1022 TPS Punctuation Mastery Contest-Win Your NTD200 eslite Gift Certificate! 你是善用標點符號的高手嗎?有機會獲得200元誠品圖書商場購物禮卷!

2012-10-22
Words, like motor vehicles, need signposts and signals to keep them from running together. Punctuation frees words to move readers, to instruct and inspire them. The following example of writing either contains inappropriate punctuation or lacks marks that are needed. Note: The example may contain more than one punctuation error. The first TPS Fan to correct the writing sample as we believe it should be corrected will win a NTD200 eslite bookstore and shopping mall Gift Certificate.
文字就像汽車,需要交通標誌與燈號才不會打結,標點符號可以釋放文字,讓字句能打動、指引、啟發讀者。以下範例可能標點符號不正確,或少了必需的標點符號。注意,句中可能不只有一個標點符號錯誤。最先改正錯誤,並寫出最佳解答的一位 TPS 粉絲,將能贏得兩百元誠品圖書商場購物禮卷。

題目Contest Sentence:

“Then the medal winning skiers turned away down the hall in their stocking feet they crept and flew out the lodges back door like children at recess they squealed.

Last Update at 2012-10-26 PM 12:44 | 0 Comments

What does that mean? 你真的瞭解這個慣用語嗎?

2012-10-18
很多字詞並非表面所見的意思,字詞的組合會產生不同的解釋。這樣的慣用法,我們稱之為「比喻」。一個成功的比喻,作者本身必須相當瞭解字詞的源起。以下的句子為讀者介紹一個比喻及其來源。
Imagery buries itself in language and takes on new meaning. The transplanted and transformed sets of words are called “figures of speech.” For a figure of speech to be effective, however, a writer must first understand the original meaning of the phrase. The following sentence contains a common figure of speech. Its original meaning is explained.

“When the book-selection committee announced its choice, bitterly disappointed library staff members huddled around the Jotul stove, stoking their resentment.”
「書籍評委會公布書單後,失望的圖書館員圍在火爐旁,煽動不滿的情緒。」

Wildfires sweep across vast regions of open land without much encouragement, a small spark getting caught up in a wind and turning into a conflagration. But smaller, contained fires usually are not as spontaneous. They need nurturing. This is when a fire-tender “stokes” a fire. If the fire has died down, he stirs its red-hot embers until air can encircle them and cause them to flare again. Then he introduces new fuel that is small enough in diameter to be ignited by the embers and smoldering ash. In this way, a dying fire is given new life and heat again is produced.
野火無須煽動就能燎原,火星經風勢助長也會化成熊熊烈焰。但爐內微小的火焰通常不會自發性的燃燒,需要培育。因此顧火的人必須「stoke」(煽動)火焰。若火焰已經熄滅,就需翻動熾熱的餘燼,直到包圍的空氣讓火焰再度燃起。接著還要加入柴薪,柴薪必須夠細,才能讓餘燼點燃。這樣一來,即將熄滅的火焰就能復燃,再度發熱。

When the writer talks about a group of disappointed people “stoking their resentment,” he is using the fire-building metaphor. Singly, the individuals are smoldering with bad feeling. When they gather—symbolically around a wood-burning stove—they figuratively blow on each other’s embers until they together become a hot, open flame of dissatisfaction. The usual conclusion in such situations is that the disgruntlement consumes some of the people, just as a fire consumes a log, and they are destroyed by the experience. The metaphor works beautifully clear to the end.
文章寫到一群失望的人「煽動不滿的情緒」,使用了生火的比喻。個人不滿的情緒獨自鬱積,等他們聚集在一起,象徵性地圍繞著燒柴的火爐,每個人心中的不快受到比喻性的煽動,最後燒成不滿的怒火。在這種情況下,結局通常就像火焰燒掉柴薪,不滿也會「燒」掉、毀滅一些人。這個比喻直到最後都很貼切。

Last Update at 2012-10-19 AM 10:25 | 0 Comments

Professor Pedantic 教授的考究學問

2012-10-17
TPS的編輯教授在此歡迎關於學術文章的所有詢問,當然,其實他並沒有足夠的時間給你。他擁有終身教職的教授身份,也是著名的學術巨作作者。即便如此,他仍大方地接受你們的詢問。將關於學術方面的詢問寫在下方,你將獲得教授的親自指導,陶冶對學術的探索與啟發。
The professor awaits your query on academic writing, though in all honesty, he doesn’t have a lot of time for you. He is a tenured full professor and working on yet another magnificent academic tome. Even so, he has graciously consented to entertain your question. Submit it and prepare to be edified.

QUESTION: I am a logical person and my papers are logical. Yet I have been told my logic sometimes is faulty and my conclusions wrongly drawn. Is there a fail-safe way to check logic?
我做事合乎邏輯,文章也符合邏輯,但有人說我的邏輯有時候有錯,推導出有問題的結論。有什麼辦法可以檢查邏輯,保證不會發生錯誤?

Is any system “fail-safe?” Man has found imaginative ways to override safeguards of all kinds and done himself injury. Logic has its own internal mechanisms that guard against failure, but they are only as good as the person employing them. So if you are indeed a logical person, yet you are submitting academic papers that contain illogical formulations and conclusions, one of three factors is happening: A) You are wrong about being logical; B) your professors are wrong in attributing illogical behavior to you; or C) you think logically, but write illogically.
有什麼方法「保證不會發生錯誤」?人以各種想得到的方法違反邏輯規則,結果害了自己。邏輯自有內在機制避免錯誤,但這些機制必須加以運用才能發揮成效。如果你確實是合乎邏輯的人,但寫出的學術文章還是有不合邏輯的式子或結論,原因可能是:A) 你其實缺乏邏輯,B) 說你缺乏邏輯的教授錯了,或 C) 你的想法符合邏輯,但寫作卻不然。

I will assume “C” is the answer and will suggest ways to bring your writing into conformity with your thinking. First of all, understand this: Being essentially logical in your conduct is not a high enough standard for academic writing. Powerful papers are not middlingly logical. They are studiously logical with reasoning so tightly woven into the organization and text of a paper that it takes on a life of its own. This is accomplished by carefully planning the flow of material so it unfailingly carries a reader to a conclusion. Weak assertions and logical eddies are not allowed.
假設答案是「C」,那麼我建議以下方法,讓你的寫作與思考一樣符合邏輯。首先要知道,學術寫作不能只是文字符合邏輯,這樣的標準還不夠。文章要有力,邏輯不能只有半吊子,論證必須緊扣文章組織與內容,邏輯非常嚴謹,才能發揮。同時寫作也要精心規劃,使文章通順,才能正確無誤的引出結論,不能有薄弱的主張或邏輯混亂。

Deductive reasoning is the preferred logic sequence because it is the surest. It employs known truths or facts to reach a verifiable or indisputable conclusion. Inductive reasoning also can be used. However, it is more dangerous because inadvertent faulty reasoning can more easily slip into it. In short, if you use straightforward logic grounded in deduction and communicate it clearly, your papers will not be deemed illogical. This assumes, of course, that you strictly adhere to rules of logic. A system of thinking is only as effective as the person using it.
另外,演繹式推理從已知的真相或事實,推導出可驗證或無法質疑的結論,最為可靠,是較佳的邏輯推論法。歸納式推理較容易在無意中產生錯誤推論,因此雖然可行卻比較危險。簡單來說,如果文章能用直接易懂的邏輯進行演繹式推理,並清楚說明,就不會缺乏邏輯。當然,你必須嚴格遵守邏輯規則。邏輯思考方式唯有確實運用,才能發揮成效。

Last Update at 2012-10-19 AM 10:22 | 0 Comments

1015 TPS One Word Away From Confusion Contest-Answer and Explanation你能找出混淆字嗎? 正確解答!

2012-10-16
Correct best answer: Replace “prawns” with “fawns.”

“A doe and two spotted fawns played in the meadow near the house, but when the hunter walked over the hill, the animals froze and then bounded away.”

This classic mistake cannot be easily excused. It is not a typo, since two letters are substituted for one. It is not a totally nonsensical substitution, since prawns and fawns are both living things though unalike in most characteristics. It is a glaring error borne of tiredness or sloppiness or some other human weakness that has not been safeguarded against by proofreading or by letting someone else see it other than the writer. In the end, the writer will be embarrassed by the ensuing laughter, which may or may not be sufficient incentive to become more careful.
要為這個誇張的錯誤找藉口並不容易。這不是打錯字,因為有兩個字母被換成一個字母,這個字也不是完全沒有意義,「prawn」(明蝦)和「fawn」(小鹿)都是動物,只是彼此特性完全不同。或許是因為疲倦、馬虎或其他過失,又沒有校對或另一個人把關,才造成這個明顯的錯誤。這個好笑的錯誤肯定讓作者很尷尬,或許作者以後會知道要更小心一點。

Last Update at 2012-10-16 AM 11:14 | 0 Comments

1015 TPS One Word Away From Confusion Contest-Win Your NTD200 7-11/Starbucks Prize! 你能找出混淆字嗎? 有機會獲得200元7-11/星巴克咖啡禮券!

2012-10-15
撰寫學術文章時,每字每句都需要謹慎著墨。改變幾個字就會使完整的一句話變得令人摸不著頭緒。下列的句子中,為使這句話能完整且有意義的表達,請選出你認為會令人感到困惑的字,我們將提供7-11/星巴克咖啡NTD200元禮券,給予挑出混淆字,並寫出最佳替代字的第1位粉絲,最適的解答與獲獎的粉絲姓名,將於明天公佈於本TPS的專頁。請將你的答案寫在下方,獲得免費購物禮券的幸運兒可能就是你哦!
Every word is important in a well-written academic paper. Changing just a word or two can turn a clear sentence into a confusing one. Tell us what word you would change in the following puzzling sentence to render it more meaningful. The first best answer will receive a NTD200 7-11/Starbucks Gift Certificate.

題目Contest Sentence:
“A doe and two spotted prawns played in the meadow near the house, but when the hunter walked over the hill, the animals froze and then bounded away.”

Last Update at 2012-10-16 AM 11:12 | 0 Comments

十月份最新學術專欄「6 Essential Rules for Persuasive Writing發揮寫作說服力的六大準則」幫助您增加自信,更能擄獲讀者的心!

2012-10-12
親愛的TPS Facebook粉絲與電子報的訂閱讀者,您們好:

創作學術文章猶如一場打仗,您準備好迎接挑戰了嗎?

不管您是自己選擇或教授指定,若要寫作論說式學術文章,必須先做好心理準備。您必須說明個人意見,選定觀點也很重要,結構與表達尤其攸關文章成敗。TPS將於十月份推出新學術專欄,介紹六大關鍵準則,讓您在寫作時發揮說服力,每項準則都會刊登在 TPS 粉絲專頁,並在最後集結於 TPS 學術電子報。

別忘了九月份已刊登完成的「7 Ways to Pace Yourself through a Paper按部就班寫作論文的七大建議」助您提高研究與寫作的效率,而十月全新的學術專欄「6 Essential Rules for Persuasive Writing發揮寫作說服力的六大準則」亦將助您一臂之力!

更多內容,請參閱TPS電子報FacebookBlog的最新資訊。


TPS Team

Last Update at 2012-10-12 AM 11:40 | 0 Comments

This is not academic writing 學術文章不是這麼寫的

2012-10-11
並非所有與學術議題相關的文章,就能稱之為「學術文章」。本篇專欄將節錄不同學術議題的內容,分析常見的寫作錯誤,並分享潤修與寫作的技巧。
Not all articles written on academic topics are written in proper academic English. In this "This is not academic writing" column we examine short excerpts from academic texts to illustrate common writing errors and explain how to correct them.

Unacceptable 不被認可的文章

“The thinking of a truly dedicated motorcyclist varies all over the place, with riders reflecting the riding environments surrounding them. Urban bikers, with machines most commonly in the 125-250-cc range, mostly believe their motorcycles are work vehicles and that’s all. They openly brag about a machine’s nimbleness when cars and truck press in on all sides and also brag about a motorcycle’s penny-pinching fuel consumption. On the other hand, motorcyclists with cross-country motorcycles powered by much larger engines—1,200 cubic centimeters and larger—often develop more deeply philosophical feelings for bikes. Completion of a motorcycle ride of a thousand miles can inspire in them Zen-like moods.”

This writer takes a fast subject and bogs it down in words. Too many words. Imprecise words. The second word, “thinking,” doesn’t even fully express the subject of the writing, which is a motorcyclist’s “psychology,” the thinking and behavior of a person. The writer’s worst offense is wordiness—“all over the place” instead of “widely,” “most” in front of “commonly,” “and that’s all” for no reason at all. “When cars and trucks press in on all sides” is a wholly unneeded phrase. The length of the piece can be sharply reduced through better word choices and elimination of unnecessary words. Do you see other examples of this problem?
本文描寫一項風馳電掣的主題,但用詞冗贅不精,使文氣凝滯而難以動彈。首先,第二個詞「thinking」並未充分表達寫作主題,也就是摩托車騎士的想法、行為等「psychology」(心理)。其次,這段文章最大的毛病就是太囉嗦,「all over the place」應該改為「widely」,「commonly」前不需要加「most」,「and that’s all」根本沒必要,「when cars and trucks press in on all sides」也完全多餘。若選詞更精當,並刪去不必要的辭彙,就可以大幅精簡這段冗長的文章。你是否還看到其他冗贅的用字?

Acceptable 認可的文章

“The psychology of a dedicated motorcyclist varies widely, with riders reflecting their riding environments. Urban bikers, with machines commonly in the 125-250-cc range, mostly treat a motorcycle like a utilitarian vehicle. They openly value a machine’s traffic nimbleness and its frugal fuel consumption. Motorcyclists with cross-country cruisers powered by larger engines—1,200 cubic centimeters and above—often develop more philosophical attachments to their bikes. Completion of a ride of a thousand miles can inspire Zen-like meditation.”

Last Update at 2012-10-12 AM 10:47 | 0 Comments

Happy Double Ten Day

2012-10-10
Dear Fans,

Tomorrow is Double Ten Day and we are going to take a short break from the TPS Fan Page. We want to do our part to celebrate an important moment in our common history. See you on Thursday, Oct. 11, when we will return with another feature about academic research and writing.

TPS Team

Last Update at 2012-10-12 AM 10:43 | 0 Comments

1008 TPS Finish the Sentence Contest-Answer and Explanation你是接龍的高手嗎? 正確解答!

2012-10-09
Answer: We believe the sentence is best completed this way:

“Standing at the museum’s front door, the curator vacillated between grandfatherly delight and juvenile dread as he watched the couple approach with 8 jumping, laughing, shoving children.”

Museums are not playgrounds, unless they are hands-on science centers for children. It follows that childish behavior is not perfectly conducive to the contemplative enjoyment of a museum. In the sentence, the museum official was both pleased and dismayed that the careful environment of the institution was about to be invaded. The writer employed terms of age in describing the opposite emotions coursing through the official. The official’s “delight” at the sight of young visitors was described as “grandfatherly,” whereas his “dread” was described as “juvenile.” The latter adjective has double meaning: Juvenile can refer both to the young age of the children and to the official’s psychological immaturity in believing the happy, youthful crowd spells disaster.
除非是鼓勵兒童自己動手做的科學教育館,否則一般博物館並不是遊樂的地方,因此,要在博物館靜心觀賞展覽,不適合出現稚氣的行為。本句中,博物館長看到一群兒童即將入侵精心維護的場館,心裡感到既高興、又害怕。句子用與年齡有關的辭彙描述館長心頭湧上的兩種相對情緒,以「grandfatherly」(祖父地;慈祥地)形容看到來訪兒童的欣喜,又以「juvenile」(青少年的;幼稚的)形容心中的恐懼。形容詞「juvenile」有雙重含義,既可以指兒童年紀輕,也可以指館長不成熟的心理,因為館長害怕這群青春洋溢的快樂兒童會給博物館帶來一場災難。

Last Update at 2012-10-09 AM 10:49 | 0 Comments

1008 TPS Finish the Sentence Contest-Win Your NTD200 Eslite Bookstore and Shopping Mall Gift Certificate! 你是接龍的高手嗎? 有機會獲得200元誠品圖書商場購物禮卷!

2012-10-08
No formula exists for the writing of a superior sentence, but this much is known: The best sentence has no weak part. The following sentence is incomplete. In five or fewer words, complete the sentence in a way that strengthens the whole of it. The first TPS Fan to complete the sentence as we believe it is best completed will win a NTD200 Eslite Bookstore and Shopping Mall Gift Certificate. Another Eslite certificate will be awarded to the first Fan to complete it in an alternate way that, in our estimation, also is effective. The explanation and the names of the winners will be published tomorrow on this TPS Fans page.
怎麼寫出好句子沒有標準答案,不過起碼我們知道,優秀的句子每個環節都很完美。下面有一句未完成的句子,請用五個字以內完成句子接龍,寫出完整的句子。最先完成句子,並寫出最佳解答的一位TPS 粉絲,將獲得兩百元誠品圖書商場購物禮卷;另增設特別獎一名,頒給符合文意又別具創意的粉絲。接龍解答與獲獎粉絲姓名將在明天公布於本 TPS 專頁,敬請密切鎖定、先睹為快!

題目Contest Sentence:

“Standing at the museum’s front door, the curator vacillated between __ __ __ __ __ as he watched the couple approach with 8 jumping, laughing, shoving children.”

Last Update at 2012-10-09 AM 10:48 | 0 Comments