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Modules of Research Writings

Learn about the 3 basic forms of verb tenses and their applications in research papers, including active vs. passive voice and the importance of using the correct tense for different research contexts. Master the art of time management in writing!

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Modules of Research Writings

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  1. Modules of Research Writings Dr.N.Asharudeen Asst. Professor & Research Coordinator Department of English Edayathangudi G.S. Pillay College Nagapattinam

  2. In General • When writing, it is a challenging one to choose right verb tense usage. • 3 basic forms of verb tenses: past, present, and future. (Continuous, Perfect, Perfect continuous) • Simple present and simple past are the most universal tenses in research papers, also added by present perfect and past perfect.

  3. Basic forms of Tenses • The past tense indicates any action already occurred. Example: The fungal isolates were inoculated to potato dextrose broth. / The sun set in the west (yesterday). • The present tense indicates that an action currently occurs. (Present stance of research) Example: The fungal isolates are inoculated to potato dextrose broth. / The sun sets in the west (today.) • The future tense indicates that an action has not yet occurred. (Scope of the study) Example: The fungal isolates will be inoculated to potato dextrose broth. / The sun will set in the west (tomorrow).

  4. Twelve Forms of Tense

  5. Verb form (V1, V2, V3)

  6. Preferred Voice • In general, Active voice is used when speaking or describing something even by text especially like story telling. Example: Ragu has proved honey bee techniques in his study. Seema boughtthe mobile. (Simple Past V2) (Active Voice) (Present Perfect) = have/has+V3 Honey bee techniques have been proved by Ragu in his study. The mobile was bought by Seema. (Passive Voice) Present Perfect (has/have+V3)

  7. When proceed to Scientific or Empirical research, it is supposed to give a report of the actions occurred. • For giving a report, Passive Voice is apt. • If it is analytical or literature research better use present tense which shows the difference from historical research. Example: In 2013, Ragu proved honey bee techniques in his study. (Active Voice) (Simple Past) = V3 In 2013, Honey bee techniques were proved by Ragu. (Passive Voice) Simple Past (was/were+V2)

  8. Difference in Present Perfect and Simple Past

  9. Reader receives two kinds of information in Time ‘when’ • Whether an event or a process is open or closed.

  10. Closed event/ Simple past: the person already got graduated. Example: How long wereyou at E.G.S. Pillay College? • Open event/ Present perfect: the person is still engaged on his / her course. Example: How long have you beenat E.G.S. Pillay College?

  11. Tenses manage time by placing them within particular relationships.

  12. ABSTRACT • This usually refers to unpublished results of the research articles and uses the past tense for the experiments happened. Example: 200mL of distilled water was poured into a 500 mL beaker to find the result.

  13. Universal facts / Widely Accepted • When implies universal facts: Present tense can be used not only in abstract but everywhere. Example: The Sun sets in the West. Thermometer is used to identify the temperature.

  14. Script Speaks • When the research script or summary says something of the findings or results. Present tense is referred to use. Example: This paper deals with the issues of working women in private banks.

  15. INTRODUCTION • It requires background information. • It includes several verb tenses, each providing a different context for the statement. • If it is widely accepted, present tense can be used.

  16. Previous study / Previous methods • When refer a previous study with results that are still relevant, use the present perfect tense. (time shouldn’t be mentioned) Example: Sandra has found in her study, the effect of yoga can reduce obesity without any side-effects. [Present Perfect]

  17. When refer specifically the methods used in a previous paper, the past tense is best. Example: Kelvin et al., (2009) used simple random technique method to identify the results accurately. (what has been recently discovered in the definite study that is the focus of the paper.)

  18. A combination of tenses at a time. Example: Robert suggested [past] that DNA contained three helixes, but subsequent work has proved [present perfect]the existence of a double-helix structure.

  19. Present tense is used when a specific result, figure, or paper is the subject of a sentence. Figure 1. Example: The level of the four categories is shown in Fig. 1. (Passive) Fig. 1 shows the level of the four categories. (Active)

  20. METHODS • It requires past tense to explicit the statement what was actually done. As it is an empirical study. • It is a report of what was done during the course of the study.

  21. When one action occurred before another, the past perfect tense can be used to indicate the earlier action, with the subsequent action in the simple past tense. Example: The cells that had been irradiated [past perfect]were examined[past] for DNA damage and patients who had elected [past perfect] to undergo surgery completed[past] questionnaires.

  22. RESULTS • Use past tense for results obtained. Example: Overall, more than 70% of the insects collected were non-phytophagous. • In certain cases, however, the present tense is needed when refer figures, tables and graphs. Example: Table 1 shows the stream flows calculated for each stream using Equation 1.

  23. DISCUSSION • Use present tense to explain significance of results. Example: Enzymes are habitually used in numerous eco-friendly industrial sectors. • Use past tense to summarize findings, with present tense to interpret results. Example: Chitinase was produced from microorganism which are inducible nature.

  24. CONCLUSION • A combination of tenses to highlight the research done. • Present tense is needed to exhibit the result can widely be accepted. • Use future or modal verbs like may and can for directions (scope). Example: This research is concluded that yoga made significance changes in obesity and the practitioners are better in promoting physiological variables than non-practitioners. This study will / can aid to focus the differences on old and young yoga practitioners.

  25. References • Carraway LN “Improve scientific writing and avoid perishing.” Am Midl Nat 155(2):383-394 (2006) • “Writing a scientific paper” in The ACS Style Guide: A Manual for Authors and Editors ed. JS Dodd (Washington, DC: American Chemical Society, 1997) • Swales, J. M. & Feak, C. B. (2004). Academic Writing for Graduate Students. (2nd ed.). Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press. (Pages 254-256).

  26. Thank you

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