If I may throw in my $.02 worth . . .
As a policy analyst/researcher/writer for the California Resarch Bureau, I
found it exasperating that our folks--even with master's degrees and
Ph.D.s, were unable to format a citation or a bibliography entry. Some
resorted to software to generate the citations, which, judging from my
observations, caused more problems than it solved, and still left them
ignorant of proper style.
Yes, learning how to format citations and bibliographies--and how to look
things up in a style manual--may be a nuisance, but not half the nuisance
of coping with the inability to handle those tasks in the course of
research and writing.
Step 1 is to learn what elements must be in the citation and in the
bibliography entry (that is **essential**).
Step 2 is to learn how to arrange those elements in the finished paper.
One of the ancillary thinking skills, in my opinion and experience, is the
skill to record, accurately and immediately, ALL of the required
information for a complete citation and bibliography entry. That implies
some related skills, and has implications for quality of resources used,
but that is a topic for another time. Organizing the information to suit a
specific style is a matter of mechanics--not a thinking skill as such, but
vital for those who cannot turn a draft over to a secretary or other
assistant for editing.
Most resources fall into a relatively small number of categories. The rest
can be looked up. Students (and professionals) should know the essentials
and be comfortable looking up the rest as needed.
For whatever interest it might have, the little style guide I wrote for the
California Research Bureau, California State Library, is posted at
http://www.umbachconsulting.com/miscellany/CRBStyleGuide.pdf .
All IMHO FWIW.
Ken
At 12:27 PM 5/25/2007 -0400, you wrote:
Date: Fri, 25 May 2007 10:29:05 -0500
From: Karl Dowell <DowellK@MUSTANGPS.ORG>
Subject: Re: Research and plagiarism policies
. . .
I have a teacher or two who still make their students learn to format,
but I believe that is like making every student manufacture their paper
from wood pulp. Learning the writing and research processes are
challenging intellectual tasks. And I'm given too little time to teach
them. Let's focus on thinking skills. . . .
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ken Umbach
Columnist, Knowledge Quest
Policy Analyst, California Research Bureau, California State Library
Writer, editor, researcher, consultant, www.umbachconsulting.com
916-733-2159 -- voice mail
"The Pursuit of Publishing": http://www.lulu.com/content/740262
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings
by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book.
To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation.
* LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/
* LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
* EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/sub/
* LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------
LM_NET
Mailing List Home