Writing a Scholarly Paper ©

Bev Williams, PhD, RN

Types of Writing
• E-mail: brief, informal
(friends)more formal
(faculty)
• Text message: abbreviated
& informal
• English essay: formal &
expressive
• Scholarly writing: formal,
objective & concise

Eg:Formal
• The researcher
administered the survey to
the participant in a quiet
room.
vs
• The participant was
sequestered in a quiet
room by the researcher
and administered a well
tested appraisal instrument

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EG. Objective
• According to Brow and
Duggan (2006), very happy
people have rich social
relationships
vs
• In a nutshell, Brow and
Duggan (2006) noted that
it is social relationships that
distinguish very happy
people from other people

Types of Scholarly Papers

• Reports of empirical studies
– Introduction
– Method
– Results
– Discussion

• Review papers
– Defines/clarifies issue or
problem
– Summarizes previous
research
– Identifies relations,
contradictions, gaps &
inconsistencies
– Suggests next steps in solving
issue

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• Theoretical papers
– Similar structure to review
articles
– Author draws on existing
literature to advance theory
in a particular area

• Descriptive papers
– Define/clarify concept
– Utilize existing literature
identify issues & relationships
_ Importance of concept to
discipline (CBL, Health)

Parts of a paper
• Title page
– Title should summarize main
idea of paper (centered)
– Course number
– Author’s identification
number and section number
– Institution affiliation
– Date
– Running head

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 Running head: YUKON CNP COMPETENCIES 1

Development of Yukon Community Nurse Practitioner

Competencies

By
# 1197463

NURS 190 Sec E11

University of Alberta

September 24, 2008

Abstract
• Brief comprehensive
summary of paper
– Accurately reflects content
– Self contained (e.g. All
abbreviations spelled out)
– Concise and specific (150-
200 words)
– Coherent & readable
– Double space

– Describes
• Topic in one sentence
• Purpose, thesis or
organizing construct
• Supporting information
• Conclusions

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 Running head: YUKON CNP COMPETENCIES 2

Abstract
Currently Community Nurse Practitioners (CNP)
provide health care services in an expanded
practice role to the rural population in the
Yukon. Increasingly Nurse Practitioners (NP)are
being integrated into the Canadian health
care system. During this transition, clarification
of both roles is essential. There is currently no
competency document for CNP practice. A
competency document that describes the
nature of CNP practice has been developed
and will be presented. This document should
facilitate the co-existence of both roles during
the transition years.

Keywords: CNP, Competencies, Yukon,

Parts of a scholarly paper

• Introduction
– Develops the background
through a discussion of
current literature on the
topic
– States the purpose and
rationale of the paper
– Clear & complete

• Body
– Adequate review of
literature
– Development of description
& benefits/disadvantages or
arguments (for/against)
– Topics/Subtopics
• Which stance do you support
and why
• Logical rationale
• Thorough discussion
NB Use bold headings (p 62)

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• Conclusion
– Logical conclusion

• Reference list
– current peer reviewed
nursing journals

Hints for expressing ideas

• Orderly presentation
Smooth expression (clear,
logical thoughts/ideas)
• Economy of expression
(say only what needs to be
said, avoid jargon,
wordiness, repetition, long
sentences)
– Eg. If --- then ----
vs
After the study it is hoped

• Precision & Clarity

– Choose words carefully
– Avoid colloquial expressions e.g.
practically all, as per the Neuman
model , community lodge is
nestled ----
– Try to avoid use of pronouns eg.
This, these, those
– Avoid attribution
• Use of third person eg. The
author ----

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 – Use of anthropomorphism
(attributing human
characteristics to inanimate
objects e.g. This paper is
about --- vs describes----)
– Restrict use of “we”
– Avoid biased language eg
older people vs elderly,
participants vs subjects,

-Use the active voice eg.

Simpson (2001) designed
an experiment or
Sanchez (2002) presented
-Use correct grammar
-Minimize quotes

Paraphrase to avoid
plagiarism!!!

APA guidelines
• Double-space everything
• Follow recommended
editorial style (mechanical
aspects)
• Work by multiple authors:
– 2 authors: always cite
– 3 -5 authors: cite 1st time then
1st author et al.
– 6 or more: 1st author et al.

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Chapter 6: Reference List
• APA style
• Alphabetical order
• General form for periodicals;
nonperiodicals; books,
brochures & book chapters;
technical & research reports;
– Author(s)
– Publication date
– Title of article or chapter
– Title of work & publication
information

Periodical

Green, A. C., Brown, D. E., & White F.

G. (2007). Title of article. Title of

Periodical. 34, 568-572.

Nonperiodical

Green, A. C. (2007). Title of work.

Location: Publisher.

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Part of a Nonperiodical (book
chapter)
Green, A. C. & Brown, D. E. (2007). Title of

chapter. In A. Black, B. Grey, & C. Sand

(Eds.), Title of book (pp. xxx-xxx).

Location: Publisher.

Online Journal
Green, A. C., Brown, D. E., & White, F. G.

(2007). Title of article. [Electronic version]

Title of Periodical, 57, 573-578.

Online only journal (check manual)

Online Document

WHO(2007). Title of work. Retrieved from

source.

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General Form for Electronic Media
• Protocol (http://)
• Host name (www.apa.org/)
• Path to document
(monitor/oct00/)
• File name of specific document
(workplace.html)

Chapter 2: Manuscript Preparation

• 8.5 x 11” white paper
• Times Roman 12pt
• Double spacing
• 1” margins top, bottom, sides
• Title page, abstract, body, references
• Page numbers & headers
• Paragraphs & indentations
• Bold headings
– Short paper 1 level (centered, caps)
– Longer papers 3 levels (check manual)
• Double space after any punctuation
• Minimize quotations

Final Tips
• Put your references in APA
format as you retrieve them.
You can always organize them
in alphabetical order on a
reference page when you do
your final edit.
• Put your references at bottom
of your handouts for tutorials. It
is good practice.
• No need to double space for
handouts, only papers.

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Final Words
• Scholarly writing is a process – learn
from feedback you receive on each
paper
• Use the Scholarly Paper Checklist
posted on WebCT under Resources
• Use:
– APA Manual (6th edition)
– Concise rules of APA Style
– University of Alberta C4W (Centre
for Writers) 492-2639

And the Last Words….

A scholarly paper is a
published paper in miniature
– use your literature as a
prototype!!

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