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TPS的編輯教授在此歡迎關於學術文章的所有詢問，當然，其實他並沒有足夠的時間給你。他擁有終身教職的教授身份，也是著名的學術巨作作者。即便如此，他仍大方地接受你們的詢問。將關於學術方面的詢問寫在下方，你將獲得教授的親自指導，陶冶對學術的探索與啟發。
The professor awaits your query on academic writing, though in all honesty, he doesn’t have a lot of time for you. He is a tenured full professor and working on yet another magnificent academic tome. Even so, he has graciously consented to entertain your question. Submit it and prepare to be edified.

QUESTION: Figures of speech seem to me to be out of place in an academic paper. Such a paper needs clarity and conciseness and figures of speech are neither, and may actually hamper readership of a paper. Am I wrong to believe this?
我認為學術論文不該使用比喻，因為學術論文應該簡潔明瞭，但比喻卻不是，可能妨礙閱讀。這樣說對嗎？

Yes. You are wrong. Next question… Oh, well, I guess we should explore it a little further. What you are expressing is a common misconception. Some in the upper reaches of academia are almost self-conscious in their professional sobriety and seriousness of purpose and believe research papers should be similarly devoid of anything leavening. All else being equal, they will weigh a paper according to its dullness, with the most sodden, uncolorful, and tedious writing tipping the scales of perceived academic “excellence.”
錯了。來看下個問題…好吧，我想我們應該討論一下這個問題。你提的誤解相當常見，有些學術界頂端的人執意讓學術專業看起來正經八百，認為研究報告不應該有任何調味劑。如果文章在其他方面表現相當，讀起來愈索然無味，分數就愈高。最詰屈聱牙、呆板無趣的文章，便認定為學術界極為「傑出」的文章。

But I ask you: When was the last time you entered a store and bought a pound of dullness? I suspect the answer is, never. Why then would you settle for anything less than liveliness and vigor in an academic paper? Your mistake is to equate spare and unadorned language with clarity and conciseness. In fact, bare language can obfuscate and clutter. Short is not necessarily succinct. Whereas a figure of speech not only can express a thought in fewer words than a direct statement, it can convey the thought more completely.
但是，換我請問你，你曾經去店裡花錢買無趣嗎？應該從來沒有吧。那為什麼你要忍受死氣沉沉的學術論文呢？用字貧乏無趣不等於簡潔明瞭，不假修飾的文字也可能意思模糊、雜亂失序，簡略未必就是簡潔。比起直接說明，比喻不僅用字更精簡，也能將想法傳達得更完整。

Dr. Karen Gocsik of Dartmouth College lists 7 principles of writing good sentences in academic papers and number 7 is “Write Beautifully.” She counsels writers wanting to improve their papers to explore such elements as balance, rhythm and… metaphor. I concur. Obviously, figures of speech should not take over a paper any more than anecdotes should substitute for verifiable substance. But employed adeptly, figures of speech can contribute to a paper’s brevity, clarity, narrative pace, and focus—and do it beautifully.
達特茅斯學院(Dartmouth College)的 Karen Gocsik 教授列出寫作學術論文佳句的七項原則，第七項是「寫作優美」。她建議，若想改善文章寫作，應注意平衡、節奏，以及善用隱喻。我同意她的看法。顯然地，軼事趣聞從未能取代論文中可驗證的事實據理，比喻自然也無須俯拾即是，不過若能巧妙善用比喻，文章則能更加簡練、清楚，敘事更有條理，焦點更清晰。

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。
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.


Tip # 12 – Neatly duplicate and submit the completed paper
技巧十二：列印乾淨整齊的論文並繳交

A completed academic paper is like any other printed communication: Until it is submitted to a publisher (or professor or agent), it is still a private document. It has no public standing. Until a professor actually sees a completed academic paper, it is only an expectation. So, handing it in (on time, by the way) is a meaningful threshold for a writer. It should be crossed thoughtfully.
完成並印出的學術論文就像一般的印刷品，在交給出版商（或教授、經紀人）之前，都只是私人文件，不具公眾地位。在教授真正看到完成的論文前，論文都只是個想法。所以別忘了，繳出論文後你才稱得上作者，而且最好準時交。繳出論文之前有許多事項要注意。

Look at the paper—literally the paper, the first visual impression a professor has of a completed assignment. It is true that a paper will immediately stand out if it is printed on pink stock with purple trim, but that usually is a mistake. A professor is interested in content, and a frivolous or unusual package only distracts from that essence. Plain packaging always is the safest choice.
仔細看看論文的紙張，感覺教授第一眼看到文章的印象。如果論文印在粉紅色的紙上，加上紫色的邊框，的確能立刻引人注目，但通常不會給人好印象。教授終究關注的還是文章內容，隨便或誇張的外觀只會讓人分心。謹慎起見，應保持外觀簡單。

Clean packaging also adds to the eye-appeal of a paper. While this should be obvious, earnest students sometimes lose perspective about such things. If a page of an academic paper is marked by white-out corrections, smudges, or fingerprints, it is not ready for submission. Re-print it. Professors like clean pages, in part so their own notations will not have to compete for attention.
顯而易見的，外觀乾淨會讓論文更吸引人，但再謹慎的學生也常忽略了這點。只要論文某處仍有白色修正液的痕跡、污漬或指紋，就不應該交出去，應該重新列印。保持頁面乾淨，不要讓污漬影響教授閱讀。

Computer-printed papers are the standard at this time, with laser printers creating crisp, standardized printed matter. Copiers produce facsimiles nearly as sharp. Academic writers should not settle for less than this in reproducing the pages of their papers. The goal is legible, inviting text that doesn’t impede the flow of content to the eyes of a serious, critical reader.
目前大多使用電腦列印，雷射印表機字體清晰、合乎標準，傳真印表機的品質略遜一籌，但也過得去，學術論文的列印品質不該低於這個標準。文字應該清晰易讀，讓仔細認真的讀者能流暢閱讀。

Finally, a loose bundle of papers plopped on the desk of an instructor probably is not going to be awarded a top grade. The pages should be stapled, paper-clipped, or bound between front and back covers—whichever method is requested by an assigning professor. Have faith that a paper is so compelling that it is going to be read… and re-read. Make it easy for a professor to do so.
最後，如果漫不經心地把一疊散亂的紙張扔到教授桌上，大概拿不到什麼理想的成績。論文應該根據教授要求，用釘書機裝訂、用夾子夾起，或以封面、封底夾訂。引人入勝的論文值得一讀再讀，完善的裝訂才能方便教授閱讀。

A writer who has followed the foregoing tips on topic-choosing, researching, writing, formatting, proofreading, and presenting an academic paper has now completed the project. By not taking shortcuts, the writer has arrived at this point better informed and more highly skilled than those who did not. The reward is a superior grade and confidence in moving forward. Congratulations.
循著之前描述的技巧，選擇題目、進行研究、寫作文章、遵循格式、仔細校對、注意論文外觀並繳交，論文寫作計畫至此大功告成。若作者循序漸進、不抄近路，現在應已知識豐富、技巧卓越，獲得理想的好成績，並能自信滿滿繼續前進。恭喜你!

TPS的編輯教授在此歡迎關於學術文章的所有詢問，當然，其實他並沒有足夠的時間給你。他擁有終身教職的教授身份，也是著名的學術巨作作者。即便如此，他仍大方地接受你們的詢問。將關於學術方面的詢問寫在下方，你將獲得教授的親自指導，陶冶對學術的探索與啟發。
The professor awaits your query on academic writing, though in all honesty, he doesn’t have a lot of time for you. He is a tenured full professor and working on yet another magnificent academic tome. Even so, he has graciously consented to entertain your question. Submit it and prepare to be edified.

QUESTION: My classroom instructor tells me that my papers are disjointed and disconnected. I read them and I think my ideas are sound and my writing clear. I don’t understand what more he wants from me. Can you help?
教授告訴我，我的論文支離破碎、沒有系統。我重讀了論文一遍，還是覺得文章想法沒什麼問題，文字也相當清楚。我搞不懂教授到底要求的是什麼，你能告訴我嗎？

Well, I don’t know if I can help you or not. Perhaps the problem is merely one of communication. Do you understand anything your instructor tells you? If not, you might think seriously about switching to a discipline you more easily grasp and your instructor more effectively teaches. However, before you consider giving up, let me suggest that the problem might be that you are talking about apples while your instructor is talking about oranges.
我不確定我能不能幫上忙，也許問題只是簡單的溝通不良。你真的理解教授所說的每句話嗎？如果答案為否，或許你該慎重考慮，是不是該轉到你更能理解的科目，或是對你來說更有效果的教學方式。不過在真的放棄之前，我認為問題也許出在你和教授各彈各調—你說的是一回事，他心裡想的又是另一回事。

It well may be that your ideas are perfectly sound—perhaps even sagacious—and your writing as clear as glass. That is not what your instructor finds objectionable. Rather, the instructor’s apparent complaint is that regardless of your writing’s clarity and your thinking’s sagacity, they do not come together into a holistic document. Your papers apparently are collections of thoughts and words that wander to and fro inconclusively. Academic papers are not intended to be pointless.
你的文章概念很可能完全沒問題—搞不好還相當出色—甚至你的內容就像玻璃般表達的一清二楚。教授有意見的部分應該是，儘管你的寫作文句流暢，想法表達聰敏，卻未能完善地將所有概念組織成有意義、有目標的一篇文章。很顯然地，你的論文只是湊齊了許多想法與文字，卻讓它們在文章中游走沒有定位，也沒有結論。漫無目的，肯定無法造就一篇好的學術論文。

What your instructor is looking for in your papers, and not finding, are transitional phrases and paragraphs that connect your ideas into a theme that progressively builds toward a conclusion. Unless your individual thoughts are linked to one another in this way, they are orphans. They may be handsome thoughts, but, unlinked, they have no relation to the other thoughts in your paper. Consequently, they indeed are… disconnected and disjointed. Talk to your instructor.
你的教授在文章裡想要找尋卻大無展獲的是，用來連結你的論點與主題，並逐漸推展至結論的轉折用語與文章段落。自成一局的個別想法，若不能善用轉折語串連起來，就會像孤兒一樣飄搖、沒有歸屬；缺乏連結的段落單看是沒什麼問題，卻跟文章裡的其他想法沒有關連，導致的結果就像你的教授所說的—支離破碎，沒有系統。再去跟教授談談吧!

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。
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.

Tip 11–Carefully proofread a completed paper
技巧十一：仔細校訂已完成的論文

At this point, all the hardest work of a paper is behind a writer. The research. The writing. The thorough and formal citation. All the stylistic questions have been answered, all the technical concerns addressed. The paper as an academic product is virtually complete. Yet what remains to be done can mean the difference between the paper being admired, and the paper being scorned.
在此刻，論文作者已經完成了所有最困難的步驟。研究已完成、論文已寫好、引用資料也按照規定格式加註。寫作風格的問題都已解決，技術的問題也已處理，學術論文此時基本上已算完成，但剩下的工夫將可決定這篇論文究竟會贏得讚賞，或是遭人蔑視。

Before taking this next step, however, a writer should shelve the paper for an hour, or a day, or a week, depending upon how much time has been allowed. Writers who are wise stewards of their resources, including time, give themselves this walk-away period to rest their brains and eyes. When they return, they will come nearer reading the paper as a stranger—or a professor—might.
在進行下一個步驟前，作者應將論文收到抽屜裡，一小時、一天、或是一整個星期都好，時間長度視作者有多少餘裕而定。只要懂得聰明分配現有資源與時間，一定能安排一段時間空檔抽離論文寫作的環境，好讓腦子與眼睛休息一下。當重新取出論文時，就能以陌生讀者—或是教授—的眼光重新審視文章。

This next step is called proofreading. The printing term refers to when an early version of printed matter is printed and closely examined to prove to a printer’s satisfaction that no errors exist. If errors are found, they are corrected and another “proof” printed. Similarly, an academic writer should examine a paper closely and correct it as necesary before printing out a final copy.
接下來的步驟稱為校訂。這個用詞原本使用於印刷業，主要是將欲大量印刷的內容先印出初稿，仔細校對，直到印刷內容確定沒有錯誤為止。期間一旦找出錯誤，進行更正後另外印出一份文稿再行校對。同理，學術論文的作者也應仔細校對論文，若發現錯誤，趕緊予以更正，最後再印出完稿。

What errors are sought? Misspellings, such as the intentional one in the previous paragraph! (Did you spot it? “Necessary” needs a second “s.”) Repeated words (“the the”). Errant capitalization. Faulty punctuation. Irregular spacing. Mislabeled lists or misnumbered pages. These are all mechanical mistakes discoverable by anyone willing to patiently, methodically review the text.
我們所討論的是哪些潛在的錯誤呢？例如，拼字錯誤，像是上一段刻意打錯的錯字（你發現了嗎？Necessary應該有兩個s）、重複的字眼（如連續打了兩個the）、不當的字首大寫、錯誤的標點、不規則的空白、目錄或列表標示錯誤、頁碼錯誤等。這些都是技術上的小失誤，只要願意耐心訂正文章，任何人都可以將它們找出來。

The next level of scrutiny required for clean copy centers on flawed or weak grammar. The more grammatical knowledge a writer has, the greater the chance of discovering an incorrectly used word, a poorly composed phrase, or an awkwardly structured sentence. In respect to the latter, here is a tip: If a sentence cannot be read smoothly, without stumbling, it should be rewritten.
欲達到論文的完稿狀態，下一個步驟是找出文法的錯誤及表達不周全的地方。作者的文法知識越豐富，就越能找出誤用的字詞、累贅的片語或是結構失當的句子。這裡有個找出不當句型的小技巧：如果某個句子讓你舌頭打結，沒辦法流暢地唸出來，這個句子就應該重寫。

The last proofing step is conceptual in scope. Does it hang together? Is there unity in its writing? Does it progress from introduction to conclusion, with the latter affirming the former? These questions should have been answered earlier, but the final proof of a paper’s conceptual integrity is in the finished product. Is the paper coherent, structurally sound and error-free? If not, re-do it.
校訂的最後步驟與論文本身的立論概念有關。文章的內容是否緊密關連？寫作風格是否統一？能否流暢地從前言推展到結論，並且以結論呼應前言的論點？這些問題或許在更早的撰寫階段就應處理，但只有到全文修訂完畢後，我們才能真正判斷文章是否有效整合所有的論點與資訊。總之，我們必須捫心自問，論文是否前後語法與想法統一，結構完整沒有錯誤。如果答案為否，沒有二話，再把文章重新校訂一遍。

TPS的編輯教授在此歡迎關於學術文章的所有詢問，當然，其實他並沒有足夠的時間給你。他擁有終身教職的教授身份，也是著名的學術巨作作者。即便如此，他仍大方地接受你們的詢問。將關於學術方面的詢問寫在下方，你將獲得教授的親自指導，陶冶對學術的探索與啟發。
The professor awaits your query on academic writing, though in all honesty, he doesn’t have a lot of time for you. He is a tenured full professor and working on yet another magnificent academic tome. Even so, he has graciously consented to entertain your question. Submit it and prepare to be edified.

QUESTION: My literature instructor has assigned a paper on a literary period I have tried to avoid at all costs. I just can’t relate to it. What mind games do you play to get yourself into a subject you would just as soon skip?
我的教授要我寫關於某個時期的文學報告，然而，那卻是我極力避免碰觸的一個主題，因為我對相關內容毫無興趣與共鳴。有什麼辦法可以讓人改變心態，投入避之唯恐不及的領域呢？

It always is satisfying to come across someone who appreciates the rigorous sport of thinking. Not everyone understands that the intellectual life is a series of tough mind games. If one is disciplined in training for these games—staying mentally fit and constantly practicing fundamentals—a rise in the ranks of thinkers can happen quickly, from amateur to semi-professional to tenured superstar. Give me five!
思考訓練，是嚴格考驗自己的腦部運動，能遇到瞭解箇中美妙之人真是令人開懷。不是每個人都能體會，學術生活就是一連串艱辛的思考訓練活動。只要能有紀律地訓練自己—保持心智靈敏，不斷練習基本功—你便能快速地於眾多思想者中崛起，從初學者進階為半專業人士，最後成為擁有終身教職的學術權威。我們互相勉勵吧！

The particular mind game a scholar employs in the situation you describe is called curiosity. It is a mindset marked by inquisitiveness. Curious people tend to want to learn what they don’t know about a subject. They do not idly inquire after knowledge; rather, they are driven to know, and are willing to work to master a subject. Only then do they feel they can relax, having vanquished an unknown and been declared a victor over ignorance. Curiosity obviously isn’t for a lazy thinker; it requires constant whetting.
遇到這類的情況，學者們會運用一種心智遊戲，就是「好奇心」，特色就是激發自我求知慾。好奇的人通常會對不熟悉的主題希望知道更多，他們對待未探索知識的態度不是懶散的隨意對待，而是受到好奇心驅使，投注全身精力鑽研主題，直到征服未知領域後才願意收手。很顯然地，好奇心不適合懶散的思考者，因為好奇心需要不斷的磨鍊。

In really borrrring situations, such as when, say, a professor assigns an unpopular topic, perhaps a classical literary period, curiosity dramatically separates ordinary thinkers from A-teamers. The amateur thinker groans and wants to throw in the towel. The fit and agile thinker welcomes the challenge and starts stretching his mind in a new direction. Every writer of academic papers must decide where he fits on the spectrum of thinkers. If thinking and communicating your thoughts isn’t your game, pick another sport.
即便遇上自覺實在無聊至極的題目，例如古典文學之類並不熱門的主題時，好奇心可以明顯區隔出平凡的思考者與真正一流的思考家。不成熟的思考者會叫苦連天，立即放棄；靈活機敏的思考者則樂於接受挑戰，立即將心智往新的方向延伸與研究。所有學術論文的作者都應自我審視，自己是否屬於後者。如果樂在思考與傳達想法不是你的專長，那麼你應該選擇別的道路。

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。
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.

Tip 10–Give full credit to sources and avoid plagiarism
技巧十：正確引用出處，避免抄襲之嫌

When a writer submits an academic paper, there should be no question about the submitter being the author of it. Even if the paper is, say, uncharacteristically refined in its approach, or astonishingly thorough in its research, the writer’s integrity should not be doubted. Yet only one person can ensure that such suspicions do not develop: the person whose name is on the paper.
學術論文的作者發表文章後，絕不容許被人質疑投稿者是否為原作者。即便這篇文章文筆非常成熟精鍊、研究成果極其深入完整，作者本人的誠信都不應遭受懷疑。不過，能夠完全避免這種質疑的人只有一個：作者本人。

We are talking here about the “P” word—plagiarism. A person who plagiarizes commits literary theft. The Council of Writing Administrators—an American association of university faculty—says plagiarism occurs when, “in instructional settings… a writer deliberately uses someone else’s language, ideas, or other original… material without acknowledg¬ing its source.”
在此說明 plagiarism 抄襲。抄襲他人的作品就是盜竊。寫作協會—由美國大學教授組成—的抄襲定義為：在教學環境中，抄襲就是蓄意使用他人的語言、想法、或其他原創思想等等，卻未註明出處。

Stolen in this way are ideas still in the abstract, or words concretely arranged in a uniquely identifiable way and particular context. When they are lifted without credit being given, they no longer qualify as fruits of original scholarship. Rather, they are the detritus of an intellectual crime. Their cribbed presence in a paper is unforgivable evidence that corners were cut.
被盜用的舉凡非具體的想法，或是以各種獨特、可辨識的方式所具體陳述的內容等等。如果使用這些資料時不註明出處，你的論文作品就稱不上原創，只是智慧犯罪後的殘跡。在文章裡夾帶這些資訊，便是作者投機取巧下不可抹滅的證據。

How can a writer avoid becoming a plagiarist? Resolve not to steal. Yes, it is that elementary. Deliberate theft is a conscious act. There is no mistake involved. Therefore, thievery is not a problem if it is eschewed as a matter of individual character. Academic pressure is no excuse for submitting another person’s work as one’s own. When that happens, it is a failure of character.
作者如何才能避免抄襲？只要下定決心不偷竊即可。沒錯，就是這麼簡單。蓄意偷竊是有意識的行為，沒有辯解的機會。只要體認到偷竊攸關個人品德，應能制止抄襲發生。學術壓力不能作為剽竊他人作品的辯解，會發生這種事就是代表個人操守有問題。

A less insidious but still serious indictment of a writer is commission of inadvertent plagiarism. This happens when the language of a source is submerged in a writer’s mind and transferred accidentally to a paper. Or when an idea becomes buried in research and its source forgotten when it is unearthed in the course of writing. Or it can be as simple as overlooking a citation.
另外一個狀況不那麼罪不可赦，不過仍是相當嚴重的指控，那就是無意間的抄襲。會發生這種情形可能是某些觀念已深植作者心中，使他一時不慎寫進自己的文章；或者該想法原是眾多研究之一，只是作者在寫作過程中忘了它的出處；又或許，作者純粹只是漏了註明出處。

In other words, careless work also can bring charges of plagiarism. While less incriminating than outright theft, academic sloppiness is not a shiny credential. A serious academic writer will strictly avoid willful and accidental plagiarism by painstakingly attributing the work of others, personally committing to original research and non-adaptive thinking—and refusing to steal.
換句話說，寫作時漫不經心也會招致抄襲的指控。儘管不像直接剽竊一樣嚴重，行文馬虎的研究內容，對學術作者的聲譽依然沒有好處。嚴謹的學術論文作者會嚴以律己，引用他人作品時一絲不苟地註明清楚，致力於原創性的研究與嚴謹的思考方式，並拒絕剽竊—完全杜絕刻意或無意間的抄襲。

TPS的編輯教授在此歡迎關於學術文章的所有詢問，當然，其實他並沒有足夠的時間給你。他擁有終身教職的教授身份，也是著名的學術巨作作者。即便如此，他仍大方地接受你們的詢問。將關於學術方面的詢問寫在下方，你將獲得教授的親自指導，陶冶對學術的探索與啟發。
The professor awaits your query on academic writing, though in all honesty, he doesn’t have a lot of time for you. He is a tenured full professor and working on yet another magnificent academic tome. Even so, he has graciously consented to entertain your question. Submit it and prepare to be edified.

QUESTION: I want to be an “original thinker” and to have it reflected in my writing. Yet when I read one of my finished papers, it doesn’t seem original at all. What is the key to academic originality?
我想成為「原創思考者」，寫出有新意的文章。但是我重讀舊作時卻覺得它們盡是陳腔濫調、已過時了。什麼才是學術原創性的關鍵呢？

We are veering into philosophy. A wise man long ago wrote that it is vain to believe that an “original thought” (or concept or statement) actually is original. The irony is that the wise man wrote down his observation as if it were something new! Perhaps he believed it needed repeating. The lesson there is that original truth indeed is quite rare, but rediscovered truth also is worthy of exposition.
這個問題就涉及哲學領域了。很久以前，有個聰明人曾經寫道，認為自己的「原創思考」（或是原創概念、原創宣言等）絕具創意，其實是相當自以為是的論調。諷刺的是，這位智者仍然慎重其事地寫出自己的觀察與感想，彷彿裡頭確實有著絲毫新意！也許他認為這個看法值得重複一遍吧。但我們從中學到一件事，真正原創的想法其實相當罕見，但事實的重新探究亦具有重讀的價值。

So in your papers, strive to produce something insightful, if not revelatory. Start at the earliest of stages—during topic selection. If a subject seems to have been examined from every angle, choose another one. Or when a topic is assigned, choose a proposition least visited by previous writers, and then rigorously dig into it. Academic writers who are willing to break ground in topic selection and research are more apt to produce a paper that breaks ground in its conclusions.
若是無法寫出全新的見解，至少可以努力於文章中提出令人印象深刻的想法。努力的起點就在首要階段—選擇題目。如果主題似乎已從各個角度被探討過，那就另起爐灶、重擬一個。倘若教授指定某個主題，作者應從最少被討論過的論點出發與進行深入研究。從事學術研究的作者，越是願意打破選題與研究的窠臼與框架，越能寫出發前人之所未見的主張與結論。

Finally, strive for originality in writing the paper. Even a tired topic or thesis has some hope of redemption if it is couched in fresh language. This means banning clichés and overused phrases, and using crisp, active language containing engaging imagery and lucid description. If there is a “key” to originality, it is to cultivate personal independence in thinking and writing. Think independently. Reject copycat language. Take the initiative. Be yourself. You are an original, aren’t you?
最後，請努力在寫作時創造獨特與新意。就算主題是老生常談，只要技巧性的使用新穎、生動的語句，此文章仍擁有獨具一格的新價值。換句話說，應避免隨處可見、俯拾即是的陳腐濫調，盡量使用簡潔、主動的語詞，並且搭配引人入勝的意境與清晰的敘述。如果真有通往「原創性」的關鍵，那就是多培養個人的獨立思考與寫作風格。思考獨立，戒除盲目模仿語句；採取主動，保有自我特色。畢竟「你」才是文章中最原創的部分，不是嗎？

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。
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.

Tip 9–Creating acceptable footnotes, endnotes, references and bibliographies
技巧九：善用註腳、附註、參考文獻以及書目

The paper is written! Take a bow. A break is deserved after all the work of researching, outlining, and writing a scholarly composition. However, even though pre-writing and writing stages of the paper are complete, the post-writing phase is just beginning. Like the finishing stage of any creative work, post-writing can, through carelessness, spoil all that preceded it.
論文終於寫完了！準備好下台一鞠躬吧。經過學術寫作過程中不斷研究、確立方向、撰寫論文之後，你的確該給自己放個大假！然而，論文的前置準備與寫作階段雖然結束，最後收尾的重頭戲才正要開始。就像所有創作一樣，若瞻前不顧後、虎頭蛇尾，草率收尾的結果，將會抹煞之前所有努力。

Several final-stage tasks must be satisfactorily undertaken if a paper is to win acceptance. The first of these is the formal attribution of source material to authors and other purveyors. Full credit is given to discoverers of truth, or anyone else whose earlier work enhances a paper, through sequential annotations. These include footnotes, endnotes and bibliographies.
學術寫作的最後階段亦肩負著重要任務，撰寫得宜論文才有機會被採用。論文中必須註明所引述資料的作者資訊與來源。對過去學術成就的事實探索以及歷來具權威性的學術論點，應全數囊括於註解之中，註解的類別包括註腳、附註與書目。

Before beginning writing, a writer should have determined the format required by the assigning professor, e.g. Modern Language Association (MLA), American Psychological Association (APA), or Chicago Style. While several styles are acceptable, they differ in their details. Whichever style is assigned, a writer is expected to work consistently within its framework.
作者於正式開始寫作前，應已先確知指導教授要求的寫作格式，如MLA、APA或Chicago等等。學術界已有數種寫作格式廣為各方學者所使用，主要差別在於各個格式著重的細節不盡相同。不論指定何種格式，作者應依教授要求而保持格式一致。

Each format explains how a writer is to signal the presence of related information in a secondary location. The signaling methods vary. A notation might be parenthetical, or a subscript, or a superscript, and might direct a reader to a footnote, or an endnote. These and other variables in annotation style have to be mastered to avoid confusing a reader or frustrating a professor.
不論選用任何格式，都必須明確記錄作者引用他處的所有資訊。引用的技巧包括，使用引號、利用下標與上標、以及註明註腳或註解等等。作者應熟習不同引用格式的技巧，才能讓讀者與教授不致於感到混淆。

Bibliographical citations also are tightly structured. For example, while an endnote generally is one sentence long, a bibliographical entry often is expected to be three sentences. Furthermore, the familiar Latin abbreviation “ibid”—used to represent a citation identical to one preceding it—no longer is universally acceptable. Familiarity with usages and formats is a key to success.
書目引用方式亦有其嚴格規範。例如，註解通常僅有一句，而書目條列則往往長達三句之多。除此之外，過去常用的拉丁縮寫ibid—意思是該條資料來源與上一條完全一致—現在已不復使用。熟悉用法與格式，將是論文邁向成功的關鍵。

Tightly linking the content of a paper to cited and perused sources is a crucial task, but not a creative one. No imagination is needed. It is a mechanical overlay, a by-the-book consolidation of disparate references and sources that systematically unites the paper. An academic paper with regimented citations earns the paper authority and earns its writer legitimacy as a scholar.
論文內容與參考來源的緊密連結非常重要。這不是創意性的工作，不需發揮想像力，只需一板一眼，專注於機械式的作業過程。也就是說，只需要有系統、有組織的將所有相關書籍的參考資料與來源列示明確即可。學術論文若能善用引用資料，並嚴謹明確列示清楚，則文章將更具權威性，可望立於學者的專業學術地位。

TPS的編輯教授在此歡迎關於學術文章的所有詢問，當然，其實他並沒有足夠的時間給你。他擁有終身教職的教授身份，也是著名的學術巨作作者。即便如此，他仍大方地接受你們的詢問。將關於學術方面的詢問寫在下方，你將獲得教授的親自指導，陶冶對學術的探索與啟發。
The professor awaits your query on academic writing, though in all honesty, he doesn’t have a lot of time for you. He is a tenured full professor and working on yet another magnificent academic tome. Even so, he has graciously consented to entertain your question. Submit it and prepare to be edified.

QUESTION: In writing an argumentative essay objectively, is it acceptable to cite the opinions of unspecified experts?
撰寫客觀的議論文時，能否引用不具名的專家意見？


Let me say at the outset that writing an essay of opinion “objectively” is like whitewashing a fence with black paint. It is, to say the least, difficult. An argument is a clash of opinions. Any writer who tries to be “objective” in entering such an argument can count on losing. Argumentative writing is a subjective task. The goal is to marshal salient, favorable points of argument and to mitigate damaging, unfavorable ones.
讓我先指出一點，「客觀地」撰寫用以表達意見的文章，就像是欲用黑色油漆把籬笆塗白，若想要成功，可以預見是非常困難的。所謂的論述，就是意見的碰撞與衝突，任何人若是想以「客觀」態度撰寫議論文，獲得的結果必定會大失所望。寫作議論文是非常主觀的課題，必須強化論述中有利的重點，淡化不利或具傷害性的論點。

Can a writer accomplish this by citing “unspecified experts?” Rarely. An anonymous “expert” has little standing in an argument, so little in fact that the very term “expert” tends to be ridiculed. Even a generic “expert” whose authority is virtually unassailable in other settings (“A mother knows these things…”) lacks convincing credentials as a source in a paper. Anonymous experts are the human equivalent of hearsay evidence and should not be counted on to carry an argument.
引用「不具名的專家」 是否能達成上述的效果呢？--難上加難。無名的「專家」在論述中立場薄弱之至，甚至連稱之為「專家」都顯得不恰當。就算一般常被指稱，在一些情況下不會遭致質疑的專家（如『當媽媽的一定都知道…』），在學術論文裡的說服力也不夠。不具名專家的意見，猶如道聽塗說，不適宜引用於學術嚴謹的證明論述。


It is a matter of persuasion. Facts persuade. Facts from the mouths of identifiable authorities persuade convincingly. It is the difference between asserting that “people love cream puffs” and declaring that “9 of 10 surveyed chefs in Taipei vote cream puffs the No. 1 dessert.” The assertion can be easily dismissed as fanciful, whereas if the survey is disputed, the onus to disprove it is on the disputant. Successful authors of argumentative papers know their sources – and identify them.
問題完全出在於能否說服讀者。正確的事實有說服力，而具名的專家所提出的事實更具有舉足輕重的說服成效，其中的差別就像是「大家都喜歡泡芙」與「針對台北主廚所進行的調查結果顯示，十位主廚中有九位認為泡芙是第一名的甜點。」前者口說無憑，易被誤認為作者的無稽之談；而後者的調查結果即便遭受質疑，推翻調查也是讀者的責任。想要成功撰寫一篇議論文章，作者必須瞭解所引用的是那些材料，並且在文章裡清楚的具名與說明。

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。
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.

Tip 8–The three structural parts of a well-constructed paper
技巧八：完整文章結構三段式

Having researched a subject and obtained some mastery of the language, an academic writer can begin to write. The writer’s pre-writing activities are the foundation and the framework for the paper. Without the advance work, a paper will be rickety in its presentation and weak in its material content. No successful academic writer ever writes a paper based on shaky knowledge.
研究好論文主題，掌握好該如何運用適當語言來寫作的要領之後，作者即可準備大展身手。寫作前的準備是撰寫整篇文章的基礎與框架，少了這些工夫，文章結構將變得鬆散，內容也無法經得起學界的考驗。想成為一位傑出的學術論文作者，絕不容許光憑粗略的知識便輕易動筆。


Academic papers share a three-part structure with other conventional written media. Essentially, the paper should have a beginning, a middle, and an end, which usually are referred to as introduction, body, and conclusion. These are fundamental to any attempt at communication. Literature sometimes departs from this model, but academic literature has no such license.
學術論文與許多傳統寫作方式相似，皆主張三段式的文章結構。文章基本上可切分成三個區塊，即起頭、中間與結尾，也就是現今所通稱的前言、正文與結論三個部分。三段式結構是所有意見表達的基本形式。文學作品有時能隨意跳脫這樣的框架，但學術論文則沒有這種隨性與自由。


The introduction should accomplish two tasks: (1) Present the paper’s general subject and (2) present the writer’s distinguishing proposition or thesis on the subject. An example: Were the subject William Shakespeare, the Bard would be introduced with enough detail to fully identify his work. This would be followed by the proposition that Shakespeare was, let’s say, a fraud.
前言所肩負的兩項任務，包括：1. 提出論文大致主題方向。2. 提出對主題獨特見解或論點。舉例來說，若論文主題為莎士比亞，則應準備充足的細節資料完整帶出這位詩人的重要，以便讓讀者充分理解與認識莎士比亞的各部經典作品，接者再提出作者自己的主張，例如可以說，莎士比亞其實是個騙子。


At once, the reader knows where the paper is headed. Its longitude and latitude are yet to be revealed, but its direction is set. In the body of the paper that follows, the writer then presents the rich lode of material supporting the thesis. This main content should flow naturally from a rough outline developed during the research process, in which both mind and materials are organized.
如此，讀者便能得知文章方向，儘管還無法掌握其深度與廣度，大方向已抵定，在接下來的正文中，作者即可提出支持論點的有力佐證。正文大綱應在研究過程中已勾勒出大致方向，而作者的想法與蒐集資訊也已組織完備，正文內容便可呼之欲出，自然而然地呈現出來。


Having effectively presented in the body of the paper the researched and original material, the writer then must conclude. This is not an insignificant section of the paper. It brings together the paper’s key elements in a few sentences, giving the reader a capsule account. This summary and restatement should affirm all that went before and impart confidence in the integrity of the paper.
經過正文的撰寫，有效提出原創研究的結果之後，接著，引導作者進入撰寫結論的階段。結論的撰寫，在整篇論文的地位不容小覷，因為整篇文章的論點與論據，必須巧妙應用幾句話以完整、簡潔地說出重點，讀者也能在此掌握濃縮後的論文精華。結論必須再次闡明前述內容，有力地說服讀者支持與相信文章所述之真實性與價值。


The structure of an academic paper is progressive, yet it is circular, too. After reading the conclusion, a reader should be able to look back to the introduction and consider the paper a promise kept. While each section has a separate function, the three sections are interconnected in their purpose and conviction. An irresolute paper is a failure of scholarship and of structure.
學術論文的結構，看似逐步推展，也是前後呼應。作者應致力於在讀者閱讀完結論並再度回到前言時，依然保持前後文論述與風格一致，使文章合乎一開始讀者閱讀時的理解與期待。儘管三段式內容各有其功能，相互的目的與論證是環環相扣的。作者行文時若立場搖擺不定，所招致的瑕疵與失敗，將足以影響學術文章的重要性與結構性。