Questions tagged [research]
Questions about how to conduct research, and how to incorporate your research into your writing.
192
questions
1
vote
2
answers
83
views
Where do the research question and thesis statement go in a paper?
My professor asked me to place both a research question and a thesis in my research paper. He said the thesis should answer the research question, which I understand, but usually my professors want me ...
CommunityBot
- 1
-1
votes
2
answers
67
views
I want to write a spy story but severely lack knowledge. What and where should I research?
I have settled on writing a story about one who trains to be a government's spy then is sent on missions. While I feel capable of implementing emotion and symbolism (because the story's an allegory), ...
- 7,080
1
vote
1
answer
72
views
Is there an expression that depicts how people tend to spill their secrets during late night conversation?
This is for a research paper. I want to say that at night secrets emerge, revealing the real person. In the case I am writing about, it would be that there would be a certain energy that comes out at ...
- 7,080
2
votes
2
answers
74
views
What types of resources and primary sources are helpful for getting into historical character?
When you are developing characters for fiction, and particularly historical fiction, what kinds of resources do you find most helpful in establishing a distinctive voice?
Two suggestions I've heard ...
- 10.8k
0
votes
1
answer
42
views
Unsure how to go about referencing/paying homage to a thematically similar text
I'm currently on the fourth draft of my novel and am at the stage at last of getting to go sentence-to-sentence and approach things on quite a molecular level. My book is a sci-fi reimagining of the ...
CommunityBot
- 1
1
vote
1
answer
264
views
Tips on writing a character with bipolar disorder
I am writing a novel about a young man who is grieving the loss of his mother. He's also been diagnosed with bipolar 2 disorder in the last two years.
I really want to do his character justice, and I ...
CommunityBot
- 1
2
votes
1
answer
122
views
Where can I publish a book/e-book at a minimal cost?
I have a book I want to publish. The book is in PDF format. I want to sell it on Amazon or somewhere similar for 5 $ each in electronic format (downloadable to Kindle or the Kindle app for smartphones)...
- 1
2
votes
1
answer
73
views
Citations while writing a summary
My professor has me doing a paper that will be a summary of five different sources covering a specific mental disorder. Will I need to use citations from the information I am summarizing or will I ...
- 7,080
10
votes
2
answers
3k
views
How to do research to write characters from a different culture?
Let's say I'm French and I'd like to write a Korean character.
How can I build their personality traits, values, etc. in a realist way?
I'm afraid to end up with a character only superficially ...
1
vote
2
answers
115
views
Are there good books/references that list things that might have been politically dangerous to do during medieval times?
Are there good books/references that list things that might have been politically dangerous to do? I see webpages about tropes and they're helpful for quickly finding out what kind of plot elements to ...
24
votes
7
answers
5k
views
Character is an expert on something I'm not
My OC Edward, who I thought of quite a while ago but haven't done anything with, is a professional cyber spy and hacker. He's employed by an organization (in the future, of course) that is basically ...
- 1,159
-1
votes
5
answers
206
views
Should I skip the research to get to the writing?
I have compiled about a hundred books to read before I start writing a book I have planned, and feel I'll never write the book if I take the two or so years to read all the books first. Should I skip ...
4
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Is it possible to write entirely abstract fiction?
I've always wanted to write fiction, but I've been afraid I'd sooner or later be limited by my lack of exposure to the world (or having any desire thereof). I barely watched television growing up, so ...
- 1
0
votes
1
answer
97
views
Is scientific writing equal to research paper writing? [closed]
I am just not sure if scientific writing is same as research paper writing.
- 3,157
4
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Structure for computer science research paper
I'm writing my first undergraduate research paper for computer science and I think my lack of experience is starting to get on my supervisor's nerves. I've written a program that collects video ...
- 434
0
votes
0
answers
49
views
How to detect if a research team is outsourcing writing to increase paper publishing?
I have suspicions of a situation where a Computational Science research group is using paid writing services (outsourcing, using AI or human services) to increase their publication ratio in scientific ...
- 101
0
votes
0
answers
25
views
In terms of a research question, how many research articles is too few to answer it and how many research articles is too many?
I need to write a paper in 4 weeks with at least 7 annotated bibliographies and 3 of them from JSTOR or EBSCO. The word limit is 2000-2200.
- 1
2
votes
2
answers
125
views
Who to ask questions on prices?
I want to get advice for my book and e-book pricing (telling that I am to advertise them with AdWords).
My question: What is such an adviser called? Maybe "marketolog", "counselor", "adviser", etc.? ...
- 1,839
1
vote
2
answers
52
views
How do I define something for a research paper that has a subjective defintion?
I'm tasked with writing a research paper and a lot of the evidence will be using "Cooking News Websites". My PI told me to think of ways to define what a "Cooking News Website" is.
...
CommunityBot
- 1
4
votes
4
answers
241
views
How to write believable characters of professions I'm not familiar with?
I'm quite familiar with certain groups of people. In my career I often dealt with scientists, actors and artists. Therefore I'm quite confident describing such people in my stories. I am familiar with ...
4
votes
2
answers
264
views
How to write an occupation/career that I don't know?
English is not my first language.
I feel the obvious answer is just research, but I'm talking about very specific jobs in a different timeline.
My main character is from Colombia 1950s and is an ...
- 1,141
6
votes
2
answers
440
views
How to do literature review
We often hear that literature review (LR) is not mere summarizing the writings of other, rather it is scrutinizing finding the material relevant to one's own research and the gaps to be filled.
Can ...
- 1
0
votes
1
answer
92
views
A location for a big event
My novel I am writing has a Queensland, Australia castle in it, Paronella Park. I did research and I’m using facts, except my characters paid extra to stay inside the castle (which I understand that’...
CommunityBot
- 1
0
votes
1
answer
92
views
How do I find an expert to help with theological science fiction writing?
I am in the process of writing a theological science fiction novel. My interest in this genre is motivated by reading Dune by Frank Herbert and The Divine Invasion by Phillip K. Dick, in addition to ...
CommunityBot
- 1
2
votes
1
answer
163
views
Good resource for medieval customs/vocabulary?
I’m writing a fantasy novel that, though not strictly set in medieval times, certainly draws quite a bit of customs, vocabulary, etc., from medieval times, specifically medieval England.
Up until now, ...
- 101k
2
votes
1
answer
133
views
Is academic proposal ghostwriting ethical?
I wondered on the ethics of academic ghostwriting and withdrew from a paid contract based on the discussion here.
Now, the agency said they "understand" my position but asked if I could take ...
- 8,752
4
votes
2
answers
339
views
When writing an American Indian character, how to ensure an accurate and sensitive portrayal as a cultural outsider?
(Similar question can be found here, but I think mine is broader in scope, as that question only asks about names.)
Background
I've been tinkering away at a few of my short story ideas with a friend ...
CommunityBot
- 1
2
votes
4
answers
351
views
How do you write a character that has a different worldview than your own?
I'm trying to figure out how to write a character that has a radically different worldview from my own while still keeping it logically consistent. I know there are a lot of questions about how to ...
- 1,418
-3
votes
5
answers
249
views
I'm trying to write a blog about future tech and science - where can I find ideas?
I watch Isaac Arthur and John Michael Godier; I’m looking for a site to help me write an online blog, that talks about a future science tech or idea every week (or every month; depending on my ...
- 737
-1
votes
1
answer
102
views
Some usual military sayings [closed]
Can anyone please show me some common military sayings used in the 1800s (or 1900s)? I found some sentences but they are all new...
My story takes place before the invention of airplanes, missiles, ...
- 12.1k
0
votes
3
answers
901
views
What kind of alternative or futuristic energy source would you come up with? [closed]
I'm writing a sci-fi novel and am having a hard time coming up with a new energy source that DOESN'T revolve around the widely popular "nuclear" option everyone favors so much. I've tried ...
62
votes
17
answers
14k
views
Is Wikipedia Trustworthy?
So in elementary school, I was told not to use Wikipedia too much because you can't trust what they write. So then for all the projects, I used the Canadian Encyclopedia, but then now, I really would ...
- 299
0
votes
1
answer
3k
views
What is the difference between a thesis statement and a research question?
I am writing a paper for a class and I am asked to include a thesis statement and a research question in the introduction, however, I feel like I don't have a clear picture of the difference between ...
- 1,355
1
vote
1
answer
81
views
How to write less like a student and more like a researcher?
I'm writing my first academic paper, and the feedback I got from my supervisors was that my writing sounds more like a student report than a scientific paper.
What advice would you give a student when ...
- 1,355
3
votes
2
answers
169
views
Skipping chapters due to lack of resources
I am writing a historical fiction book. I do not have access to historical records/documents/historians so I tend to skip chapters saying I will write them later because I do not have the resources to ...
- 6,100
7
votes
5
answers
3k
views
What level of understanding should you have of Quantum Physics to write a hard science fiction novel?
What level of understanding should you have of Quantum Physics to write a hard science fiction novel? And how should you learn Quantum Physics in order to be able to write a hard science fiction novel?...
- 364
0
votes
1
answer
91
views
What's the best way to find every word commonly physically contiguous in real life to another word? [closed]
What's the best way to find every word commonly physically contiguous in real life to another word? By that, I mean every parts typically found on a ship or an ancient ship such as sail, mast, aft, ...
- 6,100
7
votes
8
answers
323
views
To read or not to read similar works before writing my own?
I was thinking if is better or worst to read other works that share similar ideas to the story you want to write before you start it or while doing it.
Two quick answers comes to my mind:
Yes, do ...
- 173
14
votes
7
answers
4k
views
Distorting historical facts for a historical fiction story
So, I'm writing fiction but in it, historical events, such as wars between the French and British, are taking place. But, after doing research, it's looking to be difficult to squeeze my little ...
- 2,497
23
votes
4
answers
828
views
How to research sex for writing?
I'm not writing erotica - I'm writing fantasy and sci-fi. But sometimes my characters make love, sometimes in ways I cannot be familiar with. In one story, it's two guys (I'm a girl). In another story,...
- 4,153
2
votes
2
answers
111
views
How to make sure that my book is "accurate"
I'm not exactly writing historical fiction or realistic, but I want my story to be "accurate."
For example, let's say that my character got into a car crash after being chased by the police. ...
- 13.5k
15
votes
5
answers
4k
views
What is a good methodology for researching a historical novel?
I'm having difficulty with the research aspect of my historical novel. This question was originally going to be "how much research should one do to write a historical novel?" to which, answering my ...
- 1,759
1
vote
1
answer
230
views
MLA In-text citations for websites
I've done some research, but a lot of sources contradict each other. I was just wondering how to do embedded citations for MLA regarding websites. I wasn't too sure how to do them as the websites I ...
- 1,759
9
votes
3
answers
1k
views
How to write about an emotion you never experienced?
Is it possible for a writer to describe realistically a never felt emotion?
For example I have never experienced faith, or being truly in love. I've never physically hurt anyone and have no idea of ...
- 31
1
vote
0
answers
39
views
Figure Annotation and Writing papers
If I had a figure like let's say imaginary figure A. If I were to use this figure, and only needed a segment should I put the whole figure in the academic Research paper or just the section? If so, ...
- 145
0
votes
2
answers
43
views
Scientific Research Paper
Is it okay to reference material from a previous paragraph, like as follows "In paragraph 3" or "In the introduction"? Or do I have reassert the idea, if so does it have to require ...
- 2,991
0
votes
0
answers
39
views
Striking statistics on the SOLID principles
I'm writing an article about software quality and SOLID on Medium. I want to add statistics (reports, surveys etc.) to strengthen my article. For example;
According to research of company X, the ...
CommunityBot
- 1
9
votes
3
answers
798
views
How to write about what you don't know?
I am a strong believer in writing what you know. Everything I write is at least partially based on something that I have experienced.
My problem is that for plot reasons, I need one of my characters ...
CommunityBot
- 1
8
votes
6
answers
3k
views
How to write realistic injury scenes?
I'm currently writing an apocalypse themed story. As with the territory, death and/or injuries happen. I'm wondering how other writers write these scenes realistically as far as science, medicine, ...
- 51
-3
votes
1
answer
127
views
How does war work? [closed]
I am currently writing a story about an interstellar war.
Here is the general idea:
this war is taking place in Jupiter, the largest planet and one of the main areas of conflict
everyone in this ...
- 15