Guideline for writing a scientific paper

Transcription

1 Chair for Environmental and Resource Economics Prof. Dr. Peter Michaelis Dr. Thomas Ziesemer Guideline for writing a scientific paper This guideline summarises what we think is crucial for writing a scientific paper as regards form, structure and the development of your line of argument. 1 Essential requirements Writing a paper that meets scientific standards and convinces both in form and content requires you to master the following points: A coherent line of argument throughout your paper. Sound knowledge of the economic models that are relevant for your argument and the ability to include them in the analysis part of your paper. Critical examination of the relevant literature. Establishing an assessment framework that is well founded on the relevant theory and utilising it to investigate the respective topic of your paper. Time management and the ability to structure your paper. 2 Structure of your paper Your task is to develop a line of argument that allows you to analyse your topic in a comprehensible and critical manner. Although each topic demands a specific analytical approach the structure of your paper should include the following basic parts: An introduction that includes the motivation, the central question and the agenda of your paper. The definitions which are essential for your topic (further definitions can be included in the text or in footnotes).

2 The theoretical foundations of your analysis (e.g. a basic economic model, the fundamentals of cost benefit analysis etc.). If applicable political (e.g. political goals and environmental policies) and/or technological (e.g. in analyses of renewable energies) background. An assessment framework that is based on the theoretical foundations you have explained beforehand. The analysis of your topic. A discussion in which you critically discuss the results of your analysis. You should also discuss whether the theoretical foundations and your assessment framework enabled a sound analysis of your topic. Recommendations for policy makers. A conclusion that (1) repeats the central question that you presented in your introduction and (2) summarises the outcome of your discussion. 3 Literature To write a convincing paper you need to have a relevant, broad and up to date literature base. To get one you should use academic papers and books, current studies and reliable internet sources. A paper that is largely based on dubious and/or partial internet sources or outdated studies will be marked accordingly. Furthermore, you should use different sources in each part of your paper otherwise you run the risk of writing a mere summary of one source; your task is to develop your own line of argument which will not be possible if you adhere to a limited number of sources. The following academic journals provide peer reviewed articles in environmental and resource economics (the EZB (electronic journal library) which you can reach from the webpage of the Universitätsbibliothek Augsburg provides part or full access to relevant journals): Journal of Environmental Economics and Management Environmental and Resource Economics Ecological Economics Review of Environmental Economics and Policy Environmental Science & Policy Environmental Economics and Policy Studies Environmental Policy and Governance Environment and Development Economics Energy Policy Energy Economics Resource and Energy Economics Climate Policy etc. 2

3 The following institutions provide up to date studies (all have a webpage with a download area): International Agencies UNEP (United Nations Environmental Programme) OECD (Organisation for Economic Co operation and Development) EEA (European Environment Agency) IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) World Bank IEA (International Energy Agency) RFF (Resources for the Future) etc. German agencies BMU (Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz und Reaktorsicherheit) UBA (Umweltbundesamt) SRU (Sachverständigenrat für Umweltfragen) WBGU (Wissenschaftlicher Beirat der Bundesregierung Globale Umweltänderungen) Wuppertal Institut für Klima, Umwelt, Energie Öko Institut etc. 4 Quotation rules Keep in mind that you have to document all your sources. To do so you have to insert a reference either in your text or in a footnote each time you refer to a source. A reference has to include the name/s of the author/s or the responsible institution, the year of publication and the page number, e.g. (Author 2013, p. 3) of your source. Furthermore, the following rules apply: All quotations, both verbatim and those with regards to content, have to provide a reference that includes the name/s of the author/s or the responsible institution, the year of publication and the page number. Use short references either in the text (Author 2013, p.3) or in a footnote. 1 Do not include hyperlinks in your references. Nevertheless, you have to include hyperlinks in your reference list/bibliography at the end of your paper. Avoid references that include longer parts of your source (e.g. (XY 2013, pp )). If you want to quote your last source again you can use the short reference form (ibid, p. 15), so you do not have to include the author s name and the year of publication again. 1 Author 2013, p.3 3

4 Verbatim quotations have to be reproduced in quotation marks. Longer verbatim quotations have to be reproduced indented and single spaced. You can use established abbreviations for institutions. If you refer to different sources by the same authorship that were published in the same year attach lowercase letters to distinguish the sources (e.g. (XY 2013a, p. 10) and (XY 2013b, p. 12). If a source was written by more than two authors only name the first author and add et al. (e.g. (XY et al. 2013, p. 5)). Keep in mind to specify all authors in the list of references at the end of your paper. Keep in mind that plagiarism will be punished by a fail in the seminar. 5 Formal requirements Sequence of your paper: Title page Contents If applicable further indexes (1. Figures, 2. Tables, 3. Abbreviations, 4. Symbols) Text (with footnotes) Appendices (if applicable) List of references / bibliography Affirmation in lieu of an oath Title page: The title page includes the title of your paper, the name of the seminar, your name and matriculation number as well as the place and date of submission. Contents/further indexes: Every index has to include page numbers. Figures and tables have to be numbered consecutively. Pagination Pagination with Arabic numerals starts with the introduction. The title page receives no page number; paginate the indexes between the title page and the introduction with Roman numerals. Text Your text should be formatted with a space of one and a half lines. Use established fonts and justification with hyphenation. Footnotes Use the same but smaller sized font as in your main text and format it single spaced. 4

5 Appendices Number your appendices. If you write an appendix use the same rules as in footnotes. 6 List of references / bibliography The bibliography has to include all sources that you quoted throughout your paper. Order your references alphabetically by the surnames of the authors and the institutions names respectively. You do not have to divide your sources in the categories articles, books and internet sources. Every entry in the bibliography has to include the names of all authors (or involved institution/s), the year of publication and page number. Additional information is needed for: Journal articles: Name of the journal Volume and issue Pagination Example: Schelling, Thomas C. (1992), Some Economics of Global Warming, American Economic Review, 82(1), Books: Edition no. (if applicable) Place of publishing Name of publisher Example: Baumol, William J. and Wallace E. Oates (1988), The theory of environmental policy, Second edition, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Articles in anthologies: Name/s of the editor/s Title of the anthology Edition and volume no. (if applicable) Place of publishing Name of publisher Pagination Example: Popp, David, Richard G. Newell und Adam B. Jaffe (2010), Energy, The Environment, and Technological Change, in: Bronwyn H. Hall und Nathan Rosenberg (eds.), Handbook of the Economics of Innovation, Volume 2, Amsterdam et al.: North Holland, Internet sources: Name of the institution Internet address 5

6 Date of last page view Example: SRU (2012), Umweltgutachten 2012: Verantwortung in einer begrenzten Welt, Sachverständigenrat für Umweltfragen, Berlin. tachten_hd.html Affirmation in lieu of an oath In the affirmation in lieu of an oath you confirm that you have written your paper independently and that you have listed all sources, including internet sources, completely. You can use the following text: I confirm that I have written this paper independently and that I have quoted and listed all sources, including internet sources, that I used. Augsburg, the signature 6