Tuesday, November 22, 2011
READING SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES – HINTS TO GO BETTER
Reading scientific articles may be a not very pleasant experience for students at graduate level. Such reading presents a different kind of language and demand a totally different approach to texts. But I’m sure you can go better with this kind of reading and maybe even enjoy it. Here are some hints to help you:
1) Be aware of what are your reasons to read
Every reading has a purpose. You may read to get information, for better understanding of a topic or just for fun. Another possible reason for reading is that your teacher has demanded so. Usually this is not a good reason because it does not create any relation between the text and you. So, if you really want to get the best out of your reading, you need to have a ‘closer look’ at the text. Try to put some simple questions, such as ‘what is the text about?’, ‘what are the author’s intentions with the text?’, ‘what does s/he want to prove?’, ‘what are his or her arguments and how strong are these arguments? In sum, try to create your own reasons to read.
2) Spot the kind of article you are reading
Articles are written for different aims. Some of them discuss the results of empirical research, that is, research in which data are analyzed. Others carry out a review of a number of studies, usually published in recent articles. Another group of articles focus on theoretical or conceptual discussions. There are articles that analyze the strong and weak points of a method or research procedure. Differences in this matter come out of the author’s intentions or characteristics of the area. The important is simply this: recognize the differences among academic articles.
3) Bear in mind that a scientific article has an expected sequence
In fact, different articles have different sequences, but most of them follow a very similar plan of text, that is, the steps in the presentation of information do not differ very much. Most articles start with an ‘abstract’ or summary of the main points in the text. A set of five or six (there may be exceptions) keywords make possible for the reader to know what are most important conceits. The next step is the introduction in which the author clearly explains what are the problems and questions (or hypotheses) which will be addressed. Generally, the next sections concentrate on theoretical and methodological issues. The former explains the conceptual approach to the study and/or gives an overview on what is available in the area – that is the ‘state of the art’ – ; the latter provides details on the methods, procedures and techniques applied to the study. This sequence is mostly appropriate for empirical researches but a not very different order is also found in other kinds of article. For example, review articles can draw singular and very original conclusions after discussing what is already published.
4) Focus on important points of the article
I don’t mean that some parts of a text are superfluous. I just want to emphasize that in academic reading there are some points essential for your comprehension of the article. These are the basis of the global meaning of the article. I refer to the problematization, methods, results and conclusions.
Problematization is probably the most important. Understand it and you have the base to understand the whole article. The method should also be matter of concern. It is only by understanding the method that you can really grasp how the author got to the results. Finally, it is very important to identify the results and to understand its meanings, which are often explained at the conclusion section.
5) Try some active reading
Specially if you are a novice to academic reading, you should try out some strategies to ensure a more active reading. This will help you concentrate, memorize key points and get used to the typical sequence of scientific article. You might:
• Make marginal notes – explain key points of the text in your own words
• Highlight important points of the text
• Write section summaries – this may be more productive than a general summary
• Draw schemes, tables and lists
I hope that with these hints you can manage to go through better reading, and maybe get to the point at which academic reading will be a pleasant and enriching experience. Don’t forget that reading scientific article is fundamental to your professional update and development and that this should not be restricted to your years at college. I would very much enjoy reading your comments to this article.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Education for all - But with what quality?
Education is usually considered an essential part of social life. Yet, all over the world many countries, if not all, still face challenges in making education better.
Not surprinsingly, UNESCO took the lead in promoting education all over the world with the intent of bridging the gap among countries in relation to the quality and access to education. Governments followed suit. This is the case for example in Brazil where several actions for improving and expanding education in all levels have been taken in recent years.
A specially interesting aspect of Brazil's educational policies, however, is its emphasis in higher education. All over the country, the number of private and public colleges and universities has increased surprisingly. Government funds for public and private education - in the form of scholarships - is now part of the budget. This does not mean that other levels of education are not being assisted or improving. However, this picture has created a critical situation.
First of all, although higher education is important for technological, social and economical development, the emphasis on higher education is not just an issue of putting the country in the right track of increasement. There is a cultural side in it all. For many Brazilians, the chance of going to college is a matter of making a dream come true and gaining social status. Therefore, the now easy access to higher studies before an increase of quality for other levels of education has resulted in difficulties in academic survival and in a less qualified education.
Granted, such access to education has many positive counterparts. But the challenge for education in Brazil is not just related to elementary or secondary levels. In fact, to a great extent, it is students and lecturers who mostly cope with this situation, since the improvements in budget offers do not fit the needs of teaching, specially in private institutions where teaching, research and college structure do not always go hand in hand.
Not surprinsingly, UNESCO took the lead in promoting education all over the world with the intent of bridging the gap among countries in relation to the quality and access to education. Governments followed suit. This is the case for example in Brazil where several actions for improving and expanding education in all levels have been taken in recent years.
A specially interesting aspect of Brazil's educational policies, however, is its emphasis in higher education. All over the country, the number of private and public colleges and universities has increased surprisingly. Government funds for public and private education - in the form of scholarships - is now part of the budget. This does not mean that other levels of education are not being assisted or improving. However, this picture has created a critical situation.
First of all, although higher education is important for technological, social and economical development, the emphasis on higher education is not just an issue of putting the country in the right track of increasement. There is a cultural side in it all. For many Brazilians, the chance of going to college is a matter of making a dream come true and gaining social status. Therefore, the now easy access to higher studies before an increase of quality for other levels of education has resulted in difficulties in academic survival and in a less qualified education.
Granted, such access to education has many positive counterparts. But the challenge for education in Brazil is not just related to elementary or secondary levels. In fact, to a great extent, it is students and lecturers who mostly cope with this situation, since the improvements in budget offers do not fit the needs of teaching, specially in private institutions where teaching, research and college structure do not always go hand in hand.
Bit-made beats - the widespread presence of electronic music
There is nothing new in talking about electronic music played in clubs and parties. But the presence of electronic music in fashion and technology events, and in TV programs gives some food for thought.
Electronic music seems to be everywhere - from TV commercials and shows to sports events. This fact suggests, first of all, the force of globalization in standardizing behaviors. Yet, it is not just the case that economical interests and well-tailored marketing strategies have their way into daily life. There is something about the making of identities in such acceptance of this music style.
Post modern world, as some would call it, has a special relation with the passing of time. The time of post modernity is not for an enjoyment experience. The now nostalgic feeling of letting the day pass and talking away is just a memory of a less-urban society. In the big cities, people struggle for so many things that enjoyment of time is completely out of question. In fact, most people feel bored when they have no other choice than waiting in public places or traffic jams.
In keeping with this new way of experiencing time, entertainmet is now felt as necessarily made of short, even though frequent, experiences. In addition, the amazing development of technology is another evidence of the contemporary taste for a speed-up life. It is not just the case that people have no chance for choosing between a slow and easy-going and a rushed life style. It is a consequence of modernity, to remember Giddens, that as social demands change life experiences, social tastes also change in relation to entertainment experiences.
So the articificial beats of electronic music have an identity feeling that matches the expectations of contemporay experience. It is at the same time a symbol of technology and a sign of a different, specially urban way of experiencing time. Maybe this can explain why it is so widespread in the domains of social and media life.
Electronic music seems to be everywhere - from TV commercials and shows to sports events. This fact suggests, first of all, the force of globalization in standardizing behaviors. Yet, it is not just the case that economical interests and well-tailored marketing strategies have their way into daily life. There is something about the making of identities in such acceptance of this music style.
Post modern world, as some would call it, has a special relation with the passing of time. The time of post modernity is not for an enjoyment experience. The now nostalgic feeling of letting the day pass and talking away is just a memory of a less-urban society. In the big cities, people struggle for so many things that enjoyment of time is completely out of question. In fact, most people feel bored when they have no other choice than waiting in public places or traffic jams.
In keeping with this new way of experiencing time, entertainmet is now felt as necessarily made of short, even though frequent, experiences. In addition, the amazing development of technology is another evidence of the contemporary taste for a speed-up life. It is not just the case that people have no chance for choosing between a slow and easy-going and a rushed life style. It is a consequence of modernity, to remember Giddens, that as social demands change life experiences, social tastes also change in relation to entertainment experiences.
So the articificial beats of electronic music have an identity feeling that matches the expectations of contemporay experience. It is at the same time a symbol of technology and a sign of a different, specially urban way of experiencing time. Maybe this can explain why it is so widespread in the domains of social and media life.
Linguistic facts about Brazil
Did you know that..................?
- The official language in Brazil is Portuguese;
- Portuguese is spoken all over this huge South American country;
- It is not the only official language, however. LIBRAS - the Brazilian Sign Language - is official too.
- In Brazil, many immigrant and native languages are also spoken. German, Japanese, Korean, Chinese are some examples for the first case. In addition, there are about 180 native languages spoken by indios (Native Brazilians).
- A new orthography for Portuguese was approved by all Portuguese-speaking countries and was put into effect in 2009.
- Portuguese comes from Latin.
- Before Portuguese became an official and widely spoken language, the 'língua geral' (general language), a mixture of several native languages, mostly Tupi, was the main means of communication in the country.
Why beetrootreads?
Beetrootreads comes out of my wish of writing in English, providing readable texts for students and sharing my views on topics of interest. The choice of such name is the result of trying to find good-sounding name with reference to something casual in life as a healthy, yet 'loved or hated' vegetable. This is what reading is about to many people. Some love it! Some hate it! But few dare to say it's not healthy. So, I invite you to join in and practice a little reading. Reading practice apart for learners, I hope this blog may be of interesting to anyone. So, come on. Make your reading and leave a comment.
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