Chinese New Year hoildays notice 給TPS粉絲的假期通知!
2012-01-20
Dear TPS Fans,
We will take a long (and we like to think, deserved) break this month, January 21-29. Like you, we will be celebrating the Chinese New Year holiday. Look for us back on January 30 in the Year of the Dragon, when we will rejoin you in pursuit of language success. See you then!
TPS Staff
We will take a long (and we like to think, deserved) break this month, January 21-29. Like you, we will be celebrating the Chinese New Year holiday. Look for us back on January 30 in the Year of the Dragon, when we will rejoin you in pursuit of language success. See you then!
TPS Staff
Last Update at 2012-01-30 AM 10:20 | 0 Comments
This is not academic writing 學術文章不是這麼寫的
2012-01-19
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 linguistic academic community revolves round the utter practicality of its work. Because language is central to life, the exploration and teaching of it is a life-enhancing activity. The breaking down of words, phrases, and entire texts into component parts is pretty much like the work of engineers, who take apart a machine to understand its workings before trying to improve it. In the same way do linguists systematically explore expression, linking together the hardware of language (words) with software (meaning) to produce an unparalleled communication media.”
This writing is marred by a few poor choices, but is not a generally poor example of scholarly writing. For example, the writer used the diminutive “round,” instead of “around” in the first sentence when the latter would have read more smoothly; the cadence of a sentence is important. Also, to say language is “central to life” overstates its importance. It is sufficient to characterize language as essential. In the third sentence, “parsing” would have been perfect usage instead of the descriptive but clunky “breaking down.” The most egregious failure was the errant use of the plural “media” instead of “medium.” What other weaknesses do you see?
這段文章有幾個失誤攪局，不過就學術寫作而言整體不算很差勁。首先，第一句中，作者以較短的 “round” 取代 “around”，但 “around” 唸起來會比較順口，別忘了句子的抑揚頓挫很重要。另外，形容語言 “central to life”（是生活中心）有點言過其實，只要說生活中少不了語言就足夠了。第三句以 “breaking down” 來形容太臃腫笨拙，用 “parsing”（解析）就好得多。最叫人目瞪口呆的錯誤是用錯了複數的 “media”，正確用法應該是 “medium”（媒介）。你還找出了那些缺點呢？
Acceptable 認可的文章
“The linguistic academic community revolves around the utter practicality of its work. Because language is an essence of life, the exploration and teaching of it is a life-enhancing activity. The parsing of words, phrases, and entire texts into component parts is akin to the work of engineers, who disassemble a machine to understand its workings before trying to improve it. In the same way do linguists systematically explore expression, deftly mating the hardware of language (words) with software (meaning) to produce an unparalleled communication medium.”
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 linguistic academic community revolves round the utter practicality of its work. Because language is central to life, the exploration and teaching of it is a life-enhancing activity. The breaking down of words, phrases, and entire texts into component parts is pretty much like the work of engineers, who take apart a machine to understand its workings before trying to improve it. In the same way do linguists systematically explore expression, linking together the hardware of language (words) with software (meaning) to produce an unparalleled communication media.”
This writing is marred by a few poor choices, but is not a generally poor example of scholarly writing. For example, the writer used the diminutive “round,” instead of “around” in the first sentence when the latter would have read more smoothly; the cadence of a sentence is important. Also, to say language is “central to life” overstates its importance. It is sufficient to characterize language as essential. In the third sentence, “parsing” would have been perfect usage instead of the descriptive but clunky “breaking down.” The most egregious failure was the errant use of the plural “media” instead of “medium.” What other weaknesses do you see?
這段文章有幾個失誤攪局，不過就學術寫作而言整體不算很差勁。首先，第一句中，作者以較短的 “round” 取代 “around”，但 “around” 唸起來會比較順口，別忘了句子的抑揚頓挫很重要。另外，形容語言 “central to life”（是生活中心）有點言過其實，只要說生活中少不了語言就足夠了。第三句以 “breaking down” 來形容太臃腫笨拙，用 “parsing”（解析）就好得多。最叫人目瞪口呆的錯誤是用錯了複數的 “media”，正確用法應該是 “medium”（媒介）。你還找出了那些缺點呢？
Acceptable 認可的文章
“The linguistic academic community revolves around the utter practicality of its work. Because language is an essence of life, the exploration and teaching of it is a life-enhancing activity. The parsing of words, phrases, and entire texts into component parts is akin to the work of engineers, who disassemble a machine to understand its workings before trying to improve it. In the same way do linguists systematically explore expression, deftly mating the hardware of language (words) with software (meaning) to produce an unparalleled communication medium.”
Last Update at 2012-01-19 AM 10:29 | 0 Comments
7 Tips for Avoiding Plagiarism Tip # 2 – Strive to produce original content 避免抄襲的七大方法之二：力求論文內容原創
2012-01-18
真正的學者不會竊取他人的想法，不過研究過程中，有時可能無意間侵占了其他研究者的想法或表達方式。本系列「避免抄襲的七大方法」提供訣竅，幫助你避免不小心冒用他人的心血結晶。每則訣竅將刊登在 TPS 專頁。
A true scholar is not a thief. Yet stealing another researcher’s ideas or method of expressing them sometimes happens inadvertently in the course of research. How to avoid accidentally passing off someone else’s work as your own is the subject of this series, “7 Tips for Avoiding Plagiarism.” Each of the tips will be presented on the TPS Fan page before being compiled with the others as a series.
Tip # 2 – Strive to produce original content
方法二：力求論文內容原創
Academic research and writing never is 100 percent original. Even the author of a paper of profound discovery and revolutionary argument must acknowledge predecessors whose foundational work has been eclipsed by the new paper. Citation of previous work always should be complete to give proper credit, as well as to indicate where new thinking begins. The point is, even the most original of papers will incorporate old material to some extent.
學術寫作與研究不可能百分之百原創，即使論文在探索上有許多斬獲，提出革命性的論點，也應該聲明文章是奠基於哪些前人著作，並從中青出於藍。引用前人著作，務必清楚說明來源，並指出新的思想從何衍生，這樣引用才完整。重點是，不管論文有多麼原創，也必然結合了某些過去的資料。
Yet academic writing with the most impact is writing that has not previously been read. The interest of a reader is immediately captured and held by an intellectual argument that has not been formulated and written down before. Fresh conclusions that reflect fresh research will have a reader thumbing back through a paper for its highlights. This is the value of trying for originality in academic papers—a reward that is measured in respect and superior ranking.
然而，學術論文中影響力最大的，還是過去沒有人讀過的部分。未曾形諸文字的討論，會立刻吸引讀者的興趣，讓讀者興致勃勃地讀下去。若研究內容新鮮，引出的結論也新鮮，讀者還會回頭再讀，尋找重點。努力寫作創新論文的價值就在這裡，作者會受到敬重，獲得出色的評價。
Striving for original content in a paper is a bulwark against plagiarism, too. A mind set upon finding “new stuff” is not nearly as likely to steal someone else’s work as is a person content to cobble together “old stuff” in a way that disguises its roots. Intent separates the accidental, and often excusable, plagiarist from the person of lesser conscience who would rather expend energy swiping another’s work than to labor at true discovery. Such slatternly thinking is inexcusable.
力求論文內容原創也是防堵剽竊的好方法。若作者一心想尋找新材料，就不可能盜用其他人的心血結晶，把舊材料拼拼湊湊，還想掩飾材料的出處。有心的研究者即使無意間挪用他人資料，通常也情有可原，相較之下，缺乏操守的研究者卻把時間花在抄襲他人心血，不肯努力探索新事物。這樣的自甘墮落就沒有任何藉口了。
A true scholar is not a thief. Yet stealing another researcher’s ideas or method of expressing them sometimes happens inadvertently in the course of research. How to avoid accidentally passing off someone else’s work as your own is the subject of this series, “7 Tips for Avoiding Plagiarism.” Each of the tips will be presented on the TPS Fan page before being compiled with the others as a series.
Tip # 2 – Strive to produce original content
方法二：力求論文內容原創
Academic research and writing never is 100 percent original. Even the author of a paper of profound discovery and revolutionary argument must acknowledge predecessors whose foundational work has been eclipsed by the new paper. Citation of previous work always should be complete to give proper credit, as well as to indicate where new thinking begins. The point is, even the most original of papers will incorporate old material to some extent.
學術寫作與研究不可能百分之百原創，即使論文在探索上有許多斬獲，提出革命性的論點，也應該聲明文章是奠基於哪些前人著作，並從中青出於藍。引用前人著作，務必清楚說明來源，並指出新的思想從何衍生，這樣引用才完整。重點是，不管論文有多麼原創，也必然結合了某些過去的資料。
Yet academic writing with the most impact is writing that has not previously been read. The interest of a reader is immediately captured and held by an intellectual argument that has not been formulated and written down before. Fresh conclusions that reflect fresh research will have a reader thumbing back through a paper for its highlights. This is the value of trying for originality in academic papers—a reward that is measured in respect and superior ranking.
然而，學術論文中影響力最大的，還是過去沒有人讀過的部分。未曾形諸文字的討論，會立刻吸引讀者的興趣，讓讀者興致勃勃地讀下去。若研究內容新鮮，引出的結論也新鮮，讀者還會回頭再讀，尋找重點。努力寫作創新論文的價值就在這裡，作者會受到敬重，獲得出色的評價。
Striving for original content in a paper is a bulwark against plagiarism, too. A mind set upon finding “new stuff” is not nearly as likely to steal someone else’s work as is a person content to cobble together “old stuff” in a way that disguises its roots. Intent separates the accidental, and often excusable, plagiarist from the person of lesser conscience who would rather expend energy swiping another’s work than to labor at true discovery. Such slatternly thinking is inexcusable.
力求論文內容原創也是防堵剽竊的好方法。若作者一心想尋找新材料，就不可能盜用其他人的心血結晶，把舊材料拼拼湊湊，還想掩飾材料的出處。有心的研究者即使無意間挪用他人資料，通常也情有可原，相較之下，缺乏操守的研究者卻把時間花在抄襲他人心血，不肯努力探索新事物。這樣的自甘墮落就沒有任何藉口了。
Last Update at 2012-01-18 AM 10:32 | 0 Comments
0116 TPS One Word Away From Confusion Contest－Answer and Explanation你能找出混淆字嗎? 正確解答!
2012-01-17
Correct best answer: Replace “inquest” with “inquiry.”
“Scientific inquiry is the clinical analysis of subject matter, with the brain given the task of finding truth and the heart reserved for celebrating the discovery.”
Similar words can disrupt communication, even when the wrong word means almost the same as the right one. While both “inquest” and “inquiry” are rooted in the idea of asking questions, they are not interchangeable. Inquest is an official or judicial questioning process, whereas inquiry— in this case, scientific inquiry—is an unofficial examination of fact conducted by many people or as few as one. Both inquest and inquiry are cerebral activities, but the dynamics are somewhat in conflict. In fact, a judicial scientific inquiry is a paradoxical, probably unworkable, concept.
相似的詞彙會妨礙溝通，即使錯誤的詞彙和正確的詞彙意思很相近也是如此。“Inquest”（質詢） 和 “inquiry”（詢問）最根本的意思都是問問題，但兩者不能互換使用；質詢是正式或司法的審訊過程，而詢問，在此指科學探究，則是非正式的檢驗事實，可能由好幾個人進行，或僅由一人進行。質詢或詢問都是智力活動，但活動的本質卻有點衝突；「判決式科學探究」是個矛盾的概念，或許根本是不成立的概念。
“Scientific inquiry is the clinical analysis of subject matter, with the brain given the task of finding truth and the heart reserved for celebrating the discovery.”
Similar words can disrupt communication, even when the wrong word means almost the same as the right one. While both “inquest” and “inquiry” are rooted in the idea of asking questions, they are not interchangeable. Inquest is an official or judicial questioning process, whereas inquiry— in this case, scientific inquiry—is an unofficial examination of fact conducted by many people or as few as one. Both inquest and inquiry are cerebral activities, but the dynamics are somewhat in conflict. In fact, a judicial scientific inquiry is a paradoxical, probably unworkable, concept.
相似的詞彙會妨礙溝通，即使錯誤的詞彙和正確的詞彙意思很相近也是如此。“Inquest”（質詢） 和 “inquiry”（詢問）最根本的意思都是問問題，但兩者不能互換使用；質詢是正式或司法的審訊過程，而詢問，在此指科學探究，則是非正式的檢驗事實，可能由好幾個人進行，或僅由一人進行。質詢或詢問都是智力活動，但活動的本質卻有點衝突；「判決式科學探究」是個矛盾的概念，或許根本是不成立的概念。
Last Update at 2012-01-17 AM 10:35 | 0 Comments
0116 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!
2012-01-16
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:
“Scientific inquest is the clinical analysis of subject matter, with the brain given the task of finding truth and the heart reserved for celebrating the discovery.”
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:
“Scientific inquest is the clinical analysis of subject matter, with the brain given the task of finding truth and the heart reserved for celebrating the discovery.”
Last Update at 2012-01-16 AM 10:30 | 0 Comments
What does that mean? 你真的瞭解這個慣用語嗎?
2012-01-12
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.
“Under the electron microscope, the nerve fibers and blood veins were shown to be elegantly threaded throughout the body.”
「在電子顯微鏡下，全身的神經纖維與血管優雅地交織在一起。」
“Thread” has a lengthy history in garment-making. The use of a long, continuous fiber to stitch and adorn goes back thousands of years. A thread is meticulously inserted in a garment and then woven and out of it according to a pattern; when drawn tight, the unbroken thread affixes one piece of a garment to another. In decorative uses, the thread is woven into the fabric for display rather than for function. In every case, the path of the thread is uniform and the tolerances close so that the threaded product is enhanced, either in usefulness or in beauty.
“Thread”（絲線）用於製造服裝歷史悠久，以纖長連續的纖維縫製、裝飾衣物，歷史可追溯自數千年前。將絲線仔細穿入衣料，以固定的模式穿梭編織、拉緊，連續的絲線就結合服裝的不同部分。絲線編織在布料上、用來裝飾時，是為了讓服裝美觀，而非為了實用目的。無論實用或裝飾，絲線都必須遵循一定的模式編織，而且每針的差距不能太大，這樣織成的服裝才會實用而美觀。
In the sentence about a laboratory observation, “threaded” refers not at all to a continuous strand of twisted cotton or some other fiber. Rather, the allusion is to human cells that have been formed into nerve axions and blood vein walls. The nerves and veins are said to be threaded throughout the body, which is to say they run continuously from toe to head; they are purely functional, transmitting messages and delivering life-assuring blood. The writer (unnecessarily) adds the adverb “elegantly” to ascribe to the cellular structures a sense of human majesty.
本句討論實驗室中的觀察，“thread” 並非指捻在一起的棉紗或其他纖維，而是比喻人體的細胞形成神經束與血管網絡；神經與血管在全身交織，從頭到腳連續不斷，並且有其功能，即傳導訊號與輸送維繫生命的血液。作者還（多此一舉地）加上副詞 “elegantly”（優雅地），讓細胞結構多了一股奧妙人體的感覺。
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.
“Under the electron microscope, the nerve fibers and blood veins were shown to be elegantly threaded throughout the body.”
「在電子顯微鏡下，全身的神經纖維與血管優雅地交織在一起。」
“Thread” has a lengthy history in garment-making. The use of a long, continuous fiber to stitch and adorn goes back thousands of years. A thread is meticulously inserted in a garment and then woven and out of it according to a pattern; when drawn tight, the unbroken thread affixes one piece of a garment to another. In decorative uses, the thread is woven into the fabric for display rather than for function. In every case, the path of the thread is uniform and the tolerances close so that the threaded product is enhanced, either in usefulness or in beauty.
“Thread”（絲線）用於製造服裝歷史悠久，以纖長連續的纖維縫製、裝飾衣物，歷史可追溯自數千年前。將絲線仔細穿入衣料，以固定的模式穿梭編織、拉緊，連續的絲線就結合服裝的不同部分。絲線編織在布料上、用來裝飾時，是為了讓服裝美觀，而非為了實用目的。無論實用或裝飾，絲線都必須遵循一定的模式編織，而且每針的差距不能太大，這樣織成的服裝才會實用而美觀。
In the sentence about a laboratory observation, “threaded” refers not at all to a continuous strand of twisted cotton or some other fiber. Rather, the allusion is to human cells that have been formed into nerve axions and blood vein walls. The nerves and veins are said to be threaded throughout the body, which is to say they run continuously from toe to head; they are purely functional, transmitting messages and delivering life-assuring blood. The writer (unnecessarily) adds the adverb “elegantly” to ascribe to the cellular structures a sense of human majesty.
本句討論實驗室中的觀察，“thread” 並非指捻在一起的棉紗或其他纖維，而是比喻人體的細胞形成神經束與血管網絡；神經與血管在全身交織，從頭到腳連續不斷，並且有其功能，即傳導訊號與輸送維繫生命的血液。作者還（多此一舉地）加上副詞 “elegantly”（優雅地），讓細胞結構多了一股奧妙人體的感覺。
Last Update at 2012-01-12 AM 10:28 | 0 Comments
Professor Pedantic 教授的考究學問
2012-01-11
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 always include statistics when I can to prove different points of a paper, because the numbers sometimes tell the story better than words can. How do I know when I have overused statistics in a paper?
問：我寫論文時，常用統計數字論證文章討論的差異，因為有時候數字比文字解釋更清楚。我該怎麼判斷自己在論文裡是不是用了太多統計數字？
One cannot address this subject without rolling out the truism about statistics, namely, that there are lies, damned lies, and statistics. The inference is, of course, that while hard numbers might seem straight-forward fact, when misused, numbers can be as misleading as any stated falsehood. For example, an imbalanced sampling can produce numbers skewed one way or the other. Or a false cause-and-effect relationship might be deduced from raw data, either from error or on purpose. Statistics unquestionably do not tell a whole story when they are used mischievously.
討論統計時一定會碰上這句眾所皆知的名言：「謊言、該死的謊言，統計」。當然，這句話是說，具體的數字看起來可能是明白的事實，但若是誤用，數字也會造成誤導，成為謊言。例如，抽樣不公會使結果扭曲，原始數據也可能推斷出錯誤的因果關係，這些錯誤可能是無意的，也可能是有意的。顯然統計數字若未慎用，便無法呈現事實的全貌。
So how often should you employ statistics in an academic paper? As often as the numbers can honestly advance or bolster an argument. That is the purpose of every argumentative device employed by a writer in a paper, to persuade the reader of the worth of an argument. Yet you are right to fear that too much of a good thing can detract from, rather than add to, the overall effort to persuade. At some point, numbers piled on numbers begin to look like padding. After all, academic papers are exercises in written communication, not statistical round-ups.
所以，學術論文應該用多少統計數字呢？只要數字能實實在在地改善或加強論點就沒問題，一如作者在論文中使用的每項論證工具，都是為了讓讀者相信論點的重要。不過，你的考量沒錯，好工具過度使用，確實可能減損說服力，而非增加說服力。數字層層堆疊，到了某種程度看起來就像在充版面。畢竟，學術文章應該要用文字溝通，不應堆砌統計數字。
The other misstep in using statistics concerns interpretation. Some data need no interpretation beyond a succinct restatement. Other compiled numbers need restating in some detail to reinforce the import of the numbers or to ensure that the reader grasps their meaning. (If even more explanation is needed, a footnoted table probably is the wiser choice.) Where some writers err is in misinterpreting numbers or in applying them too generally to make a case. A pertinent reminder: The professor reading a paper is apt to be as statistically conversant as the writer.
使用統計數字另一個錯誤則和解釋有關，有些數據只需要簡潔重述，不需要解釋，有些整理後的數據則需要詳加闡述，強調數據的重要性，讓讀者把握數字意涵（如果這樣解釋還不夠，使用表格並在下方加註或許會更理想）。有時作者詮釋數據失當，有時為了解釋又過分推論。請切記，閱讀論文的教授，往往和作者一樣精通統計。
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 always include statistics when I can to prove different points of a paper, because the numbers sometimes tell the story better than words can. How do I know when I have overused statistics in a paper?
問：我寫論文時，常用統計數字論證文章討論的差異，因為有時候數字比文字解釋更清楚。我該怎麼判斷自己在論文裡是不是用了太多統計數字？
One cannot address this subject without rolling out the truism about statistics, namely, that there are lies, damned lies, and statistics. The inference is, of course, that while hard numbers might seem straight-forward fact, when misused, numbers can be as misleading as any stated falsehood. For example, an imbalanced sampling can produce numbers skewed one way or the other. Or a false cause-and-effect relationship might be deduced from raw data, either from error or on purpose. Statistics unquestionably do not tell a whole story when they are used mischievously.
討論統計時一定會碰上這句眾所皆知的名言：「謊言、該死的謊言，統計」。當然，這句話是說，具體的數字看起來可能是明白的事實，但若是誤用，數字也會造成誤導，成為謊言。例如，抽樣不公會使結果扭曲，原始數據也可能推斷出錯誤的因果關係，這些錯誤可能是無意的，也可能是有意的。顯然統計數字若未慎用，便無法呈現事實的全貌。
So how often should you employ statistics in an academic paper? As often as the numbers can honestly advance or bolster an argument. That is the purpose of every argumentative device employed by a writer in a paper, to persuade the reader of the worth of an argument. Yet you are right to fear that too much of a good thing can detract from, rather than add to, the overall effort to persuade. At some point, numbers piled on numbers begin to look like padding. After all, academic papers are exercises in written communication, not statistical round-ups.
所以，學術論文應該用多少統計數字呢？只要數字能實實在在地改善或加強論點就沒問題，一如作者在論文中使用的每項論證工具，都是為了讓讀者相信論點的重要。不過，你的考量沒錯，好工具過度使用，確實可能減損說服力，而非增加說服力。數字層層堆疊，到了某種程度看起來就像在充版面。畢竟，學術文章應該要用文字溝通，不應堆砌統計數字。
The other misstep in using statistics concerns interpretation. Some data need no interpretation beyond a succinct restatement. Other compiled numbers need restating in some detail to reinforce the import of the numbers or to ensure that the reader grasps their meaning. (If even more explanation is needed, a footnoted table probably is the wiser choice.) Where some writers err is in misinterpreting numbers or in applying them too generally to make a case. A pertinent reminder: The professor reading a paper is apt to be as statistically conversant as the writer.
使用統計數字另一個錯誤則和解釋有關，有些數據只需要簡潔重述，不需要解釋，有些整理後的數據則需要詳加闡述，強調數據的重要性，讓讀者把握數字意涵（如果這樣解釋還不夠，使用表格並在下方加註或許會更理想）。有時作者詮釋數據失當，有時為了解釋又過分推論。請切記，閱讀論文的教授，往往和作者一樣精通統計。
Last Update at 2012-01-11 AM 11:55 | 0 Comments
0109 TPS Finish the Sentence Contest－Answer and Explanation你是接龍的高手嗎? 正確解答!
2012-01-10
Answer: We believe the sentence is best completed this way:
“Subsequent generations of the skittering laboratory mice were bred to prefer wine-soaked grain and soon exhibited all the erratic behavior of alcoholics.”
The four words complete the picture of experimental animals being turned into lushes. The entire sentence has to do with body control. The mice are described as “skittering,” which is jittery movement typical of small, light, darting animals. After being bred to like alcohol, the skittering of the mice is turned into the unpredictable, “erratic” movement of drunken animals, the animals’ natural gracefulness impaired. The physical reaction to the alcohol is correctly described as “behavior,” which underscores that the mice are still mice, with only their movements altered.
加上這四個字，便完整描繪出實驗動物轉變為酒鬼。句子討論身體控制，形容小鼠動作 “skittering”（蹦蹦跳跳），動作快速的小型動物經常出現這種神經過敏的動作。經過培育後，小鼠偏好酒精，動作從蹦蹦跳跳變成捉摸不定，“erratic”（反覆無常），就像喝醉了一樣，失去天生均衡的美感。以 “behavior”（行為）描述酒精造成的肢體動作很恰當，強調小鼠本質未變，仍是小鼠，只是動作不同。
“Subsequent generations of the skittering laboratory mice were bred to prefer wine-soaked grain and soon exhibited all the erratic behavior of alcoholics.”
The four words complete the picture of experimental animals being turned into lushes. The entire sentence has to do with body control. The mice are described as “skittering,” which is jittery movement typical of small, light, darting animals. After being bred to like alcohol, the skittering of the mice is turned into the unpredictable, “erratic” movement of drunken animals, the animals’ natural gracefulness impaired. The physical reaction to the alcohol is correctly described as “behavior,” which underscores that the mice are still mice, with only their movements altered.
加上這四個字，便完整描繪出實驗動物轉變為酒鬼。句子討論身體控制，形容小鼠動作 “skittering”（蹦蹦跳跳），動作快速的小型動物經常出現這種神經過敏的動作。經過培育後，小鼠偏好酒精，動作從蹦蹦跳跳變成捉摸不定，“erratic”（反覆無常），就像喝醉了一樣，失去天生均衡的美感。以 “behavior”（行為）描述酒精造成的肢體動作很恰當，強調小鼠本質未變，仍是小鼠，只是動作不同。
Last Update at 2012-01-10 AM 10:50 | 0 Comments
2012年TPS 新學術專欄「7 Tips for Avoiding Plagiarism避免抄襲的七大方法」
2012-01-10
親愛的TPS Facebook粉絲與電子報的訂閱讀者，您們好：
錯過「你按讚了沒！」活動嗎？想要重新發現學習英文的樂趣與增加知識嗎？Better late than never！
經過許多粉絲與參加朋友的踴躍投票，「你按讚了沒！」活動挑選出2011年最受喜愛的前三項專欄/競賽，分別是：「Spot the Error Contest你是挑錯的高手嗎?」、「What does that mean? 你真的瞭解這個慣用語嗎?」與論文學術專欄「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」。其中的論文學術專欄更是粉絲們撰寫時的小幫手！
新的一年，也想讓您的論文有新氣象嗎？敬請鎖定TPS推出的新學術專欄「7 Tips for Avoiding Plagiarism避免抄襲的七大方法」，讓您撰寫論文更能得心應手！
更多內容，請參閱TPS電子報、Facebook與 Blog的最新資訊。
TPS Team
錯過「你按讚了沒！」活動嗎？想要重新發現學習英文的樂趣與增加知識嗎？Better late than never！
經過許多粉絲與參加朋友的踴躍投票，「你按讚了沒！」活動挑選出2011年最受喜愛的前三項專欄/競賽，分別是：「Spot the Error Contest你是挑錯的高手嗎?」、「What does that mean? 你真的瞭解這個慣用語嗎?」與論文學術專欄「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」。其中的論文學術專欄更是粉絲們撰寫時的小幫手！
新的一年，也想讓您的論文有新氣象嗎？敬請鎖定TPS推出的新學術專欄「7 Tips for Avoiding Plagiarism避免抄襲的七大方法」，讓您撰寫論文更能得心應手！
更多內容，請參閱TPS電子報、Facebook與 Blog的最新資訊。
TPS Team
Last Update at 2012-01-09 PM 4:22 | 0 Comments
0109 TPS Finish the Sentence Contest－Win Your NTD200 7-11/Starbucks Prize! 你是接龍的高手嗎? 有機會獲得價值200元7-11/星巴克咖啡禮券!
2012-01-09
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:
“Subsequent generations of the skittering laboratory mice were bred to prefer wine-soaked grain and soon exhibited all the ____ ____ ____ ____ ____.”
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:
“Subsequent generations of the skittering laboratory mice were bred to prefer wine-soaked grain and soon exhibited all the ____ ____ ____ ____ ____.”
Last Update at 2012-01-09 PM 3:48 | 0 Comments
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