Writing and Editorial Guidelines
Organization with a clear structure
Precision and clarity
Logical and rational arguments/statements
Well researched and documented
Concise, yet informative, and readable
Research Paper Overview
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Introduction
Statement of the Problem
Discussion
Judgment
Conclusion
Common Structure
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Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (11th ed.)
http://www.merriam-webster.com/
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association
Better known as the “APA style guide”
Tools
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Do not use double spaces following sentence-ending periods
Do not use underlines
Avoid sexist language
Common Problems
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Take care in the use of such adverbs as “very” and “quite”
Do not mix singular nouns with plural pronouns
Capitalize only proper nouns
Italicize only book, movie and TV program titles, and words that are defined
Common Problems
Do not add quotes for emphasis
Understand the different applications for commas, semicolons and colons
Break up your paragraphs such that you deal with only one primary theme in each
Substantiate any statements of fact
Common Problems
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Verbose: It seems that the state government is looking for every possible way to reduce debt and expenditures in every corner that they can.
Better: It seems that the state government is looking for every possible way to reduce debt and expenditures in every corner that they can.
Wordiness
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Verbose: The criminal justice system in California has many areas where there are many problems, but in my opinion I think the correction area has the most problems.
Better: The criminal justice system in California has a variety of problems in many areas where there are many problems, but in my opinion I think the corrections area has the most problems.
Wordiness (cont’d.)
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Verbose: I think by having our punishment system aim significantly more toward deterrence in such a way as to have those who are considering criminal activity see the crime as not worth the possible consequences, our crime rate will greatly decrease.
Better: I think by having our punishment system aim significantly more toward deterrence in such a way as to have those who are considering criminal activity see the crime as not worth the possible consequences, our crime rate will greatly decrease.
Wordiness (cont’d.)
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Criminals specifically research in advance specific countries to which they can flee in order to avoid capture and prosecution in the United States.
Our tax dollars and grants often go to ensure that prison inmates are given luxuries that many people who work hard every day outside the prison walls are not able to afford.
Substantiation
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Bayley (1991) reported that…
The incidence of elder abuse has increased twofold over the past five years (Fuentes & Gatz, 1983; Leishman, 2007; National Police Agency, 2003a).
As a result of the decision in Lessard v. Schmidt (1972),…
Appendix 7.1, Section A7.03, provides a number of examples.
Text Citations
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A citation is required for any quote that is used.
Where possible, the page number should also be included.
Example: The study shows “a significant need to develop new policy initiatives to address the issue of elder abuse” (Katz, Webb, & Schaefer, 2001, p. 141).
Text Citations
You must provide a citation for any quote that you use.
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A quotation of 40 words or more must be set up as a block quotation:
A nation which has forgotten the quality of courage which in the past has been brought to public life is not as likely to insist upon or regard that quality in its chosen leaders today—and in fact we have forgotten. (Kennedy, 1961, p. 17)
Text Citations
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A personal communication is cited as follows:
The program was outlined by T. K. Lutes (personal communication, April 18, 2011).
(V.-G. Nguyen, personal communication, September 28, 2008)
A personal communication is cited only in the text, not in the Reference listing.
Includes private letters, memos, e-mail, personal interviews, phone conversations, and the like.
Text Citations
One Work by One Author (Book)
Bayley, D. (1991). Forces of order: Policing modern Japan. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Article without DOI (Government Document)
Cabinet Office. (2006). White paper on the national lifestyle 2006. Retrieved on January 5, 2010, from http://www5.cao.go.jp/seikatsu/whitepaper/h18/10_pdf/01_honpen/index.html
Journal Article with DOI
Fuentes, M. E., & Gatz, M. (1983). Fear of crime in the elderly: Its relation to leaving one’s abode, self-reported health and sense of personal control. Gerontologist, 23, 296–315. doi:10.1037/a0009036
References
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Government Report
Kanayama, T., & Eguchi, A. (2009). Japan’s challenge on the increase in crime in the new century. Tokyo: Police Policy Research Center, National Police Agency of Japan.
Book Chapter
Knight, J., & Traphagan, J. W. (2003). The study of the family in Japan. In J. W. Traphagan & J. Knight (Eds.), Demographic change and the family in Japan’s aging society (pp. 3–23). Albany: State University of New York Press.
References
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Title Translated into English
Kochi Prefecture. (2009). Kochi no Tokei 2008 [Statistics of Kochi 2009]. Kochi, Japan: Author.
Two Works from the Same Author in the Same Year
National Police Agency. (2003a). Keisatsu hakusho, 2002-1 [White paper on police 2002-1]. Tokyo: Author.
National Police Agency. (2003b). Keisatsu hakusho, 2002-2 [White paper on police 2002-2]. Tokyo: Author.
References
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Book (edition)
Reichel, P. L. (2008). Comparative criminal justice systems: A topical approach (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Journal with No Volume Information
Wilson, J. Q., & Kelling, G. (1982, March). Broken windows: The police and neighborhood safety. Atlantic Monthly, 29–38.
References
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What Is a Scholarly Journal?
Scholarly Journals
Commercial Publications
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What is the purpose of the article?
Who is the author?
Who are the target readers?
What does the article look like?
Are information sources cited?
5 Factors to Consider
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Scholarly Journals
Report on research findings and scholarship
Review other scholarly works
Other Periodicals
Report on current topics, events, and news
Entertain and/or persuade
Purpose
The main purpose of a research report is to condense the findings in order to enable readers to understand the implications of the data analysis.
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Scholarly Journals
Scholars, researchers, experts, and students
Written in scholarly or technical language
Other Periodicals
General readers
Written in non-technical language for anyone to understand
Audience
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Layout
Scholarly Journals
Other Periodicals
Serious and formal
Few or no advertisements
Tables of statistics, graphs, maps, or photos that support the text
Articles are usually lengthy and detailed
Attractive and entertaining
Glossy paper, photos, illustrations, and advertisements
Articles are often short (1‒5 pages), little depth or detail
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Sources
Scholarly Journals
Other Periodicals
A bibliography (references/works cited) and/or footnotes are ALWAYS provided to document research thoroughly
Cited in the particular style assigned by the journal (e.g. APA, MLA, Chicago)
A bibliography is usually not provided, although names of reports or references may be mentioned in the text
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