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12個獲得學術認可的論文撰寫技巧之二：研究選定主題
【學術專欄】
12 Recommendations to Help you Submit a Conventional and Acceptable Paper Tip 2: Research your topic
12個獲得學術認可的論文撰寫技巧之二：研究選定主題
教授學者們通常會規範寫作標準，制定如何撰寫碩博士論文與學術文章以及格式要求。學術界所評定的標準植基於以何種撰寫方式會被認可，何種撰寫方式則會被拒絕。本專欄提出「12個獲得學術認可的論文撰寫技巧」，幫助你寫出符合規範與認可標準的文章。
The community of scholars has rules that govern how dissertations, theses and other academic papers are composed and formatted. Academic convention has established what is acceptable and what is not. Following is one of 12 recommendations to help you submit a conventional and acceptable paper.
Tip 2 – Research your topic
技巧二：研究選定主題
Papers written for university faculty members have a higher threshold for acceptance than do papers at lower levels. They must be more sophisticated in their approach to a topic, more complex in their argumentation, more convincing in their conclusion. Students comfortable with padding text, slyly using larger fonts, and cribbing the work of others should discard the tricks.
碩博士論文獲得認可的門檻比一般學術文章來得嚴格，包括精確的主題，細膩的論證，以及具說服力的結論等等。學生們必須摒除以往寫作的不良習慣，像是贅詞充斥、字體加大、節錄相關論文超量等等。
The place to start forming good habits in the writing of academic papers is before the writing begins. Exacting research is the foundation of an acceptable paper. It is in this process that the structure of an argument is gathered and the weight of evidence is toted up. Building anything—whether house or academic paper—is greatly facilitated by having the materials for building it.
開始論文寫作的第一步，是培養正確的寫作習慣。嚴謹的研究是學術論文的基礎，過程包括建立論點的架構以及引導論證的重要性。不論是建造房屋或是寫作論文，都必須具備好的建材與題材才能算是準備就緒。
This is not possible to do, however, if the author of the paper doesn’t leave enough time. A serious writer does not wait until the last moment to begin researching a paper. That is like waiting until a few days before a concert to rehearse the music. Sometimes the music is more difficult than anticipated—or a topic more complex than imagined. Leave time to do the work.
一旦沒有預留足夠的時間，是很難在短時間內成就一篇好的論文。負責任的作者不會等到最後一刻才開始花時間研究、尋找題材。就如同音樂會即將演奏之際才開始進行演練，其演出成果之拙劣恐難預料；對學術論文來說，主題的專業與複雜度更超乎一般人想像。所以，預留充裕時間撰寫論文，是很重要的。
Begin your exploration with focused intent, but an open mind. At the outset of your search, do not dismiss as unimportant any reasonably pertinent found information. Until the parameters of an argument have been firmly established, relevant material should be saved. Weeding of the information and categorizing of the best of it can follow as the focus of the paper sharpens.
研究主題時，除了專注，同時要保持開放態度。搜集資訊過程中，不要草率放棄任何相關主題的資訊。在論點尚未得到完整論據的支持作為後盾之前，相關資訊都應保留下來。當題材搜集就緒後，才進行資訊增刪分類、去蕪存菁的階段。
Be purposeful in conducting the research. The essential goal is to uncover substantive, factual material that affirms your argument. But material that undermines the argument also should be consciously noted so that it can be refuted or offset by other evidence. Always select sources that will withstand academic scrutiny, and always gather firm evidence that is difficult to dispute.
研究過程中需要果斷力。研究目的在於找出真憑實據以支持你的論點。當警覺到某個發現將削弱你的論點時，必須找出相對應的論據加以反駁。永遠記住對於搜尋的資訊要詳細的驗證，力求牢不可破的實據。
Take notes during a search that truly will inform on subsequent reading. Cryptic notes can later mislead or baffle the researcher. Double-check citations to ensure they are accurately recorded. Roughly categorize the material as it is collected for easier access when outlining the paper. Finally, step back, look for weak points and, if necessary, search for final, buttressing material.
勤作筆記能幫助閱讀大量搜集資訊時的資料彙整，但含糊的筆記將誤導、阻礙研究者的研究方向與成果。重覆檢查節錄的引言確保引據正確無誤；資訊概略的分類有助於勾勒論文綱要。最後，記得再次驗證薄弱的論點，有必要時，再搜證一次以獲得最完整的論據支持。
12個獲得學術認可的論文撰寫技巧之二：研究選定主題
教授學者們通常會規範寫作標準，制定如何撰寫碩博士論文與學術文章以及格式要求。學術界所評定的標準植基於以何種撰寫方式會被認可，何種撰寫方式則會被拒絕。本專欄提出「12個獲得學術認可的論文撰寫技巧」，幫助你寫出符合規範與認可標準的文章。
The community of scholars has rules that govern how dissertations, theses and other academic papers are composed and formatted. Academic convention has established what is acceptable and what is not. Following is one of 12 recommendations to help you submit a conventional and acceptable paper.
Tip 2 – Research your topic
技巧二：研究選定主題
Papers written for university faculty members have a higher threshold for acceptance than do papers at lower levels. They must be more sophisticated in their approach to a topic, more complex in their argumentation, more convincing in their conclusion. Students comfortable with padding text, slyly using larger fonts, and cribbing the work of others should discard the tricks.
碩博士論文獲得認可的門檻比一般學術文章來得嚴格，包括精確的主題，細膩的論證，以及具說服力的結論等等。學生們必須摒除以往寫作的不良習慣，像是贅詞充斥、字體加大、節錄相關論文超量等等。
The place to start forming good habits in the writing of academic papers is before the writing begins. Exacting research is the foundation of an acceptable paper. It is in this process that the structure of an argument is gathered and the weight of evidence is toted up. Building anything—whether house or academic paper—is greatly facilitated by having the materials for building it.
開始論文寫作的第一步，是培養正確的寫作習慣。嚴謹的研究是學術論文的基礎，過程包括建立論點的架構以及引導論證的重要性。不論是建造房屋或是寫作論文，都必須具備好的建材與題材才能算是準備就緒。
This is not possible to do, however, if the author of the paper doesn’t leave enough time. A serious writer does not wait until the last moment to begin researching a paper. That is like waiting until a few days before a concert to rehearse the music. Sometimes the music is more difficult than anticipated—or a topic more complex than imagined. Leave time to do the work.
一旦沒有預留足夠的時間，是很難在短時間內成就一篇好的論文。負責任的作者不會等到最後一刻才開始花時間研究、尋找題材。就如同音樂會即將演奏之際才開始進行演練，其演出成果之拙劣恐難預料；對學術論文來說，主題的專業與複雜度更超乎一般人想像。所以，預留充裕時間撰寫論文，是很重要的。
Begin your exploration with focused intent, but an open mind. At the outset of your search, do not dismiss as unimportant any reasonably pertinent found information. Until the parameters of an argument have been firmly established, relevant material should be saved. Weeding of the information and categorizing of the best of it can follow as the focus of the paper sharpens.
研究主題時，除了專注，同時要保持開放態度。搜集資訊過程中，不要草率放棄任何相關主題的資訊。在論點尚未得到完整論據的支持作為後盾之前，相關資訊都應保留下來。當題材搜集就緒後，才進行資訊增刪分類、去蕪存菁的階段。
Be purposeful in conducting the research. The essential goal is to uncover substantive, factual material that affirms your argument. But material that undermines the argument also should be consciously noted so that it can be refuted or offset by other evidence. Always select sources that will withstand academic scrutiny, and always gather firm evidence that is difficult to dispute.
研究過程中需要果斷力。研究目的在於找出真憑實據以支持你的論點。當警覺到某個發現將削弱你的論點時，必須找出相對應的論據加以反駁。永遠記住對於搜尋的資訊要詳細的驗證，力求牢不可破的實據。
Take notes during a search that truly will inform on subsequent reading. Cryptic notes can later mislead or baffle the researcher. Double-check citations to ensure they are accurately recorded. Roughly categorize the material as it is collected for easier access when outlining the paper. Finally, step back, look for weak points and, if necessary, search for final, buttressing material.
勤作筆記能幫助閱讀大量搜集資訊時的資料彙整，但含糊的筆記將誤導、阻礙研究者的研究方向與成果。重覆檢查節錄的引言確保引據正確無誤；資訊概略的分類有助於勾勒論文綱要。最後，記得再次驗證薄弱的論點，有必要時，再搜證一次以獲得最完整的論據支持。
