Title of Resource Dissecting a Paragraph from the Introduction
Author(s) Gary W. Lewandowski Jr.
Institution Monmouth University
In this activity students need to determine what each sentence
accomplishes in the paragraph, why the sentences are in this order, and
Brief Description:
how the authors transition between ideas. A second example asks student
to dissect how authors describe a study.
Keywords: APA Style, Research Reports, Introduction, Writing, Transitions
Author Contact
[email protected]
Information:
Additional
Information:
TeachPsychScience.orgismadepossiblewithgrantsupportfromtheAssociationforPsychologicalScience(APS)Fundfor
TeachingandPublicUnderstandingofPsychologicalSciencetothesitecreatorsGaryLewandowski,NatalieCiarocco,
andDavidStrohmetz.Allmaterialsonthissitehavebeensubjectedtoapeerreviewprocess.Wewelcomeadditional
resources(www.teachpsychscience.org/submissions).
©2016GaryW.LewandowskiJr..AllRightsReserved.Thismaterialmaybeusedfornoncommercialeducational
purposes.Allotherusesrequirethewrittenconsentoftheauthors.
Instructors:
Students often struggle with constructing clear and direct paragraphs in APA Style research reports. This activity reveals
how authors purposefully structure sentences and paragraphs to help students cultivate greater intentionality in their
writing.
Dissecting a Paragraph
From this paragraph:
1. Identify in general terms what each sentence accomplishes.
2. Why are the sentences in this order? That is, why does the second sentence need to come after the first. Etc.
3. What would you suggest for a transition between the ideas in the last two studies mentioned in this paragraph?
From: Rind, B., & Strohmetz, D. (2001). Effect of beliefs about future weather conditions on restaurant tipping. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 31(10), 2160-2164. doi:10.1111/j.1559-1816.2001.tb00168.x.
Dissecting a Paragraph (Study Summary)
From this paragraph, identify each type of sentence:
1. Lead-in/Transition
2. Study Description/Hypotheses
3. Results
4. Implications
From: Rind, B., & Strohmetz, D. (2001). Effect of beliefs about future weather conditions on restaurant tipping. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 31(10), 2160-2164. doi:10.1111/j.1559-1816.2001.tb00168.x.