Video Content

part 01

Overview

The workshop videos focus on crafting the conclusion section of research articles, providing a comprehensive look at its structure, purpose, and distinction from other sections like the discussion. The presenter delves into various strategies for organising and writing effective conclusions, adapting to disciplinary norms, and aligning with journal guidelines.

Key Aspects Discussed

1. Planning and Structure

• Importance of pre-planning the overall structure of a research article is emphasised to ensure cohesiveness and clarity.

• The conclusion should be a succinct summary that highlights the research's key findings, implications, and potential for future research.

2. Differentiation Between Conclusion and Discussion

• The conclusion section is meant to summarize the study's most significant aspects and evaluate its broader implications, without introducing new research.

• Discussion sections should comment on specific results, whereas conclusions should synthesize the overall outcomes and evaluations.

3. "Move and Steps Model" by Yang and Allison

• The model outlines three primary moves in a conclusion:

  • Move 1: Summarize the study by highlighting its significance and advantages within the discipline.

  • Move 2: Evaluate the study's impact and its positioning within the broader research community.

  • Move 3: Make deductions from the research, such as recommendations for future studies and pedagogical implications.

4. Writing the Abstract First

• A strategy is suggested to write the abstract first to help clarify the main contributions and structure of the paper, guiding the subsequent writing process more efficiently.

5. Practical Assignment and Application

• Participants are encouraged to analyse conclusion sections in journals within their fields to understand how the theoretical models are applied in practice.

• Recommendations are made to evaluate the structure of conclusions in relation to the journal’s and discipline's norms.

Conclusion

These workshop videos provide invaluable guidance for academic writers on structuring the conclusion section of their research papers. By differentiating between conclusion and discussion, applying structured models like the "Move and Steps Model," and emphasizing the importance of strategic planning and early drafting of the abstract, researchers can enhance the clarity and impact of their studies.

Learning Strategy Conclusion

Instructions

Use this prompt sheet after watching the workshop videos on writing conclusion sections in research articles. Respond to each prompt thoughtfully, considering how the discussed concepts apply to your current and future research writing. This exercise will help you internalise effective writing strategies and improve your academic writing skills.

Prompt Sheet

1. Summarize Your Understanding

   • What are the three primary moves in a conclusion as outlined by Yang and Allison? Describe each move and its purpose in your own words.

2. Evaluate Current Practices

   • Reflect on the last conclusion you wrote for a research paper:

     • Did you clearly summarize the study’s contributions to the field?

     • How did you evaluate the study in the broader context of your discipline?

     • Did you make any recommendations for future research or note pedagogical implications?

3. Comparison with Discussion Section

   • Based on the videos, how does the content and purpose of the conclusion differ from the discussion section of a research article?

   • Review a recent research article you wrote or are currently writing: Are there elements in your discussion that should be moved to the conclusion? Or vice versa?

4. Strategic Writing Decisions

   • How can writing the abstract first help in structuring the rest of your research paper, especially the conclusion?

   • Plan how you might implement this strategy in your next research writing project.

5. Application of Learning

   • Considering the conclusions in the journals within your field, identify a particularly effective conclusion and analyze why it works well. How does it adhere to the "Move and Steps Model"?

   • How can you apply these insights to improve the conclusions in your own research articles?

6. Set Personal Goals

   • Based on your reflections and the insights gained from the workshop, set three specific goals to improve your conclusion writing skills.

   • What steps will you take to achieve these goals? Consider aspects like additional readings, peer feedback, and iterative revisions.

7. Feedback and Revision

   • After writing your next article's conclusion, seek feedback from peers or mentors. What specific aspects of the conclusion should they focus on to provide constructive feedback?

   • How will you use this feedback to revise and strengthen your conclusion?

Abstract

Importance of Abstracts

• Abstracts serve as a concise and accurate summary of a research article. They are vital as they represent the entire research, pulling key elements from the study’s introduction, methods, results, and discussion.

Structural Overview

• The abstract must be informative and persuasive, serving to attract readers to delve deeper into the article. It should ideally cover all key sections of the research including the study’s background, methodology, main findings, and the implications of these findings.

Models for Writing Abstracts

• Two main models are presented for structuring abstracts effectively:

  1. Santos’s Model (1996): This model involves situating the research, presenting the research purpose, describing the methodology, summarising the findings, and discussing the results.

  2. Hyland's Model: Similar to Santos's but includes specific moves like establishing context, stating the research purpose, describing methods, outlining the main findings (products), and concluding with the interpretation of these findings.

Practical Exercise

• The presenter suggests an exercise based on "Brown's Eight Questions" from 1994-1995, which encourages detailed thinking about the abstract’s content and helps frame the entire research. These questions focus on identifying the audience, defining the research purpose, describing actions taken, and elucidating the theoretical and practical meanings of the results.

Conclusion and Recommendations

• It is recommended that researchers write the abstract first as it helps in framing and planning the text, ensuring that all necessary components are considered and appropriately addressed.

Learning Strategies Abstracts

Part 1: Understanding the Content

1. Summarize the Main Points:

   • What are the key challenges of writing an abstract as mentioned in the video?

   • List the two models for abstract writing presented. What are the major components of each model?

2. Reflection:

   • Which part of the abstract do you find most challenging to write and why?

   • How do the models presented in the video align with how you were taught to write an abstract?

Part 2: Self-Regulation in Learning

1. Goal Setting:

   • What are your immediate goals for improving your abstract writing skills based on this video?

   • How will you measure your progress towards these goals?

2. Strategies for Learning:

   • Identify two new strategies mentioned in the video that you can use to improve your abstract writing. Explain how you plan to implement these strategies in your next writing task.

Part 3: Applying the Knowledge

1. Practical Application:

   • Choose one of your recent abstracts or draft one. Apply the "Santos’s Model" to revise it. Reflect on any changes you make: what did you add, delete, or alter?

2. Peer Interaction:

   • How could you use feedback from peers to further refine your abstract based on the models discussed?

   • Plan a session with a peer to discuss your abstract. What specific aspects of the abstract would you like feedback on?

Part 4: Evaluation and Adjustment

1. Self-Evaluation:

   • After revising your abstract using the suggested models, evaluate its strengths and weaknesses. What worked well? What still needs improvement?

   • How does reflecting on these models affect your understanding of what makes an effective abstract?

2. Future Learning Plans:

   • Based on this reflection, what specific areas in your writing do you plan to focus on next?

   • How can you integrate the concepts from this video into your routine academic activities?