a)如何指出当前研究的不足以及有目的地引导出自己的研究的重要性
通常在叙述了前人成果之后,用However来引导不足,比如
However, little information..
little attention...
little work...
little data
little research
or few studies
few investigations...
few researchers...
few attempts...
or no
none of these studies
has (have) been less
done on ...
focused on
attempted to
conducted
investigated
studied
(with respect to)
Previous research (studies, records) has (have)
failed to consider
ignored
misinterpreted
neglected to
overestimated, underestimated
misleaded
thus, these previus results are
inconclisive, misleading, unsatisfactory, questionable, controversial..
Uncertainties (discrepancies) still exist ...
这种引导一般提出一种新方法,或者一种新方向。如果研究的方法
以及方向和前人一样,可以通过下面的方式强调自己工作的作用:
However, data is still scarce
rare
less accurate
there is still dearth of
We need to
aim to
have to
provide more documents
data
records
studies
increase the dataset
Further studies are still necessary...
essential...
为了强调自己研究的重要性,一般还要在However之前介绍自己研究
问题的反方面,另一方面等等
比如:
1)时间问题
如果你研究的问题时间上比较新,你就可以大量提及对时间较老的问题
的研究及重要性,然后说(However),对时间尺度比较新的问题研究不足
2)物性及研究手段问题
如果你要应用一种新手段或者研究方向,你可以提出当前比较流行的方法
以及物质性质,然后说对你所研究的方向和方法,研究甚少。
3)研究区域问题
首先总结相邻区域或者其它区域的研究,然后强调这一区域研究不足
4)不确定性
虽然前人对这一问题研究很多,但是目前有两种或者更多种的观点,
这种uncertanties, ambiguities,值得进一步澄清
5)提出自己的假设来验证
如果自己的研究完全是新的,没有前人的工作进行对比,在这种情况下,
你可以自信地说,根据提出的过程,存在这种可能的结果,本文就是要
证实这种结果。
We aim to test the feasibility (reliability) of the ...
It is hoped that the qutestion will be resolved (fall away) with our proposed
method (approach).
b) 提出自己的观点
We aim to
This paper reports on
provides results
extends the method..
focus on
The purpose of this paper is to
Furthermore, Moreover, In addition,, we will also discuss...
c) 圈定自己的研究范围
前言的另外一个作用就是告诉读者包括(reviewer)你的文章主要研究
内容。如果处理不好,reviewer会提出严厉的建议,比如你没有考虑
某种可能性,某种研究手段等等。
为了减少这种争论,在前言的结尾你就要明确提出本文研究的范围:
1)时间尺度问题
如果你的问题涉及比较长的时序,你可以明确地提出本文只关心这
一时间范围的问题。
We preliminarily focus on the older (younger)...
或者有两种时间尺度的问题 (long-term and short term),你可以说
两者都重要,但是本文只涉及其中一种
2) 研究区域的问题
和时间问题一样,明确提出你只关心这一地区
d) 最后的原场
在前言的最后,还可以总结性地提出,这一研究对其它研究的帮助。
或者说,further studies on ... will be summarized in our next
study (or elsewhere)
写英文论文最常见的一个毛病就是文章的逻辑不清楚。解决
的方法有:
1)句子上下要有连贯,不能让句子之间独立
常见的连接词语有, However, also, in addition,
consequently, afterwards, moreover, Furthermore,
further, although, unlike, in contrast, Similarly,
Unfortunately, alternatively, parallel results,
In order to, despite, For example, Compared with
other results, thus, therefore...
用好这些连接词,能够使观点表达得有层次,更加明确。
比如,如果叙述有时间顺序的事件或者文献,
最早的文献可用AA advocated it for the first time.
接下来,可用Then BB further demonstrated that..
再接下来,可用Afterwards, CC..
如果还有,可用More recent studies by DD..
如果叙述两种观点,要把它们截然分开
AA pput forward that...
In contrast, BB believe
or Unlike AA, BB suggest
or On the contrary (表明前面的观点错误,如果只是表明
两种对立的观点,用in contrast), BB..
如果两种观点相近,可用
AA suggest
Similarily, alternatively, BB..
Or Also, BB
or BB allso does ..
表示因果或者前后关系,可用
Consequently, therefore, as a result,
表明递进关系,可用furthermore, further, moreover, in addition,
当写完一段英文,最好首先检查一下是否较好地应用
了这些连接词。
2) 段落的整体逻辑
经常我们要叙述一个问题的几个方面。这种情况下,一定要注意
逻辑结构。
首先第一段要明确告诉读者你要讨论几个部份
...Therefore, there are three aspects of this problen have to
be addressed.
The first questuon involves...
The second problem relates to
The thrid aspect deals with...
上面的例子可以清晰地把观点逐层叙述。
所谓不足,包括以下内容:
1. 研究的问题有点片面
讨论时一定要说,
It should be noted that this study has examined only..
We concentrate (focus) on only...
We have to point out that we do not..
Some limitations of this study are...
2. 结论有些不足
The results do not imply,
The results can not be used to determine
be taken as evidence of
Unfortunately, we can not determien this from this data
Our results are lack of ...
但是,在指出这些不足之后,随后一定要再一次加强本文的重要性
以及可能采取的手段来解决这些不足,为别人或者自己的下一步
研究打下浮笔。
Notwithstading its limitation, this tudy does suggest..
However, these problems could be solved if we consdier
Despite its preliminary character, this study can clearly indicate..