What is the phenomenon?

1
Questions to answer in the final paper

• What is the phenomenon?
• How is it different similar to another
  phenomenon?
• When is it exhibited vs. not? Why?
• Why is it true vs. not ?
• What explains why it is true vs. not?
• Based on answers to questions above, what kinds
  of info will help you learn more about the
  phenomenon?

2

• What kinds of information will help you know more
  about your hypothesis?
• Should future research
• Test reasons for why your hypothesis is true?
• Test reasons for why the hypothesis is not true?
• Test reasons for why the hypothesis is true in
  some situations but not in others?

3
Answers from your writing assignment

• What is the phenomenon?
• Description of your hypothesis
• How is it different similar to another
  phenomenon?
• Definition of your variables
• When, where how is it exhibited? Why?
• Describing pro-hypothesis findings explaining
  why
• When where how is it not exhibited? Why?
• Describing counter-evidence explaining why

4
Answers from your writing assignment

• What common process explains its occurrence vs.
  non occurrence?
• Explaining why the difference b/w pro counter
  evidence exists
• What kinds of data will help you know more about
  the phenomenon?
• Those that test explanations for hypothesis
• Those that tests explanations for the counter
  hypothesis
• Those that explains the difference in findings
• Addresses limitations in definitions ways in
  which previous data were collected

5
Draft vs. Final Paper

• Using feedback effectively
• Use grades on specific criteria written
  comments
• E.g., descriptive skills, explanatory skills etc.
• Attend to weight given to criteria of final paper
• Some weights changed
• Easy vs. difficult writing tasks
• Some additional criteria used
• E.g., Form/Stylistic issues

6
Abstract Summarizing

• Comprehensive, short summary of paper
• Complete yet Concise
• 1 page, but shorter is better
• Hypothesis, definition, evidence, analysis
  (implications, suggestions etc)
• See published review papers
• Write it last, using relevant main points of
  sections of the paper integrating them
  seamlessly

7
Other analytical tasks in final paper

• Forming evidence based generalizations by drawing
  implications for practice based on
• Evidence for and against the hypothesis
• Explanations for the evidence

8
Paper Title

• Use descriptive writing skills
• Precision Brevity
• Key variables their relation OR Key Conclusion
• Difference between title hypothesis
• hook?

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Other Stylistic Issues
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Introduction

• Why is your topic area important?
• Identify relevance to practice
• Start broad, but quickly narrow down to your
  specific hypothesis

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Structure

• Logic of structure is clear to reader
• Paragraphs build on main idea, are connected to
  each other logically
• Have descriptive, brief topical headings
• Avoid
• Too many ideas in a sentence
• Unless you can handle complexity of long
  sentences
• Haphazardly put-together sentences
• Ensure connection b/w sentences
• Organizing your paper by article

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Example of an Effective transition. Student
Draft Spring 06

• Previously, the predictor of personality trait
  was described in detail. The other concept
  needing an explanation is the criterion of job
  performancewhich is done now

13
Form Issues

• References
• Quality is important
• Choose a style (e.g., APA, MLA) use it
  consistently
• See www.docstyles.com for styles
• See www.wooster.edu/psychology/apa-crib.htmlExamp
  les for APA style
• Ensure all in-text citations are in the reference
  section!
• No internet websites are acceptable! Why?
• Paper Length
• 10 pages, but shorter is better!

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Writing Style

• Check for consistency within sentences
• Plural vs. singular tense agreement,
• Present vs. past vs. future tense agreement,
• First vs. third person agreement
• Check for punctuation errors (e.g., placement of
  commas, semicolons, etc.)
• Avoid the use of contractions (e.g., dont, cant
  etc.)
• Avoid misplaced propositions (e.g., the)
• Check spellings
• Use active voice Avoid using passive voice
• Avoid using direct quotes. Paraphrase in own
  words to demonstrate understanding

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Good Writing!