Transcript Research Papers - Dartmouth College

Research Papers
Critical Thinking
• Observations: From a series of
observations we can establish facts.
• You have all experienced some sort of
interactive storytelling, either in this
course or elsewhere. What are some
common elements about all your
experiences?
• Was technology involved? What are the
interfaces like?
• Were you given choices? If so, what
sorts of choices were you given?
Critical Thinking
• Facts: From a series of facts, or from
an absence of fact, we make
inferences :
• “A judgment based on reasoning rather
than on a direct or explicit statement.”
• What inferences can you make about
interactivity? Storytelling? Interactive
storytelling? Ie. Since interactivity is ______
we can infer that it is __________.
Critical Thinking
• Inferences: Testing the validity of our
inferences, we can make some
assumptions.
• “Statements accepted as true without proof
or demonstration. A statement that is
assumed to be true and from which a
conclusion can be drawn; "on the assumption
that he has been injured we can infer that he
will not to play"･ A hypothesis that is taken for
granted; "any society is built upon certain
assumptions"”
Critical Thinking
• What do you accept as true about
the value of interactive
storytelling? What do you assume
when you enter into an interactive
experience?
Critical Thinking
• Assumptions. From our assumptions,
we form our opinions.
• “A personal belief or judgment that is not
founded on proof or certainty”
• What is YOUR opinion about interactive
storytelling? Where do you think it fits?
Is it a game? An art? An education
tool? Does interactive storytelling have
an important role in the arts, education
or media? Will technology be able to
support it?
Critical Thinking
• Opinions. Taking our opinions, we
use the principles of logic to
develop arguments.
• Can you defend your opinions? What
facts can you draw on? Who else
agrees with you? What examples can
you use? What’s new about your
approach or ideas?
Critical Thinking
• Arguments: And when we want to
challenge the arguments of others, we
employ critical analysis.
• Who disagrees with your arguments?
Why? How is your argument different
from theirs? What observations, facts,
inferences, assumptions and opinions
do you have that help support your way
of looking at it and disprove the theirs?
Thesis statement
• Tests your ideas by distilling them
into a sentence or two･
• Organizes and develops your
argument･
• Provides your reader with a “guide”
to your argument
Thesis statement
• Distills the prompt into a single
question.
• Composes one or two sentences to
answer that question.
How to Tell a Strong Thesis
Sentence from a Weak One.
• A strong thesis takes some sort of stand. Show your
conclusion.
• “Some people say interactivity is_____, others say it is
________. The dictionary says it is _____. I believe it is
a mix of these.
• “The success of interactive storytelling hinges on the
ability of technology to provide a framework that is
both invisible and active. It must provide room for the
user to make choices that are meaningful without being
a distraction to the story itself. I suggest the perfect
interactive story framework would look like _______”
How to Tell a Strong Thesis
Sentence from a Weak One.
• A strong statement justifies discussion.
• “I agree with Chris Crawford that interactive
storytelling is _______________. ”
• “While most people see interactive storytelling
as being related to games, I see it as the perfect
tool for educational purposes.”
How to Tell a Strong Thesis
Sentence from a Weak One.
• A strong thesis expresses one main idea.
• “Interactive designers need to develop new
technologies and create content that will exploit
those technologies. Some interactive
storytellers choose not to use technology in the
storytelling. All need to draw on elements of
classic storytelling, theater, film and games.”
• “Because interactive stories are often
dependent on technology, interactive
storytellers will need to develop a brand new
language based on the elements of traditional
storytelling.”
How to Tell a Strong Thesis
Sentence from a Weak One.
• A strong thesis statement is specific.
• “Interactive storytelling will impact many art
forms.”
• “Because of its ability to engage the audience in
the creative process, interactive storytelling will
change the future of movies and performance
arts.”
Sections
• Introduction/overview
• Where things are now
• Your new ideas and why they are
different and important
– Description (including comparison to
current beliefs or state of the art)
– Key elements or new ideas
– Rules or structure
– Why is this neat? What are the
weaknesses?
• What needs to happen - Future
developments
• Recap
• References
Step-by-Step Guide to
Writing a Research Paper
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The Overview
State your topic.
Find background information on your topic.
Use library resources to find books, non-print
media, archival information, and government
documents.
• Use indexes and abstracts to find periodical
articles.
Step-by-Step Guide to
Writing a Research Paper
• Use the internet to find additional sources for
your topic.
• Evaluate what you have found. Pay particular
attention to the reliability of internet resources.
• Write your paper.
• Use a standard format for your bibliography.
• Do not plagiarize.