How to Write Papers

Rui PENG
pengrui1988@ustb.edu.cn
 How to write conclusion?
Conclusions are often the most difficult part of a
paper to write, and many authors feel that they have
nothing left to say after having written the paper.
The conclusion is often what a reader remembers
best.
Your conclusion should be the best part of your
paper.
 How to write conclusion?
Show your readers that your paper was
meaningful and useful.
Show them how the points you made and the
support and examples you used were not random,
but fit together.
Give your reader something to think about,
perhaps a way to use your paper in the "real" world.
 Different conclusions
If your paper was written to argue a point or to
persuade the reader,
then your conclusion will summarize the main
points of your arguments presented in the paper.
You will also want to restate your thesis and
conclude with a statement of your position on the
topic.
 How to write conclusion?
If you paper is an analysis of a topic where you
have done in-depth study on a particular subject and
presented your findings,
your conclusion will summarize your analysis of
the topic, restate your thesis, and pose suggestions
for further study.
 Strategies?
Echoing the introduction: 
Echoing your introduction can be a good strategy
if it is meant to bring the reader full-circle.
If you begin by describing a scenario, you can end
with the same scenario as proof that your essay was
helpful in creating a new understanding.
 Strategies?
Introduction
Thousands of hours of television are watched by
children each year.
Many of these television shows portray violence and
sexuality.
More and more children are turning to violence and
sex to solve their personal problems."
 Strategies?
Conclusion
"Only recently have research began to show how
violence and nudity in television shows are harmful
to children. Children are more violent with their
peers and superiors in the school systems often
stemming from the violence they have seen on
television. How can you make a difference in your
children? How many hours of television do you
allow your children to watch?"
 Strategies?
Challenging the reader: 
By issuing a challenge to your readers, you are
helping them to redirect the information in the
paper, and they may apply it to their own lives.
 Strategies?
Though serving on a jury is not only a civic
responsibility but also an interesting experience,
many people still view jury duty as a chore that
interrupts their jobs and the routine of their daily
lives. However, juries are part of America's attempt
to be a free and just society. Thus, jury duty
challenges us to be interested and responsible
citizens.
 Strategies?
Looking to the future: 
Looking to the future can emphasize the
importance of your paper or redirect the readers'
thought process. It may help them apply the new
information to their lives or see things more
globally.
 Strategies?
 Example
Without well-qualified teachers, schools are little
more than buildings and equipment. If higher-
paying careers continue to attract the best and the
brightest students, there will not only be a shortage
of teachers, but the teachers available may not have
the best qualifications. Our youth will suffer. And
when youth suffers, the future suffers.
 Strategies?
Posing questions: 
Posing questions, either to your readers or in
general, may help your readers gain a new
perspective on the topic, which they may not have
held before reading your conclusion. It may also
bring your main ideas together to create a new
meaning.
 Strategies?
 Campaign advertisements should help us
understand the candidate's qualifications and
positions on the issues. Instead, most tell us what a
boob or knave the opposing candidate is, or they
present general images of the candidate as a family
person or God-fearing American. Do such
advertisements contribute to creating an informed
electorate or a people who choose political leaders
the same way they choose soft drinks and soap?
 How to cite references?
cite all ideas, concepts, text, data that are not your
own
if you make a statement, back it up with your own
data or a reference
all references cited in the text must be listed
 How to cite references?
single-author references by the surname of the
author (followed by date of the publication in
parenthesis)
– ... according to Hays (1994)
– ... population growth is one of the greatest
environmental concerns facing future generations
(Hays, 1994).
 How to cite references?
cite double-author references by the surnames of
both authors (followed by date of the publication in
parenthesis)
– e.g. Simpson and Hays (1994)
 How to cite references?
cite more than double-author references by the
surname of the first author followed by et al. and
then the date of the publication
– e.g. Pfirman, Simpson and Hays would be:
– Pfirman et al. (1994)
 How to cite references?
list all references cited in the text in alphabetical
order or according to the order they were cited in
the paper.
The forms of citations generally subscribe to one
of the generally accepted citations systems, such as
the Oxford, Harvard, MLA, American Sociological
Association (ASA), American Psychological
Association (APA.
 How to cite references?
Book: author(s), book title, publisher, year of
publication, and page number(s) if appropriate. [
Journal: author(s), article title, journal title, year
of publication, and page number(s).
Conference:author'(s), year of publication, title of
paper ,title of conference proceedings, date of
conference, location of conference, page numbers ,
place of publication, publisher of proceedings
 How to cite references?
Newspaper: author(s), article title, name of
newspaper, section title and page number(s) if
desired, date of publication.
Web site: author(s), article and publication title
where appropriate, as well as a URL, and a date
when the site was accessed.
Interview: name of interviewer, interview
descriptor (ex. personal interview) and date of
interview.
 How to write appendix?
An Appendix contains information that is non-
essential to understanding of the paper,
but may present information that further clarifies a
point without burdening the body of the
presentation. 
An appendix is an optional part of the paper, and
is only rarely found in published papers.
 How to write appendix?
Each Appendix should be identified by a Roman
numeral in sequence, e.g., Appendix I, Appendix II,
etc. Each appendix should contain different
material.
 How to write appendix?
Some examples of material that might be put in
an appendix (not an exhaustive list):
raw data
maps (foldout type especially)
extra photographs
explanation of formulas
specialized computer programs for a particular
procedure
 Acknowledgements Page
An acknowledgements page is generally included
when writing a thesis, most often as a requirement
for graduate school.
You are basically thanking the people who helped
you while completing your thesis. This could be
anyone who aided you with your research, provided
advice or helpful suggestions or just gave you much
needed support through the process.
 Acknowledgements Page
1)Create a list of all the people who helped you with
your thesis in any way.
This might include professors, advisors, lab
assistants, colleagues or supervisors.
They may also be part of your personal connections,
such as friends, family members or a partner.
 Acknowledgements Page
2) Narrow your list to the people you would like to
include in the acknowledgements page.
There may be people who played some small role in
creating your thesis, but you may not feel the need
to include them on the acknowledgements page.
 Acknowledgements Page
3) Write the acknowledgements paragraph that goes
above the names of all the people you would like to
thank. This is a short paragraph, but can contain
many meaningful and sincere words.
To start, you might use phrases such as, "I could not
have completed this thesis without ..." or "I am
deeply grateful for all those who made it possible
to ...”
 Acknowledgements Page
4) Single out any key people you would like to
thank on their own.
For example, if your academic adviser stayed up
with you several nights perfecting your thesis or
went above and beyond her duty in some other way,
you might add a paragraph starting with, "I would
like to express a special thanks to ...”
 Acknowledgements Page
5) Format your acknowledgements page. Type
"Acknowledgements" at the top of the page. Skip a
few lines.
Include your paragraph and special thanks. List the
rest of the people you would like to thank.
Thank You!