Writing in Style

The stress of data gathering and navigating your way around the substance of your argument can sometimes impact your writing style, especially when you are not a writer. Here are essential things to remember when writing research, especially one's thesis or dissertation. This is also important when writing CVs and resumes. 

If it's a school thesis or class paper, make sure to format the manuscript according to the prescribed format. What's the paper size? In Taiwan, it's customary to use A4. In the Philippines, it's Letter size. How about the font style and size? When there's no prescribed font, my go-to is Palatino Linotype 11. Should the paragraphs be aligned left or justified? 

Those are basic, but it's important to know them because it's part of the institutional signature. Now for a bit of advanced style. What's the prescribed referencing and writing style? And by that, we mean APA, Chicago, MLA, and other schools of style. Those are not just for citations. If your university or class does not have prescriptions for headings and subheadings, captioning figures, and titles on tables, those have them. So, if your references follow APA 7th, they follow the same on your headings, subheadings, captions, and table titles. 

Let's get more professional. Mastering the data means you know how to report the data. You don't just write down your qualitative and quantitative results. There are styles for reporting evidentiary data in your results and discussion depending on the data type. More often, you follow the same school as the citation, for example, on how to report different statistical data and on how to report interview quotes. A deeper difference is on block texts.  You move away from the paragraph and start a block text if the quote is more than 40 words in APA; in Chicago, you do so if the quote is more than 100 words. Any quote with less remains within the regular paragraph text.

These make your manuscript acceptable for publication in a journal at first glance. Of course, what will finally get you final approval is the content. But you need to first do the secret handshake. This is the secret handshake. The editors and writers see style, and they recognize that someone who submitted is part of the club when they see the style of the manuscript.

Lastly, if you are writing a thesis or dissertation. These all go into the section on Notes on Style. If your university has no prescription and is flexible on the parts of the manuscript, you can also add it.

The Notes on Style reports the style that you followed.

I am doing this on my dissertation as a reminder for myself and as a shortcut for panel/committee members. This helps them to easily identify the style used and be in compliance with any prescribed styles.

Applying for Scholarship in Taiwan

Taiwan offers several scholarship opportunities for Filipinos intending to pursue higher education. Here's Scholarship 101: Taiwan based on my experience and updated based on current developments since my own admission for PhD.

Information Sources:

As a student, the best place to go in person for scholarships is your school's Student Guidance and/or Career Office. The staff in those offices are always nice and helpful in any school, so don't hesitate to go.

Aside from that, for specific Taiwan scholarships offered to Pinoys, you can check out:

• roc-taiwan.org -  the official site of the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in the Philippines. This will be your go-to aside from information. You will be going here for your education documents authentication, scholarship application, and VISA. 
• Taiwan Scholarships in the Philippines - FB page run by TECO education division, a good spot to follow for announcements.
• Taiwan in the Philippines - the TECO general FB page.
• Manila Economic and Cultural Office - FFB page of the Philippine equivalent of TECO.

Time Management:

Be sure to take note of dates, times, periods, or seasons. Here are important tips:

• Make sure that you have ample time to process your documents. For example, do you already have your transcript? Is it already internationally authenticated? 
• The two main semesters are the Fall and Spring seasons. make sure to check announcements during this time for calls for admissions and the opening of scholarship applications.

Documents to Prepare:

Each scholarship has its own requirements list, but I'll be taking note here of significant items that one needs to know as one applies to study abroad. Also, these documents are used when you apply for school admissions, which is usually before the scholarship application process.

• Authenticated Transcript and Diploma: Since you'll be studying in another jurisdiction, you need to have your education documents authenticated. The process goes as follows:

1. Make a request through your school.
2. Get the authentication from CHED Philippines.
3. Get the authentication from the Department of Foreign Affairs Philippines.
4. Get the authentication from TECO.

Note: TECO has had a requirement of using A4, so make sure that your documents are in A4, also photocopies should be colored. Just make sure to double check at the TECO website.

• English Language Competency: usually TOEFL or IELTS, or if your school uses English as an official mode of instruction, you can just request this from your register.
• Make sure to check out the international admissions office website and social media of the school you are applying to. Schools do not process the scholarship, but they provide updates, announcements, forms, and info sessions that can be of great help.

THE SCHOLARSHIPS:

I'm reposting the exact wording from TECO's website. These are details for scholarship applications 2024. Please note that some logistic details change per year, i.e. the time period of applications. It's always best to check the updated list at the website. I'm just reposting here so that you have a general idea.

Begin Repost

1.Ministry of Education (MOE) Scholarship : Grants a 4-year scholarship for undergraduate studies, a 2-year scholarship for Master's, and a grant of up to 4 years for Doctoral Degree. The MOE will shoulder up to 40,000 NTD each semester for the corresponding tuition and miscellaneous expenses. The remaining costs will be shouldered by the scholarship recipient. An additional 15,000 NTD will be given to recipients undertaking university undergraduate studies, 20, 000 NTD for those pursuing their Master's and Ph.D. as the monthly stipend. 

The application is from February 1 to April 30, 2024. 

Website:  https://edu.law.moe.gov.tw/EngLawContent.aspx?lan=E&id=250

2. Huayu (Mandarin) Enrichment Scholarship : Allows applicants to choose to pursue either 3 or 6 months of Mandarin courses, subject to TECO's approval. The grant provides a monthly stipend of 25,000 NTD to cover all the expenses (tuition, miscellaneous, etc.) 

The application is from February 1 to March 31, 2024. 

Website:  https://edu.law.moe.gov.tw/EngLawContent.aspx?lan=E&id=70

3. International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF): The grant covers the full tuition fee, living expenses, economy class airfare tickets, and textbook costs. Scholars pursuing Master's will receive a monthly stipend of 18, 000 NTD and 20, 000 NTD for those pursuing Doctoral degrees.  

The application is from December 1, 2023 to March 15, 2024. 

Website: https://www.icdf.org.tw/wSite/np?ctNode=31561&mp=2

Each applicant can only apply for one scholarship program among these offerings and must process first their university admission to their preferred university in Taiwan. They also have to comply with and submit necessary scholarship requirements to Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines for review and recommendation based on the indicated deadlines of each program. It is important to note that it is ineligible to apply if the applicant currently has enrolled in another program in Taiwan .

End Repost

Source: https://www.roc-taiwan.org/ph_en/post/5713.html

Here's to a successful scholarship application! May you graduate and enter history.

Photo Credit: https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=79179