• 1. The writer revisits previous research.
• 2. The writer revisits the Introduction to recall specific weakness in the methodology used in previous studies.
• 6. The writer recalls an aspect of the results that represents a positive achievement or contribution of this work.
• 7. The writer focuses on the meaning and implications of the achievements in this work.
Unit 9
How to Write Discussion
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• Function • Sample Analysis • Contents • Grammar and Writing Skills
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Function of Discussion
• The primary function of Discussion is to show the relationships among observed facts and indicate what new information is provided by the present study.
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• Naturally, this is the most subjective section of a scientific research article .
• This is where the authors combine their experience, background knowledge, and creativity to explain the data and use it as evidence in their interpretation .
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• 8. The writer notes that one of the achievements or contributions of this work is its novelty.
• 9. The writer refines the implications of the results, including possible applications.
• Introduction should have posed one or more questions. Discussion should indicate how the findings answer the questions.
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Sample Analysis
Here are the sentence descriptions:
• The damage
.
• (may not have been/might not have been caused by heat exposure)
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Contents of Conclusion
1) a brief summary of what you did and what you found
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• 1) Perhaps the damage was caused by heat exposure.
• The damage
.
• (may/might have been caused
by heat exposure)
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• 2) It’s possible that the damage wasn’t caused by heat exposure.
Grammar and Writing Skills • odal verbs
• may, might, can, could, must
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• The drop in pressure was due to a crack in the pipe.
• The drop in pressure may have been due to a crack in the pipe.
• The drop in pressure must have been due to a crack in the pipe.
• Being certain that something is true and knowing it to be true are not the same thing at all.
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Fig. 1 The shape of a research article Abstract
Introduction
Materials/ Methods
(what you did/used)
Results
(what you found)
Discussion/ Conclusion
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• Introduction and Discussion should function as a pair.
findings and existing knowledge on the topic • (5) theoretical implications and practical
applications of the results • (6) significance of the paper
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• 3. The writer revisits the methodology used in this study.
• 4. The writer revisits and summarizes the
results.
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• 5. The writer shows where and how the present work fits into the research ‘map’ in this field.
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Contents of Discussion
• (1) review of the original purpose of research
• (2) introduction to major findings • (3) explanation of major findings • (4) comparison and contrast between your
2) the significance of your findings 3) limitations of your research 4) recommendations for future
researches
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• When you discuss the results, you should
• (1) focus on the major findings • (2) explain what is new in your
work and why your results are important
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• 10 &11. The writer describes the limitations which should direct future research.
• 12. The writer suggests a specific area to be addressed in future work.