Methodological approaches
You need to identify a suitable research question/topic, based on the discussion of and reading for the module topics. The topic of your assignment may focus on either theoretical aspects (e.g. a critical discussion of a particular methodological approach) or be more practically oriented (e.g. analysis of a particular context/case). Either way, your essay must combine theoretical issues with sound empirical evidence, either through the analysis of your own data, or a meta-analysis of existing data.
Structure – basics
•Will vary from topic to topic
•Identify main elements of your argument
–What story do you want to tell?
–How do you want to tell it?
–Is this the best way of telling the story?
–Make sure you cover all parts of your argument!
•Example: chronological versus thematic structure
•Will vary from topic to topic
•Identify main elements of your argument
–What story do you want to tell?
–How do you want to tell it?
–Is this the best way of telling the story?
–Make sure you cover all parts of your argument!
•Example: chronological versus thematic structure
Introduction
•Begin with a paragraph or two of introduction in which you state and define your theme and provide some brief background for what follows.
•Begin with a paragraph or two of introduction in which you state and define your theme and provide some brief background for what follows.
•Your next paragraph should follow on logically from your introductory paragraph. E.g.: If you state in your opening, “I am going to write about sociocultural theory, don’t just talk about something else in your next paragraph. Either go on to talk about sociocultural theory straight away or say something like, “Before analysing the SCT, I will discuss x”, then explain why x is relevant.
Body of essay The argument.
•In the body of the essay, discuss the topic you’re reviewing always keeping in mind the topic and point of your review/essay. You must have an argument, i.e. some line of thought directed at your subject, rather than just a list of facts about it.
•Use data and examples to support your argument
•You must construct an argument. Avoid a list of information. Do not simply describe something. Always analyse and explain.
•In the body of the essay, discuss the topic you’re reviewing always keeping in mind the topic and point of your review/essay. You must have an argument, i.e. some line of thought directed at your subject, rather than just a list of facts about it.
•Use data and examples to support your argument
•You must construct an argument. Avoid a list of information. Do not simply describe something. Always analyse and explain.
Paragraphs Paragraphs are the basic building blocks of any essay.
•Every paragraph should follow on logically from the previous one. Avoid sudden jumps from topic to topic.
•Don’t crowd too much information into one paragraph. E.g.: If you have something to say on an author’s p.o.v., the historical background to his or her work, and when it was first published, devote one paragraph to each of these issues one after the other.
•Group similar arguments or points together. Rule of thumb: one paragraph = one point; new point = new paragraph.
•Every paragraph should follow on logically from the previous one. Avoid sudden jumps from topic to topic.
•Don’t crowd too much information into one paragraph. E.g.: If you have something to say on an author’s p.o.v., the historical background to his or her work, and when it was first published, devote one paragraph to each of these issues one after the other.
•Group similar arguments or points together. Rule of thumb: one paragraph = one point; new point = new paragraph.
Be relevant
•Showing breadth of reading/research is good, but:
•Stick to the point of the question or topic in every single paragraph of your essay. Don’t say anything irrelevant to your subject no matter how interesting. Straying off the topic is one of the most common reasons for losi
ng marks.
Be specific
•Avoid sweeping statements and generalizations; tie in every single thing you say to your topic.
•Don’t just state an opinion; back it up with evidence, e.g. a piece of data etc. You need proof for everything.
–Data from your own experience is permissible as long as it’s systematic and not anecdotal
•But don’t include quotations without explaining them. Remember that no quotation speaks for itself. Each one needs to be explained in your own words and linked to your own points.
•Showing breadth of reading/research is good, but:
•Stick to the point of the question or topic in every single paragraph of your essay. Don’t say anything irrelevant to your subject no matter how interesting. Straying off the topic is one of the most common reasons for losi
ng marks.
Be specific
•Avoid sweeping statements and generalizations; tie in every single thing you say to your topic.
•Don’t just state an opinion; back it up with evidence, e.g. a piece of data etc. You need proof for everything.
–Data from your own experience is permissible as long as it’s systematic and not anecdotal
•But don’t include quotations without explaining them. Remember that no quotation speaks for itself. Each one needs to be explained in your own words and linked to your own points.
Write clearly
•Pay attention to grammar, spelling and sentence structure (syntax). Look out for floating pronouns: is it always clear what a “they” or a “this” refers to? Does each sentence follow on logically from the previous one?
•Avoid convoluted sentences. If this has been a problem in the past: delete commas and semi-colons and replace with full stops.
•Do a spellcheck at the end, and then go through and check spelling manually. Make sure you’ve spelled all proper names (esp. authors’ names!) correctly.
•Pay attention to grammar, spelling and sentence structure (syntax). Look out for floating pronouns: is it always clear what a “they” or a “this” refers to? Does each sentence follow on logically from the previous one?
•Avoid convoluted sentences. If this has been a problem in the past: delete commas and semi-colons and replace with full stops.
•Do a spellcheck at the end, and then go through and check spelling manually. Make sure you’ve spelled all proper names (esp. authors’ names!) correctly.
Conclusion
•The discussions in the body of your essay should lead to your conclusion in which you sum up the understanding you have reached in the course of writing your essay, perhaps referring to ideas raised at the beginning.
•Avoid introducing completely new material in the conclusion.
•Once you’ve written your conclusion, re-read your introduction and revise both so that they relate to each other logically.
•The discussions in the body of your essay should lead to your conclusion in which you sum up the understanding you have reached in the course of writing your essay, perhaps referring to ideas raised at the beginning.
•Avoid introducing completely new material in the conclusion.
•Once you’ve written your conclusion, re-read your introduction and revise both so that they relate to each other logically.
Appendices and footnotes
•Are NOT a valid way of circumventing the word limit (nor are footnotes…)
•Appendices: only if referring to larger stretch of data. You must NOT use them to ‘outsource’ parts of your argument
•Footnotes: only to refer to points of peripheral interest/relevance. Again: do NOT use to get the word count down!
•Are NOT a valid way of circumventing the word limit (nor are footnotes…)
•Appendices: only if referring to larger stretch of data. You must NOT use them to ‘outsource’ parts of your argument
•Footnotes: only to refer to points of peripheral interest/relevance. Again: do NOT use to get the word count down!
ScholarMatic: Explanation & Answer
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