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The Craft of Research (Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing)
With more than 400,000 copies now in print, The Craft of Research is the unrivaled resource for researchers at every level, from first-year undergraduates to research reporters at corporations and government offices.
Seasoned researchers and educators Gregory G. Colomb and Joseph M. Williams present an updated third edition of their classic handbook, whose firs...more
Seasoned researchers and educators Gregory G. Colomb and Joseph M. Williams present an updated third edition of their classic handbook, whose firs...more
Paperback, Third Edition, 306 pages
Published
April 15th 2008
by University Of Chicago Press
(first published 1995)
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Main reason for me reading this book is that I soon have to start the process of writing my thesis. Honestly I didn't expect much of this book from "entertainment" or "easy read" level and was expecting something painfully boring albeit informative. However after starting to read this I soon discovered that not only this book has lots of tips about the planning and writing process, finding sources, how to refine arguments etc. it also does it in a way that is interesting and ...more
This was the second time I've read this book, and this time I was prompted to read it as both a researcher and a teacher of research/writing. There's more to recommend as the latter, as the view it presents to the former is needlessly simplistic for an advanced graduate student. That said, there are still plenty of lessons to be gleaned from books of this sort, and this one is particularly good for reminding its readers (at whatever level) to stay calm about the process of conducting and writing...more
Joe
is currently reading it
"I am working on X to learn more about Y, so that my readers can understand Z."
THE CRAFT OF RESEARCH is a useful resource for students of English because it effective replaces the kinds of standard-issue statistics textbooks that nearly every graduate student is issued during his or her first semester of study. This is very welcome, as the nature of literary criticism is mostly foreign to quantitative study.
What I appreciate about this book is its organization, which made it both easy to read and easy to return to during my research. It paired nicely with my ...more
What I appreciate about this book is its organization, which made it both easy to read and easy to return to during my research. It paired nicely with my ...more
Have you ever faced a blank computer screen and were at a complete loss of what you should write about for a 10-page research paper due the next week? Or maybe you knew what you wanted to write about but didn't know how to start? Or maybe you had all your sources, wrote out a draft and realized that no one cares if The Great Gatsby illustrates the three Aristotelian elements of a tragedy?
The Craft of Research helps students and researchers solve dilemmas like these and more. The auth...more
The Craft of Research helps students and researchers solve dilemmas like these and more. The auth...more
I have read this book at least four times and I am reading again even now for the fifth. This is a book that can be usefully reread every few years if one has the interest to present strong arguments, especially written research, and proposals. The book is one of my all time favorites for learning the writing craft.
I admit to coercing my High School-aged children to read it each summer once they reach the 10th grade. My goal is to help them assimilate this part of the writing proc...more
I admit to coercing my High School-aged children to read it each summer once they reach the 10th grade. My goal is to help them assimilate this part of the writing proc...more
I really wish someone had given me this book back when I actually had to write research papers. It provides concrete, easy-to-follow advice on how to write more effectively. Even better, it avoids overly-technical language and preachiness. As a creative writer, I don't necessarily agree with everything in their brief chapter on style, but for the most part it is good advice, and it certainly works as a basic guideline for revising weak language. Perhaps it is an oversimplification, but the i...more
This book really can hep with the construton of a research queston/thesis. Most of this book is common sense. What I liked the most is all the bulletpoints. They really help and after ready most of the book, I found that the bulletpoins is all you need to read.
Es un libro que todo estudiante universitario o de posgrado debería leer; es sumamente claro útil, de gran utilidad para poder planear y desarrollar una buena investigación académica, desde la estructura de la misma, el estilo, la forma de emplear y consultar fuentes y en general como hacer una investigación bien y qué esta sea clara y útil.
muy recomendado para todos los que pretenden incursionar de manera más profunda en la vida académica o para aquellos que desean entender como escr...more
muy recomendado para todos los que pretenden incursionar de manera más profunda en la vida académica o para aquellos que desean entender como escr...more
This is fantastic. I'm gonna press it on all my undergrads, and possibly all the first-year grad students I can get to listen to me.
Clear, non-patronizing advice and ideas on finding research questions, developing hypotheses and arguments, writing papers that clearly connect the evidence being presented to the question being answered. Lots of stuff that I kinda intuitively know, but spelled out concretely. Also, really excellent advice on editing papers for overall structural coherence...more
Clear, non-patronizing advice and ideas on finding research questions, developing hypotheses and arguments, writing papers that clearly connect the evidence being presented to the question being answered. Lots of stuff that I kinda intuitively know, but spelled out concretely. Also, really excellent advice on editing papers for overall structural coherence...more
I think this is going to be a useful book as I progress through this doctoral process. Because I am just getting started here, the first couple of chapters were the most interesting to me -- formulating a research question, finding a general direction, and articulating the whole are all skills that the book helps form in the reader. Later, I'm sure the chapters on writing and proofing will come in handy. It's not a satisfying book, but I think it will help me navigate academia. (On that note, co...more
A good book for a class of students learning to write research papers.
Wish I had read this when I was 18.
None
There's just only one word that comes to mind: useful. Admittedly, the book has its own weaknesses, e.g. the illustrative examples create some degree of ambiguity and do not translate the rationale of the proposed theoretical frameworks into a-ha moments for the readers. Nevertheless, devising a framework for how to approach the Craft of Research allows for a common ground for many students both undergraduate and graduate to relate to when writing or reading scientific papers.
Required reading for a research methods class. I feel like this book itself is a course on research and only wish we had followed it closely rather than glimpsing at it as inspiration for our much less rigorous syllabus. This book alone will teach you how to go from "I have no idea what to write about" to at least a decent paper, should you follow its advice closely. Would recommend this to anyone setting out to write a research paper.
Ok, so I had to study this for a class, but it really helped me write my first serious research paper - it's organized very well and walks you through the whole process. It's especially effective at guiding the writer to narrow a topic and ask the right questions BEFORE plunging into the research. By the way, my paper was an analysis of the religion, culture and political situation of the modern Mayans of Guatemala. I learned a lot!
Booth, Colomb, and Williams’ book, The Craft of Research, provides its readers with a systematic process for successful completion of any research project. The book is a valuable resource for the completely clueless and veteran researchers alike, as it can be used for its step by step approach or borrowed from in pieces. A must for those who need any level of guidance or support during a research project!
The authors create the feeling that they are both knowledgeable and really understand what it is like to be a student, which reminded me of my uncle who works at CSU-Bakersfield. It also seems like they might work in different disciplines, however the author's note puts them all in English and Literature. This just further shows what a good job they've done being interdisciplinary.
An excellent guide to crafting research topics, strengthening arguments, making the best of resources, and polishing papers. Even as it gives a conceptual structure on which one can plan research, it accommodates the different approaches that inevitably arise from our individual personalities.
A reference which I will keep on my bookshelves.
A reference which I will keep on my bookshelves.
This book is written directly to students. The language is clear and direct. The information is precise and valuable. My students tend to dread reading this book (because it's thick and it's about research), but once they start, they find it a very friendly book that helps them immeasurably.
I'm only putting this on my list of books because it is in fact what I am currently reading. Perhaps not by choice, but it's what I'm reading. This is why I am not reading Tennyson or Byron right now...
It's a good reference for research papers, which I will be writing many in the next year...
It's a good reference for research papers, which I will be writing many in the next year...
Amanda
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
scholars
Shelves:
nonfiction,
graduate
This is an incredibly useful book for people at all stages of research. It would have been just as useful my freshman year in college as it was for me now. It's clear and a quick read and full of very helpful ideas for thinking about ways to set up research problems and questions.
I wish I'd read this freshman year instead of waiting until it was time to start my senior thesis--my college career would have gone much more smoothly. No one told me! But now I'm telling you: BUY THIS BOOK if you are or will be engaged in any kind of academic research or writing.
Talitha
added it
Even though I'm not too happy that I have to be taking this class as my final SLIS course, I'm finding this book to be a very concise and easy-to-read research manual. I would recommend it especially for anyone going into instruction who has to teach the research process.
A wonderful resource for writers and teachers of writers. Booth and his companions write in a friendly, approachable style that makes reading a pleasure. Just as easy to read in during weekday office hours as it is during a saturday morning on the couch.
Terrific resource for any level of grad school, tons of practical advice for planning research projects. Very well written and easy to use for whatever task is at hand.
My favorite book from UCF studies so far!
My favorite book from UCF studies so far!
Lis
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
students and non-fiction writers
Shelves:
non-fiction
I liked this book. It really was very helpful. If you still have to write research papers, I highly recommend it. If you don't but write any non-fiction, I highly recommend it as well.
I think this will come in handy as I start writing. Not that bad as far as books on writing research go. A lot less painful than I thought it was going to be.
The best book to use to teach students about research. It has excellent sections on sources, and evaluating sources, and it makes students think about their assumptions.
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