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完美撰題八大原則六：力求主題創新
【學術專欄】
8 Ways to Choose a Perfect Research Paper Topic # 6 – Strive for originality in a topic
完美撰題八大原則六：力求主題創新
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.
#6 – Strive for originality in a topic
原則六 力求主題創新
The old saying is that there is nothing new under the sun. Even sayings are old. It is true that the first writer of an academic paper could choose from a longer list of unwritten-about topics than is possible to find today. Consequently, a search now for an original topic is much longer. In fact, a wholly original subject might not exist, depending upon the discipline. Still, enough nuances do exist to allow today’s writers to bring fresh perspective to a topic, and that is sufficient.
俗話說，太陽底下沒有新鮮事，不過這些俗話也不新鮮了。確實，比起現在的研究者，初期的研究者有更多從未研究過的題目可以選擇，因此現在想尋找創新的題目，必須花更長的時間，有些學門甚至可能完全缺乏原創的題目。不過，題目間還是有些細微的差異，可以讓現在的研究者為主題帶來新意，而這樣就足夠了。
The first rule in the search for an original topic is that a writer must want to find one. While a student’s willingness to tiresomely revisit a tired subject will satisfy an assignment, it will not land the student a grade in the upper echelon of scores. Those are reserved for fresh thinkers. So in considering a topic, examine it from the standpoint of (1) how often it has been addressed and (2) how much fresh insight is possible this time around. If it fails this freshness test, drop it.
尋找原創主題的第一守則，就是你要願意去找。學生寫作業時，如果不厭其煩地討論一個老掉牙的題目，或許可以交差，但分數大概不會太高。只有想法新穎，才能拿到好成績。所以思考題目時，可以從兩個觀點來檢驗：第一，這個題目是否常常討論？第二，這次討論是否能帶出新穎的見解？如果從這個小測試裡，發現題目毫無新意，那麼最好放棄。
Selection of a topic gives a professor a glimpse of the character of a student. Academic writers are first of all academic thinkers whose brains are attuned to challenge, discovery, and the search for information that expands the common base of knowledge. Any student unwilling to put real effort into this process is only loitering in the academic realm, rather than establishing himself there. A serious search for original material is one of the defining markers of a serious student.
教授從學生選的題目裡，可以大概了解學生的個性。學術研究者的思考會表現出學術特質，偏好挑戰、追求新發現、熱衷於尋找資訊以擴展知識的基礎。不願真正投入這個過程的學生，只是在學術圈胡混，不會有所建樹。嚴謹地尋找原創題目的材料，才是認真學生的寫照。
完美撰題八大原則六：力求主題創新
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.
#6 – Strive for originality in a topic
原則六 力求主題創新
The old saying is that there is nothing new under the sun. Even sayings are old. It is true that the first writer of an academic paper could choose from a longer list of unwritten-about topics than is possible to find today. Consequently, a search now for an original topic is much longer. In fact, a wholly original subject might not exist, depending upon the discipline. Still, enough nuances do exist to allow today’s writers to bring fresh perspective to a topic, and that is sufficient.
俗話說，太陽底下沒有新鮮事，不過這些俗話也不新鮮了。確實，比起現在的研究者，初期的研究者有更多從未研究過的題目可以選擇，因此現在想尋找創新的題目，必須花更長的時間，有些學門甚至可能完全缺乏原創的題目。不過，題目間還是有些細微的差異，可以讓現在的研究者為主題帶來新意，而這樣就足夠了。
The first rule in the search for an original topic is that a writer must want to find one. While a student’s willingness to tiresomely revisit a tired subject will satisfy an assignment, it will not land the student a grade in the upper echelon of scores. Those are reserved for fresh thinkers. So in considering a topic, examine it from the standpoint of (1) how often it has been addressed and (2) how much fresh insight is possible this time around. If it fails this freshness test, drop it.
尋找原創主題的第一守則，就是你要願意去找。學生寫作業時，如果不厭其煩地討論一個老掉牙的題目，或許可以交差，但分數大概不會太高。只有想法新穎，才能拿到好成績。所以思考題目時，可以從兩個觀點來檢驗：第一，這個題目是否常常討論？第二，這次討論是否能帶出新穎的見解？如果從這個小測試裡，發現題目毫無新意，那麼最好放棄。
Selection of a topic gives a professor a glimpse of the character of a student. Academic writers are first of all academic thinkers whose brains are attuned to challenge, discovery, and the search for information that expands the common base of knowledge. Any student unwilling to put real effort into this process is only loitering in the academic realm, rather than establishing himself there. A serious search for original material is one of the defining markers of a serious student.
教授從學生選的題目裡，可以大概了解學生的個性。學術研究者的思考會表現出學術特質，偏好挑戰、追求新發現、熱衷於尋找資訊以擴展知識的基礎。不願真正投入這個過程的學生，只是在學術圈胡混，不會有所建樹。嚴謹地尋找原創題目的材料，才是認真學生的寫照。
