Tag Archives: introduction

research key words – significance

Posted on February 26, 2024 by pat thomson

We all want to do research that matters. Right? Surely no one out there wants to spend a load of time and energy doing research that is of no value, that nobody will take any notice of and that won’t … Continue reading →

Posted in conclusion, introduction, keywords, research, research as process, research bid writing, research decisions, significance | Tagged academic writing, conclusion, introduction, keywords, Pat Thomson, research, significance | 2 Comments

“showing” and “telling” in the thesis

Posted on August 30, 2021 by pat thomson

The thesis must show and tell your examiner that its writer is ready to be called Dr. Yep. Dr (insert your surname here.) What do I mean by show and tell? Well, even if these are not the usual definitions, … Continue reading →

Posted in academic writing, audit trail, conclusion, introduction, literature reviews, methods, show and tell, thesis | Tagged academic writing, audit trail, conclusion, introduction, literature, methods, show and tell, thesis | 1 Comment

introductions – establishing significance

Posted on April 1, 2019 by pat thomson

Introductions have to do a lot of work in a short space of time. The beginning of the conventional journal article, for instance, has to tell the reader what the paper is about and why it is important. And do … Continue reading →

Posted in academic writing, introduction, location, significance, Stephen Pinker | Tagged gap-spotting, introduction, journal article, significance, Stephen Pinker | 1 Comment

vignette variations

Posted on May 29, 2017 by pat thomson

I was recently asked for an example of the use of vignette. Here it is. There are many ways to write a journal article besides the standard Introduction followed by a Literature Review, Methods, Results and Discussion and Conclusion. While there are … Continue reading →

Posted in introduction, journal article, vignette | Tagged introduction, journal article, Pat Thomson, vignette | 4 Comments

use a vignette – #wakeupreader

Posted on May 4, 2017 by pat thomson

Most readers, even academic ones, like a bit of a story. And a vignette is just a bit of a story, a condensed version. A vignette is brief, evocative and descriptive. It provides information about key points of an event … Continue reading →

Posted in #wakeupreader, creative writing, introduction, narrative, Uncategorized, vignette | Tagged #wakeupreader, introduction, Pat Thomson, report, story, vignette | 5 Comments

paper not working? try the “what’s the problem?” approach

Posted on January 16, 2017 by pat thomson

Ever find yourself with a draft of a journal article that you’re just not happy with? Can’t put your finger on what’s wrong? Well you’re not alone. The being-disgruntled-with-a-paper-but-unsure-of-the-reason syndrome is the most common problem I see in writing workshops. Unhappy … Continue reading →

Posted in introduction, journal article, what's the problem | Tagged introduction, journal article, Pat Thomson, what's the problem | 1 Comment

boostering your introduction and conclusion

Posted on August 22, 2016 by pat thomson

Academic writing is known for its use of qualifiers – usually words which tone down the claims that are made. We academics know it is impossible/incredibly difficult to establish a generalisable result though research, and our writing signals this difficulty … Continue reading →

Posted in authority in writing | Tagged authority, boosters, conclusion, hedges, introduction, Ken Hyland, Pat Thomson | 3 Comments

introducing a literatures paper

Posted on March 28, 2016 by pat thomson

The Introduction to a literatures paper has a specific job to do – the reader needs to be convinced that the review is needed, that is, the paper has a purpose and it is important for them to read it. The reader also … Continue reading →

Posted in academic writing, introduction, literature review, literature themes, literatures paper, warrant | Tagged academic writing, introduction, literatures paper, Pat Thomson, warrant | 5 Comments

writing the introduction to a journal article

Posted on January 11, 2016 by pat thomson

So you want to write a journal article but are unsure about how to start it off? Well, here’s a few things to remember. The introduction to your journal article must create a good impression. Readers get a strong view … Continue reading →

Posted in academic writing | Tagged academic writing, introduction, journal article, Pat Thomson | 14 Comments

defining a contribution – #studythewriting

Posted on November 23, 2015 by pat thomson

So you are going to write a paper/book/thesis. You suspect – no, you know – that you’ll need to state your contribution at the outset so that the reader knows what to expect. So it will helpful, as part of … Continue reading →