p h y Summarizes the references and explain how important they are in addressing the research questions Book R e v i e w Evaluates a book Review L i t e r a t u r e Review Reviews a significant number of scholarly work to be identify what is known and not known about a topic

10. FEATURES This type of a review has the following roles. Justifies a research questions, method or theoretical and conceptual framework Establishes the relevant of the topic Provides necessary information to better understand a specific topic or study Shows reviewers familiarity and mastery of the topic Establishes a niche of the study Resolves conflict among contradictory studies

11. REQUIREMENTS Writing a literature review is composed of three distinct parts --literature search, evaluation and analysis of articles and writing the literature review Literature Search Review the documentation style (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago) that you will adopt and be familiar with its format in relation to writing a literature review. Choose and focus on a topic that you will explain. Determine the kind and number of sources you will be using. Will your literature review be exclusive to articles or will it include other documents? Will you focus on experimental studies or will you also include theoretical papers that explain a theory? Survey the available online databases relevant to your topic. These include Proquest, Science Direct, JSTOR, or Google Scholar. As much as possible, include only the references published by top journals and publishers.

12. REQUIREMENTS Writing a literature review is composed of three distinct parts --literature search, evaluation and analysis of articles and writing the literature review Literature Search Use relevant keywords when searching for scholarly documents or article. For example, if your topic is about the impact of Facebook-based e-portfolios on the writing skills of ESL learners, your possible keywords are Facebook, ESL writing, e-portfolio, portfolio assessment, Facebook-based e-portfolio, and social networking site. Always include landmark studies or papers (i.e., studies which had remarkably changed the field) related to your topic. Always evaluate the sources for coverage and currency. Include only those article directly related to your topic.

13. REQUIREMENTS Writing a literature review is composed of three distinct parts --literature search, evaluation and analysis of articles and writing the literature review Evaluation and Analysis of Articles Once you have identified and obtained the articles for your review, analyze them before writing the actual literature review. To do this, you may apply the following steps. Skim the articles and read their abstracts. Group the articles and other documents according to their categories. Take down notes. Focus on the research questions, methodology used, major findings and their explanation, and conclusion. Summarize the details using a concept map. In this way, you will see the relationship, similarities and differences among the articles. Write a synthesis of the references you have read before writing the actual literature review. Create an outline. You may look for other literature reviews to serve as models for writing the outline.

14. REQUIREMENTS Writing a literature review is composed of three distinct parts --literature search, evaluation and analysis of articles and writing the literature review Writing the Literature Review Once all the materials are ready and you have clear outline of the ideas you want to express, you may now start the actual writing process. State clearly your thesis or main argument and be guided by it accordingly. If you say that no studies have been conducted on one aspect of your topic, justify it. Direct the readers to other related literature reviews that cover items which you do not intend to cover. You may use the citation format “(see Author, year)” or follow the format prescribed by your chosen documentation style. Never treat a literature review as a series of annotated bibliography.

15. REQUIREMENTS Writing a literature review is composed of three distinct parts --literature search, evaluation and analysis of articles and writing the literature review Writing the Literature Review Use headings and subheadings to classify the parts of your topic. For each topic heading, analyze the differences among studies and look for gaps. Note that each paragraph should focus on one aspect of the topic. Use effective transitions to make your review easier to read and understand. The body of the literature review can be organized thematically, methodologically or chronologically. Use direct quotations sparingly. Classify important definitions.

16. Research Report WHAT IS RESEARCH REPORT? A research report is an expanded paper that presents interpretations and analyses of a phenomenon based on experiments and previous information so that the readers can better understand it. It is a laborious work produced through formal investigation and scientific inquiry. 3

17. FEATURES So how do you recognize a research report when you see one? Here are some of the basic features that define a research report. It is a detailed presentation of research processes and findings, and it usually includes tables and graphs. It is written in a formal language. A research report is usually written in the third person. It is informative and based on first-hand verifiable information. It is formally structured with headings, sections, and bullet points. It always includes recommendations for future actions.

18. REQUIREMENTS Now that you are aware of the steps in writing a research report, follow the writing guidelines below to ensure that your report is well-written. Fifty to seventy-five percent of the paper should be devoted to results and discussion. Be sure to cite all your sources whether they are paraphrased or directly quoted. As with the previous types of written works, use direct quotations sparingly; paraphrase as much as possible. Strictly follow the required documentation style. Topics should be relevant, interesting, current, and manageable in terms of resources, skills needed, and time. They should not be too sensitive and too controversial. Research questions should directly address the given topic or thesis statement.

19. Project Proposal 4 WHAT IS RESEARCH REPORT? A project proposal is a highly persuasive and informative documents that aims to address a particular problem or issue. It is a bid or offer to initiate a project for an individual or a group. It usually ranges from 1,000 to 2,500 words depending on the complexity of the project being proposed.

20. FEATURES A good project proposal specifies the following: Goals and objectives that the project wants to accomplish; Project plan that details how the set goals and objectives will be accomplished; Financial, human (e.g., experts, consultants), and technical (e.g., equipment and facilities) resources useful in implementing the project; and Budget that specifies how much money is needed and for what purpose it will be spent.

21. REQUIREMENTS Preparing for a Project Proposal Decide what the problem is and prepare a rough idea on how this problem can be addressed. Develop or select a framework that will help you organize your ideas systematically. Identify the organization that will probably fund your project. These can be government agencies, non-governmental organizations, private companies, and foundations, and international funding agencies. Build your project proposal team and appoint a project leader who is responsible for coordinating activities and communicating with the funding agency. Identify the organization that will probably fund your project. These can be government agencies, non-governmental organizations, private companies and foundations, and international funding agencies. Hold and initial meeting with your team to discuss the plans in preparing the project proposal.

22. REQUIREMENTS in Preparing for a Project Proposal Allot sufficient time for planning. Involve all the team members by assigning specific responsibilities to them. Be realistic with your project proposal. Make sure that your objectives and activities are within the given time and resources. Contact the funding agency if some items and requirements are not clear to you. Always put yourself in the shoes of the receiver of the project proposal.

23. REQUIREMENTS in Writing a Project Proposal The title page must be unnumbered but it is considered page I; the back page of the title page is unnumbered as well; but it is considered page ii. The abstract, which follows after the title page, is considered page 1 and must already be numbered. Do not use abbreviations on the title page. Attach the curriculum vitae of the personnel who are part of them. In the project implementation section, use a Gantt chart for presenting the timeframe. Write the abstract after you have completed the report. Study the successful proposals that are similar to yours. Be factual but use technical terms sparingly. Choose a reader-friendly format Use sections words to make your proposal more dynamic.

24. A position paper is a type of academic writing that presents one’s stand or viewpoint on a particular issue. The main objective of writing a position paper is to take part in a larger debate by stating your arguments and proposed course of action. Position Paper WHAT IS POSITION PAPER? 5

25. FEATURES Presenting the issue: Unless an issue is current, hotly debated, and well- known to many readers, writers need to identify the issue as well as explain it to readers. To present the issue, writers may provide several kinds of information; for example, they might place it in a historical or cultural context, cite specific examples to make the issue less abstract, show their personal interest, or establish or redefine the terms of the debate. Asserting a clear, unequivocal position: Writers of position papers take sides. Their primary purpose is to assert a position of their own and to influence the readers’ thinking. This assertion is the main point of the essay, its thesis. It tells the reader the writer’s position on an issue. Usually it comes early in the essay, and frequently it forecasts the stages of the argument as well, identifying the main reasons that will be developed in the course of the essay.

26. FEATURES Arguing directly for the position: Writers must provide reasons for their positions. They do this with facts, statistics, examples and anecdotes, quotes from experts, and analogies. Facts are statements that can be proven objectively to be true. Although statistics may be mistaken for facts, they often are only interpretations or correlations of numerical data. Examples and anecdotes, in contrast, tend not to make truth claims or pretend to apply to everyone. Instead they present particular stories and vivid images that work by appealing to readers’ emotions. Analogies are comparisons that encourage readers to assume that what is true about one thing is also true about something to which it is compared. Counter-arguing objections and opposing positions: Writers of position papers try to anticipate likely objections and questions readers might raise as well as opposing positions. Writers may then concede or refute this counterargument. If the counterargument is thoughtful and reasonable, the writer will concede. If however the criticism is flawed or weak, a writer will refute it by poking holes in the logic and support of the counterargument. Establishing credibility: Readers judge the credibility of a position paper by the way it presents the issue, argues for the position, and counter-argues objections and opposing positions. Readers expect writers to advocate forcefully for their positions, but at the same time they expect writers to avoid misrepresenting other points of view, attacking opponents personally, or manipulating readers’ emotions. A writer establishes credibility by creating a bond of trust with readers; this is accomplished by demonstrating shared values, beliefs, attitudes, and ideals.

27. 1. Begin the writing process with an in-depth research about the issue at hand. Be aware of the various positions about the issue and explain and analyze them objectively. Reflect on your position and identify its weaknesses. Establish your credibility by citing reliable sources. Present a unique way of approaching the issue. Limit your position paper to two pages. Analyze your target readers and align your arguments to their beliefs, needs, interest, and motivations. REQUIREMENTS in Writing a Position Paper

28. Summarize the other side’s counterarguments and refute them with evidence. Define unfamiliar terms at first mention. Use an active voice as much possible. This will make your tone dynamic and firm. Arrange your evidence logically using an inductive or deductive approach. 12.Check your paper for fallacies and revise accordingly. 13.Use ethical, logical, and emotional appeals. Ethical appeals relate to your credibility and competence as writer, logical appeal refers to the rational approach in developing and argument; emotional appeals pertain to feelings evoked during arguments. Make sure to check your appeals to ensure that they are not fallacious. REQUIREMENTS in Writing a Position Paper

29. END READING READING AND WRITING SKILLS