In today’s class we discussed chapter ten in Craft of Research. The chapter dealt with Acknowledgments and Responses and how we as researchers must acknowledge and respond to our audience’s point of view. We then broke up into our five individual groups and discussed the importance of each part of the chapter to clearly explain acknowledgments and responses to our classmates. Group number three explained answering questions you can’t answer.
Group number three felt that not every researcher has the answer to all unanswered questions. Stating that it’s better to redefine or rebuild your argument or problem. Rather than discount your problem hoping that your audience will not notice. Another way to tackle this was to turn your disappointment into a victory. It may sound a little farfetched but you can turn the claim you at first desired into a hypothesis that your audience might think is sensible. Lastly every experienced researcher and professor will understand that everyone’s version of the truth is a confusing one, but they will acknowledge you for understanding your limits.
By Joseph Givens
I think Joseph's post reminds us that we must also scrutinize the very resources we use to write our papers. Just as one reader will question the content of our research, we need to do the same thing when using other sources.
ReplyDeleteAs a member of group three, I felt it necessary to elaborate on some of Joseph's points. The chapter we dealt with emphasized some now all-too-familiar themes we have discussed in class in extensive detail. As we now all understand, it is important to remember that, though we as researchers can't possibly know everything there is to know about a topic, we should have a superior understanding of our subject and be able to answer most questions our readers might ask of us. When faced with a question we can't answer, however, we should be able to work with this predicament and not try and fight it. We should use phrases such as "further research is necessary" when discussing unanswerable questions.
ReplyDelete-Jeffrey
ReplyDeleteThe decisive point that Jon Pratt elaborates about, on which the authors from The Craft of Research explained will greatly benefit the way one drafts a research paper. Just jumping from a topic to collecting data may seem like an easy task, and one not worth sweating over, but your readers want more than a mound of random facts. Beginning with a question will help guide your research for an answer to the problem brought up through the interrogating process. You want to intrigue not only yourself but your readers just as well. Also, starting a rough outline of your research paper is a beneficial way to spit down your main focus and points to include into your piece of writing. Having access to a rough outline as you begin to draw up your first draft will help you stay on the topic, hitting your main points, and not forgetting to answer your question that you drew up beforehand. Forgetting about what you want your reader to take away from your research paper will lead you into a problem, and if you go too far off topic, then you will have lost your audience. I have drafted outlines before and other times I did not think it was necessary to. I have witnessed how drafting an outline, kept me from just rambling on fact after fact, and instead hitting topics to help the reader better understand why /how this is the way it is. Some of you may think that drafting an outline is time consuming, but some sort of plan helps you write efficiently, and helps your readers read productively. To further my point, the book states: “an experienced carpenter just does not start sawing. They draw up a second plan, a rough blueprint for a first draft – maybe no more than a sketch of an outline.” So as you can see, draft plan after plan until you find one that works best for you.
In relation to Joseph's response, I am strong believer that researchers should always mention their weaknesses within the paper itself. In all areas of research, researchers are not always able to answer every singles questions that is thrown at them. However, just because a researcher does not know anything does not mean they should ignore their faults. One way of mentioning an area of problem is to acknowledge objections and alternatives by using words such as despite, regardless, etc and then state the missing idea. Many researchers believe that if they mention a non discovered question, that they are failures however, they are actually avoiding being non bias.
ReplyDeleteI agree completely with the responses to the post, as well as Joseph. In order to fully understand the topics we are to discuss, we must also find the faults withing our sources so we as researchers can work around them. We must question our own understanding of our topics as well. And in order to work around those faults, we must embrace them, and make them our strength. For if we were to present our topic with numerous faults, the likelihood of someone actually believing you is going to diminish.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Alex in that acknowledging objections and alternatives to your research by using words like regardless and despite would keep your work from seeming bias. Also by stating the alternatives to your work you show that you are well rounded and know the topic you are discussing. It shows that through your own research you have looked into all of the questions/answers of your problem, which makes the audience see you as reliable.
ReplyDeleteYou have to present your problem in a way that all audience members will feel welcome to review your work. If you seem bias and unconcerned with anyone's input on the topic,other than your own, readers will not be open to take your side of the problem.
I agree with group three's opinion regarding acknowledging audience. I feel that it is important to restructure one's claim to suit the needs of their audience. That way all readers, not just a writer or their superiors, can understand a given topic.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, I feel that it is important for a writer to pic a topic which their audience can relate to. In doing this, it helps the writer to form a claim which their audience can understand.
I agree with the post and what Meghan said that you should show all sides of your statement. I feel that if you over ride the good things over the bad things your reader will see your point and be on your side.
ReplyDeleteIn chapter ten in Craft of Research, the authors are talking about how all researchers, beginning or advanced need to convince readers they are thoughtful and judicious. I definitely agree with group number three’s response. It is very true that not every researcher has the answer to all unanswered questions, but when writing, you need to make it seem that way. Your readers should believe that you are highly informed on whatever topic you are writing about.
ReplyDeleteKRISTI QUINN
It is definitely important to deal with acknowledgments and responses of your readers. You need to look like a professional in the topic that you researched. However, there’s always a readers response that you can’t answer or you just don’t know. You don’t want to avoid the response, but add to your argument and rebuild it so that maybe the readers will understand better. As a researcher, you do need to know your limits and let things flow sometimes. You don’t want to look like you don’t know about your argument so you need to have confidence when responding to your readers and that way your readers will respect your research.
ReplyDeleteI think two things are implicit in Joseph's post and the chapter. Firstly, not every research paper can or should be able to be the ultimate authority on a subject or answer to a question. Researchers must understand the limits of their studies and accept that they are only adding another piece to the puzzle in their respective fields. To try and portray a paper otherwise will often find the researcher speaking in absolutes rather than acknowledging their work's shortcomings.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, I think another important point that was mentioned by someone else is that researchers must also be critical of the validity of others' work. I mean this in the sense of not simply accepting a source at face value because of the titles and accolades of the author. The best sources and papers readily admit their limitations.
I agree with group three's opinion regarding acknowledging audience. I also agree that the researcher should keep their work from being bias. The researcher should always state their point, but also always state the other point to help the reader understand their claim. As long as the researcher understands their limits when writing, their material should flow properly.
ReplyDeleteAs a writer acknowledging that you do not know everything is extremely important in the writing process. Although readers want to feel that their author knows what they are talking about it, it is also extremely important to explain to your reader that although you have gained as much information as you could about the topic there is always more to be learned. Another important part of writing is letting your readers know that there are always two sides to a story and although you have evidence to support your claims there may be information to discredit your claim so you either need to over come that information or work through it.
ReplyDeleteJessica Young said:
ReplyDeleteI think everyone has made a valid point in regards to acknowledging your limits and being prepared at answer questions at every spectrum of your research. Being unable to answer questions from the audience simply disclaims your entire research. Yes the research you propose is very important, but the way you answer the questions the audience ask may be the most important decision “swayer” of your audience. For example: You just gave the best presentation of your college career on the importance of art classes in high schools. You kept the audience focused, and all of your information was backed by several credible sources. Then the question part of your presentation comes, and you’re asked a question that you can’t answer. Do you think the audience is going to be understanding when you’re standing in front of them dumbfounded? Highly doubtful! Make sure you understand your presentation, and acknowledge that you may not know the answer to everything. Very well said Joseph.
Rachel said:
ReplyDeleteI agree with group three’s opinion about acknowledging the audience. I think that the author should try and keep their writing from being biased when writing a paper that isn’t a persuasive paper. I also agree that the author should admit to when they aren’t completely sure about something that they are writing about, and that the reader should do more research, because I wouldn’t want to read something about an important thing going on and then find out that when I repeated the information that I read that the research wasn’t completely true.
Disregarding information could possibly be one of the worst things you could do. All that needs to happen is some research your research and find that what you were trying to state was in fact false making everything you worked for a waste of time. You can also lose a lot of credibility among people when you decide to leave out points. It's best to include them in your argument and come up with counter points.
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