Essentials of Academic Writing (D314)

Correct Answer

A. Write down whatever comes to mind.

Explanation

During brainstorming, it's best to jot down any and all ideas that come to mind. This allows you to explore various possibilities without filtering yourself too early. You can later refine and organize the best ideas for your paper.

Why other options are wrong

B. Don't write them down.

Not writing down ideas can lead to forgetting important thoughts. Writing everything down is crucial during brainstorming.

C. Write down only the ideas that you think you'll use.

By limiting what you write down too early, you may exclude valuable ideas. Brainstorming is about generating as many ideas as possible without judgment.

D. Write your ideas in full sentences and paragraphs.

At the brainstorming stage, it's better to write in short phrases or bullet points to quickly capture thoughts, rather than committing to full sentences and paragraphs.

Correct Answer

C. to propose a new study

Explanation

The primary purpose of a literature review is to survey existing research and provide context for the research being conducted. It helps to identify gaps in knowledge, summarize findings, and set the stage for the current study. Proposing a new study is typically a function of the research methodology or discussion sections, not the literature review itself. The literature review is focused on understanding what has already been studied, not introducing new research proposals.

Why other options are wrong

A. to clearly indicate what the new research will add to what is already known

This is a key function of a literature review. It shows how the new research fits into the existing body of knowledge and highlights what new insights or contributions the study will offer. This helps contextualize the study and justify its need.

B. to provide a context for the research that is to be undertaken

Providing context for the research is another essential function of the literature review. By examining what has already been studied, the literature review sets the stage for the current study and demonstrates the relevance and importance of the research question.

D. to learn from previous research in order to be in a position to ask focused questions

The literature review serves as a foundation for developing focused research questions. By analyzing past studies, researchers can identify areas that need further exploration and refine their own research questions based on what has been previously studied.

Correct Answer

C. Put the text in your own words and cite it.

Explanation

Paraphrasing involves rewording the original text using your own language while keeping the original meaning intact. Proper paraphrasing always requires a citation to acknowledge the source of the idea.

Why other options are wrong

A. Change a few words and cite it to make it your own

This is not paraphrasing; it's closer to patchwriting, where only a few words are altered, but the structure and ideas remain too similar to the original. Paraphrasing requires more substantial rewording.

B. Put quotation marks around the text and cite it

This describes direct quoting, not paraphrasing. In paraphrasing, you put the information in your own words rather than quoting it verbatim.

D. Use only the idea from the text without citing it

This is plagiarism. Even if you use only the idea from the text, you must still give credit to the original source through citation.

Correct Answer

E. Does the author acknowledge and respond to opposing points of view?

Explanation

Evaluating the authorship of a source involves looking at the author’s credibility and their approach to the topic. A key element of scholarly work is the author’s ability to engage with opposing viewpoints. This demonstrates the author’s thorough understanding of the topic and adds to the reliability of the source. An author who acknowledges and responds to opposing points of view shows a balanced, well-reasoned argument, which enhances the source’s credibility.

Why other options are wrong

A. How current is this information?

While currency is important in evaluating sources, especially for fast-evolving topics, it does not directly address the authorship of the source. This question focuses more on the timeliness of the information.

B. Do other sources agree with this information?

While it is useful to cross-check information with other sources, this question pertains more to the corroboration of facts rather than evaluating the authorship of the source itself.

C. Is the source published by a reputable press, or is the website sponsored by a reputable organization?

While important, this question is about the publisher’s reputation, not the author’s credentials. Reputable publishers can enhance the trustworthiness of a source, but the author's expertise and handling of the topic matter more when evaluating authorship.

D. Does the source provide a copyright?

A copyright ensures the legal protection of the work but does not necessarily contribute to evaluating the authorship or the academic reliability of the source.

Correct Answer

D. can be addressed by compiling and synthesizing existing information in a way that sheds light on the issue of interest.

Explanation

Research problems are often approached by compiling existing information to create new insights or highlight important areas that require further investigation. The focus is on gathering knowledge to help better understand or solve an identified issue within a particular field of inquiry.

Why other options are wrong

A. are broad, general statements about the incomplete state of understanding in a particular field of inquiry

While research problems often arise from incomplete understanding, they are more specific and focused than broad generalizations. A good research problem should address particular questions that need resolution, not just the overall state of knowledge.

B. are identified by experts in the field, and not typically knowable by novices

Research problems can be identified by anyone, including novices, although experts may be more experienced in recognizing complex issues. Novices can help identify areas for further research by learning and engaging with the existing body of work.

C. clearly and completely specify important questions that are currently unanswered in a particular field of inquiry

Research problems are important but do not always "clearly and completely" specify all unanswered questions. The process of researching typically helps refine and specify the questions in a more focused way.

Correct Answer

D. Argumentative

Explanation

An argumentative essay shares traits with a research paper as it involves presenting a claim (thesis), supporting it with evidence, and providing a conclusion that revisits the thesis in light of the evidence presented throughout the essay. This type of essay aims to persuade the reader to accept or consider the writer’s viewpoint on a controversial issue, much like a research paper’s objective to demonstrate a well-reasoned argument based on evidence.

Why other options are wrong

A. Expository

An expository essay aims to explain or inform the reader about a specific topic, often without presenting a clear argument or thesis. It typically doesn’t include a conclusion that reviews the thesis in the same manner as an argumentative essay.

B. Descriptive

A descriptive essay focuses on providing detailed descriptions of a person, place, event, or object. It does not present or argue a thesis and therefore does not conclude by reviewing evidence in light of a thesis.

C. Narrative

A narrative essay tells a story, often from the writer’s personal perspective, and does not focus on arguing a point or thesis. While it may have a conclusion, it does not include a review of a thesis based on evidence.

Correct Answer

D. Persuasive

Explanation

A persuasive essay aims to convince the reader of a particular point of view by presenting a claim supported by evidence. The essay culminates in a conclusion that reinforces the main argument based on the evidence presented throughout the text. This type of essay is designed to persuade the audience to accept the writer’s viewpoint on a specific issue.

Why other options are wrong

A. Descriptive

A descriptive essay primarily focuses on providing a detailed description of a subject. It does not present a claim or argument but rather aims to paint a vivid picture using sensory details.

B. Narrative

A narrative essay tells a story, typically from the author’s perspective, and is more concerned with recounting events than presenting an argument or claim supported by evidence.

C. Expository

An expository essay explains a topic in a clear and straightforward manner, often using facts and examples, but it does not aim to persuade the reader to accept a particular viewpoint. It focuses on delivering information rather than advocating for a specific position.

Correct Answer

B. Gives case studies the advantage of providing rich details of a case and all its contributing factors.

Explanation

One of the strengths of a case study is its ability to provide deep, detailed insights into a single case or a small number of cases. This allows the researcher to explore all the nuances and contributing factors in a way that larger studies, which generalize across many cases, may not. The richness of data from a case study is beneficial in understanding complex situations or phenomena within their specific context.

Why other options are wrong

A. Makes case studies an inappropriate tool for generalizing across other cases.

While it’s true that case studies are often limited in their ability to generalize across broader populations, this does not make them inappropriate for research. They serve a different purpose—offering deep insights into specific cases—rather than broad generalization.

C. Allows the writer to focus on a single case, without expending resources studying other cases in the field.

Although focusing on one case allows for a detailed examination, this option misses the point that the value of case studies lies in their depth of analysis, not just the focus on a single case. Focusing on one case can save resources but doesn't fully explain the advantages of case studies.

D. Leads to an accurate description of a single case, but does not propose solutions for other cases.

This statement is partially true but misses the point that case studies can still offer valuable insights and solutions for similar cases or contribute to theory-building, even if they do not propose direct solutions for other cases.

Correct Answer

C. Association of American Universities (AAU) style

Explanation

The Association of American Universities (AAU) does not have a specific citation style. The main documentation styles used in academic writing are APA, Chicago, and MLA. These styles provide guidelines for citing sources, formatting papers, and structuring academic writing.

Why other options are wrong

A. APA Style (American Psychological Association)

APA style is one of the most commonly used citation styles, particularly in social sciences, education, and psychology. It provides clear guidelines for citing sources and formatting research papers.

B. Chicago Manual of Style (CMS)

The Chicago Manual of Style is a widely used citation guide, particularly in history and humanities. It provides two systems of citation: the notes and bibliography system and the author-date system.

D. MLA (Modern Language Association) style

MLA style is commonly used in the humanities, particularly in literature and language studies. It provides guidelines for citing sources and formatting papers, with a focus on in-text citations and a works cited page.