Page 171 - English for Writing Research Papers

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The trick is to be completely open about the evidence against you and to deal with
it step by step in a logical manner. In the example above, this logic is highlighted by
having separate paragraphs for each element of the author’s argumentation.

Link words (e.g. thus, in fact ) are also very helpful in constructing this logic. Note
how when describing the evidence against H1 and H2, the author uses however and
moreover. However is often used to diminish the importance or to question the impli-
cations of what has been said before, and is thus perfect in this situation. There is a

difference between moreover (used at the end of the first paragraph) and in addition
(end of third paragraph). Both are used to add additional information in support of
what has been previously said, but moreover is sometimes used to add a further nega-
tive factor, whereas in addition tends to be used to add a further positive factor.

Here is another example to highlight the difference between moreover and in
addition :

This paper is written badly, moreover much of the data is inaccurate.

This paper is extremely well written. In addition, the method is very innovative.

8.17 Beware of overstating your project’s achievements

and signifi cance
This chapter has been all about highlighting your fi ndings so that readers can both
physically see them on the page and also appreciate their significance. But no

research, study or project is perfect. You need to be explicit not just about the
strengths of your work, but also the weaknesses and potential for bias (e.g. in your
selection and sampling procedures).

Particularly in the Discussion you should purposively offer alternative explanations
that take into account any potential for bias or limitations in your methodology and
in the interpretation of your results. Such insights into these areas will be seen by
the referee and readers as a sign of the quality of your research.

On the other hand, if it seems you are overstating the meaning of what you have
found, the referee may suspect you of research bias. This may mean that your paper
will be initially rejected.