This has been an extremely helpful resource for framing and developing a good research paper. It takes the reader step-by-step through the process of finding a topic of interest, narrowing that topic into a question, making that question relevant to a wider audience, then moving to researching that question, developing arguments, and putting those arguments into a coherent structure. The authors have set up the book so that it can either be read through cover to cover or used as a reference guide for particular sections. For students beginning their first research papers, this is an exceptionally helpful book to make a daunting task much more manageable. Highly recommended.

It is very useful reference book for the person who want to write a paper for researching. It clearly describes the procedure for each step and gives some key points or thoughts for composing the paper. The method from the book is helpful for every field.

This book was on my book list for a college writing course. It is helpful but some of it is just tedious and common knowledge. Helps you write your paper if you have no idea where to start and some references to how to cite a book or article. There are some good tips when it comes to research, but take it with a grain of salt. Reusable, but there's a point to how much knowledge is just retained. Worth buying used, but not brand new.

This book is so well- written, that I actually enjoy reading it. All it talks about is how to be a good writer, but it was written as if the reader is having a conversation with the author. It is also offers extremely helpful strategies for improving academic writing.

As a seminary student in the midst of a master's thesis, 'The Craft' is a joy. It is helpful, and both easy to navigate and understand.

The book is really great if you are persuining any degree. The only problem is that the authors did not lay out the guidlines as clear and strainght forward as I would expected. As you read you SHOULD take notes for later usage and "easy" reference.

This book is a complete and authoritative guide to do sound academic research in any field at any level. It is stupendously well organized and brightly written. Many clear examples and illustrating anecdotes are included.

It is structured in five sections. The first section explains the nature of research and why it is important to write it up. It identifies the roles of writers and readers, focusing in making a connection between them. The second section deals with perhaps the most complicated task new researchers, and old ones adventuring into a new field, face: framing their research problem. In this section the authors describe, step by step, this process: from choosing a topic to asking questions to defining a problem to using sources. Section three is probably the core of the book. Its purpose is to illustrate how to make a claim and supporting it. This section explains that claims launched in research reports must be backed with reasons that are based on evidence; and that convincing research reports should also acknowledge and response other views. Section four is entirely devoted to the long and crucial task of clearly communicating what it has been found. It basically consists of three stages: planning, drafting and revising the report. Finally, in section five some last considerations are presented, including the ethics of research.

This book has been very helpful to me not only to do my own research, but also to supervise my students to do theirs. After reading it three years ago, I still find it useful as reference book.

This book is a complete and authoritative guide to do sound academic research in any field at any level. It is stupendously well organized and brightly written. Many clear examples and illustrating anecdotes are included. It is structured in five sections. The first section explains the nature of research and why it is important to write it up. It identifies the roles of writers and readers, focusing in making the connection between them. The second section deals with perhaps the most complicated task new researchers, and old ones adventuring into a new field, face: framing their research problem. In this section the authors describe, step by step, the framing process: from choosing a topic to asking questions to defining a problem to using sources. Section three is probably the core of the book. Its purpose is to illustrate how to make a claim and supporting it. This section explains that the claims launched in research reports must be backed with reasons that are based on evidence, and that convincing research reports should also acknowledge and response other views. Section four is entirely devoted to the long and crucial task of clearly communicating what has been found. It basically consists of three stages: planning, drafting and revising the report. Finally, in section five some last considerations are presented, including the ethics of research. This book has been very helpful not only to do my own research, but also to supervise my students to do theirs. After reading it three years ago, I still find useful to go back to it as reference.

Arrived quickly with no problems at all. The condition of the book is as described.

I received the book as promised in excellent condition and before promised.

Thanks!

For those who want to enter or who have entered the art and craft of research there is no better guide than Booth et al. Going back to the basics of writing with the help of this book is bound to improve your writing and it certainly will tone done your illusion that you are a great writer.

The book provides you with thorough understanding on how to do qualitative research. Some points seem to be common sense but you would easily forgtten when you are wholly devote to your research. This book serves as a good reminder as a "tutor". I sincerely recommend this book to all who are new to qualitative research.

A doctoral dissertation is the documentation of independent research that makes a contribution to knowledge. It demonstrates the student's ability to carry out research independently, describe in detail the research carried out and the result obtained, the relationship of that research to previously reported work in the field, and the significance of the research in future understanding of the issues in question.
"The Craft of Research" is a practical book on carrying out research and writing research reports. Research work is a complicated task and is done in steps. Booth et al explain these steps as explicitly as possible. It is a good book for those doing Doctoral/Masters dissertation/thesis.

Quality of product was great. Information provided gave me a lot of insight into the world of research. I found it very useful for my graduate school class.

this is by a far one of the best books dealing with scientific research. the way the auhtors laid down the content made research process from finding a topic to put it down on paper easier and very easy to understand. this is a book for amateurs and experts in research. this is a must have. authors made research fun and interesting.

Truly practical advice and guidelines -- thank God! This book will take you from scratch or meet you where you are, and show you how to frame your thinking so you can communicate clearly with others and make real progress.

I am a master's student just beginning graduate studies in the humanities. I picked up this book during my first semester and devoured it over the course of a few days (my undergraduate degree is in mathematics, so I figured I was a little behind the curve in my present area). It's the kind of book I think I will return to occasionally throughout my studies. There's some useful stuff here, but the main point of the book is "make sure you make a good argument!" That's really what it boils down to. As someone with a solid background in logic, however, I found much of the book to be reducible to basic principles of common sense. There's a section on "warrants" for example that sounds very sophisticated and difficult, but is really just an exercise in constructing a logical argument by using universally accepted propositions. Now this is fine, but I think the material could be presented in a much simpler manner. Instead of using large tables and graphics with arrows and textboxes and all that jazz, the authors could have taken a more minimalist route and avoided a lot of confusion. I don't know... maybe I would have just preferred a different format. Some of the things in the book really bug me. For example, chapter seven introduces the ideas of claim, warrants, reason, and evidence. To put it simply, you base claims on reasons. Evidence is the cold hard reality upon which the reasoning process rests. Warrants are like propositions which connect reasons to claims in the way antecedents are connected to consequents. If your warrant is something like A=>B then your reasons will need to coincide with A and your claims with B (if your warrant is going to successfully connect reasons to claims). If your claim is more specific than B then your warrant isn't strong enough (and your claim is unjustifiably strong). If your reason is broader than A then your claim won't necessarily follow because your not sticking to the limits of the proposition. This kind of stuff is very basic logical reasoning which everyone is familiar with. So why do the authors say "as we said, this is not easy stuff." Maybe it's not easy because the presentation is muddled. It could have been simplified by taking a more symbolic route (perhaps in addition to, or as a a preliminary, what is already here).

Excellent way to learn the steps required to write an quality research paper. Learning the proper way to do reseach will remove stress and make writing fun. I am a 1 year MBA student at WSU but I wish I learned these techniques in high school. The next edition should have examples and resources for business students.

The Craft of Research is an excellent guide for students of all ages and levels. I teach Freshman Composition, and I am using it this year as a basis of lectures in my Research Class. I am considering requiring my students to buy it next year. The book is not written as a textbook, but as a guide that individual students could read and use. The language is straight forward and easy to follow. The authors, English professors, take students through the research process, step by step. I highly recommend this book for anyone from high school seniors through graduate school, especially for those who are a few years removed from Freshman Comp.

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As one customer reviewer pointed out, this book is more for the student and higher education academics who are required to do and publish research. I purchased the book and read it in its entirety within a matter of days. It is very well written, and the structure and format are highly systematic. The "Craft of Research" has been the best reference tool I've come across that will help me to produce a doctoral dissertation that I will be proud to defend. One further point: Readers of this book should also consider a companion book, "The Craft of Argument," authored by two of the current book's coauthors.

This book is not about research methodology (as one may initially think), but about how to write reports in a more efficient and convincing manner. To wit, the authors are from English and Literature Depts. Yet, considering that scientists often stumble in good communication, this book turns out to be very useful in exercising one's logical and writing skills. It includes "tip" pages at the end of each chapter. International students will find this book to be particularly very useful.

This is an excelent book, if you want to research and write for academic, bussiness this is a pillowbook

Es excelente este libro, si quieres ivestigar y escribir por razones academicas o de negocios ýste es un libro de cabecera

The authors of The Craft of Research, Wayne C. Booth, Gregory G. Colomb and Joseph M. Williams, presented a scholarly, practical guide to mastering the art of research. They provided a book with tested programmes for turning rough drafts and clumsy prose into clear, powerful and effective writing. The authors presented their propositions, arguments and solutions in a logical, thorough and convincing manner.

The authors produced a unique guide that shows that real research loops back and forth. They explain how each part of the process influences all the others. The authors showed that asking a question about a topic can prepare the researcher to draft a paper, how the process of drafting can reveal problems with an argument, and how the elements of a good introduction can reveal the need for additional research.

The authors encourage researchers to put themselves into the shoes of the readers. They explained how that can be done, by explaining how readers read. Understanding how readers read enables the researcher to know better how to meet their expectations and help readers to see things the researcher's way.

The book teaches skills that are essential to the success of any research project. These include finding a topic, generating research questions, constructing arguments, creating a first draft, and revising that draft for a final report that meets the needs of a community of readers.

The book reflects the way researchers work, proceeding from a complex loop of thinking, writing, revising, refining and rethinking. The book teaches that a successful research project is a carefully orchestrated conversation between researcher and reader.

The book is essential reading before one goes to a library or begin collecting data, presenting evidence or doing an outline, as its expertise is essential in giving direction to the research efforts.

I read this book because I needed guidance on carrying out a research project. I needed to learn about the distinctive nature, values and protocols of research. The book enabled me to learn how to select a research topic, and how to discover one in a wide range of sources, including my personal interests. The book showed me how to create a research agenda, by framing the right questions, finding and using the right materials for a solid base of knowledge.

I also needed to learn about the essentials of argument, that is, how to make a claim and support it. I also learnt how to outline a draft, revise, and rewrite and polish the final report.

The Craft of Research serves as a wonderful primer on the research task for students and professionals alike. Wayne Booth, Gregory Colomb and Joseph Williams draw upon their combined experiences as researchers and university professors to synthesize the nuts and bolts of the research task into an easy to follow step-by-step process. Each of the five parts of the book focuses on a different fundamental aspect of the task and fleshes out the subtle nuances necessary to produce a quality research project. The authors take their readers through all phases of the research process from selecting and refining a topic, identifying the research problem, constructing the argument, finding sources, taking notes and outlining and editing the final document. "Quick Tip" addenda at the end of most chapters provide helpful insights and clarification of more complex matters.

In Part One, the authors define the research process as the gathering and reporting of information for the purposes of answering a question or solving a problem important to the audience. The first two chapters provide the rubric through which the researcher views his or her task: the audience. How the researcher understands the audience frames the nature of the whole project from determining an appropriate topic, formulating what questions should be asked and deciding what response is expected. Readers are warned that the worst response is not "I don't agree," but instead, "I don't care." Therefore, the researcher must understand who will read the report, what they already know, what readers within a particular field of discipline expect to see in reports, and how they are likely to respond to the writer's arguments and conclusions. A daunting task, indeed, but one the authors consider as having intrinsic value and benefit.

Part Two focuses on framing and developing the research plan and finding sufficient sources to thoroughly address the problem. Readers are presented with a three-step process designed to help them find and narrow the scope of a research topic so that a relevant research problem can be adequately explored in sufficient detail. Researchers are urged to understand the type of problem they endeavor to solve. Pains are take to distinguish between "practical" problems and "research" problems. Practical problems seek to solve a tangible shortcoming whereas research problems seek to fill in knowledge gaps. Both problems have their place depending on the needs and expectations of the audience. Two chapters within this section assist readers in knowing which sources are appropriate for their project and acceptable within the field of discipline. Readers are cautioned to interpret sources carefully, to take copious notes, to annotate sources accurately and to use data ethically.

Part Three presents the real meat and potatoes of the book: The research argument. The strength of ones paper will rise or fall on the strength of the logical consistency of the argument. The authors present an outstanding description of the elements of the research argument. A coherent argument is organized around five elements: a claim, backed by reasons, based upon evidence, supported by warrants, while acknowledging alternatives or objections. Each element is thoroughly defined, detailed, described and diagramed. The most troublesome aspect of this section is the subject of Warrants-the logical relevance of one's reasons underpinning a claim. The applicability of a warrant, if not widely regarded within the specific discipline, can be subjective. The researcher can face a continuous barrage of questions casting doubts upon the logical consistency of a particular warrant. The researcher must know ahead of time which warrants are acceptable to the audience. In the end, the authors warn, all warrants can be problematic to a wary or contentious audience.

Once data is gathered and the research argument formulated, the next phase of the project is putting the thesis onto paper. This is the task of the five chapters of Part Four. In earlier chapters readers were encouraged to think strategically regarding the structure of the paper, however now they are taught to act tactically with the strategic vision in mind. Readers are taken through the stages of planning, drafting and editing the paper. Essential topics include: introductions and conclusions, refining the argument and visually depicting data. A well-organized (and appropriately stylized) paper moves the reader through the mind of the writer. It becomes a bonding of experiences as the writer presents the problem, details its significance, articulates a reasoned response to the problem and invites the reader to assent to his or her conclusion through application of convincing evidentiary data.

In Part Five, the seasoned authors provide a helpful homiletic regarding the ethics of research. Research writers must take great pains not to plagiarize, misuse data or present the words or works of others in a way inconsistent with their original intent. The postscript to teachers reinforces the value of learning to do research and encourages teachers to exercise patience and perseverance as students move through the inevitable learning curve. The end result of their effort is a student who has learned to read and think critically. The appendix of research bibliographies should prove beneficial to many first-time researchers.

I read this book cover to cover as required reading to help me understand the process of writing my senior thesis. The thesis seminar itself lacked any real structure and this book provided the anchor I needed in gathering, sorting, and understanding the research I did. More important, however, was the role it played in my initial thinking through of the project. The single most significant skill I learned--but by no means would consider myself having mastered--is understanding how to ask the right questions. This helped tremendously in refining my research topic and still guides me today when I watch the news, listen to the radio, or read the newspaper because I am more able to be critical of the types of claims pundits and others make. This book is perhaps the single most valuable resource I encountered in my undergraduate education. Luckily for those not forced to read it in school, it is written so well (and in my perhaps nerdish opinion, beautifully) that it makes for compelling pleasure reading. Reading this book--whether choosing sections most germane to your interests/needs or cover to cover--will allow you to improve how you think. The authors are down-to-earth and even share their own research foibles in each section. What a charming group of authors who are able to share valuable, potentially complex information while retaining their "human" voices (rather than sounding like a textbook)! Highly recommended to anyone who likes to think, read, or write. I would give more stars if available.

Great for the high school or intro for a prepatory course frosh year in college. Otherwise, past the intro and the elevator story, worthless.

I picked up the book The Craft Of Research by Wayne Booth, Gregory Colomb, and Joseph Williams at the library awhile back, and I finished it over the course of this week. Not quite what I was expecting, but useful if you buy it for the right reason. I was looking for something more geared towards doing research for articles and such. This is geared towards the college student or professional researcher who has to produce research papers on a regular basis. It teaches you how to formulate your argument and properly research your material to make and prove your points. Probably very helpful if you have an actual project to do at the time you're reading it. Definitely a reference book you'd want to have on your shelf.

That's not to say that you couldn't gain some insight on article writing from this book. It's just, in my opinion, a bit too advanced for the type of writing I would do. But because it covers the target audience well, I can't complain.