Overheads from Class 1/16/02

Why do we write in psychology?

1. Have something to say.

The part of writing in psychology that you all dread is doing the research to find something to say.
                        This is backwards.

Think of something that interests you.

What would you like to be able to say about it?

Why does it interest you? Start there.

Finding something that interests you.

Might start with something from the popular press and then go and pursue the more academic research on it.

What do YOU want to say about the topic?

Not what does the professor want you to say. You can construct an argument for just about any thesis.
            The key is to construct it in such a way that you can use evidence to back up your position.

e.g., Why does your topic interest you? Why should others find it interesting?

e.g., The topic of your first extended writing assignment is why you are a major in psychology but you are not just going to tell why; you are going to persuade your imagined audience why they should major in psychology. More information on this next Wednesday.

        2. To learn
            To transform our knowledge, not just to tell what we know or what we read.

If you just tell, you run a high risk of creating a patch work quilt, and a higher risk of plagiarism.
            Why completely rewrite what a perfectly good writer already wrote?
            Good writing not only persuades your audience but it persuades yourself. That is, good writing – the process of writing -- changes your knowledge and beliefs. It leads you to new understandings.

  3. To speak to an audience. (Nature vs Newspaper)

There are different audiences and different journals and publication outlets for them.
                   (Sci to Sci; To Inform Public; To educate in formal settings.)

Psychologists have devised a set of conventions for talking with one another.

             The conventions define a set of literate practices in the community.

       Form and content expectations that accomplish different functions.

      The conventions are realized in different forms of writing or genres. (SWM chps. 9, 10, 11)

a. Literature Review/Research Synthesis

Often involves critique of article(s) or position(s) that have been put forth previously.

    b. Experimental Research Report

Investigate a problem or issue through hypothesis or research question.
                        Use empirical data to argue the position.

c. Essay laying out a Theoretical Position – often a combination of a and b.

Genres have in common: each has an argument structure.

    AS: Claim backed by evidence.

        Much of psychology writing is about rival hypotheses.
(Flower, et al. pg. 33-34 – summarizes the evolution of the experimental research report with respect to rival hypotheses. )