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完美撰題八大原則二：確認研究報告的主題範圍
【學術專欄】
8 Ways to Choose a Perfect Research Paper Topic # 2 – Clearly identify the parameters of an assigned topic
完美撰題八大原則二：確認研究報告的主題範圍
在學術寫作中，「完美」是相對的，但也是我們追求的理想。想寫出完美的研究報告，首先選擇題目必須明智。本次學術專欄特別推出「完美撰題八大原則」，為大家介紹選擇題目的原則，每項原則將定期刊登於TPS專頁。
“Perfect” is a relative term in academic writing, but it always is the ideal. The first rule in the pursuit of perfection in a paper is to choose a topic wisely. This essay introduces and explains one guide in selecting a topic. Each guide is contained in “8 Guides in Choosing a Perfect Research Paper Topic” and will be posted on the TPS Fan page as introduced.
# 2 – Clearly identify the parameters of an assigned topic
原則二：確認研究報告的主題範圍
This suggestion is closely related to the first one, which was to understand an assignment. But rather than dealing with miscommunication between student and instructor, this suggestion has to do with a writer’s judgment. Case in point: A clear-thinking student in a culinary curriculum who is assigned an academic paper on tuna should ultimately conclude that a paper on the health benefits of tuna salad is more appropriate than a paper on the economics of tuna fishing.
上週提到的原則一是了解研究報告的題目，原則二與原則一有關，但不是處理師生溝通不良，而是與作者的判斷有關。舉例來說，如果讀烹飪的學生要寫一份與鮪魚有關的學術文章，清楚思考後，應該知道比起討論鮪魚捕撈的經濟，更適合討論鮪魚沙拉對健康的好處。
Yet professors are regularly surprised by topical tangents. Students sometimes ending up fishing for good grades in strange and irrelevant places. Unfortunately for them, the result is a marked-down paper. This doesn’t mean that instructors don’t appreciate writers who bring fresh ideas and subjects to a topical mix. Willingness to stretch a topic is an indication of intellectual heft and confidence. But stretch a topic too far and usually it will collapse into irrelevancy.
即使如此，教授還是經常收到文不對題的報告。有些學生想獲得好成績，報告內容卻莫名其妙又與主題南轅北轍，當然就拿不到好成績。教授並不是不欣賞學生在題目中整合新鮮的想法與主題，願意擴展題目展現了學生的學術能力與自信；但若是擴展太遠，往往因為離題而寫出失敗的文章。
A general guideline to follow in evaluating the relevancy of a subject is to work outward from the core. If the assigned topic is tuna, for example, a concentric line of reasoning might go like this: Tuna – Fresh / Canned – Properties of canned tuna in water / oil – Albacore vs. Pacific bluefin – Mercury vs. low fats – Protein content – Tuna hash vs. Grilled tuna – and so on. While the process can go on for some time, it should end well before Charlie the Tuna is considered.
評估主題是否相關有一條通則，就是寫作時從核心向外探索。舉例來說，如果題目是鮪魚，思考論證的同心圓邏輯應該是：鮪魚－罐頭或新鮮鮪魚－水煮與油漬鮪魚的特性－長鰭鮪魚與太平洋藍鰭鮪魚－含汞量與低脂肪－蛋白質含量－鮪魚馬鈴薯或煎烤鮪魚…等等。諸如此類的清單可以延伸下去，但如果討論到鮪魚罐頭品牌的卡通吉祥物 Charlie the Tuna ，就表示你離題太遠啦。
完美撰題八大原則二：確認研究報告的主題範圍
在學術寫作中，「完美」是相對的，但也是我們追求的理想。想寫出完美的研究報告，首先選擇題目必須明智。本次學術專欄特別推出「完美撰題八大原則」，為大家介紹選擇題目的原則，每項原則將定期刊登於TPS專頁。
“Perfect” is a relative term in academic writing, but it always is the ideal. The first rule in the pursuit of perfection in a paper is to choose a topic wisely. This essay introduces and explains one guide in selecting a topic. Each guide is contained in “8 Guides in Choosing a Perfect Research Paper Topic” and will be posted on the TPS Fan page as introduced.
# 2 – Clearly identify the parameters of an assigned topic
原則二：確認研究報告的主題範圍
This suggestion is closely related to the first one, which was to understand an assignment. But rather than dealing with miscommunication between student and instructor, this suggestion has to do with a writer’s judgment. Case in point: A clear-thinking student in a culinary curriculum who is assigned an academic paper on tuna should ultimately conclude that a paper on the health benefits of tuna salad is more appropriate than a paper on the economics of tuna fishing.
上週提到的原則一是了解研究報告的題目，原則二與原則一有關，但不是處理師生溝通不良，而是與作者的判斷有關。舉例來說，如果讀烹飪的學生要寫一份與鮪魚有關的學術文章，清楚思考後，應該知道比起討論鮪魚捕撈的經濟，更適合討論鮪魚沙拉對健康的好處。
Yet professors are regularly surprised by topical tangents. Students sometimes ending up fishing for good grades in strange and irrelevant places. Unfortunately for them, the result is a marked-down paper. This doesn’t mean that instructors don’t appreciate writers who bring fresh ideas and subjects to a topical mix. Willingness to stretch a topic is an indication of intellectual heft and confidence. But stretch a topic too far and usually it will collapse into irrelevancy.
即使如此，教授還是經常收到文不對題的報告。有些學生想獲得好成績，報告內容卻莫名其妙又與主題南轅北轍，當然就拿不到好成績。教授並不是不欣賞學生在題目中整合新鮮的想法與主題，願意擴展題目展現了學生的學術能力與自信；但若是擴展太遠，往往因為離題而寫出失敗的文章。
A general guideline to follow in evaluating the relevancy of a subject is to work outward from the core. If the assigned topic is tuna, for example, a concentric line of reasoning might go like this: Tuna – Fresh / Canned – Properties of canned tuna in water / oil – Albacore vs. Pacific bluefin – Mercury vs. low fats – Protein content – Tuna hash vs. Grilled tuna – and so on. While the process can go on for some time, it should end well before Charlie the Tuna is considered.
評估主題是否相關有一條通則，就是寫作時從核心向外探索。舉例來說，如果題目是鮪魚，思考論證的同心圓邏輯應該是：鮪魚－罐頭或新鮮鮪魚－水煮與油漬鮪魚的特性－長鰭鮪魚與太平洋藍鰭鮪魚－含汞量與低脂肪－蛋白質含量－鮪魚馬鈴薯或煎烤鮪魚…等等。諸如此類的清單可以延伸下去，但如果討論到鮪魚罐頭品牌的卡通吉祥物 Charlie the Tuna ，就表示你離題太遠啦。