本书为十一五国家级规划教材，包含写作基本功训练、研究论文写作、附录（有关写作实用资料）三大部分，并附有多媒体课件。
本书主要特点：
　　非常注重培养学习者判断性思维的能力。以语类理论为指导，引导学习者重视篇章的宏观结构，注意在特定的语境下语言形式选择、运用的理据。
　　非常注重基本功训练和自主学习能力的培养。注重写作基本功训练。附送光盘上的练习为学生的自主学习创造了条件。
　　同时具备教程和手册的特点。作为教程，有讲解、样例和练习；而单元内容提要、中文要点讲解、语汇支持以及附录中的多种资料又同时可作手册使用。

Part One GettingStarted
　Unit1 Nature and Purpose of a Research Paper
Ⅰ Features ofGood Writing
Ⅱ Features of a Research Paper
Ⅲ Writing Tasks
Part Two Functions of Written English
Unit2 Description，Narration and Definition
Ⅰ Language Functions
Ⅱ Writing Improvement Exercises
Unit 3 Exemplification and Classification
Ⅰ Language Functions
Ⅱ Writing Improvement Exercises
Unit 4 Comparison and Contrast，Cause and Effect
Ⅰ Language Functions
Ⅱ Writing Improvement Exercises
Part Three Research Paper Writing
Unit 5 Overview of a Research Paper
Ⅰ Tasks for Critical Thinking and Discussion
Ⅱ Typical Sections of a Research Paper
Unit 6 Introduction
Ⅰ Readings
Ⅱ Language Conventions
Ⅲ Language Practice
Ⅳ Writing Up Your Research
Ⅴ Language Support
Umt 7 Method
Ⅰ Readings
Ⅱ Language Conventions
Ⅲ Language Practice
Ⅳ Writing Up Your Research
Ⅴ Language Support
Unit8 Results
Ⅰ Readings
Ⅱ Language Conventions
Ⅲ Language Practice
Ⅳ WritingUpYourResearch
Ⅴ Language Support
Unit 9 Discussion
Ⅰ Readings
Ⅱ Language Conventions
Ⅲ I Language Practice
Ⅳ Writing Up Your Research
Ⅴ Language Support
Unit 10 Abstract
Ⅰ Readings
Ⅱ Language Conventions
Ⅲ I Language Practice
Ⅳ Writing Up Your Research
Unit11 Communication in the Research Process：Requests and Submission Letters
Appendices
Teacher’s Manual
References
Attached CD-ROM