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No formula exists for the writing of a superior sentence, but this much is known: The best sentence has no weak part. The following sentence is incomplete. In 5 or fewer words, complete the sentence in a way that strengthens the whole of it. The first TPS Fan to complete the sentence as we believe it is best completed will win a NTD200 7-11 / Starbucks Gift Certificate. Another Starbucks certificate will be awarded to the first Fan to complete it in an alternate way that, in our estimation, also is effective. The explanation and the names of the winners will be published tomorrow on this TPS Fans page.
怎麼寫出好句子沒有標準答案，不過起碼我們知道，優秀的句子每個環節都很完美。下面有一句未完成的句子，請用五個字以內完成句子接龍，寫出完整的句子。最先完成句子，並寫出最佳解答的一位TPS 粉絲，將獲得兩百元7-11／星巴克禮券；另增設特別獎一名，頒給符合文意又別具創意的粉絲。接龍解答與獲獎粉絲姓名將在明天公布於本 TPS 專頁，敬請密切鎖定、先睹為快！

題目Contest Sentence:

“Jean Piaget’s analysis of the cognitive development of children startled his esteemed colleagues in the same way a __ __ __ __ __.”

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. In this "This is not academic writing" column we examine short excerpts from academic texts to illustrate common writing errors and explain how to correct them.

Unacceptable 不被認可的文章

“The group of gorillas was made up of an old silverback, two blackback males, five women gorillas, and four little gorillas. The harmony of the little group was dependent upon the strength and dominion of the silverback. How he got along with the females was a big key to the troop’s unity. So long as the blackbacks paid their dues to the silverback, the troop functioned pretty well as an integrated family, community, and economy. It probably would continue to do so until the silverback died; that’s when the females would look for a new group and a new leader.”

This writer slips in and out of compliance with academic writing standards in the paragraph on gorillas. He writes lazily to some degree—redundantly calling a silverback “old,” calling female gorillas “women,” and referring to young gorillas as “little,” for instance. He incorrectly uses dominion, instead of dominance. It is a stretch to call a family an “economy,” though it is an economic unit. The writer goes colloquial with “paid their dues,” and drops in a contraction, “that’s.” What other evidence do you see that this draft shouldn’t be the final one?
本文談論大猩猩，寫作方面與學術標準時有出入，有點漫不經心，例如多此一舉地用 old 來形容 silverback（12 歲以上的大猩猩），稱雌猩猩 (female gorillas) 為 “women gorillas”，稱年幼的猩猩為 “little gorillas”，並把dominance 誤寫成 dominion。此外，儘管大猩猩家族確實會一起覓食謀生，稱之為 “economy”（經濟體）卻有點誇大了。部分用法也較口語，例如 “paid their dues”（苦熬），用縮寫 “that’s”。這篇文章只有草稿的水準，還稱不上定稿，你舉得出其他例子嗎？

Acceptable 認可的文章

“The troop of gorillas was comprised of an aging silverback, two blackbacks (or younger males), five females, and four offspring. The harmony of the group depended upon the strength and dominance of the silverback; his relationship with the females was the key to the troop’s unity. So long as the blackbacks remained subservient to the silverback, the troop functioned well as an integrated family, community, and subsistence unit. It would continue to do so, in all likelihood, till the silverback died, at which point the females would look for a new leader.”

投稿學術期刊若不僅能獲得進步的動力，甚至還能發展為個人嗜好，就能讓學者在學術生涯提早創造高峰。發表文章不只是需求，更該是一種渴望。如果您缺乏投稿動力，或不確定自己是否該投稿，接下來的新專欄可讓您重振精力，蓄勢待發。本專欄將詳細介紹發表論文的五大效益，讓您重拾寫作動力，拓展自身實力。Scholars reach a point early in their careers when publication of their scholarly work becomes not only a key to advancement but a personal desire. The impulse to seek publication moves from need to want. For those not yet motivated to publish or who might be second-guessing a decision to do so, the following series might help refocus their energies. Each of the 5 benefits will be presented and explained on the TPS Fan page before being compiled as a series.

Benefit # 2 – Peer recognition is expanded
效益二：增進同儕認可

A scholar being published in an academic journal is like a pebble being tossed into a pool of water. An initial splash of publicity is followed by ripples of influence that can radiate for long distances. This can be explained in one word: respect. Academic journals are peer-reviewed publications, meaning that inclusion of an article in a journal certifies that it has been reviewed by professionals of the same discipline and found worthy of professional consideration.
文章獲得學術期刊發表，就像小石子投入池塘中，剛發表時會激起一陣水花，之後還會造成一圈圈影響力無遠弗屆的漣漪，總合成一個詞，就是會獲得「敬重」。學術文章由學術同儕審核，論文刊登在期刊上，表示通過同一學門的專家審核，證明文章值得專家重視。

It is these “referees” who are the first challenge—or opportunity—for a scholar. They are given the responsibility to determine the seriousness of a submitted paper, thereby concluding if it is worthy of publication. While peer reviews vary in purpose, all reviewers look for evidence that a paper meets a discipline’s accepted standards, and that its conclusions are supported by evidence. A tangential, unsubstantiated, poorly written piece of opinion hasn’t got a chance.
學者首先面臨的挑戰，同時也是最初的機會，來自學術文章的「鑑定人」。這些鑑定人有責任決定來稿內容是否認真創作、重要，值得發表。同儕審查儘管目的相異，但所有審查人都會裁量論文是否符合該學門的公認標準，結論是否確有根據。若討論只是浮光掠影、寫作拙劣貧乏，自然無法獲得期刊登載。

When a scholar clears the referee hurdle and eventually has a paper published, his influence begins to ripple outward among his community of peers. While they may not know the author of the published piece, they trust the publication’s review process. Its endorsement of the paper as a meaningful contribution to the discipline is a good enough reason to read it. Thus are doors opened and networks established for the published scholar, rewards that justify the extra effort.
學者過了鑑定人這道關卡，終於躋身期刊發表人之林後，影響力就能在學術圈內逐漸擴散。其他同儕也許並不認識論文作者，但信賴期刊的審核過程，既然期刊為這篇文章背書，肯定文章對該學門的貢獻，就值得讀上一讀了。於是機會之門敞開，人脈也建立起來，學者辛苦耕耘，終於有了收穫。

Correct best answer: Replace “revolve” with “resolve.”

“X-ray in one hand and coffee cup in the other, the neurological researcher paced round and round the light table with new determination to resolve the mystery.”

The original sentence is doubly confusing because the errant word, “revolve,” seems to agree with the described action, the neurologist pacing “round and round” the table. That is coincidence and sometimes such happenstance can help to unhinge a sentence. Sometimes, in fact, a phrase written earlier in a sentence can distract a tired writer enough to cause him to write in agreement with his distraction. Obviously, this doctor is in search of a resolution, not a revolution. To avoid such thoroughly confusing mistakes is the task of a paper’s proofreader.
原句令人相當不解，是因為用了別字 “revolve”（打轉），句子前半描述神經學家繞著桌子 “round and round”（一圈圈地打轉），此字似乎和這個動作配合一致。這是個巧合，這種巧合有時卻會打亂句子。有時候作者寫累了，會受到句子前半部份影響，分神寫岔了後半的句子。很顯然，句中神經學家要找的是解答 (resolution)，而不是改革 (revolution)。要徹底避免這類令人困擾的錯誤，就有勞審校的功夫了。

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:
“X-ray in one hand and coffee cup in the other, the neurological researcher paced round and round the light table with new determination to revolve the mystery.”

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 sets of words are called “figures of speech.” For a figure of speech to be effective, however, a writer must first understand the original meaning of the phrase. The following sentence contains a common figure of speech. Its original meaning is explained.

“The chiropractor gently prodded upward along the center of the man’s back till she reached a misshapen vertebra that caused a chill to run down her spine.”
「脊柱按摩師循著男子的脊背輕輕向上推，觸及一塊變形的脊椎時，她的脊椎一陣發冷。」

A “chill” in its original meaning refers to a feeling of coldness, an abrupt sensation that seems to surprise the senses. An outside door opened on a blustery winter day causes us to feel a chill that raises goose bumps on our arms and causes us to shiver involuntarily. It is not generally an enduring condition; if we are chilled for any length of time, we are said to be cold. Being chilled also generally is a disagreeable feeling; when a drop in temperature is felt to be pleasurable, we are said to be cooled. Cool, chill, cold, and frozen are somewhat different sensory experiences.
“Chill”（發冷）原指一股突如其來的寒意。狂風大作時若外門敞開，會讓人一陣發冷，手臂起雞皮疙瘩，不由自主地打冷顫。這股感覺通常不會持續很久，否則我們會覺得「寒冷」。發冷通常也是不舒服的感覺，若溫度下降讓人感覺舒適，我們會覺得「涼爽」。涼爽、發冷、寒冷、冰冷這幾種感覺有點不同。

When the chiropractor felt a “chill” run along her spine, her body was not reacting to a drop in temperature. Rather, she had discovered a physical condition in her patient that startled her and brought her a flush of anxiety. A chill in this popular usage originates internally, in the brain, rather than externally. A natural response to such low-key shock is an interrupted breathing pattern and, perhaps, a nervous shudder. That the anxious jolt was described as a “chill” that ran down her spine is, of course, a cliché, but a usefully ironic one, because another spine caused it.
脊柱按摩師感覺脊椎一陣發冷，並非因為溫度降低，而是發現患者的身體有問題，嚇了一跳，引發一陣焦慮。在此發冷不是因為外在因素，而是來自體內，源自大腦，這種形容方式很常見。發冷是種微微吃驚的感覺，通常會造成呼吸不穩，也可能讓人緊張得發抖。以「她的脊椎一陣發冷」形容突來的焦慮，這種形容確實屢見不鮮，但由於這股寒意是由另一條脊椎引起，所以頗有諷刺效果。

Dear TPS Fans,

We are revived from our work-free holiday and are preparing more features for your edification. Look here tomorrow for the fruit of our labor.


TPS Team

Dear TPS Fans,

We are going to take a break from work and what better reason than to recognize Labor Day. We hope you, too, will enjoy a labor-free moment or two. You deserve it.

We’ll be back Wednesday, May 2, ready to go to work. See you then.


TPS Staff

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. In this "This is not academic writing" column we examine short excerpts from academic texts to illustrate common writing errors and explain how to correct them.

Unacceptable 不被認可的文章

“Great Chinese pen and oil artists have, from time immemorial, displayed good understanding of nature and natural forms, including all kinds of animals. Sometimes their art told haunting stories; sometimes an art piece was a wondrous and beautiful vignette of nature. Among many examples of this were many of Hsu Hsi’s artful nature reproductions. On the other hand, Chin T’ingpiao’s art seemed to be a narrative, combining nature and human bodies in a retelling of a great moment in history. The sensibility of the artists was awesome, and their brushes and pencils created super art.”

This snippet of analysis of Chinese artistry, as written above, is weakened by sweeping language and lapses into glib, conversational word choices. The very first word, “great,” is questionable because it excludes so many other artists. “Time immemorial” is a cliché. What exactly is “good” understanding? How much art work actually conveys “haunting” stories? Not enough to mention, I suspect. What is a “great” moment in history? And the last sentence employs both “awesome” and “super” and how neat is that! All in all, a poor effort.
以上這段短文分析中國的藝術，缺點在用字太過籠統，而且流於敷衍隨便。首先，第一個字 “great” 就有問題，這讓討論排除了其他很多藝術家。“Time immemorial”（遠古時代）是陳詞濫調了，而 “good understanding”（非常了解）究竟有多了解？多少作品真的傳達了 “haunting”（令人難忘）的故事？恐怕不多吧。史上 “great”（偉大）的時刻是指什麼？最後一句又用了 “awesome”（了不起）與 “super”（出色）兩個字，未免太馬虎了！總而言之，這段文章就是寫作不用心。

Acceptable 認可的文章

“Chinese pen and oil artists have, from the earliest dynastic periods, displayed a delicate understanding of nature and natural forms, including animal life. Sometimes the silken art told stories; more often an art piece was a brilliantly isolated and captured vignette of nature. Among examples of this were many of Hsu Hsi’s colorful nature drawings, whereas Chin T’ingpiao’s art was apt to have a narrative quality, combining natural scenes and human figures in a retelling of history. In all cases, the artists’ sensibility greatly enhanced what brush and pencil rendered.”

投稿學術期刊若不僅能獲得進步的動力，甚至還能發展為個人嗜好，就能讓學者在學術生涯提早創造高峰。發表文章不只是需求，更該是一種渴望。如果您缺乏投稿動力，或不確定自己是否該投稿，接下來的新專欄可讓您重振精力，蓄勢待發。本專欄將詳細介紹發表論文的五大效益，讓您重拾寫作動力，拓展自身實力。Scholars reach a point early in their careers when publication of their scholarly work becomes not only a key to advancement but a personal desire. The impulse to seek publication moves from need to want. For those not yet motivated to publish or who might be second-guessing a decision to do so, the following series might help refocus their energies. Each of the 5 benefits will be presented and explained on the TPS Fan page before being compiled as a series.

Benefit # 1 – Skills and capacity are developed
效益一：發展技巧與能力

Being a scholar does not necessarily mean one is able to produce a journal-worthy paper. Thinking profoundly, and profoundly expressing the fruits of one’s thinking are two different skills. Just as logic and analysis can be honed by practice, writing clearly and persuasively comes from learning and doing. To have one’s work published in an academic journal demands that a subject not only be comprehensively researched but also effectively and adroitly communicated.
並非每位學者都能寫出可以刊登在期刊的論文。能深刻地思考，與能寫出深刻的文章、展現思考的成果，是兩種不同的能力。就像邏輯和分析可以經由練習鍛鍊，寫作顯然也可以透過學習與實踐精進。要在學術期刊上發表文章，不僅要徹底研究主題，還必須能巧妙而有效地傳達。

So, the first benefit of being published in a journal is that the author of a piece has pushed himself to do his best work. Shallow treatment of an original topic or significant derivative will not be accepted by a journal’s publication committee, who can spot a scholar out of his depth. A journal’s gatekeepers might not be able to define excellence in subject and treatment, but they know it when they see it. A scholar must push himself to deliver identifiably superior work.
所以，投稿期刊的第一項效益，就是可以督促自己精益求精。題目有獨創性但研究膚淺，或研究明顯離題，是無法讓期刊的發表委員接受的。發表委員為期刊把關，可以看出學者是否有深度；在選題或研究上，他們自己或許不是那麼技巧精湛，但卻對此很有鑑賞力。學者必須督促自己提出優秀的研究成果，展現成果出色之處。

Of course, it is an implied insult to suggest that a scholar has an elastic work ethic and that he only stretches himself in high-profile assignments such as writing for publication. The fact remains, some professional thresholds are higher than others. A scholar wishing to cross over into the realm of his published peers must call upon all of his faculties, experience, and writing capacity to turn research and reflection into a document deemed revelatory and important.
當然，這不表示學者研究時可以有不同的標準，只有在投稿發表等重要工作上才全力以赴。然而，某些工作的專業門檻確實比其他工作高，若想加入其他發表學者的行列，就必須盡力運用自己的能力、經驗與寫作技巧，將研究與省思的成果，寫成具有啟發性的重要文章。