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The first paragraph or two of any paper should be constructed with care, creating a path for both the writer and reader to follow. However, it is very common to adjust the introduction more than once over the course of drafting and revising your document. In fact, it is normal (and often very useful, or even essential!) to heavily revise your introduction after you've finished composing the paper, since that is most likely when you have the best grasp on what you've been aiming to say.

The introduction is your opportunity to efficiently establish for your reader the topic and significance of your discussion, the focused argument or claim you’ll make contained in your thesis statement, and a sense of how your presentation of information will proceed.

There are a few things to avoid in crafting good introductions. Steer clear of unnecessary length: you should be able to effectively introduce the critical elements of any project a page or less. Another pitfall to watch out for is providing excessive history or context before clearly stating your own purpose. Finally, don’t lose time stalling because you can't think of a good first line. A funny or dramatic opener for your paper (also known as “a hook”) can be a nice touch, but it is by no means a required element in a good academic paper.

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Strategic enrollment management and student success, creating a research roadmap, ... so your paper doesn't crash.

It’s easy to get daunted by the idea of starting a research project. Although “finding information” sounds pretty simple, many of us get overwhelmed when we starting thinking of all the things that go into finding what we need for a research project: figuring out where to look, understanding and determining what is important, deciding how to organize — not to mention incorporating all of this into the actual writing of your paper. Whew!

However, even though research can seem like an overwhelming task, if you are able to break “research” down into manageable chunks, you’ll find that it doesn’t have to be so bad. Research isn’t only finding information or facts; you will also find others’ viewpoints and interpretations of that information. And finally, you will add your interpretation to the mix so that your paper is not a report but a critical look at a topic.

Doing all of this, of course, takes some time and planning, so it can be helpful to think of doing research much like going on a road trip. You just don’t hop in the car and go; you also pack snacks, get directions, check your tire pressure, and find places to stop along the way. Research is the same way. Making a checklist and timeline of all the things you have to do will help you effectively reach your destination. Keep reading to find out how you can create a personal research roadmap that will help you reach your destination safely and without panic.

1)   Creating a plan: Where you need to go

The first thing you need to do is make sure you   understand the assignment . You don’t want to waste time doing work that won’t fit your project. If you’re not sure what you are supposed to be doing, consult classmates, your professor, or the Writing Center.

If you have the option to   choose your topic   for research, do this next. Keep in mind the parameters of the assignment, including date due, page length, and project objectives, so you don’t pick a topic that is too broad or narrow for the assignment.

Do some   preliminary research   on your topic. Consult general sources, such as class notes, textbooks, reference books, and the Internet. You won’t use this material in your final paper but it will give you general information to help you focus your topic choice.

Based on your preliminary research,   figure out what types of material you will need   to find for your paper. Remember that information consists of both facts and other peoples’ interpretations of those facts. Knowing what you need will make your research more focused, which will save you time.

Create a timeline   for completing research. You should do Phase 1 very soon after receiving your assignment. Phase 2 and 3 will take the longest, so don't put them off to the last minute.

2)   Doing the research: How to get there

Find keywords   that get you into the topic. This may take some experimenting and the task can be frustrating, so use your preliminary research to help you figure out what terms are most relevant for your search.

You’ll probably be using mostly scholarly sources for your paper, so   consult library books and electronic databases   through the library’s website. (Google searches are not a good use of your time. Promise.) You can consult the help desk in the library or the Writing Center for help on searching.

Once you’ve done research,   prioritize your sources . Start with more introductory material to learn the basic facts and then go for more evaluation and interpretation. Don’t feel you have to read every single word of every single source—scan for relevant material and then read more carefully in more important sections.

Take notes as you read   your sources. Write down important ideas, quotations, and your own analysis. Writing as you read (instead of waiting ‘til the end) will save you lots of time and energy. Look for the central ideas of sources and think about how they could be organized. Allow ideas to emerge through your research.

3)   Incorporating research: What to do while there

Revisit your notes   and key quotations from your sources. Identify key concepts, ideas, and points of debate within your subject.

Think about how you can   organize your sources around major points   of interpretation instead of general topics. Revisit your assignment sheet to make sure you’re still on the right track.

Write a first draft   so you can get your ideas out on paper. Divide your paper into smaller chunks so you can work on one chunk at a time. You don’t need to worry about getting everything perfect, but you do want to push your thinking to be analytical and critical. Skip writing the introduction for now. You’ll have a better idea of what to say after you write a draft.

Read your draft and determine if you need to   fill holes in your research . Sometimes you won’t realize you need certain things until you start writing, so it helps to set aside some time to go back and do a bit more focused research.

Write a second draft . The value of a second draft can’t be emphasized enough. A second draft is a lot more than just a proofread first draft — it is a refining of your ideas. As you write, you’ll discover your ideas in the first draft; in the second, you’ll make them understandable to outside readers. (Psst—it’s easier to focus your ideas if you start with a blank document instead of trying to directly change your first draft.)

Use the timeline below to divide your research into 3 phases. The length of each phase will be determined by your deadline.

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Title: towards understanding worldwide cross-cultural differences in implicit driving cues: review, comparative analysis, and research roadmap.

Abstract: Recognizing and understanding implicit driving cues across diverse cultures is imperative for fostering safe and efficient global transportation systems, particularly when training new immigrants holding driving licenses from culturally disparate countries. Additionally, it is essential to consider cross-cultural differences in the development of Automated Driving features tailored to different countries. Previous piloting studies have compared and analyzed cross-cultural differences in selected implicit driving cues, but they typically examine only limited countries. However, a comprehensive worldwide comparison and analysis are lacking. This study conducts a thorough review of existing literature, online blogs, and expert insights from diverse countries to investigate cross-cultural disparities in driving behaviors, specifically focusing on implicit cues such as non-verbal communication (e.g., hand gestures, signal lighting, honking), norms, and social expectations. Through comparative analysis, variations in driving cues are illuminated across different cultural contexts. Based on the findings and identified gaps, a research roadmap is proposed for future research to further explore and address these differences, aiming to enhance intercultural communication, improve road safety, and increase transportation efficiency on a global scale. This paper presents the pioneering work towards a comprehensive understanding of the implicit driving cues across cultures. Moreover, this understanding will inform the development of automated driving systems tailored to different countries considering cross-cultural differences.

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Tara Friesen

Cells are the fundamental units of life, forming the variety of all living things on Earth as individual cells and multi-cellular organisms. To better understand how cells perform the essential functions of life, scientists have begun developing synthetic cells – non-living bits of cellular biochemistry wrapped in a membrane that mimic specific biological processes.

The development of synthetic cells could one day hold the answers to developing new ways to fight disease, supporting long-duration human spaceflight, and better understanding the origins of life on Earth.

In a paper published recently in ACS Synthetic Biology , researchers outline the potential opportunities that synthetic cell development could unlock and what challenges lie ahead in this groundbreaking research. They also present a roadmap to inspire and guide innovation in this intriguing field.

“The potential for this field is incredible,” said Lynn Rothschild, the lead author of the paper and an astrobiologist at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley. “It’s a privilege to have led this group in forming what we envision will be a founding document, a resource that will spur this field on.”

Synthetic cell development could have wide ranging benefits to humanity. Analyzing the intricacies that go in to building a cell could guide researchers to better understand how cells first evolved or open the door to creating new forms of life more capable of withstanding harsh environments like radiation or freezing temperatures.

These innovations could also lead to advancements in food and medical sciences – creating efficiencies in food production, detecting contaminants in manufacturing, or developing novel cellular functions that act as new therapies for chronic diseases and even synthetic organ transplantation.

Building synthetic cells could also answer some of NASA’s biggest questions about the possibility of life beyond Earth.

“The challenge of creating synthetic cells informs whether we’re alone in the universe,” said Rothschild. “We’re starting to develop the skills to not just create synthetic analogs of life as it may have happened on Earth but to consider pathways to life that could form on other planets.”

As research continues on synthetic cell development, Rothschild sees opportunities where it could expand our understanding of the complexities of natural life.

“Life is an amazing thing. We use the capabilities of cells all the time – we build houses with wood, we use leather in our shoes, we breathe oxygen. Life has amazing precision, and if you can harness it, it’s unbelievable what we could accomplish.”

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A New DEI Roadmap: Voice Amplification

You are here.

While organizations everywhere are working to incorporate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) into the workplace, Vic Marsh (PhD’21), a specialist in organizational behavior, says that “most DEI efforts need powerful managers’ help to get to the fundamental goal of correcting unfair workplace processes.” That’s what Marsh and his co-authors examined in their recently published paper, “ An ally by any other name: Examining the effects of racial minority leaders as allies for advancing racial justice, ” published in the Journal Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes. 

Marsh shared that his journey began during his first year as a PhD student at the Leeds School of Business, when his professors discovered that the perceptions of effective leadership were skewed by the race of the person advocating for diversity. This inspired him to research solutions to this bias, focusing on two key questions: “Why is there a disparity in how white and non-white leaders are perceived when they advocate for the same diversity initiatives, and how can we mitigate this backlash against non-white leaders?” 

Marsh explains that he and his co-authors “grounded our work in existing research with the goal of creating practical solutions to these complex issues.” The research found that when racial minority leaders engage in allyship that supports those of the same race, they are perceived as less effective allies because of assumed favoritism. The paper also finds that this lowers employee evaluations of leaders and the amount of support for DEI efforts at an organization. 

“Leaders should be listening to ideas from the bottom up, not just imposing ideas from the top down.”

Vic Marsh (PhD’21)

Most importantly, the paper also suggests a solution to these issues: “voice amplification framing.” This framing asks racial minority leaders to share the voices and ideas of lower-level employees who are of the same race in their allyship. By focusing on voices of people who have less power in the workplace, voice amplification framing reduces the negative effects of same-race allyship. 

“Our findings offer valuable insights for all leaders, particularly those from minority backgrounds,” Marsh says. “Leaders can navigate the complex landscape of diversity advocacy by amplifying the voices of their junior employees, which fosters a more inclusive workplace without risking backlash. That means leaders should be listening to ideas from the bottom up, not just imposing ideas from the top down.” 

Marsh shares that it was surprising to see what misconceptions existed around minority leaders’ work as allies in the workplace. “Employees assume the minority leader wants to talk about DEI and EEO, when minority leaders often have to be volunteered or told to do that work because the risk is so high.” The research bears this out – leaders are likely to receive more negative feedback and less engagement if they appear to favor an ingroup. 

Organizations that want to support minority leaders and DEI work should incorporate voice amplification into training. “The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, especially from minority leaders who have found a new approach to championing diversity without so much backlash, which underscores the practical impact,” Marsh says. “For training, incorporating case studies on effective voice amplification can guide leaders in recognizing and elevating valuable ideas from all their team members.” 

The research doesn’t stop here, though. Marsh plans to continue exploring how moments of organizational conflict can be used to create change, saying “actively managing crises presents opportunities to transform a debate, and that opportunity is here now with DEI if we all seize upon it.” 

This is critical to supporting the ongoing discussion and implementation of DEI in the workplace. The landscape “can feel so negative,” shares Marsh. “What we are missing is sociologist Rebert Merton’s idea of unintended consequences. You can’t assume anti-DEI backlash is smart at achieving its own purposes. It can be outsmarted. We provide one roadmap with this research on how to do so.”   

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EASA publishes Artificial Intelligence Concept Paper Issue 2 ‘Guidance for Level 1 & 2 machine learning applications’

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In a significant next step on its Artificial Intelligence (AI) Roadmap , the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has published Issue 2 of its Concept Paper on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) . This second issue offers the potential to enhance four aviation pillars – safety, efficiency, sustainability, and passenger experience – and positions ML at the forefront of aviation innovation. At the same time, the path to ML deployment is bringing unique challenges, particularly in safeguarding operational safety.

This issue of the EASA AI Concept Paper refines the guidance for Level 1 AI applications (those enhancing human capabilities) and deepens the exploration of 'learning assurance', 'AI explainability' and 'ethics-based assessment'. These foundation concepts are crucial for the safe and trustworthy development and implementation of AI technologies in aviation.

Going one step further, this new issue provides comprehensive guidance for the development and deployment of Level 2 AI-based systems. Level 2 AI introduces the groundbreaking concept of 'human-AI teaming' (HAT), setting the stage for AI systems that automatically take decisions under human oversight. This advancement in the authority level of AI-based systems shows the need for human guidance and design principles to ensure safe 'human-AI interaction' (HAII).

Issue 2 of the EASA AI Concept Paper marks the entry of the EASA AI Roadmap into its second phase (framework consolidation), where Rulemaking Task (RMT).0742 will facilitate the integration of the anticipated guidance from the AI Concept Paper into a comprehensive framework of generic rules and acceptable means of compliance (AMC). These rules and AMC are precisely tailored to accommodate the unique requirements of each aviation domain impacted by these new technologies.

Overall, this new AI Roadmap deliverable underscores EASA's commitment towards a future where AI and ML are integrated in aviation's successes. This vision is not just about technological advancement, but mainly about building trust in AI applications, ensuring they complement human expertise and enhance overall aviation safety and sustainability.

EASA would like to thank all the stakeholders who participated in the public consultation phase and, in so doing, contributed to the maturity of this new publication.

EASA Artificial Intelligence Concept Paper Issue 2

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