Writing a College Paper
Persuade Your Audience and Get the Grade
The best way to write a college paper is to apply an organized writing process. That way, you'll quickly be able to craft compelling arguments and back them up with supporting evidence.
Start with Structure
Whether you're analyzing facts in a research paper or interpreting texts in a critical paper, you need to convince your audience of the validity of your interpretation. Give your paper a clear structure — begin with an argument which is laid out through a series of claims, each of which is supported by evidence. Your paper should answer three basic questions:
What is the evidence? Answer this question with a presentation of your research or with evidence from the texts.
What is your interpretation of the evidence? Answer this question with your interpretation of the factual material or texts.
So what? Answer this question with a statement of your argument.
Keep Your Focus Narrow
For a short assignment (three to five pages), choose an argument that can be demonstrated in three or four simple steps. For a longer paper, choose a more ambitious argument.
Establish Your Argument in the First Paragraph
Introduce your paper with an argument or claim. In one prominent sentence, state your case, establishing a position you defend in the body of the paper.
Suppose you've decided to evaluate two theories of economic growth in Mozambique. Instead of opening with a list of facts about Mozambique, try to establish your argument by stating briefly which theory is best and why.
Make Your Argument Specific and Compelling
Compare the following claims:
Okay: "Dependency models are better than core-periphery models."
This argument is far too general — your job is not only to choose among these models of economic development, but to decide which differences between them matter and why. Also, when an argument is too general, it's too easy for your reader to come up with a counterargument before even reading your work.
Better: "The economic history of Mozambique shows that dependency models are better than core-periphery models."
/This takes you a step closer but still doesn't include the final step of calling the reader's attention to how and why these models are important and worthy of comparison.
Best: "The economic history of Mozambique shows that dependency models better explain economic underdevelopment than core-periphery models, particularly in regions of the world relatively unaffected by cold war politics of the 1960s and 1970s."
A statement like this one gives your reader a clear sense of where you're going to take your argument, as well as hinting at why these differences matter.
Tip: If you're writing a research paper
Develop a counterargument to your own. Collect those facts that don't fit neatly into your argument and spell them out in a paragraph near the end of your paper. Identify which hypothesis they appear to support. In a few sentences explain why, despite this seemingly damaging evidence, the hypothesis, model or theory you've chosen to support is better. Don't underestimate the power of this strategy — it is a sophisticated signal of your confidence in your work.
Double-Check Your First Paragraph
When you are finished writing, look back over the first paragraph. Can you identify which sentence states your case? Is it clear to your reader exactly what your argument is? Have you ensured that your reader cannot walk away from your paper thinking, "So what?"
Bolster Your Ideas with Strong Writing
Here are some ways to strengthen your argument and its presentation:
Build your argument in steps. Make sure your sentences follow one another logically and coherently. Include clear transitions between your paragraphs.
Thoroughly express concepts and claims. For each assertion you make, ask yourself, Have I really defended this claim or merely stated it?
Include a number of factual references — not just one or two — throughout your paper to show your familiarity with, and understanding of, the material in question.
Write clearly and convincingly. Take some care with the phrases you construct, the metaphors you employ, and the words you choose.
Tip: If you're writing a critical paper
Don't depend on secondary sources. These may tempt you to rely on the arguments presented by their authors rather than to form your own. Make this a conversation between you, Melville and Hawthorne — or whomever. Use your own judgments and insights to answer the question, and don't be hesitant about presenting criticisms of the authors under consideration.
Cite Your Sources
Here are a few guidelines for presenting evidence in your paper:
Provide a citation for any material that is not your own. This includes items such as a quick page reference; a few facts quoted directly from your source; or an occasional longer passage, table or chart that you deem important enough to include in the body of your writing.
Use footnotes, endnotes or in-text citations to cite your sources. Your professor will specify which format to use. Whatever method you choose, use it consistently throughout your paper.
A Final Note
Try to have fun with your essay. Prove your points, but don't forget that your paper is also an exercise in creativity and communication. Work on your ability to fine-tune a point and really develop it. Your paper should illustrate who you are as a thinker.
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如何撰写大学论文
说服你的观众和品位
最好的方式写大学论文是应用的一个有组织的写作过程。这样，你很快就能获得令人信服的论据和支持他们的支持证据。
开始与结构
无论你是分析事实在研究或解释文本的一个重要的文件，你需要让你的听众的有效性的解释。把你的纸结构清晰-开始一个论点，是通过一系列的主张，这是每一个支持的证据。你的文章应该回答三个基本问题：
证据是什么？回答这个问题，介绍自己的研究或证据的文本。
你有什么证据解释？回答这个问题的解释的事实材料或文本。
那又怎么样？回答这个问题，陈述你的理由。
保持你的焦点狭窄
一分配（三至五页），选择一个论点，可以表现在三个或四个简单的步骤。一个较长的文件，选择一个更雄心勃勃的论点。
建立你的观点在第一段
介绍你的纸，争论或索赔。在一个著名的句子，状态的情况下，建立一个位置，你守在文章的主体。
假定你已经决定评价理论，莫桑比克经济增长。不是开放列表与莫桑比克的事实，尝试建立你的论点说，理论是最好的，为什么。
让你的具体和令人信服的论据
比较以下要求：
好：“依赖模型优于核心边缘模式。”
这个论点是太普通了——你的工作不仅是选择其中的经济发展模式，但决定他们之间的分歧的问题和原因。此外，当一个论点太一般，它太容易为你的读者提出抗辩之前甚至读你的作品。
更好的：“莫桑比克经济史表明，依赖模型优于核心边缘模式。”
这可以让你更接近了一步，但仍然不包括最后一步要求读者的注意，如何和为什么这些模型是重要的和值得比较。
最好的：“莫桑比克经济史表明，依赖模型更好地解释经济欠发达的比核心边缘模型，特别是在世界各地区相对不受冷战政治的20世纪60年代和70年代。”
代写留学生论文这样一个声明给读者清晰地意识到你要去的地方，把你的论点，也暗示了为什么这些分歧的问题。
提示：如果你的研究论文写作
发展一个反驳你自己。收集这些事实不完全适合你的论点和他们在一段接近尾声的纸。确定哪些假设他们似乎支持。用几句简短的话解释为什么，尽管这似乎可信的证据，假设，模型或理论你选择支持更好。不要低估这个战略-这是一个复杂的信号，你的信心，你的工作。
仔细检查你的第一段
当你写完了，回头看第一段。你能确定这句你的情况？它是清晰的读者到底是什么，你的论点吗？你保证，你的读者无法逃离你的文思维，“什么？”
加强你的想法和强烈的写作
这里有一些方法来加强你的论点和介绍：
建立你的论证步骤。确保你的句子是一个逻辑和连贯。包括明确的过渡之间的段落。
彻底表达概念和要求。对于每一个断言你，问自己，我真为这个索赔或只是说它？
包括一些事实资料-不只是一个或2-文章中展示你的熟悉，和理解问题的材料。
写清楚和令人信服的。注意你的短语构建，隐喻雇用你，和你选择的话语。
提示：如果你写了一篇批评文章
不要依靠二手资料。这些会让你依靠他们的作者提出的论点，而不是形成你自己的。使这一对话，麦尔维尔和山楂-或任何人。用你自己的判断和见解来回答这个问题，不要犹豫，提出批评，作者在考虑。
引用你的来源
这里有一些指引，提出的证据在你的论文