南京医科大学《大学英语》Writing tips for the Discussion Section.docVIP

PAGE PAGE 1 Writing tips for the Discussion Section You have carefully written the hypothesis. You have designed the study and collected the data. You have conducted the statistical analysis and grouped the summary results into table and graphs. But what does it mean? Explaining the meaning of the results to the reader is the purpose of the discussion section. Although the discussion comes at the end of the paper, you should be thinking about what you will write in the discussion section from the moment that the study is conceived. Questions that you will develop in the discussion should be considered from the study’s outset. Why is the study important? How does this study relate to previous studies? What are the limitations of the study design? There are elements of the discussion that should be included and other things that should be avoided. Most important, always write the discussion for the reader; the discussion is not a forum for you to impress others with your knowledge of the subject. You should be trying to convince the reader of the merits of the study results. General Suggestions: The primary function is to relate the present work to previous reports and to point to future efforts. An introductory statement can describe – again – the purpose of the studies. If it is reasonable, the topics in the Discussion should be parallel to those in the Results. Main purpose is to present principles, relationships, and generalizations about the findings reported in the paper. The length of the Discussion is generally proportional to the amount of new information presented (1/4 text). It should contain about one word for every four words in other parts of the manuscript. Use present and past tense, as appropriate. Present tense: Other published work, including your own work. Past tense: your present work Avoid re-stating the Background/Introduction information but prepare the Discussion in the context of the Background/Introduction. Avoid reiteration of Results, b