12 Recommendations to Help you Submit a Conventional and Acceptable Paper 12個獲得學術認可的論文撰寫技巧之一
教授學者們通常會規範寫作標準，制定如何撰寫碩博士論文與學術文章以及格式要求。學術界所評定的標準植基於以何種撰寫方式會被認可，何種撰寫方式則會被拒 絕。本專欄提出「12個獲得學術認可的論文撰寫技巧」，幫助你寫出符合規範與認可標準的文章。每一個技巧將陸續公佈於本TPS專頁。
The community of scholars has rules that govern how dissertations, theses and other academic papers are composed and formatted. Academic convention has established what is acceptable and what is not. Following is one of 12 recommendations to help you submit a conventional and acceptable paper. Each tip in the series will appear on the TPS Fans page on successive weeks.
Tip 1 – Choose an appropriate topic
技巧一：選擇適合的主題
At the university level, scholarly papers are written for other scholars. Therefore, the topic of an academic paper should appeal to a scholar. What appeals to scholars? Ideas. So the central topic of a paper should be an idea, a theory, a concept. Unless your professor assigns you a topic, you must put on your thinking cap and brainstorm an idea to build a paper around.
在大學的學習領域中，學術文章是為了其它學者而寫。因此，學術文章的主題必須成功吸引學者的目光。如何能吸引他們的目光? 用你的想法。也就是說，學術文章的中心主題必須是一個想法，一則理論，或是一個概念。除非你的指導教授給你論文主題，否則你必須靠自己好好思考，腦力激盪出自己的主題，進而圍繞主題寫出文章。
The topic should be relevant. That is, it should add value to a particular academic discipline. Writing about a new French apple for a Chinese literature class will not be well received, regardless of how well you write. A chosen topic should be interesting, but it need not be provocative, or particularly original, though inventive and stimulating topics are welcome.
主題論述必須具相關性。也就是說，它對於該領域的學術貢獻必須具有價值。像是在中國文學課程中描寫法國蘋果的新品種議題肯定不會被接受，即使撰寫技巧很高明。主題的選擇朝向趣味性，無挑臖意味，引經據典、原創性、激勵性等等方面，最受歡迎。
For example, a mathematics paper might introduce a new theorem stemming from an accepted equation. A humanities paper might offer fresh perspective on a philosophical statement. A business paper might explain a weakness of a retailing model. Sample titles of papers include “Circus Sociology: The Gravitas of a Clown,” and “Architecture: How Tokyo Copied Topeka.”
舉例來說，數理論文一開始可介紹已被社會接受的一組程式而引導出新理論；人文論文可能提出在哲學理論上的一個新看法；商業論文或許是針對零售業經營模式分析其缺點。其它論文參考主題包括：“Circus Sociology: The Gravitas of a Clown” 與 “Architecture: How Tokyo Copied Topeka”。
Unless a professor specifically assigns a report, your paper is expected to be a reasoned argument. Simply compiling and presenting information will not be acceptable. So you should choose a topic with divergent points of view and claim one for yourself. The topic also should be substantial enough to be explored at length without resorting to redundancy and word padding.
除非指導教授特別交代你某個主題，否則你的論文應該具有推論的爭議性。若僅僅寫出眾所皆知的資訊，將無法被學術界認可。所以，你必須選擇一個新概念作主題，並且主張這是專屬於你的論點。同時必須確認主題內容的蘊含量足夠發揮與探究，避免發生日後在文章上大玩文字遊戲或是不斷重覆句子內容以刻意拉長文章篇幅的窘境。
Treatment of the topic should be focused. That is, your paper should be limited in scope even if the topic is a universal condition. Example: Write about saving a species of tree on a Pacific island knoll rather than defending the world’s forests against mankind. A finite proposition is more compelling than a sweeping generalization, and a scattershot conclusion never convinces.
主題論述必須具專注性。也就是說，學術論文必須侷限於某一特定範圍，即使主題是一個放諸四海皆知的定論。例如，寧可撰寫如何在太平洋島嶼上拯救樹種生態，而不要提出保護世界樹林免於遭受人為迫害的議題。選定一個特定主題遠比一個廣大、空泛的概念更能引起學者興趣。一個毫無目標的論文將無法讓任何人信服。
To review: The topic of an academic paper should be relevant and interesting. It should contain the seeds of opposing views. It should be complex enough to allow dissection and simple enough to be forceful. It should be narrow and deep in scope. Good luck!
總而言之，學術文章的主題必須具關連性與專注性，它必須具有異於凡俗的視野與觀點，除了豐富的題材可延展論文內容，還要有專一且具說服力的主張。論文主題必須縮小範圍並深入剖析。希望對你有所幫助，祝你好運!
The community of scholars has rules that govern how dissertations, theses and other academic papers are composed and formatted. Academic convention has established what is acceptable and what is not. Following is one of 12 recommendations to help you submit a conventional and acceptable paper. Each tip in the series will appear on the TPS Fans page on successive weeks.
Tip 1 – Choose an appropriate topic
技巧一：選擇適合的主題
At the university level, scholarly papers are written for other scholars. Therefore, the topic of an academic paper should appeal to a scholar. What appeals to scholars? Ideas. So the central topic of a paper should be an idea, a theory, a concept. Unless your professor assigns you a topic, you must put on your thinking cap and brainstorm an idea to build a paper around.
在大學的學習領域中，學術文章是為了其它學者而寫。因此，學術文章的主題必須成功吸引學者的目光。如何能吸引他們的目光? 用你的想法。也就是說，學術文章的中心主題必須是一個想法，一則理論，或是一個概念。除非你的指導教授給你論文主題，否則你必須靠自己好好思考，腦力激盪出自己的主題，進而圍繞主題寫出文章。
The topic should be relevant. That is, it should add value to a particular academic discipline. Writing about a new French apple for a Chinese literature class will not be well received, regardless of how well you write. A chosen topic should be interesting, but it need not be provocative, or particularly original, though inventive and stimulating topics are welcome.
主題論述必須具相關性。也就是說，它對於該領域的學術貢獻必須具有價值。像是在中國文學課程中描寫法國蘋果的新品種議題肯定不會被接受，即使撰寫技巧很高明。主題的選擇朝向趣味性，無挑臖意味，引經據典、原創性、激勵性等等方面，最受歡迎。
For example, a mathematics paper might introduce a new theorem stemming from an accepted equation. A humanities paper might offer fresh perspective on a philosophical statement. A business paper might explain a weakness of a retailing model. Sample titles of papers include “Circus Sociology: The Gravitas of a Clown,” and “Architecture: How Tokyo Copied Topeka.”
舉例來說，數理論文一開始可介紹已被社會接受的一組程式而引導出新理論；人文論文可能提出在哲學理論上的一個新看法；商業論文或許是針對零售業經營模式分析其缺點。其它論文參考主題包括：“Circus Sociology: The Gravitas of a Clown” 與 “Architecture: How Tokyo Copied Topeka”。
Unless a professor specifically assigns a report, your paper is expected to be a reasoned argument. Simply compiling and presenting information will not be acceptable. So you should choose a topic with divergent points of view and claim one for yourself. The topic also should be substantial enough to be explored at length without resorting to redundancy and word padding.
除非指導教授特別交代你某個主題，否則你的論文應該具有推論的爭議性。若僅僅寫出眾所皆知的資訊，將無法被學術界認可。所以，你必須選擇一個新概念作主題，並且主張這是專屬於你的論點。同時必須確認主題內容的蘊含量足夠發揮與探究，避免發生日後在文章上大玩文字遊戲或是不斷重覆句子內容以刻意拉長文章篇幅的窘境。
Treatment of the topic should be focused. That is, your paper should be limited in scope even if the topic is a universal condition. Example: Write about saving a species of tree on a Pacific island knoll rather than defending the world’s forests against mankind. A finite proposition is more compelling than a sweeping generalization, and a scattershot conclusion never convinces.
主題論述必須具專注性。也就是說，學術論文必須侷限於某一特定範圍，即使主題是一個放諸四海皆知的定論。例如，寧可撰寫如何在太平洋島嶼上拯救樹種生態，而不要提出保護世界樹林免於遭受人為迫害的議題。選定一個特定主題遠比一個廣大、空泛的概念更能引起學者興趣。一個毫無目標的論文將無法讓任何人信服。
To review: The topic of an academic paper should be relevant and interesting. It should contain the seeds of opposing views. It should be complex enough to allow dissection and simple enough to be forceful. It should be narrow and deep in scope. Good luck!
總而言之，學術文章的主題必須具關連性與專注性，它必須具有異於凡俗的視野與觀點，除了豐富的題材可延展論文內容，還要有專一且具說服力的主張。論文主題必須縮小範圍並深入剖析。希望對你有所幫助，祝你好運!
Posted at 2012-04-06 10:33:01
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