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Tips on Writing AGEC 640, Fall 2013 October 29, 2013

Tips on Writing AGEC 640, Fall 2013 October 29, 2013. Today’s goals: 1. Discuss the final project 2. Talk about the “academic” writing process in general 3. Work a bit on titles. Writing. Why do we write? Who is your audience? What do we like to read? Make your story… Interesting

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Tips on Writing AGEC 640, Fall 2013 October 29, 2013

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  1. Tips on WritingAGEC 640, Fall 2013October 29, 2013 Today’s goals: 1. Discuss the final project 2. Talk about the “academic” writing process in general 3. Work a bit on titles

  2. Writing • Why do we write? • Who is your audience? • What do we like to read? • Make your story… • Interesting • Clear (especially motivation and methods) • NOT a mystery

  3. Project Organize Imitate EditRough draft due November 12thFeedback on 11/26Final version due December 6thDon’t procrastinate!!!

  4. Project Title Abstract (50 words maximum) Introduction (≈2pp) (several alternatives for middle of paper) Conclusions (≈2pp) References (10-15 is about right for this) Tables (not integrated with text) Figures (not integrated with text)

  5. Writing • How to become a better writer? • Practice! Write, write, write. • Edit! • Share! • Present your work to clarify ideas and storyline • Think of your paper as a garden…

  6. Writing • Other strategies: • Use present tense, not past tense • Use active voice, not passive voice • One trick: avoid “to be” verbs • Read and mimic good writing • Follow accepted norms/patterns (Why?) • Avoid “cuteness” (Why?) • Write directly with confidence, but … • Avoid arrogance • Ensure the literature review is complete (Why?)

  7. Citing and “borrowing” Using and building on the ideas of others is OK, but you must document your sources Using the exact language of others, is NOT OK, unless you place those words inside quotation marks.

  8. Plagiarism Using the words or ideas of others without providing credit. Not limited to using exact words Can include self-plagiarism Paraphrasing alone may not be enough

  9. Example Shively, G. (2001) “Agricultural Change, Rural Labor Markets, and Forest Clearing: An Illustrative Case from the Philippines” Land Economics 77(2): 268-84. OK: According to Shively (2001) “in most settings, incentives for clearing forest are determined, in part, by the relative returns to labor directed at cutting trees.” Better: Using empirical evidence from the Philippines, Shively (2001) argues that the incentives for forest clearing are determined by the relative returns to labor in forest and non-forest activities. Why? 2nd example relies on your synthesis of Shively’s work.

  10. “Similarity” Reports • A report will be provided for your paper. • It will contain: • an indication of the percentage “match” with existing documents (not the entire universe of documents, but those in the iThenticate database). • A detailed list of the specific matches and sources

  11. “Similarity” Reports • Match report excludes bibliography and strings of 5 words or less. • Matches of 5% are relatively common, and probably not reason for great concern. • Matches of 10% or more may raise concern and may indicate lax habits in properly documenting the work of others. • Review your report and make efforts to eliminate any problems.

  12. Titles • What makes a good title? • Informative • As short as possible, but long enough to convey the contents of the paper • Specific is better than general • Free from errors in grammar • Free from typographical errorsAvoid using duplicate words. Try removing words…does the title suffer? Why does a good title matter? Communicates and “sends signal” that attracts readers

  13. Title Exercise Choose a partner Complete the worksheet

  14. Abstracts • What makes a good abstract? • Answers the following questions (assuming the paper is empirical): • What is the research problem (or main question answered in the paper)? • Why is it important (justification/motivation)? • How is it studied in the paper (data and methods)? • What do you find (results)? • Who should care and why (conclusions)?

  15. Writing the Introduction • What makes a good introduction?It should be: • Well written (put extra effort here) • Succinct (to the point) • A simple summary of what the paper is about Expect to writeyour introduction at the start and then rewrite it at the end.

  16. Writing the Introduction •  Usually answers the following questions : • What is the research question? • Why is it important? • How is it studied in the paper? • What do you find? • Who should care and why? • Sound familiar? • Remember: the paper shouldn’t be a mystery!

  17. Writing the Introduction •  Some main points: • Leading with a question is GOOD • Main point should come relatively EARLY • Foreshadowing the results is a good idea • Many writers include a final paragraph such as: The remainder of the paper is organized as follows… Such a paragraph is probably not needed in a short paper that is organized along traditional lines. It is simply a waste of space.

  18. Writing the Conclusion Synthesize the research question, methods and findings (don’t simply repeat the findings). Should be based ONLY on results from the paper. This is not the place for speculation or opinions that go beyond what you have discovered and reported in the results. Don’t introduce new topics or cite new sources.

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