Writing a Research Summary (BSB113 – Economics)

1. Writing a Research Summary(BSB113 – Economics) Prepared by Graham Klaassen (4S Study Skills Program Coordinator)

2. On Completion of this Seminar, you will be able to.. • Identify relevant scholarly sources to support your analysis for your research summary • Discuss the characteristics of academic writing • Integrate tables and figures into your work to support your research

3. Aims of the Task In this research summary, you need to: • Research and identify literature relevant to the task - You have been given a starting point • Analyse and evaluate your research by applying critical thinking skills (use the AREA Model)

4. AREA Model of Critical Thinking • Analysis Stage – define the topic; identify the scope of the topic • Research Stage – Identify each theme in detail; pick out recurring themes; identify where there are limitations; identify where authors agree or disagree and why; areas where there is a lack of research • Evaluation Stage – Explain how research contributes in general to knowledge of the topic; Sum up main ideas; Evaluate overall research; Future directions

5. Evaluating your Research • Reliability of the Source: Is the author who they say they are? • Authority of the author: Does the author have any qualifications or recognised expertise to write about this topic? • Validity of the information: Is the information based on proper research? • Accuracy of the information: Is the information correct? • Timeliness of the information: Is the information up to date? • http://studywell.library.qut.edu.au/pdf_files/RESEARCH_EvaluatingResources.pdf

6. Aims of the Task In this research summary, you need to (Cont): • Identify and critique the arguments for and against specific policies (course/s of action) • Draw conclusions to inform your paper • Support your analysis and conclusion by using APA referencing – citations and list • Work within a tight word limit – Max 1250!!

7. What are you going to research? • The Acai market – provide a snapshot [200 words approx.] • A description of the relevant economic model [450 words approx.] • A critical analysis of the key arguments plustwo intervention strategies to curb rising price.[450 words approx.]

8. Where are you going to start your Research? • See the preliminary reading document for a range of ideas with which to begin – NB the range/variety of sources • Note particularly the reference to: • Scholarly sources • Non scholarly sources

9. How are you going to do your research?  Listen to any recordings on the topic supplied by your lecturer and tutors – if available • Read over lecture/tute notes for that topic. • Revise text book / unit readings covering topic. • Check other textbooks and specialist books on economics. Library Databases • HINT: Recap the lectures and tutes identified on page 7 of Instructions Sheet

10. How are you going to do your research? Look for articles in academic journals: • Complete a key-word search for relevant scholarly articles from the Library database: • Tick ‘full text only. • Tick ‘peer reviewed’. • Using the Internet – Wikipedia; Google etc as a starting point ONLY • Advanced searches – Google & Google Scholar

11. Click on the Economics + to reveal the list of databases

12. How Much Research – CRA 1,2, 3 & 4Range of scholarly research 5. Incorporated relevant recommended readings to support arguments and discussion. There are no additional referencesOR additional references are from non-scholarly sources. 6. Incorporated relevant recommended readings to support arguments and discussion AND a limited range of relevant scholarly sources that supports the critical content of the discussion. 7. Incorporated relevant recommended readings to support content and arguments AND a selection of additional relevant scholarly sources that substantially supports the critical content of the discussion.

13. Reading the Research • While reading, think about the purpose of the research summary. A critical overview of the Acai market in Brazil and how the rising price has impacted the economic welfare of both local consumers and producers. Discuss two intervention strategies as part of the Gov’s economic policy strategy to curb rising price. • How can you use this research by applying critical thinking / economic reasoning to the task? (reasoning  BECAUSE...)

14. Plotting and Writing • Word process your headings as per task sheet in a word doc. (Remove them later – use to structure your thinking.) • Insert your points under each heading. • Once all the substance is there, turn your points into concise sentences. • Draft your Introduction and Conclusion • Check your word count (Target = 1250 MAXIMUM) • Print to edit on paper – read with fresh eyes • Revise as necessary and remove headings • Check citations and references (APA style).

15. Introduction Be concise (perhaps a sentence on each) • What does the research summary set out to do? / Why is this summary important? Use the background information as a guide* • Briefly, what are the main issues the paper will be discussing and in what order. Use Overviews and Signposts to add emphasis

16. The Conclusion • Briefly review the findings/outcomes • write the conclusion in the past tense • be objective Again - use Overviews and Signposts to add emphasis, highlight important findings etc. “significantly” “analysis showed” “major findings...”

17. Structure of a Conclusion • What is the overall conclusion from the analysis? – perhaps a sentence on each of the 3 parts of the research task • Why are these conclusions justified? Remember Introduction and Conclusion together = 150 words

18. Remember the reader’s needs • Who is the audience? • How much do they know about the topic? • Is their knowledge current? • How did the research topic come about? • What is the overall purpose of the research summary?

19. Remember the point of the task • How economics can explain the situation? • Provide an unbiased, informed, critical economic summary not a political document. • Your summary is based on “solid” academic research with references to relevant academic literature • Avoid falling into any “emotive arguments”.

20. Some tips on Writing your Research Summary

21. Your research informs your paragraphs • Overview /a snapshot of the Acai market. • Economic model/theory • A critical analysis of the key argumentsplustwo intervention strategies to curb rising price.

22. Tips for Writing Analysis • Draw a conclusion that relates to some aspect of the research topic (e.g. The relevant economic model that underlies Government policy strategy to curb rising prices) • Do not be afraid to ‘leave out’ information from your research. – essential Vs enrichment information • Write each paragraph supported by your research using the upcoming format. • Be consistent – write each paragraph using the same ‘style’.

23. Academic Writing Body paragraphs are like mini-essays: topic and concluding sentences introduce and sum up the point; supporting and evidence sentences back up the point. Topic Sentence This states the main point of the paragraph and links it with the thesis. Supporting Sentences These may add information to the main point. For example, define terms or explain concepts Evidence Sentences Examples, data, statistics, quotes which back up the point. These must be cited and referenced. Concluding Sentence This restates the point. It may also provide a link to the next paragraph. See Studywell > Writing > Writing Structure Overview for more detail and examples

24. Paragraph Structure • Each paragraph deals with one main point (outlined in its TOPIC SENTENCE). • Each paragraph flows logically on to the next paragraph using a TRANSITION.

25. Some Tips on Academic Writing… • Use transitions to guide the reader through your thinking, but check word count: • Add ideas on: Furthermore / Additionally. • Show effects: Consequently / Therefore. • Show similarity and difference (to compare and contrast)… Similarly / Whereas

26. Signposts • Explicit signpostshelp the reader follow your think and draws their attention to points of interest: • In fact... • Importantly … • Of most significance …

27. Overviews • Explicit overviewshelp the reader follow your thinking: • The four key items are . . . First, . . Second, . . . Finally • This section examines and applies … economic model to how the market equilibrium . . . • Now, the analysis will examine the key arguments for lower domestic student fees.

28. The 3 secrets to an effective Research Summary • Write in the active voice/tone • Use short sentences < 16 - 24 words • Your choice of words – • for impact and • to assist manage word count (brevity)

29. Sentences – use short sentences • All sentences have a Subject → Verb → Object • Write in the active NOT passive voice For example: Passive: The door was closed by Adam. (6 words) Active: Adam closed the door. (4 words) Subject – the person or thing the sentence is about Verbs express actions, feelings, thoughts and possessions Object – the person or thing affected by the verb

30. Write in the 3rd Person First person: • We examined how different governments reacted to the threat of the GFC and we found ... Third person: • Governments reacted differently to the threat posed by the GFC. For example, Germany... whereas the UK took a significantly different approach...

31. Academic Writing Do not use contractions to manage your word count – You do not use√ Don’t X You can not use √ Can’t X You should not use √ Shouldn’t X Use Acronyms in Full the first time Global Financial Crisis (GFC)

32. Use references to … • support your ideas and arguments using expert facts or ideas • acknowledge (to give credit for) facts and ideas you have used • avoid plagiarism.

33. There are two parts to a reference • The in text citation • Located in the text of your essay • Includes some of the details of your source • Can be either a direct quote, paraphrase or summary • The reference list entry • Located at the end of your essay • Includes all the details of your source/s

35. Multiple citations Of these, an increasing number show a positive correlation between the social responsibility and financial performance of corporations in most cases (Frooman, 1997;Griffin and Mahon, 1997; Key and Popkin, 1998; Roman et al., 1999; Waddock and Graves, 1997). However, these findings have to be read with caution since such correlation is difficult to measure (Griffin, 2000: Rowley and Berman, 2004).

36. References using APA Style – some points to consider Indented Directory of small businesses in Australia. (2003). Melbourne, Vic: McMillan Institute of Telecommunications. (2008). Report on the telecommunications industry (Report No. 08-1145). Sydney, NSW: Corporate Publishing Limited Latest advertisements. [Video]. (2009, November4). Retrieved from http://youtube.com/watch?v+ybg69342 MacDonald, N. (2004, December 7). Working overseas. The Courier Mail. Retrieved from http://couriermail.com.au McCulloch, R. & Reid, A. (2010). Starting Your Business Degree: academic skills for success. Brisbane, Qld: Print Australia. Turner, K. Ireland, L. Krenus, B. & Pointon, L. (2008) Essential Academic Skills. Melbourne, Vic: Oxford University Press Recent sources Alphabetical Order A range of Sources

37. Using Visuals – Figures and Tables

38. Use Visuals to … • Make points more vivid and add interest. • Foreground or emphasise important information that might be easily buried in blocks of text. • Present comprehensive information compactly, as in tables and graphs.

39. How Much Research – CRA 1 & 2Reference to appropriate data sources and policy 5. An outline is given which is informed by supporting data. Data are presented appropriately (e.g. in tables, graphs etc) but their relevance and meaning is not always clear and/or it is causally referred to. 6. A complete outline is given which is informed by supporting data. Data are appropriately presented (e.g. in tables or graphs) and their relevance and meaning have been explained. 7. A clear and complete account is given which is well-informed by supporting data and policy. Data are appropriately presented (e.g. in tables or graphs) and its relevance and meaning have been clearly and concisely explained

40. Selecting Visuals • Which graphic (table, chart, diagram) works best for the reader and the data set? • You need to assess which is the most appropriate table / chart to use.

41. Figures Figures focus on visual communication: • Graphs and Charts – (Pie, Gantt, Bar etc.) • Photographs, sketches, illustrations, cartoons. • Maps and diagrams.

42. Examples of Figures

43. Tables Tablesfocus on words or exact values in a compact form (e.g. columns): • Numerical tables. • Word lists or groups.

44. Examples of Tables

45. Components of a Visual • A numbered title identifying what the visual shows. (in Tables above and in Figures below) • A clear indication of what the data are. • Clearly labeled units.

46. Components of a Visual 4. Labels or legends identifying axes, colors, symbols, and so forth. 5. The source of the data, if you prepared the visual. 6. The source of the whole visual, if you reproduce a visual someone else created. (NOT RECOMMENDED for this assignment)

47. Functional or Story Titles? Figure 1: GDP Growth, 2004 – 2009. OR Figure 1: Increased Growth in GDP between 2004 and 2009. Figure 2: Impact of …. on India’s Long Run Economic Growth between 2010 and 2012.

48. Integrating Visuals • Refer to every visual in your text: • See Figure 6 below for a detailed comparison of … • Use the table or figure number in the text, but not the full title: • The data in Table 10 show a marked trend of …

49. Integrating Visuals… • Put the visual as soon after your text as space and page design permit: • As Figure 3 shows (page 10), . . . • . . . (See Table 2 on page 14.)

50. Integrating Visuals … • Summarise the main point of the visual before you present the visual itself. • After the visual, evaluate the data and discuss its implications. • Weak: Listed below are the results. • Better: As Figure 2 shows, Australia’s carbon emissions in the last decade have …