For ENGL 3150 Online

1. 1
Reading and Writing
Research Reports, part 1
Lecture 6.2: Adapted from Penrose & Katz, Writing in the Sciences , Chapter 4(2010)

2. Reading and Writing
Research Reports, part 1
Adapted from Penrose & Katz, Writing in the Sciences (2010)
2
1. Journals are the principle medium through which individual
scientists share their theories and results with the scientific
community (92)
2. Most journals are quite explicit about their audience and goals
(92)
3. The ultimate influence of a paper in the scientific community
may be significantly determined by the journal in which it
appears (92)
Research Journals and Their Readers

3. Adapted from Penrose & Katz, Writing in the Sciences (2010)
3
1. The communication of research results is far from
straightforward; they serve an interpretive and persuasive
function (93)
2. Reports do not just explain what was done, but why it is
important and useful; they are carefully constructed arguments
(93)
3. Researchers seek to convince readers that their research
questions are important, methods were sensibly chosen and
carried out, their interpretations are sound, and their work
serves a valuable contribution (93)
Argumentation in Science
Reading and Writing
Research Reports, part 1

4. Adapted from Penrose & Katz, Writing in the Sciences (2010)
4
4. IMRAD: Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion—most
common structure. Each section contains an argument (93)
5. Framing sections = Introduction & Discussion (current state of
field before and after study was conducted—typically use
present verb tense)
Argumentation in Science
Reading and Writing
Research Reports, part 1

5. Adapted from Penrose & Katz, Writing in the Sciences (2010)
5
http://www.cmpharm.ucsf.edu/~lle8/lee_lawrence_NLM_poster_2006.png
Reading and Writing
Research Reports, part 1
Argumentation in Science
6. Describing sections = Methods and Results (where the study is
actually described—typically use past verb tense) (94)
Examples: Framing: “Factors that limit the distribution of the
cougar are not known entirely but include climatic features,
availability of prey, and habitat features.” Describing: “We
searched for cougar tracks between December and April each
year”; “Summer and winter home ranges…overlapped
extensively”
7. One of the effects of past tense is to localize and limit findings to
particular researchers or labs, whereas present tense identifies a
claim or conclusion as part of the current understanding (95)

6. Adapted from Penrose & Katz, Writing in the Sciences (2010)
6
Reading and Writing
Research Reports, part 1
The Logic of Scientific Inquiry
1. IMRAD is not suitable for theoretical or historical research—the
primary goal of such research is not to test hypotheses but to
formulate hypotheses, to propose theories or models that
account for the field’s observations to date
2. But theoretical and historical research still uses framing
sections (introductions and conclusions); the body, however,
tends to vary (96)

7. Adapted from Penrose & Katz, Writing in the Sciences (2010)
7
Introducing the Research Problem
Reading and Writing
Research Reports, part 1
1. Introductions explain research objectives, argue that the
research is important, and places study in context of previous
research (97)
2. READ SCRAMBLED INTRODUCTION IN FIGURE 4.2
In this brief paragraph, authors identify the research area,
describe the state of the field’s knowledge in this area, and
have shown how their study will advance that knowledge (98)
3. Introductions are designed to create a space or niche that new
research will fill—Create a Research Space (CARS) (98)

8. Adapted from Penrose & Katz, Writing in the Sciences (2010)
8
4. Three moves: 1) establish topic and significance, 2) establish
need for research, 3) introduce present research
5. Introducing present research not always necessary in IMRAD
format, but absolutely necessary where format is less predictable
(100)
6. CARS method is useful to know, but recognize that it is a flexible
sequence of rhetorical moves that authors combine to achieve
rhetorical goals
7. Effectiveness of argument largely rests on describing what the
field knows now
Introducing the Research Problem
Reading and Writing
Research Reports, part 1