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RESEARCH ESSAYS

Research, Think, Write

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Lecture Outline

Essay question choice Research Planning Writing Issue of Originality and Using Sources Formatting and Referencing

3Researching, Thinking, Planning, and Writing

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Essay Question Choice

1. How is the “modern state” defined? Does it differ from the “postcolonial state”?

2. Explain the origins and character of “nationalism”. What is its significance for the politics of contemporary states?

3. Why do authoritarian regimes often endure? 4. How should “democracy” be defined by comparative

scholars of politics? What problems arise in reaching agreement on a definition of this phenomenon?

5. Why is “democracy” prevalent in more “modern” and “wealthy” societies?

6. Are “dominant parties” desirable? 7. How do “interest groups” differ from “social movements”? 8. What are social revolutions? Why do they occur?

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Essay Question Choice

Choose an essay question that: is on a topic you like you are genuinely interested in researching you are comfortable with

This makes the process of writing the essay more pleasant and you also learn more about an area of the course content that is most appealing to you!

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Where are you?

Preliminary research question Preliminary thesis statement Chosen case study Preliminary reading Preliminary methodology Preliminary table of contents/essay structure

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Research

How Much? Enough to answer the question. Organising research:

Identify themes. Commonalities/differences. Interpretations. Simple coding.

Look for: Concepts / Definitions / Arguments / Evidence.

Each point will have a claim, a premise with support, and a conclusion.

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Research

What are the contested concepts / arguments / issues?

Can we deconstruct the topic in terms of these debates?

Can we link authors in terms of which side they are on?

How do we slice and dice the topic?

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Research- Reading Tips

Individual process – find what works for you!

Read the abstract, introduction, subheadings and conclusion.

Jot down the thesis statement. How does this reading relate to your own

argument? Agree? Disagree? Make notes.

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Thinking and Planning

It is important to understand rather than simply regurgitate.

You need to re-order the information. Break down the ideas. Know what the author is trying to do. What is

the relationship between you and the author? What are they attempting to do? Books: These tend to be covering a greater

number of points. Journals: These tend to be far narrower. They are

usually arguing one point or thesis

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Thinking and Planning: Understanding your question

Causes: Does A lead to B. DV=f(IV) Does your input lead to your output? Explain the

process by which it occurs. Role: Did A lead to B because of C? Was C a

part of the process? Was the involvement of C good or bad?

Evaluate: Advantages / disadvantages. What was the intention? Did the process produce the intended or the expected outcome, or where there unforeseen consequences?

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Thinking and Planning

What are you looking at?

DV = f( IV1, IV2, IV3, … IVn)

RelationshipCausation?

If you are seeking to explain the DVs, which IVs are important

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Thinking and Planning

DV = f(IV)

Causation

An essay with a narrow focus may look at how one factor was the mostimportant. You then argue this against other explanations and variables.

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Thinking and Planning The State of the World: ω

Identify Relevant Variables: IV1, …IVn.

Relevant Variables

Irrelevant Variables

Process

End result

Re-arrange your information and then think about what it is you are being asked to do.

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Writing

This is a personal process – you need to ensure that your steps include planning, organisation and time to edit.

Organisation has two levels: Practically – you know where you found the

arguments (i.e. references). Personally – you know where your own

arguments stand in relation to the literature. Origin of your sources?

Historical context; political environment; theoretical biases?

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Reminders about your introduction

The introduction to your research paper may be somewhat different to introductions that you have written for shorter assignments.

It likely will include a background paragraph to ease the reader into the topic, followed by an outline of the paper and your thesis statement.

It is a “road map” for the paper.

Ensure that your introduction addresses these questions: What is the thesis statement (and what is the

argument)? What is the methodology? What is the reasoning?

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Introduction

DO: Include your interpretation of, and

approach to answering, the question. Define any key terms. Include your thesis statement.

DO NOT: Simply repeat the question.

Having read your introduction the reader should be able to tell what the question was, how you have interpreted it, and what argument you are going to propose in order to answer it.

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Thesis Statement

One sentence or two sentences. Present your argument to the reader.

Answer the question asked of you. It is different from a purpose statement that

states what you are going to do in the paper “When an assignment asks you to analyse, to

interpret, to compare and contrast, to demonstrate cause and effect, or to take a stand on an issue, it is likely that you are being asked to develop a thesis and support it persuasively”. Taken from the Politics Reading and Writing Guide.

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Structure and Weighting

Structure and Weighting are immensely important. Most essay questions ask you to do several things – what you need to do is figure out how many words to spend on each part.

Generally most of your paper should be presenting your argument rather than describing the setting/context.

Try be more analytical as opposed to descriptive in your writing.

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Argumentation

Given the length of this assignment, we want one main argument (maximum two). This does not mean you ignore all

current arguments within the literature. It merely means you don’t have to cover all of them in detail.

It’s okay to have sub-arguments, but they must be directly linked to your main argument.

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Validity and Soundness

We look for both. Sources should assist the validity of

your argument (e.g. show that other authors have followed the line of reasoning used)

Sources should show your argument is

sound, by illustrating facts that prove your premises/sub-arguments to be true.

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Example

Question: Are “dominant parties” desirable? Thesis Statement: Must clearly state what

argument you will be presenting in the paper, ie: whether or not you believe dominant parties are desirable and why.

Body: Should contain 3-4 sub-arguments that support your thesis statement as well as examples to strengthen your case.

Conclusion: Should not introduce any new ideas but should rather state what you have argued and how you have gone about making your argument.

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A note on Quotes Vs Paraphrasing

Quotes should be avoided only use if instrumentally valuable.

Paraphrasing is an extremely

important skill. Paraphrasing shows understanding.

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Issue of Originality and Using Sources

You are not expected to undertake original research

Why…? It is essentially impossible to do

The challenge is to place yourself in an existing literature or debate and contribute to it

How do you make a contribution or make your research valuable even if is not ‘new’?

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Originality

New analysis is possible with ‘old’ ideas Criticism Relating ideas Comparing authors and their arguments Testing theories against new cases Unique comparisons

Paraphrasing and quoting – pp.10-13 in Writing Guide

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Sources

Sources are used to state ‘facts’: Important facts describe the context Provide evidence for your argument

Sources are used to assist your argument: Show that other authors agree with you Show that authors disagreeing with you

make less sense than you

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Formatting and Referencing

Ensure that you edit your work – use spellcheck; ensure capital letters have been used appropriately; check your grammar

Write short and simple sentences. It is more difficult to write simply. Big words are not impressive.

Think carefully about the words you use and what they imply. Do your findings prove X or do they suggest

X?

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Formatting

2500 wordsMust include on cover page(s), or will

receive 0%:1. Word Count2. Title: your research question3. Full bibliographyIn addition to usual: name + student

number + course + TUTOR’S NAMESigned plagiarism declaration

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Formatting and Referencing

Formatting requests: Page numbers Double Space Justify Margins Font: TNR; 12Referencing requests:Must be a recognised and widely accepted

referencing style within the discipline, e.g. Harvard in-text; Chicago footnotes- it must be used consistently.

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Conclusion

A well thought-out essay will: Have a pertinent research question. Have a narrow scope. Be logically structured, planned and organised. Be immersed in the literature but still maintain

its own argument. Have an appropriate methodology. Have a clear thesis statement that (i) relates to

the question and (ii) is constantly referred back to.

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Good Luck!!

Please see the resources that accompany this lecture on Vula:

1. UCT Humanities Referencing Guide2. Research Writing and Style Guide

Adaptation3. Useful websites4. Research Essay Checklist