Writing Research Papers ECO314 Syllabus Syllabus (cont’d) Keys to a Good Paper 1. A clear and concise thesis statement An example: Research Question: Should Canada expand it’s natural gas pipeline
infrastructure and invest in LNG facilities to better export natural gas? Thesis Statement: “This paper analyzes the economic benefits, local environmental risks,
global environmental benefits, and security implications of expanding
Canada’s natural gas export infrastructure to show that Canada could
play a larger role in simultaneously reducing global carbon emissions
while improving the security of our allies.” Example Continued • What makes this a good thesis statement? 1. It is clear what the paper will analyze 2. It is clear the position the paper will take
• From this thesis statement, I can see the paper will analyze: • What are the economic benefits of natural gas pipelines & LNG facilities? • What are the local environmental risks? • What are the global environmental benefits? • How much could this improve the energy security of our allies? • Data can easily be collected to guide the answer to all of the above Writing a good thesis statement • Focus on a specific, narrow topic • State a clear position or argument • Ensure it’s defendable • Keep it concise • Revision is key Keys to a Good Paper (cont’d) 2. Relevant literature • A good goal is to include some academic sources • Why? They provide more nuance and insight than other sources 3. Tables, graphs, maps, data • Presenting data from your cited sources, or from other data sources, can
often help do two things: I. Better define the scope of the issue you are analyzing
II. Provide more nuance to your analysis
Example Continued Google: “EU natural gas imports from Russia” Google: “China coal usage forecast” Google: “Canada's natural gas reserves map” Don’t forget to make it very clear what your source is for any included maps, graphs, tables Example: sourcing a graph
Source: EIA, 2022, based on data from Eurostat and GIIGNL. Notes: Due to reporting requirements, some volumes of pipeline-imported
natural gas are not attributed to a source country. ** In this case, EIA, 2022 should also be included on your References page to provide more details ** Source link: https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=51258 Figure 1: EU Natural Gas Supply by Source Keys to a Good Paper (cont’d) 4. Concluding with policy implications
• A good analysis based on a clear thesis statement will lead to policy
implications that suggest what should be done (for example, in the
country/region you are analyzing)
• Think what should be done given your analysis? Example questions to ask
yourself:
• What policies should the government pursue given your analysis? • Is legislation desirable/required? • What should the regulatory body do given your analysis?
• What investments should be made given your analysis? • What institutions should be developed to address the issues highlighted by your analysis? Example Continued
• Policy implications? • Invest in natural gas pipelines east and west to increase exports of natural gas • Invest in LNG facilities in areas where increased shipping is least likely to harm
ecosystems
• Develop a natural gas transmission leakage reporting system and a regulatory
body to minimize leakages and fugitive methane
• Allow NG exports to displace local coal industries and develop institutions for
interprovincial transfers to offset losses in coal exporting provinces
• Work with importing countries to ensure NG displaces coal usage (e.g., within
China) or displaces NG purchases from potential security threats (e.g., EU
purchases from Russia) Let’s discuss your papers Remember, the keys to a good research paper: • A clear and concise thesis statement (this paper analyzes x and y to determine z) • Relevant literature -- academic sources are best, but major media sources such
as WSJ, FT, Economist often contain cogent analyses • Tables, graphs, maps, data (produced by other sources or yourself); ensure you
are properly citing sources • Concluding with policy implications (what should be done given your analysis) The paper structure in a nutshell
• Abstract • Introduction • Literature review • Analysis • Arguments which support your thesis statement • Limitations of your approach/analysis • Conclusion • Policy implications/recommendations Abstract
• THE CORNER STONE OF YOUR PAPER • Says what your thesis is
• 1-2 sentences to motivate it • 1-2 sentences to explain your analysis
But MOSTLY, your results Introduction • The abstract contains the narrative you would deliver in an elevator to a
senior executive in your company.
You only have a few minutes, so make
them count!
• You want to get her attention, to invite you to tell her more. • Similarly, for you paper, you want the reader to want to read your paper. • Intro is how you motivate the research • Stress that there's a problem, and your research provides information on the solution. • Be concise • Intro is NOT a literature review • Intro is NOT the analysis
Literature review • Literature Review : states the current state of knowledge • It is directed to insiders (me, Adonis, etc.) • Lit review is NOT the analysis Analysis • Time to shine ! • Uses data, graphs, table and even literature to support your thesis • It should support your thesis • It should refute counterarguments • Remember that your thesis is rooted in your analysis Analysis
• Positive aspects of your analysis • Your whole paper should be crafted to support your thesis • The analysis is the part where you delineate the arguments • You may use subtitles, dividing the Analysis into sub-sections • For each argument, provide a concise summary (personal preference) • Limitations of your Analysis • Be humble • State how one can improve your research
Policy recommendation
• The is the “endgame of your paper” • Your paper “solved” a problem • Now, which policy should we implement ?
• E.g., the government should put in place a policy of installing
protected bike lanes • this reduces GHG emitted in Toronto
• it reduces injuries • the direct costs are minimal • the indirect costs, possibly increased congestion, are exceeded by the
benefits Conclusion • Wrap up everything in a very compact way. • One sentence to motivate the study. • One sentence on the literature. • One paragraph connecting all your ideas, linking them, and stressing
how they are all converging to your results (your thesis). THE WRITING • WRITE IN THE PRESENT • The reader read in the present,
• it is preferable not to use phrases such as "we will see“ • instead write “This paper shows xxx.” “The analysis argues yy.” • A useful https://youtu.be/vtIzMaLkCaM
Finding relevant ideas • Read the media and journals • The national observer • Podcast
• The Narwhal • Policy Options (Environment) • Bloomberg green • The conversation (Environment + Energy) • IEA • Foreign Affairs • WSJ, FT, Economist … Google scholar Literature Review Additional Thoughts 1. Communicate in ways that can attract the general public's interest,
laypeople (think your grandma). 2. Develop ideas that are politically feasible, e.g., how to tackle the climate
crisis without increasing inequality or having major adverse economic
impacts. 3. Consider topics that are identified in the academic literature, for example
in review papers. These usually provide the best research ideas. (You can
select ‘Review articles’ in the left panel of google scholar.) 4. More advanced papers might make a methodological contribution, e.g.,
development of techniques to measure the impact of decarbonization on
economic growth.
