DOCUMENT PREPARATION

In this section, you will find a range of templates to help you prepare different types of documents. Whether you’re giving an oral presentation, writing a scientific paper, writing a call for papers, or taking detailed notes, these resources will help streamline your process and ensure professional, well-structured results. The following topics will be discussed below:

• Oral communication: A template to structure your presentations, ensuring clear and concise delivery of your research findings.

• Scientific Paper: A comprehensive template for writing and formatting your research paper (or term paper!), from the abstract to the bibliography.

• Call for Papers (CfP): A ready-to-use template for crafting effective and inviting conference proposals is available on the website of the JDL (click here)

• Note-Taking: A proven method of note-taking is to capture key points during lectures, meetings, or brainstorming sessions, as well as record long-term thoughts.

Print and customise these templates to fit your needs, and make your document preparation more efficient and professional.

ORAL COMMUNICATION

Based on a document prepared by Prof. Bruno Courbon and Nicolas Gignac, DLLT, U. Laval for the course LNG-3006–Fall 2023

1. INTRODUCTION: DEFINING THE OBJECT OF STUDY

• Brief introduction: Start with a clear and concise introduction to the topic of your presentation.

  • What is the object of study?

  • Why is it relevant and important to discuss?

• Contextualisation: Situate your object within the larger academic or practical context.

  • What is the background information?

  • How does it relate to previous studies or research?

• Key elements: Provide an overview of the object.

  • What are its constituent parts?

  • What are the relationships between these parts?

  • How is it grounded in the real world?

  • Provide concrete examples to clarify your object of study.

2. PROBLEMATIC: FRAMING THE RESEARCH QUESTION

• Relevance of the object

  • Why is this object important for research?

  • What has been said about it in the literature or metalinguistic sources?

• Research objectives/questions

  • What are the specific objectives of this study?

  • Why is this research necessary or interesting?

  • Formulate any research questions that you aim to test or explore.

3. CORPUS PRESENTATION: JUSTIFYING THE DATA USED

• Justification for the corpus

  • Why was this corpus chosen for your study?

  • What are the key features of this dataset?

• Corpus description

  • What is the nature of the data? (e.g., texts, recordings, interviews, etc.)

  • How large is the corpus? (e.g., number of instances, volume)

  • What are the spatiotemporal coordinates? (e.g., time frame, geographical location)

4. METHODOLOGY: EXPLOITING THE EMPIRICAL MATERIAL

• Methodological approach

  • How did you analyse the corpus?

  • What criteria or methods did you apply?

  • What were the key steps in your analysis?

  • Are there any specific tools or techniques you used?

5. ANALYSIS: PRESENTING AND INTERPRETING THE RESULTS

• Clear analytical axes

  • What were the main axes or categories you analysed?

  • What criteria guided your analysis?

• Cross-referencing data

  • How did you cross-reference different datapoints to support your analysis?

  • What patterns or trends did you observe?

• Results presentation: Summarise the key results in clear, accessible terms

  • What were the main findings of your study?

6. CONCLUSION: SYNTHESIS AND FUTURE WORK

• Summary of results: Summarise the empirical findings you have presented.

  • What do these results tell us about the object of study?

• Theoretical and methodological insights

  • What are the key theoretical or methodological takeaways from this study?

• Strengths and limitations

  • What are the strengths of your study?

  • What are its limitations or areas of uncertainty?

• Future directions

  • What are the potential next steps for this research?

  • How could this work be extended or improved in future studies?

A. BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES: INTEGRATING KEY LITERATURE

• Cite references: Include relevant references throughout your presentation. Ensure that all references are directly related to your topic of study.

• Bibliography summary: At the end of the presentation, provide a comprehensive bibliography summarising the sources you have cited.

B. GENERAL TIPS FOR ORAL PRESENTATION

• Clear structure: Keep each section well-defined and logically connected to the next. Ensure your audience can easily follow your narrative.

• Engage the audience: Be sure to explain why your research matters and how it contributes to the broader field.

• Visual aids: If using slides, ensure they complement your spoken presentation (e.g., clear visuals, concise bullet points). Avoid overcrowding slides with too much text or data; use figures, charts, and graphs to summarise key points.

• Practice: Rehearse your presentation several times to ensure smooth delivery, appropriate timing, and clarity. This also helps to test the structure of your presentation. Practice speaking clearly and confidently, keeping an engaging tone throughout.

SCIENTIFIC PAPER (OR TERM PAPER)

Based on internal documents prepared by Gabriel Frazer-McKee and the organising committee of the Journées de Linguistique held annually at the Université Laval, as well as personal notes from a seminar taught by Prof. Bruno Courbon, DLLT, U. Laval LNG-7021–Winter 2022

1. TITLE

The title should accurately reflect the content and scope of the study. It serves as the first impression of your research and should be concise, informative, and specific. A strong title conveys the main idea of your study while maintaining clarity and brevity. Avoid vague or overly general titles that fail to communicate the research focus.

☐ Does the title accurately reflect the content and scope of the study?

☐ Is the title concise, informative, and specific?

2. ABSTRACT

The abstract provides a brief yet comprehensive summary of the study. It should include the research question, methodology, key findings, and main conclusions in a structured manner. A well-written abstract allows readers to quickly grasp the essence of the paper and decide its relevance to their interests. Keep it clear, concise, and engaging.

☐ Does the abstract provide a clear and concise summary of the study?

☐ Does it include the research question, methodology, key findings, and main conclusions?

☐ Does it give readers a quick yet informative overview of the study?

3. INTRODUCTION / RESEARCH PROBLEM

The introduction sets the stage for your research by presenting the background, defining the research problem, and explaining its significance. It should engage the reader and clearly state the purpose of the study. Ensure that your introduction provides enough context without being too broad or vague.

3.1 Literature Review
The literature review situates your study within the existing body of research. It should highlight relevant studies, identify gaps, and justify your research focus. Instead of merely listing sources, critically engage with them to demonstrate how they inform your study.

☐ Is the literature review comprehensive enough to contextualise the study?

☐ Have you cited recent and relevant sources?

☐Does the introduction avoid an overly broad or vague entry point?

☐ Does the literature review actively engage with sources rather than simply listing them?

☐ Do the cited works support the claims being made?

3.2 Key Concepts
This section defines the key terms and concepts used in the study. Clear definitions help ensure that readers understand the precise meanings of important terms and prevent ambiguity.

☐ Are important terms and concepts well-explained and contextualised?

☐ Have any key concepts been omitted?

☐ Are there any essential definitions missing?

3.3 Justification of the Study
This subsection explains why the research is necessary. It should highlight the study’s significance, its potential contributions, and the gaps it aims to fill in the literature.

☐ Does the introduction explain why this research is important and necessary?

☐ Is the significance of the study clearly articulated? Could the justification be strengthened?

☐ Are there additional arguments or real-world examples that reinforce the importance of the study?

4. METHODOLOGY

The methodology section describes how the research was conducted. It should provide enough detail for replication and justify the chosen methods.

4.1 Research Objectives
Clearly defined objectives help ensure that the research stays focused and aligned with the research problem. These objectives should remain consistent throughout the text.

☐ Are the objectives of the study clearly defined and aligned with the research problem?

☐ Do the objectives remain consistent throughout the text?

4.2 Data Collection
This section describes how data were collected, including sources, participant selection, and data collection techniques. The process should be transparent and follow scientific standards.

☐ Are the data collection techniques clearly explained and justified?

☐ Are the sources of data (corpus, participants) described according to scientific standards?

4.3 Data Analysis
Explain how the collected data were analysed. This section should provide enough detail for another researcher to replicate the study and assess whether the methods are appropriate for the research question.

☐ Are the data analysis methods detailed enough for replication?

☐ Are the methods appropriate for the data and research question?

☐ Are the chosen analysis techniques well-suited to the research goals?

5. RESULTS

The results section presents the study’s findings in a clear and structured manner. Use tables, figures, and graphs effectively to enhance comprehension. Ensure that findings align with the study’s objectives and methods.

☐ Are the results presented clearly and systematically?

☐ Is there a logical flow in the way findings are reported?

☐ Do the results align with the research objectives and methods?

☐ Are tables, figures, or graphs effectively used to present key results?

6. DISCUSSION / CONCLUSION

The discussion section interprets the results, linking them to the research problem and literature review. It should also acknowledge limitations, highlight strengths, and suggest future research directions. The conclusion summarises key findings and their implications.

☐ Does the discussion effectively link back to the research problem and literature review?

☐ Are the implications of the study clearly identified?

☐ Does the discussion explore how the findings contribute to the field?

☐ Are the study’s limitations acknowledged and discussed?

☐ Are the study’s strengths highlighted?

☐ Are future research directions suggested?

☐ Are the conclusions justified by the results?

☐ Are final remarks clear, convincing, and comprehensive?

A. SELF-EVALUATION CHECKLIST

Before finalising your text, use the following checklist to evaluate its clarity, coherence, and completeness:

• Research Topic & Scope

  • Is the topic original, relevant, and appropriate for the intended audience?

  • Is the scope well-defined and not too broad or vague?

• Research Problem & Literature Review

  • Does the introduction clearly define the research problem?

  • Is the literature review comprehensive, relevant, and up-to-date?

  • Are key sources critically analysed rather than merely listed?

• Objectives & Methodology

  • Are the study’s objectives clearly stated and aligned with the research problem?

  • Are the data collection and analysis methods clearly explained and justified?

• Results & Interpretation

  • Are the results clearly presented and logically structured?

  • Do the findings align with the study’s objectives and methods?

  • Are tables, figures, and visual aids used effectively?

• Discussion & Conclusions

  • Does the discussion connect findings to the research problem and literature?

  • Are the implications of the study clearly identified?

  • Are the study’s limitations and strengths acknowledged?

  • Are suggestions for future research provided?

• Structure & Writing Style

  • Is the paper well-structured, with a logical progression of ideas?

  • Are the sections distinct and easy to identify?

  • Is the writing clear, concise, and academically appropriate?

  • Have spelling, grammar, and formatting been thoroughly checked?

• References & Citations

  • Are all sources cited properly using an appropriate referencing style?

  • Are references relevant, recent (when relevant), and from credible academic sources?

Note-Taking

Taking structured notes is essential for organising your research and developing your ideas over time. This guide will walk you through different types of notes, their purposes, and best practices for each.

STEP 1: CAPTURE IDEAS WITH FLEETING NOTES

What It Is: Fleeting notes are raw, unfiltered thoughts that serve as placeholders for future reflection. These are quick brain dumps of spontaneous ideas, insights, or sentences that come to mind.

How to Use It:

• Write anything that crosses your mind, no matter how undeveloped it seems.

• Do not worry about structure, grammar, or coherence.

• Revisit these notes regularly to decide whether they should be discarded, refined, or developed further.

  TIPS

  Use a dedicated digital or physical space for fleeting notes (e.g., a Markdown file or a pocket notebook).

  Review your fleeting notes weekly to extract useful ideas and discard the rest.

STEP 2: STRUCTURE YOUR KNOWLEDGE WITH LITERATURE NOTES

What It Is: Literature notes are structured summaries of texts you have read. These serve as a reference for your future work, helping you recall key arguments, evidence, and theoretical perspectives.

How to Use It:

• Include full bibliographic information and page numbers for easy retrieval.

• Summarise key points in your own words to ensure comprehension.

• Highlight significant quotes, but use them sparingly.

• Connect these notes to your research questions or areas of interest.

  TIPS

  Record the author, year, main argument, key findings, and critical reflections using a consistent template.

  Store your literature notes in a searchable format (e.g., Obsidian, Zotero, or a spreadsheet).

  Regularly revisit and integrate your literature notes into your writing.

Further reading:

• Akerlind, Gerlese. 2005. “Learning about research: Phenomenographic perspectives on doctoral learning”. Higher Education 50:2. 253-282.

• Adler, Mortimer J. & Charles Van Doren. 1972. How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading. New York City: Touchstone.

LITERATURE NOTE TEMPLATE: READING A SCIENTIFIC ARTICLE

Based on personal notes taken during a seminar taught by Prof. Shahrzad Saif, DLLT, U. Laval, LNG-7004–Winter 2022

The completed document should be concise—ideally no longer than one page—and should serve as a quick overview of the scientific work at hand, allowing you to recall the article’s key points without needing to revisit the entire paper. In research, we often read many articles, book chapters, or books. The “Relevance to My Project” section can help remember why a particular work is important at a specific time, as the relevance may shift over time.

• Complete Citation of the Work:
  LastName, FirstName (Year). Title. Journal Name, Volume(Issue), Pages. DOI

• Overview

  • Problem Statement: What issue or problem is being addressed in this scientific work?

  • Research Question(s): What is the author trying to answer? Note: The research questions might not always be explicitly stated as questions.

  • Objective(s): How does the author aim to answer the research question(s)? Be aware that there may be multiple objectives, and they may not always be clearly labeled as such.

  • Results/Conclusion(s): What were the outcomes and conclusions of the study?

• Critical Review

  • Critical Assessment of the Work: What aspects of the work were well executed? What could be improved, or is missing? This section allows for a constructive evaluation of the article.

• Relevance to My Project

  • How can this reference contribute to my project, paper, etc.? Specific elements that might be useful:

    • Formulation of the problem and/or research questions

    • Definitions of key concepts

    • Choice of conceptual framework

    • Literature review approach

    • Methodology to replicate or adapt

    • Data collection instruments to adopt or adapt

    • Recent and diverse bibliography

    • Presentation of results (format, use of tables, statistics, graphs, figures, etc.)

    • Structure of the article

STEP 3: EXPAND YOUR THOUGHTS WITH PERMANENT NOTES

What It Is: Permanent notes (also known as “atomic notes”) are refined, standalone ideas that capture original insights. These should be written as if they are small building blocks of a larger academic work.

How to Use It

• Each note should capture one idea only and be expressed in a clear, coherent manner.

• Connect new permanent notes with existing ones to build a web of interconnected knowledge.

• These notes should be self-explanatory, allowing you to understand them even years later without additional context.

  TIPS

  Write in complete sentences with proper citations where necessary.

  Instead of summarising sources, focus on your own interpretations and questions.

  Use linking tools (e.g., backlinks in Obsidian) to build relationships between ideas.

Further reading:

• Sönke, Ahrens. 2017. How to Take Smart Notes: One Simple Technique to Boost Writing, Learning, and Thinking. CreateSpace.

STEP 4: BUILD YOUR THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

What It Is: This is your space to develop an original theoretical framework, your own personal think tank. This is where you refine ideas over time, constructing arguments and conceptual models that shape your research. I named mine the Polysemo Theory Hub™!

How to Use It

• Start by drafting micro-theses: concise, testable claims that can evolve into arguments.

• Continuously refine and expand on these micro-theses as your research progresses.

• Link these ideas to your permanent notes and literature notes to ensure theoretical consistency.

  TIPS

  Use diagrams and mind maps to visualise theoretical connections.

  Treat this space as a living document that adapts to new insights.

  Share early versions of your framework with colleagues for feedback.

WORKING WITH OBSIDIAN?

Obsidian is a powerful note-taking tool that allows for flexible knowledge management through linking and tagging.

How to Link Notes
Every permanent note should include an ID number, tags, and outgoing links to related notes.

Example Note
ID: 20250305-001 #Embodiment #Metaphor
Lakoff & Johnson’s theory suggests that metaphors are grounded in bodily experience → [[20250305-002]]

Tagging System
A structured tagging system helps you categorise and retrieve notes efficiently.

• 1. #type/ → What kind of note is this?

  • #type/literature → Notes from academic sources

  • #type/permanent → Interconnected atomic ideas (Zettelkasten)

  • #type/fleeting → Quick thoughts, spontaneous ideas

  • #type/theory-hub → Notes contributing to your theoretical framework

  • #type/protocol → Review protocols and research plans

  • #type/meta → Project planning, workflow, admin

• 2. #theme/ → Conceptual themes

  • #theme/polysemy

  • #theme/meaning-theory

  • #theme/semantic-change

  • #theme/embodiment

  • #theme/cognitive-semantics

  • #theme/historiography

  • #theme/philosophy-of-language

• 3. #status/ → Workflow stage

  • #status/to-read

  • #status/reading

  • #status/annotated

  • #status/extracted

  • #status/writing

  • #status/draft

  • #status/finalized

• 4. #source/ → Type of source

  • #source/book

  • #source/article

  • #source/thesis

  • #source/interview

  • #source/primary

  • #source/secondary

• 5. #language/ → Language of the source

  • #language/en

  • #language/fr

  • #language/de

• 6. #tool/ → Tools & methods used

  • #tool/zotero

  • #tool/rayyan

  • #tool/obsidian

  • #tool/vosviewer

  • #tool/antconc

By integrating linking and tagging into your workflow, Obsidian allows you to build a dynamic knowledge system that grows with your research.

By following this structured approach to note-taking, you can create a sustainable knowledge management system that supports deep thinking and effective research writing.