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Critical Reading and Writing Critical Reading and Writing for Graduate Schoolfor Graduate School

School of Social Work Graduate Writing WorkshopSchool of Social Work Graduate Writing Workshop

Troy HicksTroy HicksSteve TuckeySteve Tuckey

Beginning WordsBeginning Words

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”

“Rhetoric may be defined as the faculty ofobserving in any given case the availablemeans of persuasion.”

Aristotle

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Presentation OverviewPresentation Overview

•• The Writing CenterThe Writing Center

•• Critical Reading and Writing in Critical Reading and Writing in Graduate SchoolGraduate School

•• APA Style and the Genre of Social APA Style and the Genre of Social Science WritingScience Writing

The MSU Writing CenterThe MSU Writing Center

Locations:Locations:•• 300 Bessey Hall300 Bessey Hall

•• 99--5, Monday 5, Monday –– ThursdayThursday•• 99--2, Friday2, Friday

•• Main LibraryMain Library•• 33--10, Sunday 10, Sunday –– ThursdayThursday

•• http://http://writing.msu.eduwriting.msu.edu•• 432432--36103610

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Writing Center ServicesWriting Center Services

•• OneOne--onon--one one ConsultingConsulting

•• Grad Writing GroupsGrad Writing Groups•• Digital WritingDigital Writing•• Grammar HotlineGrammar Hotline•• Reference LibraryReference Library

•• Citation and style Citation and style manualsmanuals

•• Free Coffee!Free Coffee!

Reading with PurposeReading with Purpose

Reading Reading uponupon texttext•• Understand the context of the piece, who the author is, Understand the context of the piece, who the author is,

and with what authority he/she has to speak about the and with what authority he/she has to speak about the topic.topic.

Reading Reading withinwithin texttext•• Follow the logical of the argument and the evidence that Follow the logical of the argument and the evidence that

the author uses to make claims the author uses to make claims –– does the logic hold up?does the logic hold up?Reading Reading beyondbeyond texttext•• Extend the text by asking questions and comparing to Extend the text by asking questions and comparing to

what others have said what others have said –– do the claims made hold up?do the claims made hold up?ReadingReading againstagainst texttext•• Push against the text by asking questions and contrasting Push against the text by asking questions and contrasting

it to what others have said it to what others have said –– do you agree or disagree do you agree or disagree with the claims that the author is making? Why?with the claims that the author is making? Why?

This may likely require multiple readings!This may likely require multiple readings!

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Analyzing the AssignmentAnalyzing the Assignment

•• Understand the purpose and goals of Understand the purpose and goals of the assignment (and the instructor)the assignment (and the instructor)

•• Approach this as part of your longApproach this as part of your long--term goals, not just one paperterm goals, not just one paper

•• Look for connections to other courses Look for connections to other courses and readings in starting your researchand readings in starting your research

•• Question the assignment and get a Question the assignment and get a clear picture before you beginclear picture before you begin

““MAPS” for Writing in MAPS” for Writing in Graduate SchoolGraduate School•• MModeode

•• Essay, case study, research paper, thesis, client records, Essay, case study, research paper, thesis, client records, examexam

•• AAudienceudience•• Professor, classmates, publication, other professionals and Professor, classmates, publication, other professionals and

cliniciansclinicians

•• PPurposeurpose•• Persuade, inform, summarize, “diagnose,” critically analyzePersuade, inform, summarize, “diagnose,” critically analyze

•• SSituationituation•• What you bring to the writing taskWhat you bring to the writing task•• Specific requirements for the writing taskSpecific requirements for the writing task

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Sample AssignmentSample Assignment

1.1. Using the readings and material discussed Using the readings and material discussed in class (Takein class (Take--home midterm, 2 pages):home midterm, 2 pages):

A. Briefly state your definition of social work and A. Briefly state your definition of social work and discuss the value assumptions inherent in your discuss the value assumptions inherent in your definition.definition.

B.B. Given the definition stated in Part A., what Given the definition stated in Part A., what knowledge is assumed necessary to prepare for knowledge is assumed necessary to prepare for competent practice and how is this knowledge competent practice and how is this knowledge base related to a systems perspective?base related to a systems perspective?

We thank Professor Sally We thank Professor Sally RypkemaRypkema for this example.for this example.

Strategies to Strategies to Begin WritingBegin Writing•• Find relevant quotations in the reading and Find relevant quotations in the reading and

create summaries as you go create summaries as you go –– Save them!Save them!•• Keep a researcher’s notebook/documentKeep a researcher’s notebook/document

•• PrePre--writewrite•• Respond to the reading with the task of the Respond to the reading with the task of the

assignment in mindassignment in mind•• Analyze the author’s argumentAnalyze the author’s argument•• Question the author’s assumptionsQuestion the author’s assumptions•• Connect to other ideasConnect to other ideas

•• Use Use EndnoteEndnote to organize your sources and to organize your sources and relevant summaries, quotes and ideasrelevant summaries, quotes and ideas

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Why Make Citations?Why Make Citations?

•• Give credit where credit is dueGive credit where credit is due•• Citation is not a uniform practice across culturesCitation is not a uniform practice across cultures

•• Position yourself within certain theoretical Position yourself within certain theoretical perspectivesperspectives•• Share and connect your knowledge of the fieldShare and connect your knowledge of the field

•• Create rhetorical moves to make claims and Create rhetorical moves to make claims and strengthen your argumentstrengthen your argument•• Scientific writing has adopted this as a means for Scientific writing has adopted this as a means for

standard way to communicate researchstandard way to communicate research

““Convince” with Convince” with “Evidence”“Evidence”

The “science” we practice is a historically The “science” we practice is a historically recent phenomenon:recent phenomenon:•• Use of validity and Use of validity and generalizabilitygeneralizability•• Mathematical modeling and statisticsMathematical modeling and statistics•• Logical argumentation (analytic) coupled with Logical argumentation (analytic) coupled with

empirical evidenceempirical evidence

•• Even so, scientific communities are Even so, scientific communities are dependent on dependent on human communicationhuman communication

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A Quick Note about the A Quick Note about the “P” Word“P” Word1.00 PROTECTION OF SCHOLARSHIP 1.00 PROTECTION OF SCHOLARSHIP

AND GRADES AND GRADES The principles of truth and honesty are The principles of truth and honesty are

fundamental to the educational process and fundamental to the educational process and the academic integrity of the University; the academic integrity of the University; therefore, no student shall: therefore, no student shall:

1.011.01 claim or submit the academic work of claim or submit the academic work of another as one's own. another as one's own.

1.061.06 fabricate or falsify data or results. fabricate or falsify data or results.

MSU Student Regulations (http://www.vps.msu.edu/SpLife/reg3.htm#1.00)

Some Differences Between Some Differences Between APA and Other StylesAPA and Other Styles

•• Emphasis on date Emphasis on date of publication as a of publication as a means of building means of building on scientific on scientific knowledgeknowledge

•• Author’s first initial Author’s first initial as a means to avoid as a means to avoid gender biasgender bias

•• Other Other differencesdifferences

Photo from apastyle.org

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InIn--Text CitationsText Citations

•• Use signaling words and phrasesUse signaling words and phrases•• As Smith states; According to JonesAs Smith states; According to Jones

•• Direct quotesDirect quotes•• Uses quotations marks and exact wordsUses quotations marks and exact words

•• Paraphrasing/SummarizingParaphrasing/Summarizing•• Uses author’s idea and your own wordsUses author’s idea and your own words

•• Block quotesBlock quotes•• Large sections of text from authorLarge sections of text from author

Paraphrasing vs. Paraphrasing vs. SummarizingSummarizing

Paraphrasing is generally defined as capturing what an author has said using your own words.– In contrast to summarizing many ideas into a

smaller chunk of text, use paraphrasing to capture each idea in an author’s work in your own words.

– Generally, it is easier and more effective to paraphrase an entire paragraph or a concept than it is to paraphrase a single sentence or a few words.

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Ways to CiteWays to Cite

•• Direct QuotesDirect Quotes•• As Smith (1997, p. 2) states, “The As Smith (1997, p. 2) states, “The

original intent of the bill was to limit original intent of the bill was to limit criminal sentences.”criminal sentences.”

•• ParaphrasingParaphrasing•• Smith (1997, p. 2) believes that the bill’s Smith (1997, p. 2) believes that the bill’s

purpose started out as a way to limit purpose started out as a way to limit terms of incarceration.terms of incarceration.

Ways to CiteWays to Cite

•• Block Quotes Block Quotes –– 40 words or more40 words or more•• Freestanding block of textFreestanding block of text•• Tab indentationTab indentation•• No quotation marksNo quotation marks•• Citation after end punctuationCitation after end punctuation

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Citation Style Citation Style -- PrintPrint

•• BookBookLast, First Initial. (Date) Last, First Initial. (Date) Title of book: Title of book:

Subtitle of bookSubtitle of book. City: Publisher.. City: Publisher.

•• JournalJournalLast, First Initial. (Date) Title of article. Last, First Initial. (Date) Title of article.

Title of journal, Title of journal, Volume, Volume, Page(sPage(s).).

Citation Style Citation Style -- OnlineOnline

Regardless of format, however, authors Regardless of format, however, authors using and citing Internet sources should using and citing Internet sources should observe the following two guidelines:observe the following two guidelines:1.1. Direct readers as closely as possible to the Direct readers as closely as possible to the

information being cited; whenever possible, information being cited; whenever possible, reference specific documents rather than home reference specific documents rather than home or menu pages. or menu pages.

2.2. Provide addresses that work. Provide addresses that work.

These are the guidelines from APA, 2003, These are the guidelines from APA, 2003, Electronic media and URLsElectronic media and URLs

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Citation Style Citation Style -- OnlineOnline

•• Web SiteWeb SiteLast, First Initial. (Date) Last, First Initial. (Date) Title of siteTitle of site. Retrieved . Retrieved

Month Date, Year, from http://_____.Month Date, Year, from http://_____.

•• Internet PeriodicalInternet PeriodicalLast, First Initial. (Date) Title of article. Last, First Initial. (Date) Title of article. Title of Title of

journal, journal, Volume, Volume, Page(sPage(s). Retrieved Month ). Retrieved Month Date, Year, from http://_____.Date, Year, from http://_____.

Handout ResourcesHandout Resources

• APA Style• Research and Documentation Online• Using APA Format – Purdue OWL• A Guide for Writing Research Papers • USM APA Style Guide• Duke Library Citing Sources Guide

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Conclusions and Conclusions and QuestionsQuestions•• Reading and writingReading and writing•• APA StyleAPA Style•• The Writing CenterThe Writing Center

•• http://writing.msu.eduhttp://writing.msu.edu•• writing@msu.eduwriting@msu.edu•• 432432--36103610

Critical Reading and Writing Critical Reading and Writing for Graduate Schoolfor Graduate School

Troy HicksTroy Hickshickstro@msu.eduhickstro@msu.edu

Steve TuckeySteve Tuckeytuckeys1@msu.edutuckeys1@msu.edu