TPS年度最佳專欄/競賽 —「你投票了沒！」
2012-11-27
親愛的粉絲以及所有熱烈參加TPS活動的朋友，轉眼間又準備迎接溫馨的歲末時分了，感謝您們繼續的支持與不斷的鼓勵，TPS再度舉辦感謝活動，您只要從TPS過去這一年裡所刊登的英文競賽與學術專欄中，選出最喜歡的前二項並寫上簡單的理由/建議，我們將從參加者中隨機抽出兩名幸運兒，贈送統一超商購物禮券，價值新台幣三百元，在全省的7-11、星巴克、康士美、無印良品、mister Donut及其他多家統一企業皆可使用，讓您沈浸於英文學識探索之餘，亦可獲得豐富的額外犒賞，與三五好友一同購物與享受美食。歡迎立即點入參加頁面：www.publishedscholar.com/~PRJ_TPS/survey/survey.signup.php
Last Update at 2012-11-27 PM 12:24 | 0 Comments
This is not academic writing 學術文章不是這麼寫的
2012-11-22
並非所有與學術議題相關的文章，就能稱之為「學術文章」。本篇專欄將節錄不同學術議題的內容，分析常見的寫作錯誤，並分享潤修與寫作的技巧。
Not all articles written on academic topics are written in proper academic English. This column examines short excerpts from academic texts to illustrate common writing errors and to explain how to correct them.
Unacceptable 不被認可的文章
“The seasonal change startled and transformed the scene. A lazy and warm day that persuaded the upper-level students to go outdoors and lounge on the grass with their books and some friends was chased away when a north breeze suddenly whipped through the trees and showered the lounging students with pine needles and maple leaves. Sleeveless shirts and blouses that had bared arms were covered up by coats and light sweaters against the breeze. The impulses to lounge and to daydream also were chilled by the breeze. Sober minds quickly doffed such frivolous thoughts and resolved to finish their assignments by nightfall by a wood stove.”
This glimpse of campus life on a pivotal autumn day is marred by failure to create a continuous thread of imagery, and by word choices that frequently are weak and clichéd. The first sentence says a seasonal change “startled” the scene. The meaning of that is difficult to grasp. Some words are overused—“lounge,” for example, and “breeze.” A sentence that rather awkwardly describes clothing “that had bared arms were covered up.” A simpler, smoother description would be that the skimpier clothes “disappeared under” coats. The tenses of some words—such as “sober”—were not quite correct. All in all, the passage describes an engaging scene, but does so less artfully than it might have had the writer reflected upon it more.
本段文章描述時序即將入秋時的校園生活一景，可惜不連貫的意像以及無力的陳詞濫調卻破壞了這幅景象。第一句提到季節的變換「startled」（驚嚇）了整個場景，文意不清，且像是「lounge」及「breeze」等詞也用了太多次。描寫衣著「that had bared arms were covered up」一句顯得相當拙劣，改為過少的衣著「disappear under coats」（消失在大衣之下）會更簡潔順暢。另外「sober」等字的時態也不太正確。總而言之，如果作者能描寫得當，這段文章所描述的景象應當更加引人入勝。
Acceptable 認可的文章
The seasonal change was startling and transforming. A lazy, warm day that enticed the upper-level students outdoors to lounge on the grass with books and friends was chased away when a northern breeze suddenly cut through the trees and pelted them with needles and leaves. Sleeveless shirts and blouses disappeared under coats and light sweaters. Chilled also were the impulses to dally and daydream. Sobered minds quickly tamped down such frivolous thoughts and fired up resolve to finish their assignments by nightfall around a wood-burning stove.”
Not all articles written on academic topics are written in proper academic English. This column examines short excerpts from academic texts to illustrate common writing errors and to explain how to correct them.
Unacceptable 不被認可的文章
“The seasonal change startled and transformed the scene. A lazy and warm day that persuaded the upper-level students to go outdoors and lounge on the grass with their books and some friends was chased away when a north breeze suddenly whipped through the trees and showered the lounging students with pine needles and maple leaves. Sleeveless shirts and blouses that had bared arms were covered up by coats and light sweaters against the breeze. The impulses to lounge and to daydream also were chilled by the breeze. Sober minds quickly doffed such frivolous thoughts and resolved to finish their assignments by nightfall by a wood stove.”
This glimpse of campus life on a pivotal autumn day is marred by failure to create a continuous thread of imagery, and by word choices that frequently are weak and clichéd. The first sentence says a seasonal change “startled” the scene. The meaning of that is difficult to grasp. Some words are overused—“lounge,” for example, and “breeze.” A sentence that rather awkwardly describes clothing “that had bared arms were covered up.” A simpler, smoother description would be that the skimpier clothes “disappeared under” coats. The tenses of some words—such as “sober”—were not quite correct. All in all, the passage describes an engaging scene, but does so less artfully than it might have had the writer reflected upon it more.
本段文章描述時序即將入秋時的校園生活一景，可惜不連貫的意像以及無力的陳詞濫調卻破壞了這幅景象。第一句提到季節的變換「startled」（驚嚇）了整個場景，文意不清，且像是「lounge」及「breeze」等詞也用了太多次。描寫衣著「that had bared arms were covered up」一句顯得相當拙劣，改為過少的衣著「disappear under coats」（消失在大衣之下）會更簡潔順暢。另外「sober」等字的時態也不太正確。總而言之，如果作者能描寫得當，這段文章所描述的景象應當更加引人入勝。
Acceptable 認可的文章
The seasonal change was startling and transforming. A lazy, warm day that enticed the upper-level students outdoors to lounge on the grass with books and friends was chased away when a northern breeze suddenly cut through the trees and pelted them with needles and leaves. Sleeveless shirts and blouses disappeared under coats and light sweaters. Chilled also were the impulses to dally and daydream. Sobered minds quickly tamped down such frivolous thoughts and fired up resolve to finish their assignments by nightfall around a wood-burning stove.”
Last Update at 2012-11-23 PM 2:04 | 0 Comments
6 Essential Rules for Persuasive Writing # 3 – Be rational, not emotional 發揮寫作說服力的六大準則之三：保持理性，拒絕感性
2012-11-21
不管是自己選擇或教授指定，若要寫作論說式學術文章，必須先做好心理準備。你必須說明個人意見，選定觀點也很重要，結構與表達尤其攸關文章成敗。本專欄介紹六大關鍵準則，讓你寫作時發揮說服力，每項準則都會刊登在 TPS 粉絲專頁，並在最後集結於 TPS 學術電子報。
Whether by choice or assignment, when an argumentative academic paper is the task at hand, the writer must approach it with an appropriate mindset. Subjective values come into play. Point of view becomes important. Organization and presentation become even more critical to success. The elements of successful persuasive writing are explained in this series, “6 Essential Rules for Persuasive Writing.” Each of the rules will be presented on the TPS Fan page before being compiled.
Rule # 3 – Be rational, not emotional
準則三：保持理性，拒絕感性
Persuasive writing is neither art nor science, but it is a step beyond simple argument. Arguments typically are loud affairs with more heat than light generated on both sides. Persuasive writing eschews all that in favor of reason, logic, and concentrated communication. Nowhere in the formula is there resort to emotion. Fervor is acceptable, even passion, but the strong feelings are dispassionately structured in a way that culminates in, it is hoped, an indisputable conclusion.
撰寫論說文既不是一門藝術，也不是一門科學，這種寫作超越一般爭論。爭論通常很激烈，並且雙方最後往往難有定論。論說文的撰寫則避開這類激辯，代之以理性、邏輯，討論緊扣主旨，寫作模式也不訴諸情感。雖然可以接受熱情、甚至是激情，但會冷靜地組織、表達強烈的感受，以期歸結出不容置疑的結論。
The persuasive writer is first of all a thinker. All academic writers draw upon intellect, of course, but to really persuade, a writer calls both upon raw knowledge and informed opinion. This comes together in something called reason. To be rational—that is, to ground an argument in reason—is to assert truths while defending against untruths. A persuasive academic paper introduces a premise with sound reasoning at the same time it anticipates and rebuts counterarguments.
寫作論說文前，應當要懂得思考。當然，所有的學術作家在寫作時都需要運用自己的才識，但要真正具備說服力，就得同時利用原始知識以及基於可靠資料來源所作出的見解。綜合此兩項因素即為理性。論證要合理，亦即以理性為基礎來提出論點，作者就得擁護真理，同時抵禦不實之言。學術文章要有說服力，必須根據合理的推論提出假設，同時也能預料到反對意見並作出反駁。
Before the writing, then, comes the thinking. There can be no holes in it. Writers who lightly survey an issue or perform slipshod research are guilty of hubris. Compelling words will not persuade unless grounded in rational evidence. Without such evidence, a paper lacks intellectual standing. It is a mere popular pamphlet, rather than a treatise. Persuasive writers challenge convention. If they want others to support them, they must rationally support themselves.
因此寫作前必須先思索文章可能的漏洞，若作者對議題調查不足或研究草率，就犯了傲慢的毛病。只有以合理的證據為基礎，文字敘述才具有說服力。缺乏證據的文章在理智上會站不住腳，這樣的文章僅僅是市井小冊，而非專業論述。論說文的作者挑戰常規，如果希望獲得他人支持，自己的論點得先有理性支持。
Whether by choice or assignment, when an argumentative academic paper is the task at hand, the writer must approach it with an appropriate mindset. Subjective values come into play. Point of view becomes important. Organization and presentation become even more critical to success. The elements of successful persuasive writing are explained in this series, “6 Essential Rules for Persuasive Writing.” Each of the rules will be presented on the TPS Fan page before being compiled.
Rule # 3 – Be rational, not emotional
準則三：保持理性，拒絕感性
Persuasive writing is neither art nor science, but it is a step beyond simple argument. Arguments typically are loud affairs with more heat than light generated on both sides. Persuasive writing eschews all that in favor of reason, logic, and concentrated communication. Nowhere in the formula is there resort to emotion. Fervor is acceptable, even passion, but the strong feelings are dispassionately structured in a way that culminates in, it is hoped, an indisputable conclusion.
撰寫論說文既不是一門藝術，也不是一門科學，這種寫作超越一般爭論。爭論通常很激烈，並且雙方最後往往難有定論。論說文的撰寫則避開這類激辯，代之以理性、邏輯，討論緊扣主旨，寫作模式也不訴諸情感。雖然可以接受熱情、甚至是激情，但會冷靜地組織、表達強烈的感受，以期歸結出不容置疑的結論。
The persuasive writer is first of all a thinker. All academic writers draw upon intellect, of course, but to really persuade, a writer calls both upon raw knowledge and informed opinion. This comes together in something called reason. To be rational—that is, to ground an argument in reason—is to assert truths while defending against untruths. A persuasive academic paper introduces a premise with sound reasoning at the same time it anticipates and rebuts counterarguments.
寫作論說文前，應當要懂得思考。當然，所有的學術作家在寫作時都需要運用自己的才識，但要真正具備說服力，就得同時利用原始知識以及基於可靠資料來源所作出的見解。綜合此兩項因素即為理性。論證要合理，亦即以理性為基礎來提出論點，作者就得擁護真理，同時抵禦不實之言。學術文章要有說服力，必須根據合理的推論提出假設，同時也能預料到反對意見並作出反駁。
Before the writing, then, comes the thinking. There can be no holes in it. Writers who lightly survey an issue or perform slipshod research are guilty of hubris. Compelling words will not persuade unless grounded in rational evidence. Without such evidence, a paper lacks intellectual standing. It is a mere popular pamphlet, rather than a treatise. Persuasive writers challenge convention. If they want others to support them, they must rationally support themselves.
因此寫作前必須先思索文章可能的漏洞，若作者對議題調查不足或研究草率，就犯了傲慢的毛病。只有以合理的證據為基礎，文字敘述才具有說服力。缺乏證據的文章在理智上會站不住腳，這樣的文章僅僅是市井小冊，而非專業論述。論說文的作者挑戰常規，如果希望獲得他人支持，自己的論點得先有理性支持。
Last Update at 2012-11-23 PM 2:02 | 0 Comments
1119 TPS Punctuation Mastery Contest－Answer and Explanation你是善用標點符號的高手嗎？ 正確解答！
2012-11-20
Corrected sentence:
“What kind of a smart-aleck answer is that?” the annoyed classroom teacher asked the boy, then sat at his desk, and waited for a response. The room grew warm; the boy’s forehead glistened.
These three sentences contain six punctuation errors. The first one is a missing hyphen on the adjective form of smart aleck. The second error replaces the comma after “that” with a question mark. Another comma is needed after “boy,” and again after “desk,” because those phrases are part of a sequence—“asked,” “sat,” and “waited.” The question mark after “response” should be a period, the question mark having been properly placed at the end of the quote actually containing the question. Finally, a semi-colon is needed after “warm.” The need for the semi-colon is signaled by the lower-case “the” beginning the last sentence. Logic helps clean up work like this. For example, the impulse to form this sentence, “the boy then sat at his desk…,” clearly is wrong because “the” is not capitalized. Therefore, it can’t be a sentence-starter.
這三個句子共有六個標點符號錯誤。第一個錯誤是作形容詞用的smart aleck（自作聰明的）中間應該加上連字號；第二個錯誤則是在「that」後面應以問號取代逗點。在「boy」和「desk」後面也應該加上逗點，因為這些辭彙組成「asked」、「sat」、和「waited」這一連串的動作。文中的引用句實際上是個問句，句尾應改成問號，而「response」後面應該改為句點。最後，因為最後一句話的開頭為小寫的「the」，所以在「warm」後面應該加上分號。邏輯思考能幫助避免類似錯誤。譬如，「the boy then sat at his desk…..」這句的「the」是小寫，無法作為一個句子的開頭，所以顯然不能自成一個句子。
“What kind of a smart-aleck answer is that?” the annoyed classroom teacher asked the boy, then sat at his desk, and waited for a response. The room grew warm; the boy’s forehead glistened.
These three sentences contain six punctuation errors. The first one is a missing hyphen on the adjective form of smart aleck. The second error replaces the comma after “that” with a question mark. Another comma is needed after “boy,” and again after “desk,” because those phrases are part of a sequence—“asked,” “sat,” and “waited.” The question mark after “response” should be a period, the question mark having been properly placed at the end of the quote actually containing the question. Finally, a semi-colon is needed after “warm.” The need for the semi-colon is signaled by the lower-case “the” beginning the last sentence. Logic helps clean up work like this. For example, the impulse to form this sentence, “the boy then sat at his desk…,” clearly is wrong because “the” is not capitalized. Therefore, it can’t be a sentence-starter.
這三個句子共有六個標點符號錯誤。第一個錯誤是作形容詞用的smart aleck（自作聰明的）中間應該加上連字號；第二個錯誤則是在「that」後面應以問號取代逗點。在「boy」和「desk」後面也應該加上逗點，因為這些辭彙組成「asked」、「sat」、和「waited」這一連串的動作。文中的引用句實際上是個問句，句尾應改成問號，而「response」後面應該改為句點。最後，因為最後一句話的開頭為小寫的「the」，所以在「warm」後面應該加上分號。邏輯思考能幫助避免類似錯誤。譬如，「the boy then sat at his desk…..」這句的「the」是小寫，無法作為一個句子的開頭，所以顯然不能自成一個句子。
Last Update at 2012-11-20 AM 10:43 | 0 Comments
1119 TPS Punctuation Mastery Contest－Win Your NTD200 eslite Gift Certificate! 你是善用標點符號的高手嗎？有機會獲得200元誠品圖書商場購物禮卷！
2012-11-19
文字就像汽車，需要交通標誌與燈號才不會打結，標點符號可以釋放文字，讓字句能打動、指引、啟發讀者。以下範例可能標點符號不正確，或少了必需的標點符號。注意，句中可能不只有一個標點符號錯誤。最先改正錯誤，並寫出最佳解答的一位 TPS 粉絲，將能贏得兩百元誠品圖書商場購物禮卷。
Words, like motor vehicles, need signposts and signals to keep them from running together. Punctuation frees words to move readers, to instruct and inspire them. The following example of writing either contains inappropriate punctuation or lacks marks that are needed. Note: The example may contain more than one punctuation error. The first TPS Fan to correct the writing sample as we believe it should be corrected will win a NTD200 eslite bookstore and shopping mall Gift Certificate.
題目Contest Sentence:
“What kind of a smart aleck answer is that,” the annoyed classroom teacher asked the boy then sat at his desk and waited for a response? The room grew warm. the boy’s forehead glistened.
Words, like motor vehicles, need signposts and signals to keep them from running together. Punctuation frees words to move readers, to instruct and inspire them. The following example of writing either contains inappropriate punctuation or lacks marks that are needed. Note: The example may contain more than one punctuation error. The first TPS Fan to correct the writing sample as we believe it should be corrected will win a NTD200 eslite bookstore and shopping mall Gift Certificate.
題目Contest Sentence:
“What kind of a smart aleck answer is that,” the annoyed classroom teacher asked the boy then sat at his desk and waited for a response? The room grew warm. the boy’s forehead glistened.
Last Update at 2012-11-20 AM 10:39 | 0 Comments
What does that mean? 你真的瞭解這個慣用語嗎?
2012-11-15
很多字詞並非表面所見的意思，字詞的組合會產生不同的解釋。這樣的慣用法，我們稱之為「比喻」。一個成功的比喻，作者本身必須相當瞭解字詞的源起。以下的句子為讀者介紹一個比喻及其來源。
Imagery buries itself in language and takes on new meaning. The transplanted and transformed word or set of words is called a “figure of speech.” For a figure of speech to be effective, however, a writer must first understand the original meaning of the word or phrase. The following sentence contains a common figure of speech. Its original meaning is explained.
“The black-and-white soccer ball ricocheted off the tree and hopscotched across the lawn like the half-dozen laughing children trailing it.”
「黑白相間的足球從樹上彈開，像是後面有半打孩子笑著追趕似的跳過草坪。」
Hopscotch is a game played by children in which a small object—a wood chip, a hat, a coin—is tossed into one of several linked spaces marked out on the ground or pavement, with the child hopping space by space through the maze to eventually retrieve the object. The hopping is on one foot or two, depending on the layout. The game is appealing to children because it is energetic, requires agility, is competitive, and can be enjoyed by one player or many. The game has been around for several hundred years at least and variations of it are played worldwide.
「跳房子」是一種兒童遊戲，把像是木片、帽子或硬幣的小物件拋在地上或人行道上畫出的相連格子上，然後一格一格地跳過格子圖，撿回物品。依照格子的設計，可以單腳或是雙腳跳。這個遊戲很吸引孩童，因為遊戲活潑，需要敏捷的動作，並且極具競爭性，能讓單一或是許多玩家參與。跳房子這個遊戲已經風行了至少有數百年之久，在世界各地也流傳各種不同的玩法。
When the writer writes that the ball “hopscotched” across the lawn, he joined several themes. First, its bouncing movement mirrored the bouncing of children playing hopscotch. Second, the word is almost solely used in a light-hearted way, which is the province of children. Third, the writer was able to tie together the ball and the children by indicating both of them were hopscotching, the ball from physics, the children from merriment. A weaker sentence would have said the ball bounded, or retreated, or something else less universally child-oriented.
提到足球「hopscotched」（跳過）草坪時，作者聯結了幾個主題。首先，足球彈跳的動作反映了孩童跳房子的意象。再者，這個詞也表現出輕鬆愉快的感覺，就如同孩童玩樂時展現出來的快樂喜悅。第三，作者將球和孩子的意象結合，暗示他們都像是在跳房子一樣，只不過球的彈跳是物理現象，而孩子跳房子則是歡樂嬉戲。普通的句子只會說球彈起、球彈回來，或是用一些大致上和孩子無關的詞語來形容。
Imagery buries itself in language and takes on new meaning. The transplanted and transformed word or set of words is called a “figure of speech.” For a figure of speech to be effective, however, a writer must first understand the original meaning of the word or phrase. The following sentence contains a common figure of speech. Its original meaning is explained.
“The black-and-white soccer ball ricocheted off the tree and hopscotched across the lawn like the half-dozen laughing children trailing it.”
「黑白相間的足球從樹上彈開，像是後面有半打孩子笑著追趕似的跳過草坪。」
Hopscotch is a game played by children in which a small object—a wood chip, a hat, a coin—is tossed into one of several linked spaces marked out on the ground or pavement, with the child hopping space by space through the maze to eventually retrieve the object. The hopping is on one foot or two, depending on the layout. The game is appealing to children because it is energetic, requires agility, is competitive, and can be enjoyed by one player or many. The game has been around for several hundred years at least and variations of it are played worldwide.
「跳房子」是一種兒童遊戲，把像是木片、帽子或硬幣的小物件拋在地上或人行道上畫出的相連格子上，然後一格一格地跳過格子圖，撿回物品。依照格子的設計，可以單腳或是雙腳跳。這個遊戲很吸引孩童，因為遊戲活潑，需要敏捷的動作，並且極具競爭性，能讓單一或是許多玩家參與。跳房子這個遊戲已經風行了至少有數百年之久，在世界各地也流傳各種不同的玩法。
When the writer writes that the ball “hopscotched” across the lawn, he joined several themes. First, its bouncing movement mirrored the bouncing of children playing hopscotch. Second, the word is almost solely used in a light-hearted way, which is the province of children. Third, the writer was able to tie together the ball and the children by indicating both of them were hopscotching, the ball from physics, the children from merriment. A weaker sentence would have said the ball bounded, or retreated, or something else less universally child-oriented.
提到足球「hopscotched」（跳過）草坪時，作者聯結了幾個主題。首先，足球彈跳的動作反映了孩童跳房子的意象。再者，這個詞也表現出輕鬆愉快的感覺，就如同孩童玩樂時展現出來的快樂喜悅。第三，作者將球和孩子的意象結合，暗示他們都像是在跳房子一樣，只不過球的彈跳是物理現象，而孩子跳房子則是歡樂嬉戲。普通的句子只會說球彈起、球彈回來，或是用一些大致上和孩子無關的詞語來形容。
Last Update at 2012-11-16 PM 12:53 | 0 Comments
Professor Pedantic 教授的考究學問
2012-11-14
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 generally communicate well in other areas of writing and speaking, but I am having trouble correctly employing academic terminology and structure. How do I adapt my writing skills to the academic model?
我在一般寫作和說話上，溝通都沒什麼問題，唯獨在學術上使用術語和結構不太正確。我要怎麼在學術領域發揮自己的寫作技巧呢？
Academic writing and informal or popular writing indeed are different styles of communication. The good news is that if you are proficient in one area, you can learn to be proficient in the other. The skills are the same. Only their application differs. When you say you struggle with the “terminology and structure” of academic communication, do you mean the jargon specific to an academic discipline and the format for expressing it? Or are you having difficulty with the overall guiding principles of academic expression? Perhaps it is both. I will try to address them.
學術寫作的風格確實和日常或大眾寫作不同，不過如果你精通其中一種，嫻熟另一種寫作也不難，兩者所需技巧相同，只是應用方法有別。你提到使用學術上的「術語和結構」有困難，是指不熟悉某個學門的行話或表達形式嗎？還是對學術寫作的整體原則不熟悉？或許兩者兼有之？以下我會盡量討論這些問題。
Jargon—or specialized language—can add to a paper’s precision at the same time it reduces word count. But if jargon hinders communication of an idea or deadens expression, it should be replaced by more commonplace terminology. Some preening authors forget this and seemingly are proud of the density and unreadability of their academic papers. Don’t follow their example. In respect to structure, remember one word: flow. A focused start should flow, paragraph by paragraph, into an enlightening body, and then a refocused ending. Flow. It’s really that simple.
行話，也就是專門用語，可以讓文章表達更精簡，但如果妨礙表達或使語言無味，就應該改成較常見的用語。有些自戀的作者忘了這點，似乎以自己的學術文章晦澀難讀為傲。這不是好榜樣。關於結構，要切記一點：流暢。開頭要重點清晰，接著每段要流暢銜接，構成發人省思的主文，最後重申重點，流暢引出結尾。流暢很重要，就是這麼簡單。
To summarize the principles behind effective scholarly writing, a listing of words and phrases might help. Strive for the following elements: A core thesis. A logical flow of ideas. Intellectual vigor. Neutral, authoritative language. Concise and clear expression. Informed opinion. Thorough citation. In short, a scholarly writer employs critical thinking and precise expression. Non-academic writing, by comparison, is imprecise and spontaneous. While spontaneity is liberating, knowing the logic behind structured writing can free up a good academic writer.
有幾段話可以歸納出良好學術寫作背後的準則，那就是努力做到：要有核心論點、概念邏輯流暢、思考有活力、遣詞中立而可信、表達簡潔清晰、論證根據充分、標註引用詳實。簡言之，寫作學術文章必須運用批判思考與精確表達，相較之下，非學術文章就比較鬆散而隨興。隨興寫作儘管可以自由發揮，但若能了解條理清晰文章的背後邏輯，就能放手寫出更好的學術文章。
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 generally communicate well in other areas of writing and speaking, but I am having trouble correctly employing academic terminology and structure. How do I adapt my writing skills to the academic model?
我在一般寫作和說話上，溝通都沒什麼問題，唯獨在學術上使用術語和結構不太正確。我要怎麼在學術領域發揮自己的寫作技巧呢？
Academic writing and informal or popular writing indeed are different styles of communication. The good news is that if you are proficient in one area, you can learn to be proficient in the other. The skills are the same. Only their application differs. When you say you struggle with the “terminology and structure” of academic communication, do you mean the jargon specific to an academic discipline and the format for expressing it? Or are you having difficulty with the overall guiding principles of academic expression? Perhaps it is both. I will try to address them.
學術寫作的風格確實和日常或大眾寫作不同，不過如果你精通其中一種，嫻熟另一種寫作也不難，兩者所需技巧相同，只是應用方法有別。你提到使用學術上的「術語和結構」有困難，是指不熟悉某個學門的行話或表達形式嗎？還是對學術寫作的整體原則不熟悉？或許兩者兼有之？以下我會盡量討論這些問題。
Jargon—or specialized language—can add to a paper’s precision at the same time it reduces word count. But if jargon hinders communication of an idea or deadens expression, it should be replaced by more commonplace terminology. Some preening authors forget this and seemingly are proud of the density and unreadability of their academic papers. Don’t follow their example. In respect to structure, remember one word: flow. A focused start should flow, paragraph by paragraph, into an enlightening body, and then a refocused ending. Flow. It’s really that simple.
行話，也就是專門用語，可以讓文章表達更精簡，但如果妨礙表達或使語言無味，就應該改成較常見的用語。有些自戀的作者忘了這點，似乎以自己的學術文章晦澀難讀為傲。這不是好榜樣。關於結構，要切記一點：流暢。開頭要重點清晰，接著每段要流暢銜接，構成發人省思的主文，最後重申重點，流暢引出結尾。流暢很重要，就是這麼簡單。
To summarize the principles behind effective scholarly writing, a listing of words and phrases might help. Strive for the following elements: A core thesis. A logical flow of ideas. Intellectual vigor. Neutral, authoritative language. Concise and clear expression. Informed opinion. Thorough citation. In short, a scholarly writer employs critical thinking and precise expression. Non-academic writing, by comparison, is imprecise and spontaneous. While spontaneity is liberating, knowing the logic behind structured writing can free up a good academic writer.
有幾段話可以歸納出良好學術寫作背後的準則，那就是努力做到：要有核心論點、概念邏輯流暢、思考有活力、遣詞中立而可信、表達簡潔清晰、論證根據充分、標註引用詳實。簡言之，寫作學術文章必須運用批判思考與精確表達，相較之下，非學術文章就比較鬆散而隨興。隨興寫作儘管可以自由發揮，但若能了解條理清晰文章的背後邏輯，就能放手寫出更好的學術文章。
Last Update at 2012-11-16 PM 12:50 | 0 Comments
1112 TPS One Word Away From Confusion Contest－Answer and Explanation你能找出混淆字嗎? 正確解答!
2012-11-13
Correct best answer: Replace “loosing” with “losing.”
“With the leaves slowly losing their chlorophyll and the green of summer succumbing to autumn, the leaves’ yellow and orange emerged to brighten the forest.”
This happens frequently because the words are confusingly similar in meaning and spelling. Yet they are not interchangeable. The primary definition of “loosing” is to be not securely attached, which is akin to the more often-used “loosening.” Only the secondary definition of “loosing” matches that of “losing,” which means to suffer loss. A leaf loses its color—it turns brown or yellow. The pigment is not just suspended, that is, loosed (loosened), to return again in leaves fallen to the ground in winter. This writing error happens from sloppy typing or inadequate proofing—but sometimes from misunderstanding the different primary meanings of the words. Primary definitions usually are preferable because they are more generally in use.
這類錯誤常發生在詞彙的意思和拼法相近、容易混淆，但不能混用的時候。「Loosing」最主要的意思是「鬆動」，意思接近「loosening」一詞，不過 loosening 比較常用。「Loosing」的第二個意思「失去」才接近「losing」的意思。葉子變棕或變黃時，其色素不僅是暫時消失或「鬆動」(loosed or loosened)，而是就此「失去」(lose)。色素不會重新出現在冬天的落葉上。這種錯誤可能來自打字不小心或校對不仔細，有時也可能源於誤解了詞彙的主要意義。主要意義比較常用，選詞時應該優先考慮。
“With the leaves slowly losing their chlorophyll and the green of summer succumbing to autumn, the leaves’ yellow and orange emerged to brighten the forest.”
This happens frequently because the words are confusingly similar in meaning and spelling. Yet they are not interchangeable. The primary definition of “loosing” is to be not securely attached, which is akin to the more often-used “loosening.” Only the secondary definition of “loosing” matches that of “losing,” which means to suffer loss. A leaf loses its color—it turns brown or yellow. The pigment is not just suspended, that is, loosed (loosened), to return again in leaves fallen to the ground in winter. This writing error happens from sloppy typing or inadequate proofing—but sometimes from misunderstanding the different primary meanings of the words. Primary definitions usually are preferable because they are more generally in use.
這類錯誤常發生在詞彙的意思和拼法相近、容易混淆，但不能混用的時候。「Loosing」最主要的意思是「鬆動」，意思接近「loosening」一詞，不過 loosening 比較常用。「Loosing」的第二個意思「失去」才接近「losing」的意思。葉子變棕或變黃時，其色素不僅是暫時消失或「鬆動」(loosed or loosened)，而是就此「失去」(lose)。色素不會重新出現在冬天的落葉上。這種錯誤可能來自打字不小心或校對不仔細，有時也可能源於誤解了詞彙的主要意義。主要意義比較常用，選詞時應該優先考慮。
Last Update at 2012-11-13 AM 11:24 | 0 Comments
1112 TPS One Word Away From Confusion Contest－Win Your NTD200 7-11/Starbucks Prize! 你能找出混淆字嗎? 有機會獲得200元7-11/星巴克咖啡禮券!
2012-11-12
撰寫學術文章時，每字每句都需要謹慎著墨。改變幾個字就會使完整的一句話變得令人摸不著頭緒。下列的句子中，為使這句話能完整且有意義的表達，請選出你認為會令人感到困惑的字，我們將提供7-11/星巴克咖啡NTD200元禮券，給予挑出混淆字，並寫出最佳替代字的第1位粉絲，最適的解答與獲獎的粉絲姓名，將於明天公佈於本TPS的專頁。請將你的答案寫在下方，獲得免費購物禮券的幸運兒可能就是你哦!
Every word is important in a well-written academic paper. Changing just a word or two can turn a clear sentence into a confusing one. Tell us what word you would change in the following puzzling sentence to render it more meaningful. The first best answer will receive a NTD200 7-11/Starbucks Gift Certificate.
題目Contest Sentence:
“With the leaves slowly loosing their chlorophyll and the green of summer succumbing to autumn, the leaves’ yellow and orange emerged to brighten the forest.”
Every word is important in a well-written academic paper. Changing just a word or two can turn a clear sentence into a confusing one. Tell us what word you would change in the following puzzling sentence to render it more meaningful. The first best answer will receive a NTD200 7-11/Starbucks Gift Certificate.
題目Contest Sentence:
“With the leaves slowly loosing their chlorophyll and the green of summer succumbing to autumn, the leaves’ yellow and orange emerged to brighten the forest.”
Last Update at 2012-11-13 AM 11:22 | 0 Comments
This is not academic writing 學術文章不是這麼寫的
2012-11-08
並非所有與學術議題相關的文章，就能稱之為「學術文章」。本篇專欄將節錄不同學術議題的內容，分析常見的寫作錯誤，並分享潤修與寫作的技巧。
Not all articles written on academic topics are written in proper academic English. This column examines short excerpts from academic texts to illustrate common writing errors and to explain how to correct them.
Unacceptable 不被認可的文章
“The biochemist felt like a popular celebrity. She was awkwardly asked for autographs by her peers and assistants, who should know better. She was greeted with wild applause whenever she entered any room. She was granted the authority that she had sought unsuccessfully for years to explore new ideas wherever she found them. These were the perquisites of her success in the volatile world of venture research with all its ups and downs. It is a place where science meets a commercial market and simply applying a clinical procedure can produce a wildly popular commercial product. But she was not charmed by the abrupt attention. She realized that she should use it to move ahead toward her secret professional goals.”
This writer addresses an interesting subject: how private research can culminate in public acclaim. It explores some of the dynamics of popularity. However, the writer clutters the writing with extra words and unneeded phrases. For example, a “popular celebrity” is mostly a redundant expression, though it is possible for a celebrity to be unpopular. She experiences “wild” applause, as opposed to tame applause. She had wanted to explore ideas “wherever she found them,” as opposed to them finding her, perhaps. The sentence that begins, “It is a place…” lacks parallel construction and is wordy. The writer also chose not to combine some sentences using commas, thus dragging the reader through additional words. Minutes taken to review, cull, and rewrite a passage generally produce a better piece of writing.
本文討論的主題很有趣，說明私人研究如何獲得公眾注目，並探討了一些名氣的作用。然而文中堆砌了太多詞句，例如「popular celebrity」（受歡迎的名人）這句基本上有點多餘，名人怎麼會不受歡迎呢？文中又說科學家獲得「wild」（狂野）的掌聲，掌聲應該沒有溫馴的吧？科學家又想探討「wherever she found them」的想法，難道想法會自己去找科學家？以「It is a place…」開頭的句子缺乏平行結構，顯得冗贅。另外有些句子未以逗號連接，也顯得冗長。花個幾分鐘檢查、刪減、修飾文章，往往能獲得更好的作品。
Acceptable 認可的文章
“The biochemist felt like a celebrity. She was awkwardly asked for autographs by peers and assistants, greeted with applause whenever she entered a room, and granted the leeway she had been denied for years to explore new ideas. These were the perks of success in the volatile world of venture research, where science meets a market and application of a clinical procedure can produce a popular commercial product. She was not charmed by the sudden attention, but realized that she should use it to advance her undisclosed professional goals.”
Not all articles written on academic topics are written in proper academic English. This column examines short excerpts from academic texts to illustrate common writing errors and to explain how to correct them.
Unacceptable 不被認可的文章
“The biochemist felt like a popular celebrity. She was awkwardly asked for autographs by her peers and assistants, who should know better. She was greeted with wild applause whenever she entered any room. She was granted the authority that she had sought unsuccessfully for years to explore new ideas wherever she found them. These were the perquisites of her success in the volatile world of venture research with all its ups and downs. It is a place where science meets a commercial market and simply applying a clinical procedure can produce a wildly popular commercial product. But she was not charmed by the abrupt attention. She realized that she should use it to move ahead toward her secret professional goals.”
This writer addresses an interesting subject: how private research can culminate in public acclaim. It explores some of the dynamics of popularity. However, the writer clutters the writing with extra words and unneeded phrases. For example, a “popular celebrity” is mostly a redundant expression, though it is possible for a celebrity to be unpopular. She experiences “wild” applause, as opposed to tame applause. She had wanted to explore ideas “wherever she found them,” as opposed to them finding her, perhaps. The sentence that begins, “It is a place…” lacks parallel construction and is wordy. The writer also chose not to combine some sentences using commas, thus dragging the reader through additional words. Minutes taken to review, cull, and rewrite a passage generally produce a better piece of writing.
本文討論的主題很有趣，說明私人研究如何獲得公眾注目，並探討了一些名氣的作用。然而文中堆砌了太多詞句，例如「popular celebrity」（受歡迎的名人）這句基本上有點多餘，名人怎麼會不受歡迎呢？文中又說科學家獲得「wild」（狂野）的掌聲，掌聲應該沒有溫馴的吧？科學家又想探討「wherever she found them」的想法，難道想法會自己去找科學家？以「It is a place…」開頭的句子缺乏平行結構，顯得冗贅。另外有些句子未以逗號連接，也顯得冗長。花個幾分鐘檢查、刪減、修飾文章，往往能獲得更好的作品。
Acceptable 認可的文章
“The biochemist felt like a celebrity. She was awkwardly asked for autographs by peers and assistants, greeted with applause whenever she entered a room, and granted the leeway she had been denied for years to explore new ideas. These were the perks of success in the volatile world of venture research, where science meets a market and application of a clinical procedure can produce a popular commercial product. She was not charmed by the sudden attention, but realized that she should use it to advance her undisclosed professional goals.”
Last Update at 2012-11-09 PM 12:48 | 0 Comments
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